Why Your Mixes Sound MUDDY And BLOATED (4 Easy Fixes!)

[@FrightboxRecording]

►► Mixing Cheatsheet w/ Multitrack Download! → Get FREE access to the Crisp & Clear Heavy Mix Formula HERE:frightboxrecordingacademy.com/heavy-mix-formula/

[@Simula77]

Well I can’t handle the truth! I want to hear that I lack tools not skills. It’s so much easier to accept that I need to spend money on new plugins rather than having to learn the basics. Don’t you care about my ego?!

[@sasquatchisnotreal2529]

👏👏 great post. I've found it gets very expensive trying to buy your way to a better mix!

[@djoHn548]

It’s a combo for me. The more knowledge I gain the better my mixes get, but there are some plugins that just help get the right sounds. Gotta find the happy middle between gear/software and understanding what you’re doing.

[@natan_abdala]

Rule 4 is gold! Thanks for the reminder!

[@dougleydorite]

FINALLY, a creative thumbnail 😂 props

[@JeserNoob]

I did a double take with the thumbnail hahahaha I love it

[@jann_rygh]

The BLOAT 🐐🐡😂

[@TabascoVolta]

Bahahaha this video image.

[@Luke_Lumberjack_Music]

Bobby: a little automation goes a long way - it doesn't have to be things like sidechaining or dynamic EQ. The internet advertisement: Producers hate him for this one weird trick 😂😂

[@vincentpeer5188]

Man, this is stuff I was JUST starting to realize after 5 years of mixing on my own. So cool to see an experienced mixing engineer just state these ideas clearly and simply. I think I’m going to take your course.

[@quexalcoatl]

Thanks for this excellent tutorial man. I'm still learning and producing heavy music it takes next to nothing to clog a mix.

[@joepacevicius785]

Bobby "THE TRUTH" Torres!

[@adrianwade3562]

The truth is out there (I want to believe) 🛸

[@drrodopszin]

Mono compatibility came back with certain Bluetooth speakers. I have a Marshall one and it's just sad listening to rock and metal on it. (The irony.)

[@theophany1770]

That thumbnail!🤣

[@Musicore08]

My mixes sound bloated after just 10 tracks! 😅 😢 Learning so much from your lessons after being lost in my DAW for a long time 🤘👍🤘

[@music7studios]

100% Bobby. If a mix was a car, EQ and compression would be like the tires and the gas. That's how I think of it anyway. These topics are glossed over by many tutorials, for some reason, which makes people spend years playing 'catch up' from not focusing on the correct things. Bobby's Frightbox Mix Crypt has helped me a lot with the issues I was having, I recommend it to anyone that is interested in mixing Metal/Rock.

[@amigo_official8333]

Is it normal for your amp sim guitar to sound muddy by it self ? I feel like I struggle to get a clean spanky sound. I even have archtype nolly which is considered a top class amp sim. What could be wrong ? I tend to feel like if the drums aren't good, the guitars will not sound good in context

[@Randuski]

volume automation is such a big deal. just volume in general, like, if you can't hear something turning up the volume is usually the right answer, but most people grab compressors and eq haha but volume automation is such a big deal and people seem really afraid to do it idk why. the only thing i disagree with here is hard panning. i almost never heard pan anything, because of headphones. with speakers, it's totally fine, because both ears can hear both speakers. but once you put headphones on, it becomes really unnerving to listen to. I'll pan guitars pretty far, but i always want a little signal on the other side. 90% if people are listening on headphones, so that's my focus

[@nelnich4445]

Bobby should i use your guide to mix eq and comp with my drums? Right now I'm just using native instruments studio drummer and I think they may already be eq and comped. Thanks

[@MATCHLESS789]

I recently started using keyboards in my music and I see that you hard pan your keys L/R - are they entirely separate performances just like guitar or are they copy pasted, or just using slightly different sounds, or does it entirely depend on what kind of sounds you're using?

[@CologneRob]

Can you make a Video about how you did the vox Mixing to this song?

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

Instead of automating volume for short loud parts I just duplicate that bit and have that louder. Its faster then volume automation.

[@theopinson3851]

Hmm the new Lorna Shore definitely didn’t follow rule #1, lol. I do have to say you sold me on automation a while ago and it’s definitely true that it makes a huge difference!

[@AlbertodeVictoria]

Hi bobby, we need hearing exercises. It seems easy to eq moves and automate here and there; but to hear what we need to balance its challenging.

[@mehditayshun5595]

Yeah, my mixes sound bloated, gassy belchy AND incontinent 😖 😪

[@misanthropolist1808]

I struggle most with my mix sounds “Hollow”…I think?

[@fromaggio7654]

Can you talk about expanders? Because that really elevated my bass guitar, held it in one place

[@Stevo7388]

Say specifically 1 more time. I dare you!

[@theaviary238]

So I have to mix on headphones and not even good ones. But I can't afford room simulation software or monitors. How can one in this position achieve a good mix?

[@rome8180]

I personally LOVE doing automation. It might be my favorite part of mixing. Maybe I'm just more okay with tedium than most? But I automate almost everything. Bass and vocals get the most automation. Obviously, I compress. But there will still be notes that jump out or get lost. And that's just volume automation. That's not even getting into automating reverb, delay, panning, etc. I do disagree with the L-C-R panning advice, however. For every mixer that does L-C-R, you can find one who's equally successful who doesn't. And I've even heard several famous mixers say they reserve all the way left and right for the final chorus. If everything is panned all the way at the beginning, you have nowhere to go. Plus, you're not taking advantage of the full stereo field. You're basically just creating three mono mixes: one in the center, one hard left, and one hard right. The entire point of panning is finding a space where an instrument can slot in and be more audible. If you do L-C-R, you're ignoring a lot of potential spaces. Maybe that's different from genre to genre? And if it works for you, who am I to knock it? But I don't think it should be viewed as a rule or even a guideline. There are obviously plenty of very successful people it doesn't work for.

[@svensvensson2724]

He says 32 is not a lot of tracks. The Beatles had 4...

[@kirayagami]

Couldn't stop laughing at that Cover! 😂

[@ron28688]

This is fast becoming my new favourite channel. Thanks for the uploads man!

[@teashea1]

good video - simplicity is a virtue.

[@demondrug7788]

There's been an issue bothering me lately. I record DI guitars through my interface into Neural DSP Gojira Archetype. I record 2 main guitars, panned left and right and 2 extra guitars with a more heavy tone as layers to boost the main guitars (they are quiet, just a slight boost). Also panned left and right. The issue I'm having is that they sound very phasy. My correlation jumps between -0.2 and 0.2 (makes sense, since these are 4 different takes). I've checked the polarity and everything is fine but I just CAN'T get the punch out of these guitars. Even if, for example, my palm mutes are all perfect, it just doesn't sound good. When playing power chords in a faster way, as I said, they sound very phasy. I don't know how to fix this problem. I've researched that it is a common issue with DI guitar tracks running through Amp sims but I haven't been successful in finding a solution to this problem. Is anyone of you guys able to help?

[@burneraccounthandle]

did you ever figure this out?

[@synapticschism]

I have a feeling that most home mixers like myself simply love the feeling of using "advanced" techniques. I know I did this a lot in the past. Most of my tracks nowadays are basically good source, good routing, EQ and compression. I don't shy away of doing a sidechain dynamic EQ (just recorded a video on this that's why I'm referring specifically to it) but it has to be purposeful while in the past I was convinced that applying all of these "tricks" was actually mixing well. That is the wrong mindset.

[@thalamusDecimation]

that thumbnail is pure nightmare fuel

[@bfunkadelicmusic]

I mixed a band a few years ago and we ran into the issue of having too many tracks. We reamped and used three or four mics on the cab but they sent 10-12 different guitar tracks. I ended up just muting a lot of those tracks and they couldn’t tell. Lol

[@FrightboxRecording]

Yup, I've definitely been there...many times.

[@iliatilev]

Love the thumbnail 😂

[@_Ghostlike_]

GOAT

[@MatthewLacasse-z5w]

cheatsheet is great thanks!

[@Ste20389]

LMAO THAT THUMBNAIL 😭

[@steveblackaby576]

Since doing your course (which I reference frequently), automation has become one of my favourite parts of the process. The ability to create dynamics by simple volume automation is quite rewarding

[@h.p.dominocus]

Best thumbnail ever!! haha

[@CLCyber]

Good tips and just listened to the full song you produced! It is awesome! Keep it up 💪

[@marekvoosen]

Do you automate your panning over time of the track? Thanks

[@FrightboxRecording]

I definitely use pan automation, but not on every mix. I do use volume automation in almost every mix.

[@piscesman54]

Why does every metal mixing engineer showcase their pet techniques on metal? What about normal music? In metal, everything is over the top, WAY over the top, so of course it's easy to get bloated mixes. These techniques may work for metal, but not for most other genres. It would asinine to apply the same approach to a soft folk balad.

[@J50-q4p]

Metal engineer showcasing techniques on metal how outrageous 😂

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

Change your name to Phil, and harden the fuck up! 😁🤘

[@LetsTalkAboutReaper]

Excellent advice, as usual!

[@CrushingAxes]

That's a very cool thumbnail! Awesome tips!!! 👏👏👏👏

[@RandyBakkelund]

I'm always using volume automation on my blast beats for the bass drum and snare drum for my programmed drums, it makes a big difference. Otherwise the blastbeats come in wayyy too loud, and muddy too. I use volume automation on my guitars where I see fit too. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that does that, which I'm sure I'm not, but I don't hear about it like you said.

[@DeanBothaMusic]

You are the GOAT!🤘 Thank you for this video, man!

[@whome806]

The question thats confusing to me lets say you are doing LCR Panning and you have: 2 rythm guitar tracks hard panned playing the same riff. Would you double track the lead guitar player and hard Pan those aswell? 4 hard panned guitar tracks in total. Then removed those doubled lead riffs for the Solo

[@rodhorncastle]

Your mentioning of L R C panning really made my latest mix better. I was panning everywhere for the last few years. Now it sounds more like AC/DC's Back In black type production. As does automation. Thanks buddy.

[@cheapmusicgear]

Keep it simple, y’all. That’s one of the best pieces of advice for anyone pursuing anything. It applies here, as well as in many different avenues of life. Less is more. Think of mixing as solving problems. It’s easy to think it’s a matter of doing tons of things to make it better, and using tons of tools for that same purpose. Your fixing problems in the sound of the song when you’re mixing.

[@CR3271]

Actually, number four was the least shocking to me. I was far more surprised by the first point. I mean it makes sense, but for some reason I always thought automating the kick drum volume was a bandaid and meant I was doing something fundamentally wrong with my mix.

[@jettrainbow]

I definitely thought this was going to be about muddiness as in too much mid range but still a good video. I'm definitely going to try some of these in the future.

[@JTguitarlessons]

One cool trick... if you automate the first hit of a chorus (bring up the first bass note, guitar note, kick, and overheads) just about half a db, it can really make the chorus hit hard.

[@villemuona2005]

I've to admit overlooking the bass drum automation. Nice! Thanks!

[@jr81tehauno]

Yo! Just wanna say Ive learned so much from your videos, Thanks for sharing knowledge! My question is: When dealing with the Kick in the Metal genre (kick samples), Can you compress the Kick to where the db comes down during fast double pedals or is it best to automate?

[@DoretteHylton]

Do you use outboard gear?

[@FrightboxRecording]

Nope, not in over a decade.

[@adrianwade3562]

Thank u Bobby!!! Do u hard pan the lead? I noticed the dueling leads r panned 50% for one n 60% for the other, I usually only have one lead track and one solo, always panned up the center - 50% tax again for the endless stream of solid info -- your literally saving lives out here

[@psychicer5022]

Great video! all your tips have been game changers, I do still struggle with getting my mix to translate well to anywhere else but my studio Monitors/headphones. I check in like 4 different cars and i get 4 diffrent results. Its getting better tho. thanks again for all the info you share

[@mangybones]

Dude, this was a great video! I feel like these are the biggest flaws I've been guilty of in the past. I think our current album I'm working on is gonna benefit exponentially from your videos. Thanks for putting this stuff out there, Bobby! 😎🤘

[@philcodeca]

I like to hard pan my rhythm guitars in mixes and in verses, I’ll automate them in a touch, then when the chorus hits, I’ll pull them 100% wide. It gives such a big wide jump when going into the chorus

[@anthonydahl5454]

That panning tip was a AH HA ! Moment for me. Thanks a lot Bobby !

[@leearmitage]

totally agree with these less is more

[@patconlon1]

Bobby, I've been trying alot of the things I've learned from your videos and course over the last few months and still wasn't too happy with my results, but I listened back to some recordings I did just a few months ago and last year and I thought they sounded terrible, there's a marked improvement in both my ear and approach. So sometimes it's important to step back and see a little progress and have that encouragement to push on. Thanks for all the excellent (an common sense/no frills) advice and techniques keep it up

[@GarrettTurneyMrTremelo]

I love seeing how much this channel has grown, dude. The fruits of your labor are showing! Also, the power sip + hand raise combo at 12:02 was my highlight outside of the stellar advice 😂

[@mateuszzawocki1405]

Great tips! What is right place for automation? Is it some kind of post effect on the each single track or post mix bus?

[@300Spartan03]

I like to think of mixing as volume adjustment whether it's the entire track or a specific frequency. That's basically what it is. After that just compress certain sections that are too loud. And boom so much of the grunt work is done. Other than editing of course. It's literally opened my eyes (and ears lol) to mixing and I'm having so much more fun mixing and recording now that I'm producing the results that I want. 😁

[@MBBGun14]

Your channel has helped me to appreciate automation. Im just mixing as hobby not related to my job at all and I know the mixes arent pro level but it just sounds much better now. Thanks!

[@bellasoda]

Great video! 👍I love volume automation, I can't believe how many years I've struggled without it, and it's been there all along.

[@Alfernav]

mine :( haha

[@Alfernav]

This video has made me open up the first mixing project im having and re doing alot!!!

[@DrunkDuckXD]

11:20 blew my mind 🤯 Thank you!!!

[@michaeldouglas2634]

Thanks for the great information. You a straight to the point with no filler. Keep them coming I am learning so much.

[@767bob]

Great stuff Bobby, thanks!

[@SunDriedIntestines]

Bobby Tell me about the theme song and the bass line. It's totally freaked out and cool.

[@FrightboxRecording]

It's just a riff I wrote for the intro of my videos. Glad you dig it!

[@SunDriedIntestines]

It's an excellent and puzzling little piece of slam. And yes mate gain staging is a form of staging. Staging bullshit facts but there's no gain in it.

[@greccoox]

Uouuuu this tipp about +some DB for small double riffs blew my mind. was perfect and i have never seen this in action. Amazing.

[@FrightboxRecording]

Glad it helped!

[@marioaguilera9463]

Man!... I have seen many youtubers, I have paid for all the courses and memberships from pretty famous youtubers and Engineers but this channel alone is the responsible for making my mixes going to the top level I wanted since a long time ago and no one could have helped llike this channel!!!!...

[@FrightboxRecording]

So happy to hear the content has helped you with your music!!

[@jstncmrn]

Bro, this thumbnail is truth.

[@mattz1686]

That thumbnail was the best

[@CreativeMindsAudio]

Great video! I do all of these things already, but sooo many major audio channels NEVER talk about this and explain the WHY they make the decisions. Imo this is just automation mixing 101, yet so many engineers don’t think about automation. Most of the mixing happens in automation. If a new element comes into the song you gotta make room for it some how. I will get my static sounds and then volume automate every section, then go in and automate lines that need to stick out more. And if you aren’t automating your vocals well you are missing out!

[@FrightboxRecording]

I agree 100%!

[@NeZversSounds]

One thing I think needs to be mentioned - don't blindly do the same Db amount changes mentioned in the video, but use your ears.

[@mehditayshun5595]

If our ears were good enough, people like me would not need videos like this!

[@5framesgaming]

bro aint no way people be sendin ya 100 guitar tracks