Fixing Bad Music Production and Mixing Advice EP.1

[@inthemix]

I recently started sharing content on TikTok and Instagram too, you can follow me here: 📱 TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@michael.inthemix 📱 Instagram: @michael.inthemix 0:00 - Bad Advice 0:48 - You can't force creativity 2:32 - Music theory makes you less creative 4:05 - My mixing plugin 4:38 - Gain Staging will make or break a mix (you need auto-gain) 8:05 - Puppy Update 📱 All my links: linktr.ee/inthemixlinks

[@ibrahimalmahdiii]

Bravo bro 💯💯

[@dannychristie1064]

Cute video

[@ArtisDefiniition]

Its been a while since i've been on the channel. I'm glad your ok Mike and thanks again for the new lessons and info. Appreciate it pal.

[@CalleJonte]

I actually found learning music theory inspired me because suddenly I knew more about what I was doing. I felt more confident.

[@kweenslvt3911]

Same. There's a lot of silly people who think creativity = the ability to do things without any framework or base for what you're doing, and nobody ever lives like that, because it's unhelpful.

[@herbie_the_hillbillie_goat]

Learning about modes really opened up my musical landscape. Music theory also introduces you to all sorts of incredible harmonies.

[@lavatr8322]

That's what I'm doing now .... I order a midi keyboard 🎹 and now the dimensions are gonna change🎉

[@MidnightCrescent]

I was scared knowing to much would ruin my experience but I like understanding it on a fundamental level. Figuring out if you want to learn it is just like asking yourself if you like math.

[@CalleJonte]

@@MidnightCrescent true. Math isn’t fun, but it helps you.

[@i_jetlag]

Learning music theory after trying to produce music as a hobby for years was full of "Aha" moments. 100% worth the time.

[@Itachi-gp8sv]

I can relate

[@twilightbiscuit]

totally true, 100% 🔥

[@urphakeandgey6308]

A great quote related to forcing creativity: _"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working."_ - Pablo Picasso

[@ahom_ahom_ahom]

He knew better than most. 😇

[@shadowbeastsb573]

No joke, this dude is great! Authentic, calm and based information. No big letters and clickbait and other annoying stuff. Love him! My favorite mixing channel on the great wide web. Keep up the awesome work!

[@inthemix]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@Zeala_Isaacs]

Mature and professional ❤❤

[@Chromic_Friend]

The 'inspiration' bit... ugh, it is much bigger issue than most people are willing to lend credence to and you covered it perfectly. My Fiancee and I often make music together. all too often, I'll sit at the desk, ready to just see what happens and she will hit me with the ol' "I'm just not inspireddd" *queue my blood pressure rising* Why depend on working around such a fickle and undefinable variable? We have wasted more time than I care to mention just debating the validity of whether it's worth doing creative tasks while "uninspired" which coincidentally, totally kills the mood for creativity. There's a favorite quote from one of my favorite OG 'creators' Leonardo DaVinci saying: "Stagnant water loses its purity, and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigour of the mind." I apply that to so much of my life, production and writing included. the way I see it, the more you're actually DOING the thing you want something big to come from, the higher the chance of it happening. And not just by chance, but as you said, through the means of you building a deeper understanding of your craft, and doing it so often that it becomes second nature. only in that semi-autonomous state can you get out of your own way, and inspiration may strike when you're in the right place for once.

[@inthemix]

I didn’t know that was DaVinci, what an amazing quote. I used to believe that you should wait until the inspiration strikes. While the universe can bring me amazing ideas and motivation, I didn’t want to be at the whim of it entirely!

[@Chromic_Friend]

It's definitely a two sided coin. I can certainly understand the allure of not wanting to taint your creations with 'uninspired' performances or ideas. but you'll also be holding your self back, quantitatively speaking. And yes- it was a powerful thing to read, that quote- to me, someone who struggled with the stagnation induced by depression. constantly doing something is an easy medicine for such an affliction, and a happy byproduct is when it's music, whether practicing an instrument, or producing, you get tasty fruits of your labor! Still mean to send you some music to judge! @@inthemix

[@PoIapopo]

I think this hits dead on. Also it's cue not queue sorry to be annoying

[@No.17TypeS]

IMO another component to this that isn’t talked about a lot, is that a lot of people don’t allow themselves to be bored. There’s a constant need to do something, to have some kind of stimulation and not just be there doing nothing. When you just letting it happen, it’s often when you’ll actually be creative and find new ways to do stuff. Bashing random keys on a piano and finding out that that your strange BbmMaj7add9#13 actually sounds cool can be fuel for a song. Same with just randomly tapping a rhythm on your legs or a table or whatever. Trying out synth presets. Playing an instrument in ways you shouldn’t be supposed to play. More than 50% of my ideas come from that. Just picking up my guitar and fretting random notes and see what sounds nice. Hint: it sounds nice a lot more often than you’d think. IMO, inspiration isn’t something that comes and goes. While it can self-ignite, it’s often just waiting for that initial spark to burn bright.

[@rovermakoto]

the first piece of advice about inspiration is something i also learned the hard way. so over the course of 2023 i decided i’d make a full song once a month, whether i released them or not was not important. by the end of year i noticed my skills/workflow had improved a lot and i’d sometimes even end up making two tracks in a month! building that discipline is actually gonna fuel your creativity more than you think.

[@inthemix]

I’m genuinely glad its working for you. I felt the same way. I’ve too often waited for the right moment to arrive and it never did! Better to stay consistent and healthy.

[@AnymMusic]

I've got SO many just small ideas that never went anywhere from me trying to brute force a song out. Works every time with all the frustration lmao

[@SubZer0HDx]

im about to do the same thing this year. im djing for 10 years (26 now) and started producing 1 1/2 year ago. It's hard for me to get the idea on the table if you know what i mean, due to my listenig is so much more better than working in my daw and get everything done i wish for. I just need to try and work for it as often as i can, WITHOUT PRESSURE MYSELF, and now i do more often just finish some projects with things i can do, instead of stopping due to not getting something right like i wanted it to be in the first place. this year 2/12 wanted finished tracks. let's go have fun guys, most important part :D

[@Itachi-gp8sv]

Exactly, focus on quantity not quality in the beginning

[@Dave1507]

So that's the reason for all these 10 minute/1hr/10hrs challenges? Or one of them, because they also create content, all while improving their skills and doing what they love. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me (and I mean that, no sarcasm to be detected)

[@MildExplosion]

YES! On running, I've heard "the race is a celebration of your training" and it really stuck with me. "The inspired session is a celebration of your practice" is something for me to dwell on. I often get discouraged by having to stop and figure things out instead of staying tuned into the musical idea that's inspired me. Love this video format, please make more!

[@Lolwutdesu9000]

These videos are not just welcome, they're necessary. The bad advice prevalent on the internet is not only a nuisance, but can actually be very detrimental to anybody's journey in learning how to make music, whether professionally or just as a hobby. It's our duty to shut down rubbish advice as soon as it rears its ugly head. Please, more of these videos!!!

[@DCayce]

As for ‘should you do more of these,’ I’d say ‘yes, please.’ It’s so hard to know what’s legit and what’s not, in terms of best practices, especially in this age of splitting hairs. Just because we have the ability to get microscopically granular about every little thing doesn’t mean it’s a good idea, or practical. Nice to have a voice of reason in the mix. Really appreciate your work, Michael.

[@inthemix]

Thank you for the feedback. I think I will keep making more like this.

[@ZigbertD]

Learning music theory really does two things IMO. It gives you a way to understand and communicate things that you already know but don't have a formal description for. And it gives you ideas for where you MIGHT go that you didn't know about before. Theory is a description, not a set of rules. It's like a roadmap. A roadmap doesn't dictate where you have to go, it just gives you a clearer overview of where you CAN go. Sure you can drive around and see a lot of interesting things without one, but a map can speed up the process of discovery and help you get places you haven't yet discovered through just blind exploration.

[@inthemix]

That is a really good way to put it. I agree!

[@stx6671]

Problem is that now with all the social media and more popular hobbies that you can learn online (music production, video editing etc,…) that there is SO MUCH clickbait when you think you found the tutorial you needed and its just 15min wasted and people who already dont know what they do themselves and try to make tutorials and “teach” others which just spreads like you said a lot of false information and bad tips

[@inthemix]

The removal of the dislike counter on KZbin has caused permanent damage and allowed clickbait to thrive. It’s a real shame. Most of my videos have a 99.9% like to dislike ratio (1000 likes to every 1 dislike). But without that displayed for the viewer, we can no longer tell the good videos from the bad ones. I wish they would bring it back so viewers can know within seconds of clicking on a video if it’s worth watching!

[@growingoaks]

This is one reason why gatekeeping is not a bad thing. Gatekeeping stops, low effort like you described, especially since the only barrier entry is having a computer and a microphone, and sometimes not even the microphone.

[@jonkthompson]

I am definitely here for all of it! Given your experience, I think the majority of the community trust you to give us just enough information to allow us to make educated decision based on the advice you provide. For that, I say thank you sir!

[@hellcat5music]

Hey Michael! I'd LOVE to see more of these "debunking" videos about bad advice.

[@3rdStoreyChemist]

You’re absolutely right about this sort of gain staging! If you’re going to apply any sort of processing to a signal, then it should be because that signal needed that processing, so matching the level to the unprocessed signal is a pointless waste of time. A/Bing the two is even more damaging, because you’re now giving credence to the unprocessed signal that you’d decided needed processing! It’s very easy to then start not going far enough with processing and not getting the results you wanted. If something is too compressed, it should sound too compressed, not because it sounds too compressed compared to the unprocessed signal, because it always will do!

[@MightyMetalex]

i think knowing music theory doesn’t limit you, but rather gives you the ability to choose ideas that you normally do. a good example of someone who uses music theory in a creative way is jacob collier. incredible musician and he teaches you how to do it as well

[@inthemix]

My thoughts exactly. After saying “clearly no one can know all of it” I immediately thought of Jacob, who might literally know all of it!

[@ywenp]

> that you normally do I suspect you meant "that you normally don't"?

[@DomSigalas]

Incredibly well said Michael! All these needed to get said 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@inthemix]

Thanks Dom!

[@xoxb2]

I'm more experienced in other art forms than music, but your first point is really strong. One way to avoid a sense of drudgery is to remain lightly detached and playful. Knitting your brow and chewing your pen is the worst way to make good art. I once took a class from a successful screenwriter. He made us all write down the name of a character, fold the paper over, and swap around the room. Then we wrote on our new piece of paper a profession, then swapped, and so on through a place, an action they took and another character they did it to. Like the children's game of drawing a hat, a head, a body etc, and when you unfold it you have Boris Johnson. Well, when we unfolded our film ideas and read them out, one or two were too crazy to be of use, one or two were dull, but the majority were really engaging opening scenes of a movie. It was a really good lesson in creative detachment. You can always tidy things up later - editing is easier than writing.

[@inthemix]

Thanks for sharing that memory with us. It’s definitely important to stay light and not pile the pressure on.

[@Bassstefstick]

I barely leave comments on youtube, but everytime a channel mentions people leaving negative comments I feel like I should also take the time to write something, since people with negative things to say are usually the first to do so. I've been watching your videos for years now, I remember how happy I was when I discovered your channel and since then, I have watched every one of your videos (many multiple times). Thanks for creating such quality content and making it so easy for anybody to access this knowledge!

[@samuelbanstan]

Your videos have helped me so much! I really appreciate how considerate you are when giving advice, it’s the mark of a great teacher! There are so many channels and videos on here that are in it to make a quick buck and some that even prey on beginners by selling them unnecessary junk. I’m very thankful for your work on here, it’s always well considered, clearly explained, and honest. Thank you!!!

[@Sugah2]

5:45 I just level match to what my ears are hearing. Nothing beats nature's metering.

[@maplefoxx6285]

same, i've heard so many people talk about gain staging and to me it doesn't make a lot of sense

[@harshalthakur1479]

the whole vibe of your channel and every video is so positive, it's like an uplift for me to create great music and the advices are always helpful. been watching ur videos since my day 1 of music production. thanks for being a great youtuber and advisor ❤❤

[@shangdiarbrosofficialnalas5662]

Totally IN the mix, Vories and Edwan over and over again is my root background why am here making humble good music

[@noahrofsky3255]

Do people actually say music theory ruins creativity? I have personally never heard/read this before, and was honesty shocked to hear that. Also, 1:30 is probably the biggest thing for me. I don’t think people talk about that enough in videos or any forum posts. Don’t fully push creating to the side, it can turn into disinterest. I tried to let things happen “naturally” like you stated in the video, but that lead to me not having any more ideas than I started with at the beginning of my break, spiraling me into a creatively vegetative state. It had been a few months since I touched my computer up until 2024. Thank you for posting this, I needed a little push.

[@inthemix]

I’m glad you’re getting back into your music. I see the music theory comments on a daily or weekly basis. If you haven’t been exposed to them, you’re lucky!

[@hendriksilm2637]

Exactly same thing for me, only that I have been in that vegetable state for a few years and it is at the same time killing me inside. I used to make music as a way to express and just have fun by myself and do music I like to hear. Now I struggle to sit behind PC and write same way. So yeah, it seems only logical that it has to be a habit to sit down and just mash something up, bad or good no difference.

[@inthemix]

@@hendriksilm2637 I also think that there has been a shift in the culture of music making in the last few years where everyone feels pressured to release music for commercial success and less are doing it purely as a hobby. Try to create something just for yourself and find what you enjoy maybe?

[@joseluisrevelo]

The thing with gain matching is I like people trying to do it. There are quite a few plugins I would consider smoke and mirrors, playing with your perception by just making things louder.

[@DJTimeLock]

As a software developer a lot of the things you say just sound logical to me. The first thing I ran into when trying to produce music is that i didn't understand a word of the things the tutorials were trying to teach me. You can't write proper software if you don't understand the basics of your programming language. You need those fundamentals to understand what you're doing and even more so to ask for help. Because if you don't know what you're looking for, how can you possibly find it? Same goes for music theory. The better you know it, the cooler tricks you can pull off

[@Zeala_Isaacs]

Since I came across in the mix Micheal...I stop watching others....u are the best sir

[@arrestedeffort]

Man, the first tip applies so heavily to me and my life. I stopped making music for several years because I felt inadequate in my ability to bring my ideas to fruition. I'm only recently relearning everything I knew, but with an actual proper foundation, as well as finally biting the bullet and learning music theory and the fundamentals of using a DAW. I have found it has helped me tremendously and continues to do so.

[@Dave1507]

I'm in the same place right now, I thought "well, looks like this is it, I made every song I had in me, so that's that for music and me, but now I'm back and have already learned so many new tricks in the daw I've been using for a decade now, and I'll start making a new file system fro easier access. Luckily in these times you can find everything you could wish for on YT, so theory doesn't have to be boring. I don't think it is anyway, but maybe that's just me, I like to know things ;)

[@AngelEowyn]

I would find this series extremely helpful especially coming from you!

[@pdwd8978]

First... great video. Do more of these videos where you share your opinion on controversal topics in music. Second... Lately i had my own experience about making more drastic changes in EQ or Compressors when i have the feeling that it needs it. I also found a video of an mixing engineer and he said the same thing. Now the "problem": There are so many mixing/mastering engineers out there saying that you only need to do small changes in the overall mix or a single track. My guess on that is that they already have great studio recordings in an nice environment. But we as beginners don´t have the great equipment, the perfect room or proper knowledge how to record things. I really would like to know your opinion about this and maybe you can tell more about how to know when to make drastic changes and when to make little changes. Greetings from Germany. I love your work.👍

[@inthemix]

Thank you for the feedback and for the video idea. You are right that good tracks need less work and this can result in many top engineers forgetting how much work some mixes need!

[@nurk7964]

I would love seeing this become a series! would help so much

[@pikupikuseru]

I had an interesting experience with learning music theory where, learning about scales and Key Signatures helped me understand harmony within the Key, but I struggled to use harmony outside of the key this wasn't exactly music theory's fault, but this came from myself and my resistance to learn new things. When I would play notes out of key, it always sounded wrong. There was a point I forced myself to just play things out of key on purpose, to get used to the feeling, and overcome this weird internal desire I had for notes to always fall back down to the tonic. all that said, I think music theory helped me a lot with creativity, and has really helped me escape holes I've been stuck in. It's just important to be ready to implement what you learn with playing or a piece you make, so that information goes somewhere, and doesn't dry up by morning

[@nopenheimer]

I absolutely agree about learning music theory. However, I did go through a slump period where I really stopped being able to feel progressions as I explored ideas, and just heard them in a formulaic manner instead. It was a surprisingly strong phenomenon and more than a little discouraging. It resolved after a short while and I now see that it was just a part of the process. My brain was consolidating and integrating new information and was overly focused on it. It soon left they foreground and the knowledge helps immensely since. I had the same thing when I opened learned scales. At first it made improvising HARDER. Before I almost always could hit a valid note on the guitar just by ear, but I couldn't really push hard improving and lacked any confidence. I spent a few weeks learning theory and getting muscle memory for scales and modes... and while I could play completely in key and hit chord tones, I lost the feeling and expressiveness. It came back and I have gotten better than I could have without learning. I guess my point is to not be discouraged if moving forward occasionally feels like falling back. It takes time to integrate new information and make it part of your art.

[@DJPastaYaY]

I find the 2nd tip especially useful. Music theory really does enrich the music making process just like learning how to sound design or mix and master. It's another tool in the toolbox that can really improve your understanding of music and how it really works.

[@Nova_Afterglow]

how was the tip useful if it is something you already knew? 🤔

[@DJPastaYaY]

@@Nova_Afterglow Because knowing music theory is very useful!!

[@inthemix]

@@Nova_Afterglowit can be helpful to learn that your belief is shared. Especially when it goes against conventional beliefs or the normal narrative.

[@maplefoxx6285]

letting go of early expectations is every one's problem starting out i find almost. This one artist i watch on twitch, Ben Burnes, he does chill lofi music and also chip tuney video game music and some relaxed jazz stuff too. He said he has been making music on the computers and with hardware for over 20 years now, he has a ton of albums. His advice to us the other day was just we have to make stuff even if it's not the best, the more you do it, the more you build up your skillset and get better over time. I think that's the issue a lot of us have. I hear this cool music in my mind but can't really get it all out in Midi all the time. I just have to practice more with less expectations for a while

[@andyteel5981]

I so appreciate your content. As always very well communicated. You are a gentleman and a scholar. Thank you for the work you put into these. Side note, your video quality is improving greatly, I know what a task that can be and your hard work is paying off.

[@inthemix]

Thank you for the kind words, I’m definitely putting in a lot more work on the filming and editing. It’s great that it’s being noticed.

[@rome8180]

Thank you! Music theory has made me way more creative, not less. It's expanded my toolkit. When I'm writing a song and I'm looking for the perfect transitional chord or exactly the write melody, I now am not fumbling around at random. I still use my ear and instincts. But I have vast matrix of possibilities of things I know will work well. It speeds up and diversifies the process.

[@rome8180]

Also, the idea that the "greats" don't know music theory is sort of false anyway. Paul McCartney may not know the terminology for anything, but he knows and recognizes thousands of common musical moves. He learned all that stuff while playing hundreds of covers for hours each night in Hamburg early in their career. And he was a devoted music listener while the Beatles were ongoing. So yeah, he doesn't know what a secondary dominant, diminished chord, or Picardy third are, but he uses them throughout his music. He knows what they sound like and when they're best used.

[@inthemix]

@@rome8180you’re absolutely right. Almost every successful musician who “doesn’t know” music theory is simply trying to wound relatable. It’s as though they feel they will be respected less if they say that their talents and skills were learned as opposed to being blessed from a higher power! Furthermore, most as also surrounded by dozens of writers, producers, composers and mixers who are incredibly well educated in music theory.

[@lancealotsullivan717]

Always my favorite dude on KZbin. #1 go-to when I need to figure out ANYTHING music related.

[@dkpianist]

Good as always, thank you. And interesting to see a Graham Hancock book in your hand!

[@tommylafferty7657]

To topic number 2: I'm an American and have been living in Germany over 30 years. Speaking the language has definitely enriched my experience here, however I haven't lost my accent, which has been a way to stay bound to my identity and heritage. So, yes I'd say music theory is fine as long as doesn't constrain my creativity to break the rules. All the best man!

[@ahom_ahom_ahom]

Yes. Theory is good generally applied, with leaps of creativity and rule breaking thrown in.

[@BeeSquared]

Oh my goodness PLEASE make more of these. I feel like a lot of good can come from a series like this!!! Also, maybe this could be a topic from another video, I would love to know how you balance your life between work and play as a full-time engineer. Watching you play with your dog outside made me wanna cry because moments like that are the first thing that gets sacrificed when it comes to hitting deadlines. Anyways, much love from Michigan!!! Enjoy the rest of your day and good luck with the computer! =D

[@inthemix]

Hello back from Scotland. I’ll happily make more like this. I’ve got a few more controversial topics planned. When it comes to work-life balance I’ve found over the years that I cannot balance it well. I have decided that I simply must compromise and take on less work/fewer projects and plan deliberate time off that I cannot compromise on. It’s been challenging for me but it’s the only way I’ve managed to consistently eat healthier, exercise and have fun with my loved ones (including Solo, my dog). I envy people who have a great work life balance because I tend towards imbalance… If you want to chat more sometime, please do join our discord server. Many of us share thoughts about work and life there.

[@BeeSquared]

That sounds wonderful, Michael. Thank you for the invitation!!! It's nice knowing that tending towards imbalance isn't an uncommon thing. Forcing yourself to make the right sacrifices sounds like the best next course of action. Again, thank you so much, and I'll see you soon!! =)

[@stanleyassor3172]

The bit about music theory, its very resonant. Michael Jackson did not know music theory, did not care about it and actually said it was not necessary. But his producers, from the legendary Quincy Jones, to the lesser known ones knew music theory inside out

[@inthemix]

Michael Jackson deeply knew music theory even if he could not explain it on a technical level. He was exposed to melody, harmony and rhythm daily from such a young age that his understanding became pure intuition and didn’t require the mental effort and tax that it requires when learning later in life. Your comment is still completely valid, the producers are also deeply knowledgeable which is required in order to hold everything together. Many highly skilled people claim to not know xyz in an attempt to be humble, come across as relatable or simply to shift the (embarrassing) attention from themselves and onto a more important matter. Many of the kindest and most thoughtful people dismiss their own talents and skills like this and it should not be taken as truth, at least in my opinion!

[@skyrixdreamer4802]

I'm always open to advices of people who have more experience than me and that i believe they're pros on their field. Thank you for always taking the time to guide us all in our creative journey!!

[@tenzinkelsang3336]

Because of you I’m familiar with fl studio and music theory. I learned lot from you and still learning sir. Thank you so much for your work and time

[@SuperMeah]

Wanted to say your videos have been an invaluable resource for me as I've been making videos on my channel. You have an awesome ability to both have a deep understanding of the topic while explaining it on a level that I and many others can understand and implement. Thanks so much for all the hard work you've done over the years to bring us these tutorials!

[@hdslave]

This was a wonderful video man, great work. I can feel the amount of time you've spent working on these things and the words you say have wisdom to them

[@D-Tone-Official]

I have used to watch your videos when I get stucked in the past and I've learned a lot and wanted to say thank you for sharing your knowledge.. Thanks to you and few more guys I reached high level of production. Thanks once again.

[@hendriksilm2637]

Thanks for this video! I really am struggling with motivation and ideas, through last few years I´ve had spikes in that section but nothing consistent. Also reading the comments helps to gather ideas how to finally fight this battle with writing music and actually having fun again with it on a regular basis (as my skills in sounddesign and mixing have improved through all these years) and release something to the world again :)

[@wanote26]

Great stuff!! Please make more of these, because it's really helpful in order to save time in the future, and also to detect BS!!

[@official_sh4d]

The first piece of advice was the best imo. Great video as always. 👍

[@inthemix]

I was thinking I’d saved the best for last but I’m very glad it helped. Thanks!

[@johnpauldavies7033]

A year ago I was so into mixing and learning the processes of each plug in, learning how to compress, gain stage, EQ and saturation that I forgot how to be creative and lost the love of making music at all. I do believe that there is a balance and i applaud you for debunking some of these theories. I am starting again after some time away from mixing to try and master the balance without being too meticulous when it comes to each plugin, especially gain staging

[@trv503]

Real Talk Mike, this video was sorely needed by any of us who produce music and who has been watching your videos. I have learned that gain staging, is critical....prior to recording my MIDI tracks and prior to starting the mixing process. In regard to the creative process, I always try to create audio notes in my phone when I'm away from my home studio. When I was prepping to demo Gullfoss at the NYC Imsta festa last year, I tried to make sure that the static mix and the Gullfoss mix were at the same loudness. The Gullfoss mix also included my usual tape and channel strip plugs, but I wanted to make sure that there was no change in the loudness change between the mix scenes. I wanted to make the plugin shine along with the track I created. Keep these vids coming Mike...along with some notes on Mastering. Love the Puppy also!!!

[@neonvoid]

music theory can be both enriching and limiting depending where you want to go

[@JonasBatti]

I love the increased video quality! Awesome advices!!

[@inthemix]

I’m glad it’s being noticed. I’ve really tried to step it up this past year.

[@astrofreq]

PLEASE make more of these. They are super helpful.

[@inthemix]

Gladly!

[@beatsbeanie]

Amazing vid, I'm pretty sure we want more vids like this. I love how you were so transparent and genuine with the stuff you said!

[@inthemix]

I’m glad you liked it!

[@glennlittle7955]

My experience with music theory over the last year or so is that it has made me both more creative and more productive. And it hasn't been that hard: Find the right videos online, put some of it into practice, find the next one, ... KZbin is a goldmine (although you have to sift through the fool's gold too). A little theory has enabled me to turn ideas into songs much more easily. It has also introduced me to new scales and has given me the tools to learn how to use them to create melodies and harmonies that are a little different. It has enabled me to make music that I am really proud of and that I could not possibly have made before. I'm no expert but I've learnt enough to be extremely useful to me and also to have given me the grounding to enable me to understand further theory if and when I need to or feel that it would be beneficial.

[@ndinamamidzha4177]

I suffer from the first point, it's devastating running out of talent in a somewhat productive session. The project files start to pile up.

[@inthemix]

Most of us (me included) have suffered from this and still do. It’s a real challenge

[@HobbertSharp]

Perhaps not everyone feels this way, but diving a bit deeper into something like gain staging is personally more interesting/valuable to me than the previous points you brought up. The other points were very general, sort of philosophical/way of life advice. And while those points were fair, it was the kind of advice I've heard so much. They're more about the creative process than they are about specific technical knowledge to execute that process. And I'm personally more interested in the technical specificity, because I have way more gaps in knowledge where that is concerned. Thank you for the video, though. :)

[@inthemix]

Thanks, I’ll make the next video much more technical then!

[@Cinnjerm24]

Number one is so true. I get that in my mind I always remember my best ideas for songs as being things that came to me spontaneously in the shower (I've gotten a lot of good ideas that way), but the truth is, if I actually really think back, most of my really good ideas came from me just messing around on the keyboard previewing presets until I stumbled into a song. Put another way, I usually only remember the eureka moment when I realized I had something, but not the hours of messing around that led up to that moment.

[@sonicairmusic]

Excellent honest video. Question to everyone who calls themselves a musician or composer of any level: How can anyone actually ‘write’ or ‘compose’ real music, without even knowing some basic foundations of music theory? If you don’t know what notes and chords you are playing, you’re probably a the same as a darts player, aiming with their eyes closed. I see soooo many adverts and stupid people online who call themselves ‘Music Producers’. They’re all just dragging and dropping pre-recorded samples, midi loops and applying automatic effects. It’s one lower than any form of A.I!!! You’re either a musician who knows what you’re doing, or just pretending to be.

[@LeBrinqueOfficial]

This is THE best channel for learning about music production! You are doing an amazing job! Even though i have produced for ages, i still always learn from you! Thank You!

[@zoeydionne6378]

Awesome video. Would Def watch more of these if you make them.

[@inthemix]

I definitely will make more. It’s been really shocking to see how many people needed this sort of clarity in today’s age of content!

[@tomlewis4748]

There are a few aspects of gain staging that still apply, but for the most part it's an anachronism. It was critical back in the day when everything was analog for two reasons: 1) The effective dynamic range of analog was something on the order of 60-65 dB, while today, the dynamic range of 24 bit digital is 144 dB. IOW, the noise floor was an issue, and now it really isn't. It's still good practice to set levels near the top of the available dynamic range, but not nearly as important as it used to be. 2) Analog has a transfer curve. The general idea was to operate in the flat part of that curve to avoid distortion. And then operating up near the top part where it's a little more curved, became a thing, because that added saturation. Digital does not have a transfer curve, because it is nothing more than math, and math does not have a transfer curve. Wherever you set the level, assuming it's below zero dBFS, it will not add distortion or saturation. Saturation can only be added by using secondary processing designed to do exactly that. This makes where you set the level much less important. And if you work inside the domain of 32 bit float where the theoretical signal to noise ratio is something on the order of 1500 dB, level setting is almost not a factor at all. So the rules of analog just do not apply to digital, but those rules seem to have a zombie life to them. The echoes of those rules can still be heard from those who have not evolved beyond them. It was great advice in 1983. It's not 1983 anymore. Of course analog is not dead. Level setting for guitar amps, for instance, is still critical. Level setting should be done properly, but gain staging is really kind of a thing of the past. It's not the only anachronism. Busing became the thing to do based on a lack of inputs, a lack of tracks, a lack of processing power, and a lack of plug-ins or hardware devices. But there really is no sonic advantage to busing, and we do not have a paucity of inputs, tracks, processing power, or plug-ins in the 21st-century. About its only advantage is it gives one the ability to control more than one source using a single fader or adjustment. That doesn't improve the mix. About the only place where gain staging is important is if you're using a plug-in that has a sweet spot. Most modern plug-ins don't. But some do. It can be important to hit that sweet spot.

[@SounflowProductions]

Very helpful, have been distracted by play time, rather than creative time. And yet I know, when I practice and create more often, my quality of production increases to the next level.

[@rubenfigueroa4980]

Please continue making this kind of videos, I think that you hear every type of advise on social media and most of the time you just get more and more confuse while mastering

[@Percevalko]

This should definitely be a series

[@inthemix]

I’m definitely going to make it a series. Perhaps dealing with only 1 topic at a time and going into more detail.

[@Sluppie]

Music theory has helped me out a lot, but it's been more useful to me as a diagnostic tool to figure out what's going wrong in a track rather than a paint-by-numbers process to follow in order to make music. Art will often break its own rules, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't know what those rules are.

[@JayVucci]

It’s good to test out new ideas. I know you started with a good point saying you wanted a lift people up. Just be careful not to talk negatively about people because it’s not you. Over the years, you’ve demonstrated consistent integrity and humility that I personally think is rare and valuable. I’m only saying this, because this subject could point you in a direction where you end up talking badly about others and potentially turning bitter. I know you would regret this in the future. Best regards!

[@inthemix]

You are absolutely right. I’ve got not space for bitterness on this channel, I think what we have here at In The Mix is truly unique and I don’t want that to change!

[@SerhiiBaskakov]

Thank you for the video! Really agree that going into much details can impede creative process. We need to balance between theory and inspiration.

[@pickyourselfofficial]

Haha I literally get the same comments on so many videos I put out: “You forgot to level-match this or that” which just means “I caught you. This discredits everything you just showed.” Really feel you there ;)

[@backroomsuperstar]

I was bought FL Studio as a present just over a year ago to keep me busy, and this guy has probably kept me sane. So that I could fit in the hours to get relatively up to speed on it, and maintain a marriage (barely), and family (I think they were here this morning?), I was getting up at 4.30am and giving Michael some of my best hours before life starts for most people. He was getting even more time on the weekends when I could afford him more time. He never lost his patience, or became too demanding like they could be. Of course, I'm joking (not about the hours kept!), but thanks for the vids buddy, much appreciated.

[@burning_KFC]

As always writing a comment to support the channel

[@inthemix]

Thank you!

[@hugoboss3689]

Good Video! Also thanks for the clip of you playing with the dog in the snow. That was adorbs lol

[@ForkySeven]

Learning music theory is what allows me to have full control over what I create. I don't have to sit around and wait for inspiration, I can just create music literally whenever I want and however I want.

[@rae_jonas_7]

I'd love to see this series of videos being continued :D

[@khashayartoranji3510]

you are always perfect in your job, actually impressive and useful. unfortunately I'm in this kind of trouble right now and prefer to look this video again and again and again. Deeply appreciation.

[@mykair4679]

You’re awesome bro! You’ve helped a lot of us over these years man(you wouldn’t believe😅) thank you for your consistency bro! Luv the B scenes in this video btw bro!!

[@inthemix]

I’m goad you appreciated them!

[@MulaMusic67]

Good tips, thanks. Love the puppy! 😎

[@lerandersh8821]

I really enjoy your logic and framing of problems. It takes a good deal of introspection and cultivation to discern wide spread Monkey see Monkey doer ineffectiveness. Being LOUD and arguing about anything is a survival strategy for people who can't reason. But they are very good at drowning out the more conscious and tolerant competition. That's life xD

[@aron7444]

Man, even before watching this i know i need more videos like this. Thank you so much

[@eanfran]

as someone who studies music , the music theory one is sooo frustrating to see people say. Many think that music theory is strictly classical music theory, its not. If you seriously don't know music theory to at least basic chord theory, I don't know how you can realistically create music that isn't either a specific discipline (hip hop production comes to mind, as it relies a lot on sampling) or something incredibly avante garde. Learn music theory!

[@robertparkside2571]

Great video. I would watch more on this topic for sure. Having been involved in a few music projects over the years, I have only recently (3 years) been working on the technical side. Thank you

[@peterbondmusic]

Thank you for talking about level matching (auto gain) ... because there is no such thing strictly speaking, it is at best an interpretation.

[@afsaudio]

Useful video as usual man, Thank you for making content like this...👍

[@dopebeatproductions6164]

My dogs react the same way when I say “let’s go for a walk” love my dogs!

[@kleeenco]

I'm just here for the cute dog at the end

[@AcousticWisdom]

More of this, please. 🙏 Maybe this is the time period to clean up all the unhelpful/false stuff out there.

[@imnotmatthew]

Always so sweet with good intentions ❤ More of these, yes please!

[@hilbertshotel]

1. Music theory is essential if you care about your craft. Sure, it’s possible to write a great song w/o having any idea what you’re doing from a composition/songwriting perspective, but that’s the exception that proves the rule, in my opinion. 2. Gain-staging ≠ gain-matching. Staging is essential. Use pre-faders to give yourself enough mixing/mastering headroom, and treat peaks and sibilants with direct edits before compression, EQ, FX, etc. (if you need it).

[@beendoinked]

Definitely enjoyed this video! Would love to hear more!

[@Bula_NH]

Great video. I was thinking about making a serie of music production process inspirations as some friends of mine asked me for my opinion about their tracks and what could they do with them because they're stuck. I'd say my production skill level is somewhere below intermediate but that is the moment I learn the most and I get a lot of inspirations listening to advanced productions and begginer productions as well because it makes me to get a simple ideas to improve the track that I haven't work on. It really makes my brain starts working :). I think finding the right guidence is also important and for me this channel is the right place. Greetings to all music enthusiasts and stay confident and humble - that is the most important principle of harmony :)

[@Meowity]

Could you make a tutorial where you merge two different singing voices (not the same person) to one voice that is a mix of the voices?

[@brtlee1922]

Thanks for your videoes. I have been learning music production again after 10 years without playing any instruments. your videoes truly taught me a lot useful tips.

[@Nick_santana1]

The only case where I feel like gain staging is necessary is when recording real instruments or microphones, gain staging is good for getting the loudest input level possible without clipping the pre-amps (not the fader in the DAW), but for synths or samples it really doesn't matter.

[@inthemix]

Absolutely. I hope no one is arguing against that sort of gain staging when recording and using analogue gear.

[@Quadr44t]

Very much agree with the stuff about gain-matching. I have tried gain-matchers in the past. But it is too much of a hassle to do it for every FX you use in your processing. In practice I find I am doing much the same as you describe. Just roughly matching gain by ear and give it no more thought.

[@lars4422]

Very down to earth advise, thank you!

[@AKAtAGG]

I've been watching your channel for - well, probably from close to the start (you had sub-1000 subs when i joined), and this is already my favourite video you've done.

[@CybermutT713]

They say don't force creativity, but in most creative works like writing and visual art, its common practice to use prompts to keep your creativity flowing. What I like to do is use a random generator to give myself a BPM, Key and Genre, and just see what I can make in 30 minutes to an hour.

[@neilmaile2442]

Definitely good advise given here. I dont think you will bore anyone with this amazing share. Thanks