I Paid 4 Mixers to Mix the Same Song... The Difference is Shocking

1 song, 5 mix engineers ranging in price from $75 to $1000...and I'm one of them!
Find out which one came out on top in this blind mix test.
☛ Learn the go-to starting points for EQ and compression in heavy mixes with my FREE Mixing Cheatsheet: hardcoremusics...
Thanks to Matthew LeFevers for contributing the song & multitracks! open.spotify.c...
Watch the mastering shootout for this song next: • I Paid 3 Top Mastering...
Music I’ve Worked On: open.spotify.c...
Website: hardcoremusics...
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MY FAVORITE GEAR:
Computer / Interface:
Mac M1 Studio Max sweetwater.sjv...
Avid Carbon sweetwater.sjv...
Apogee Duet 3 sweetwater.sjv...
Monitors / Headphones:
Avantone CLA-10a sweetwater.sjv...
Audio Technica ATH-M50 sweetwater.sjv...
Microphones:
Shure SM57 sweetwater.sjv...
AKG D112 sweetwater.sjv...
Sennheiser e604 sweetwater.sjv...
Shure SM7b sweetwater.sjv...
AKG C451b sweetwater.sjv...
Shure SM81 sweetwater.sjv...
Audio Technica AT4050 sweetwater.sjv...
Preamps/Outboard:
API 3124 sweetwater.sjv...
EL8 Distressor sweetwater.sjv...
Favorite Plugins:
BSA Clipper blacksaltaudio...
Escalator blacksaltaudio...
Low Control blacksaltaudio...
Waves SSL Bundle waves.alzt.net...
Waves CLA Compressors waves.alzt.net...
Waves Platinum waves.alzt.net...
Slate Trigger 2 sweetwater.sjv...
SoundToys Rack sweetwater.sjv...
Auto-tune Pro sweetwater.sjv...
Vocalign Project sweetwater.sjv...
Cranesong Phoenix II sweetwater.sjv...
Instruments / Amps:
Ludwig Black Beauty Snare sweetwater.sjv...
Gibson Les Paul sweetwater.sjv...
Evertune Guitars sweetwater.sjv...
Fender Jazz Bass sweetwater.sjv...
Sansamp Bass Driver DI sweetwater.sjv...
EVH 5150 sweetwater.sjv...
Mesa 2x12 cab sweetwater.sjv...

[@abhinavprabhakar455]

Since someone in the comments wanted the timestamps: <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="0">0:00</a> Intro <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="75">1:15</a> Mix 1 <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="186">3:06</a> Mix 2 <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="370">6:10</a> Mix 3 <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="553">9:13</a>: Mix 4 <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="756">12:36</a>: Mix 5 <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="962">16:02</a> Ranking (2>3>1>5, 4 is Jordan) <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1547">25:47</a>: Conclusion

[@DepressedCapitalist]

Mix 2 is, to my ears, by far the best. The scoop works very well and the "lack" of low mids and fat mid range enhances and gives more life to the other frecuencies. It sounds like a very conscious artistic decision. The synth line works wonders. The brightness in the 80's snare is spot on once again. Overall, the clarity and the "openess" of Mix 2 makes it a true winner for me.

[@arlenmead7196]

I agree

[@benfinesilver2250]

Yes, reminded me of Fleetwood Mac.

[@AlbertSirup]

i think no 2 is a very "modern" mix that puts emphasis on clarity on clarity and punch. It's like the mix your average artist would expect in terms of a professional sound - as opposed to adding (or retaining) warmth/midrange which is much more of an explicit aesthetic choice. It makes sense that a newer paramore album had been the reference for the warmer mix because arguably paramore made an effort to sound a bit less all-out-pop and more )for lack of a better term) analog. Overall, I agree with the idea that something in between the two might be the best option.

[@RepentAtNightOfficial]

Mix 2 is great

[@Nanooky]

Mix 4 almost sounded mono in comparison. Mix 2 had a nice stereo separation and placement of the tracks.

[@mansourbethoney]

You should give a shout out to the $75 guy. He's obviously new and could use the plug. I'd hire him

[@capoman1]

Agreed! That mastering engineer said he was busy after after Jordan plugged him.

[@vadimkozlov3008]

Time stamps my guy

[@bogdanterzic9297]

😂 word!

[@shannonbrowning9592]

Yes, please.

[@korento3000]

Yes please, I think I will keep returning to this video!

[@germilagenor9607]

For real yo lol

[@daniellloyd6192]

That $450 priced one is exactly what makes me do it on my own

[@symbioticJ]

Exactly i second that

[@YogaWillDoIT]

LMAO

[@distillednoise]

Agree! Same with masters. Some mastering engineers charge plenty of money to do a shitty job.

[@Meteotrance]

Actualy i know a pro studio with dedicated acoustic room, exclusively design for mix and recording, that practice that kind of Price and fee for 250 half day with all the fancy analog valve compressor you need. Thats the regular price, more than thousand it's for the very busy and kind of rock star sound engineer.

[@4saken404]

The $450 one was so bad it almost hurt to listen to. Sometimes he would switch to it from another version and I would reflexively recoil.

[@jonr4651]

Mix 5 sounds like I'm listening through laptop speakers across the room

[@minhuang8848]

I'm sorry, but you're doing laptop speakers wrong by comparing this trash fire to them seriously, I just want to know what happened here

[@basboerboom9328]

@@minhuang8848 I think it is someone older with ear damage, who can barely hear high frequencies. So that why it sounds harsh. And there is no low end because either the speakers have no low end or there is a ton of low build up in the room.

[@daou444]

@@basboerboom9328yeap after 50 you gotta leave mixing

[@adonisfernandez3425]

@@basboerboom9328 It doesn't have to be older. I met a couple of producers who have lost most of their hearing by using headphones while working with raw audio for hours. And I am not talking about one or two, but almost a dozen. Most of them were self taugh and never learn about the risks. Some of them do not admit they have a hearing loss but you can tell by the crappy mix they do.

[@basboerboom9328]

@@adonisfernandez3425 fair enough

[@JoshuaMRichard]

Dude, I just want to thank you. At an ungodly hour last night, I watched this video along with the "mastering engineers" one you did. Something you said completely changed the way I saw this profession. The moment you mentioned that there are people who are making worse mixes than I am and getting paid more - that was when I realized that I am more than capable of making money doing this. Not to mention just doing it for other people at all scared the hell out of me. You inspired me to take a step out into my dream and begin providing mixing services. My perspective radically shifted because of you, in a way that I've never been able to see on my own. Thank you.

[@DavidAlexx]

You got this!!! 🎉😊

[@JoshuaMRichard]

@@DavidAlexx thank you bro 🙏🙏🙏

[@Farvadude]

but if everyone has that same revelation, then the whole profession is dead, because any producer worth a damn should be able to do their own mix and mastering. if they don't, then they were already a noob.

[@audiomez]

The vocal pocket is giving these folks fits. Mid/ Mids as well.

[@JoshuaMRichard]

@@Farvadude not everyone wants to be a producer and not everyone cares enough to try either. Hypothetical scenarios are great but they are only useful if they apply to reality.

[@gdofred]

While Mix 2 gets the nod, I do like your treatment of the bass better and also the intro pianos. Thanks for sharing!

[@Osoch]

For my taste, Mix 2 is perfect. I've always liked slightly scooped mixes more

[@officialWWM]

Me too! I thought it was the best.

[@SecretMetalFromAbyss]

Glad to see an old friend here. :D Mix 2 definitely suited that song and the feel of it perfectly.

[@ferienambalkon]

Same here!

[@realonethreesevens3640]

What do you mean by “scooped?”

[@officialWWM]

@@realonethreesevens3640 more bass and treble, less midrange.

[@ErikSeverinson]

You did a great job planning and presenting this. There were a thousand ways to mess it up, or do it unfairly, and you navigated it super well!

[@williamfaith6007]

Mix 2 for me. The low end punch coupled with the top end sheen made it a clear winner. I also liked his kick drum sound, which felt appropriate to the style. Nice!

[@CodyBarnette-GNARK]

mix 2 just had a great balance of the kick and vocals. i also really liked how nice the presence was on the ears. i think because of those few thing id choose mix 2.

[@jessegrisham]

I preferred Mix 2 slightly, but the difference between yours and Mix 2 is honestly really down to artist preference - do you like it darker/warmer or slightly more energetic? We can't forget, we are serving the artist's needs when we mix.

[@n67637]

2,3,4,1,5. Yes, 4 sounds tonally more balanced than 3, but the staging makes 3 more interesting than 4 and even 2. The guitar and piano are placed very well, add a lot of color and make an impact. I was actually close to picking 3 over 2. The drum fill before the chorus, I hear 3's toms go across left to right evenly <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="459">7:39</a> whereas 2's first two toms stay in roughly same spot before ending on the right <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="228">3:48</a> It's a shame the bass guitar on 3 is so thin. I don't mind the vocals up front. Adding fullness to the bass might even out the vocals in the mix.

[@germanruiz3161]

Mix 3 is my favorite

[@thomjohn98]

Mix 2 sounds great.. vocals sit in the mix correctly, and the use of effects is spot on..

[@neighbourhoodmusician]

I felt like the vocals could have done with more body after the chorus or second half or the verse kicked in. They felt a little telephone-like.

[@rodolpheseror7501]

I found the voice was too bright, almost changed the voice of the singer but great mix overall

[@cobejuelomiguel6104]

2

[@kitchenspider]

Man, mix 2 was perfection. That snare was killer. The stereo field was so airy and open, it just had this clarity to it. Hearing this comparison made me realize how much I like that crisp, open sound, particularly on conventional/vintage/rock instrumentation. Honestly, I think you can really only have one or two low-mid/mid-forward elements and even then, those lower bands need to duck a little for kick/bass and maybe even for a low-tuned snare in sections where you want a little more rhythmic groove or movement. I'm thinking like a deadmau5 type sidechain for edm or djenty chug guitars for harder rock and metal.

[@jorgenlandhaug663]

Mix 2 for me. It was the one i thought suited and served the song best, in my humble opinion:)

[@AllgoodAsylum]

we are a band using old skool analog mixing and recording. love this video. It helps a lot to show the guitar players how and where the guitar and bass fits in the mix. we also have the issue of sounding like a blanket is over the entire mix. we write, record, mix and master all our on songs. got some good audio info from this video instead of trying to explain in engineer's terms. it was like "guys" just listen to this video maybe he can explain it better. thanks and just subscribed.

[@benjamenkovalev2259]

Mix 2 for sure, it's not just the brighter top end, but it also sounds way more open stereo image wise. Great video!

[@jaamman]

Mix 2.

[@TimHense-m5k]

Yeah, It also doesn't have the typical radio sound, which is also because of the brightness. I also liked the one which was put on place 3, because it had the old school raw style. I miss mixes that sound like they were recorded in the garage or in a fabric hall.

[@majorredbeard]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="74">1:14</a> Mix #1 <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="187">3:07</a> Mix #2 <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="370">6:10</a> Mix #3 <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="554">9:14</a> Mix #4 <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="757">12:37</a> Mix #5 <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="840">14:00</a> Comparison of sounds <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1152">19:12</a> Judging the mixes

[@alittleblackcircle3628]

Commenting so more can see.

[@loganunknown]

I would like to see a studio room vs vocal booth vs closet filled with clothes and whatever else out there for us budget guys to see if you can notice any difference when vocals are compressed. Sm58 or sm57 mic?

[@Rhuggins]

@HardcoreMusicStudio - longtime viewer and viewer of the mixing community on YT. I dont think this has been done, certainly not recently by anyone. Its a fantastic idea. Would you be open to making this happen?

[@EthanRom]

Those videos exist already

[@Rhuggins]

@keithbranch9871 to me its about the character of the vocal and the tone, rather than background noise specifically. That stuff always leaves artifacts too, but throw it in the mix just to see- you never know!

[@philippgrunert8776]

Maybe with that GOYO vocal separator plugin... Which is free... Would be interesting. But yes, the character is a mayor difference. Yet again, so many great songs have been recorded with a sm58... IST must not always be a U87

[@AnthonyGreenMountain]

58 and 57 shares the same capsule. Of course the 58 is ore suitable for vocals, it has a sponge inside its grill that works as a anti-pop.

[@fanusamurai]

Nice one! I mix and master for my living; been doing it full-time for 10 years now. (My biggest client is John Summit and I work with similar styles daily; also other styles, a lot of loud bassy stuff) I can say reference songs are very important especially when finding out one's style and sound, if they don't know it yet. A wrong choice can lead to bad results, obviously. I've also tried to learn to say it early if I think the client has picked bad refs to work against (this definitely does happen sometimes). I assume that is part of my job, too, and there have been times while client has insisted on somethng Ive said isnt going to fit and I've had to say "told you so"...heh. Mastering included, I've prob handled around 4 thousand songs in the past 10 years (I have 32 years of music-making history behind me), and the only times I feel I've failed is when I've stuck to the bad refs (against my gut feeling) and in the end, neither of us is happy, and we're just frustrated....luckily this hasn't happened for a while, and if someone has a crazy/unfitting ref, I may have pass up on the job in the end. One reason why prices vary - in freelance biz in general - is that some people are busier than others. The guy who has less work will have lower rates, while the more booked guy will be more expensive. Then again if you are good, if you will be busy in the end; in this field, word goes in the grapevine instead of ads (I've never really paid for ads myself).

[@tylermcneil5239]

Howdy, fellow Junglist. I just randomly clicked on this video. fancy seeing you here. That's why I pay guys like you. I just don't have the space to do it atm.

[@timbelgarde1752]

As soon as I heard Mix 2, I said, "That sounds like something from the radio. Boom." It just has THAT sound (whatever that magical sound is). The clear winner but yours is very close.

[@yourunemployedfriendat2pm]

That magical sound is multi-band compression

[@balaclava__music]

​@@yourunemployedfriendat2pmOn the master?

[@knight808.]

@@balaclava__musicEverything

[@JordanBlue1]

@@yourunemployedfriendat2pm I'd argue it's more about their use of effects on the vocals. Mix 3 made the vocals so dry. Mix 2 is so bright with reverb and delay used tastefully.

[@chazchoo99]

As a bass player, I vibed to mix 4 the most. But mix 2 was also really good! I think like you said, if they came together and met in the middle, that'd be perfect.

[@strayingwill]

I like the vocals on your mix better but the energy and top end on Mix 2 really get me going. I was really vibing to that. Mix 2 for me, although yours certainly makes it clear that Mix 2 could be better.

[@1soundart]

Mix 2 gets my vote. This is a good training video for those who are learning track mixing for sure. Thanks for sharing

[@francoisparent6478]

I like how balanced yours is. Going between #2 and yours there’s a big noticeable difference in the snare. The snare in yours is more prominent. And I love that!

[@martyc8699]

My humble opinion 😅A few were lacking bass to match the drums. The song itself could have used a female backing vocal to break up the one vocal monotony. It was between two and four and listening on my JBL's it was hard to pick one. I used fiver once on a song I could not get the drumming down. Found a drummer from Italy and she knocked it out of the park. Another drummer on Fiver said: Don't you use a metronome? I said: It aint natural. 🤣😂If there is even a hint that they don't like the song or you, drop them right then. Subscribed

[@RocketToSleep]

Mix 2 vs your mix is tough. My ear, personally, would like a top end somewhere in between. Your mixes are always very warm and inviting. The brightness on mix 2, although very nice and articulate, is a bit much for my ear. Both great mixes and lots of similarities. Thank you for taking the time to make your content and share with us all. Your presentations and tutorials are always helpful! Cheers!

[@Schaddn]

this exactly

[@barnabasjthomas9983]

I'd love to hear Mix 2 on the verses with the warmer, 'bigger' Mix 4 on the chorus - I think that would be the golden zone. Also this is just a personal preference but the kick drum in 4 speaks to my soul.

[@AzureSky_Music]

Very cool! Just subscribed. This was a fun experiment. I liked the choices you made in your mix. I am a sucker for highlighting bass lines. Your vocal sounded the best to my ear. Second place was definitely mix 2.

[@djvoid1]

#2 was the winner for me. Just had more gloss, a nicer sense of space and that '2000s soft pop radio' vibe that suited the song perfectly, and it grooved harder.

[@djdarksyn]

this is the first videos of yours I've seen, had a little laugh at how quickly you went from analysis to "ok let's fix that that's terrible" on that first mix 😆 helpful to see the commentary on multiple tracks!

[@martijnvanbeek4387]

I like the second mix the best: there's more clarity and headroom in the mix. Very good delays also like yours.

[@MattyShreds]

Love these type of videos! I agree with you that a hybrid of Mix 2 & yours would be a great middle ground. That's the beauty of music / production! Always can learn cool little tricks when reverse engineering other producers styles! Love it!

[@malmsey1541]

Mix 2 sounds more classic, like it's from the past; and as this is a song I could never imagine listening to if it wasn't for nostalgia, I prefer it.

[@airwavv7054]

Videos like this are great to listen to and watch considering that we are always wanting to grow and evolve so that we can do more and better work. I myself am only just starting out in the freelance world and seeing things like this is great to learn, as you are clearly someone with a trained ear and can explain what a mix may need or if it is a great mix. Great video :) Would have said mix 2 and 4 are very close, but it really comes down to artist preference at that point. I prefered the 4th mix the most but I love that darker sound and tones.

[@ThingsandStuffchannel]

100% agree with your rankings. Though with your mix vs mix 2, I wouldn't even say one is necessarily "better" than the other. They just have slightly different vibes. Without a side by side comparison, anyone would be happy with either mix. If this has taught me anything though, it definitely makes me glad that I learned to mix myself. I can't imagine the frustration of spending that kind of money without the guarantee that more expensive services will yield higher quality results. At least if my mix sucks, it was free!

[@proxzi]

Ok so my picks are 2/4, 3, 1, 5; the mix number 4 sounds the most balanced and pleasing to me, full and rich with it's warmth on mids, where 2nd one has extra punchlines to it and little extra shiny top end which reminds me for some reason of just little % depth in OTT used somewhere in the chain, 3rd is missing some details and effort but has much dynamics leaving room for extra work, 1st is quite muddy sounds like someone who is on the way to becoming a mixer, less dynamics and more compressed, and 5th.. everything is all over the place, it sounds just like if someone dropped the stems in the project and pushed Ozone mastering assistant on the master or some ai stuff not knowing the balance nor what's rly happening in there.. Great video!

[@proxzi]

ok 450? im rising my prices uhh tho everyone from this vid gehts -25% off first song mixed ;*

[@Ruben.R]

Lord have mercy on me $450 for that god awful mix i loved mix 2 and your mix was spot on just do a mix between them and that is 100% the best version of this song.

[@rome8180]

I preferred #2, but I did like Jordan's treatment of the bass guitar better.

[@freez092also]

This was a very cool experiment to watch! I'm glad it came up on my feed! 😁 You should upload the stems and do a 'mix it' contest so your listeners can put their money where there mouth/comment is!

[@C.E.Alekperoff]

The difference between mix2 and yours is that mix2 has the late '80s - early '90s vibe to it and yours has more of the late '90s - mid '00s. The genre in general for me is like stratocasters, meaning I'd never have anything to do with it voluntarily, so I prefer the retro feel of the mix2, it creates an illusion that it's something of the past...

[@carasouth4880]

Would really like one of these where you also make the multi track available so we can see what was made available to the mixers and see how I would have mixed it

[@renealeman4566]

Mix 2, but the vocals on your mix are better for me! I think your comment on the energy that Mix 2 carries is spot on.

[@cornoc]

that was my feeling too. mix 2 overall is more engaging, but the vocals are a little too bright, and while mix 4 sounds good (a little subdued overall), the vocal sounds more natural and pleasant. definitely both good mixes and like he said in the video, they could learn something from each other.

[@djzardonic]

Listening to these mixes on a well treated room, a pair of Quested v2108 as main speakers and a pair of PMC result6 as secondary nearfields. Without a shadow of a doubt, version 4 is the best of all of them. It's not just that Version 2 has a brighter snare. Version 4 simply sounds radio ready. Very round mix, jumps out of the speaker, and sounds like the band is in front of me. Mix number 2 had a funny curve and an emptiness in the lower mids, plus that snare was jumping out WAY too much. So, yes. You get what you pay for. Sorry if that ruins the party, but there's definitely a reason that mix costed $1000. It sounds exactly like what a $1000 mix should sound like, and I know engineers who charge more than that for a similar result. EDIT: I just literally saw that YOU'RE the $1000 mix. Hot damn. Massive respect for this genius piece of marketing 😂👏👏

[@_djsport]

First of all, it's important to acknowledge that it's very courageous of you to make this kind of comparison. Regarding your mix and mix number 2, I personally find that mix 2 is what I consider a modern pro mix where the engineer has been able to infuse the excitement for the sound, which is its rightful part, into the song. Your mix, on the other hand, is a good well-balanced mix, but the sound doesn't manage to achieve its own spotlight. Thank you! Once again, it has been very brave, and you have all my respect.

[@onesong2001]

courageous? Be serious.

[@kpag3030]

Ok i think yours is a clear winner. Best overall mix. Each piece is there and blended very well. Depth and warmness and still has that top end clarity. I like it the best for my taste

[@manikraina2154]

Quite surprised to see the similarities in the vocal processing between Mixer 2 and your process. I like the energy of the drums in Mixer 2’s mix.

[@LaPurp]

I personally like your version the best, with a little bit of added brightness from 2. But I usually prefer a more warm, velvety sound

[@fuckyouwith268]

Us bro us❤

[@Drumming_Monkey]

Mix 2 for sure. It feels so open. Especially when the e-guitar comes in, I liked how you can still clearly hear the playing without compromizing on anything else in the mix. That being said I think kick and snare were a tiny bit to powerful for my personal taste. For those I prefered your mix.

[@angelvoicemusic]

Thanks for sharing this. What I learned is that generally it takes a lot more time to get a superb mix ready as most local bands can pay or are ready to pay. If I mix for anybody I always have to count hours an stop at a certain point. Miixing my own tracks takes quite long while I don't have to pay myself. For sure very experienced and well equiped mixers do charge a higher price per hour, but they also are no wizards, they need time to get everything right. Thanks for remembering us to always hear reference tracks.

[@simonaustin1136]

Mix 2 is great! However I do like yours the best as the articulation of the bass is the clearest. Especially in those verses, that bass line is such an integral element and drives the groove and emotion of the track.

[@davidgilpin5200]

Jordan - please tell Matthew this is a GREAT song. Mixes 2 and 4 are the standouts here.. After listening to this it's obvious to my ears that the production track on Spotify is yours (the delay on the intro piano was the giveaway).

[@DigitalDistortedGuitars]

You have Done great Job :) mix nr2 is winner for me, so Warm, Closer to Ear, Clear and Punchy :) / Love💜 this series hope to listen more of this 🙃

[@dans5529]

Mix 2 sounded a little too thin and bright to me. I definitely wouldn't describe it as a warm mix. It's interesting how we all perceive things differently!

[@DigitalDistortedGuitars]

@@dans5529 yea its Amazing! Which monitors/headphones u use to listening? I listen with dt770

[@Audio_Simon]

To me, the issue with your mix is too much compression. Streaming platforms have volume normalisation, no need to squash everything to pulp anymore 😊 Mix 2 is not only brighter, it's dynamic. Kudos to whoever made that.

[@Phragasm]

I would love to see a video where you mix with someone’s home recorded stems, and compare them. Your version vs their version

[@jcarolfi]

How refreshing, honest, and educational. I've focused my efforts more on video in years past but but I've recently been wanting to sharpen up my skills with audio and your presentation gave me good reasons why. Your approach is worthy of great respect. and your rankings were spot-on. I probably don't have enough time left to become the kind of professional I believe you are, but I still aspire to develop the creativity and skills I have. The most dreaded thing I could imagine would be one day overhearing a peer say about me, "It's really too bad, he had such potential." This was well worth my time and just what I needed to hear to stop wasting my time and get better focused. Thank you.

[@dylanjastle]

Your mix and the $650 were the best. I’d probably put the soundbetter above your mix judging by the listening experience on my AirPods. Fiver mix was pretty close to those top mixes in my opinion though. It’s such a crap shoot finding a good mixer. What I’ve learned through the years is price by itself isn’t a good indicator of skill in this space. You need to find somebody with a known good track record. Or mix it yourself! I’m working on my skills in that regard. Great video.

[@officialWWM]

Yep, it’s all so subjective at the end of the day. I disagree with this guy almost every single time 😂

[@MichaelJamesWood]

@@officialWWM I agree. I don't have the same opinion of this mixer. Art definitely is subjective. He's also egotistically opinionated, laughing at others styles. Big turn off for me.

[@officialWWM]

@@MichaelJamesWood me too!

[@thefamilyman4667]

450 bucks were like needles stabbing my eardrums and when my eardrums recovered it stabbed back again

[@jim_merk]

I love the role the synth bass is playing the choruses on mix 2. Great pulse without compromising the kick energy. And the top end of the snare is sweet. Mix 2 is my pick.

Wooow! This is so, so good video. So much I have learned from this. I have problem with putting my price in front of the others form my mixes all the time. I do consider myself a very good mixer and producer, but I guess the country that I am living in is not very humble to prices (I am from Serbia). So, listening to these mixes I definitely have confidence that I can compete with this, so thanks for opening my eyes with this issue! PS. The order of your choices are mine too. I would consider mix 2 the best, then yours and then others. Cheers

[@MakePopMusic]

For my personal taste, I'd split the difference of top end between 2 and 4. But I would add some low mids back into the vocals because in both 2 and 4 and take a little of that 1.5-2k hz out, the vocal feels a little thin and they almost have that telephonic bandpass effect happening. Overall, 2 solid mixes, 1 that could be solid with a few tweaks, and 1 that feels like it wasn't mixed at all, and 1 that feels like it was mixed to be worse than the raw multis 😂

[@MakePopMusic]

Good job on your mix!

[@brodylow]

I'd have to choose mix 2 over yours for this particular song - it matches the vibe of the song vs yours sounds great for a more modern-sounding song

[@BourkeTommy]

I do agree mix 2 could have used the bass line hotter, but I really liked the overall mix. Love these videos. So much easier to hear where things are lacking when you hear mixes right next to each other. Crazy how well people are being paid to do mediocre work and how little some talented people are being payed!

[@miljaardegod]

A tale as old as time itself

[@jadedragon469]

I really love how you got the background guitars to sit just right without messing with any other elements in the song! Most listeners just hear vox bass and drums after all but I think your stereo field balance was fantastic!

[@j.m.networksessions2358]

Mixing is art. A good mix is to get a best possible mood out of the audio material. Good Feeling of the mixed materials is automatically a good mix. There is no ideal frequency curve cause every song needs something else. Reference track's are not really ideal choice cause we start to clone another mixes. 👋 PS I think You like the Mix 2 because of that. Technically is to keep in Mind that Mix 2 was not mixed on your equipment. Is it better if it sounds better on your equipment? Yes it is!

[@kipchickensout]

I did not expect that last one, oof - it reminded me of my old mp4 player when I listened to music without earphones on

[@josedelasheras4733]

I really like how you (mix 4) brought the bassline up and clear while still blended nicely. Mix 2 is great too. Mix 2 and 4 should have a baby and it'll be perfect ;) but I do prefer mix 4 as it stands.

[@DenisVolga]

* It is personal (1), depending on a song (2..needed mood, energy,...different instruments), speakers (3, headphones as well), environment (where the speakers are located). * One can dig, compare forever. Plus, too many people, judging from this kind of videos (recording music), totally forget about the music itself (words, too), doing the best mix/master of annoying noise, a bunch of sounds, screaming, whining... Thank you for using quite a pleasant song, by the way... * Bad music and bad playing can't be fixed by "good" mixing and mastering. * Video: to me the 5th is just dry and boring. Or maybe, by chance, instead of headphones, i listened it through an unusually good wall rotary telephone ? ;) Or maybe a cat stepped on keyboards and wiped out the LF and MF ;) * And, wow, the prices - it is crazy, plus they brought up my problem: i am so impractical and poor. And i would never give "somebody" else to mix my music...and for this kind of money - forget it. * Why i am even bother writing all this here? A momentary impulse. Sorry

[@ronallen2458]

I actually like your mix better. The energy on both is great, but I think your mix is more inviting. That little bit of warmth goes a long way.

[@ismaeletyl0]

you forget that at 50 you still love hearing all those high frequencies.. (which you no longer hear). So I would choose mix 2 without thinking. :)

[@B.M.Skyforest]

A thousand for a mix is way too expensive for me, but I'm from a third world country. Like, it's two months worth of salary here. So prices also depend on that.

[@KDRusha]

That’s crazy. I’m in the US and I make 1000 a week but I’m still broke 😭🤣

[@joechapman8208]

#5 sounds like they had a headphone/room correction plugin on the master and forgot to bypass it. [edit] $450 is outrageous! Mistaken bypass or not, there are so many uncontrolled elements to that.

[@BrenTravisMusician]

Good call on Mix 3, it did edge mix 1 out. Great video and good calls throughout. Not seen the end yet.

[@DrProgNerd]

Between your mix and Mix 2, I like the top end of Mix 2 better - but felt their low end was just a touch too punchy for the track. It was distracting. I would have liked a little more low punch and brightness from yours. That said, both of you are infinitely better than anything I'm capable of doing. Very inspiring. Both gave me a benchmark to aim for. Thank you for this. So helpful.

[@gordonreynolds8854]

I listened to this video through ipad speaker since most folk I suspect would be listening via a phone. With this in mind I preferred track #1. It sounded, to me, like a true performance and not a studio job. Good song in any case. Thanks.

[@Cody_OConnell]

Love these videos! I like mix 2 better than yours to be honest. Better top end and less mids gave it more clarity, energy and sparkle. Keep up the great content!

[@aaaha-vd4kp]

3rd mix has actually the best vocals. Sounding most natural, without all those annoying effects. If I had to choose I'll take it always instead of those overworked versions.

[@andreasgilgenberg5588]

love mix 2 most, there is most clarity in the vocals, your ranking is great! love your mix also but like i said the vocals are much better to hear in mix 2

[@kashaholic1636]

Lmao with that last track and that eq reference was facts

[@AirFoxxProductions]

Can't imagine charging someone 1000 bucks for a mixing

[@pru3206]

Mastering engineer here! I love what you've pointed out as positives on the better mixes and I thought I would add some helpful info on the mid-level mixes. Mix 3 has one glaring error that makes it totally unusable to me. at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="494">8:14</a> on the video you hear an artifact of compression on the mix as the vocals start "Truth or dare". This means either the vocals are sidechained to compression on drums/bass or there's a compressor/limiter on the master bus that's reacting to the vocals being much louder. The energy will be flatter and the eq will have unnatural shifts to it that make a good master almost completely unattainable. Thanks for a great video!

[@MrMattrix1]

I think mix 2 just got it for me, really liked the energy in the bass when the chorus kicked in. but a best of both with yours and mix 2 would be even better. great vids thanks for sharing. Subscribed

[@auralponic.]

Your mix (4) was certainliy solid, no major "problems", and I can understand as an artist feeling attached to hearing certain parts (like the low-mid bassline) more prominently. But it's not about hearing EVERYTHING clearly all at once. It's about focusing the listener on the parts that matter in the moment. So Mix 2 is the clear winner. Technically correct AND very tasteful. Only mix that got the low end right... punchy yet pillowy, all the key musical elements come through, it sounds instantly pleasing to my ears. Mix 5 is embarrassing-whoever made that one needs to retire. I feel bad for any artist who has ever hired them.

[@chicken5130]

I love these videos because I can tell when things are flawed but not always why so these videos help me with that

[@JilleneLuce]

Nice song! I like the breakdown toward the end. Incredible the differences... I like what you did on the piano in the beginning best

[@docshadrach]

For me Mix 2 is better that yours. Very great vocal FXs and great feeling overall, specially in the chorus.

[@PALMLINES]

Just discovered your channel and watched a few videos. Great stuff brother. Subbed!

[@jorstruly]

For me the order was: 2,4,3,1,5 Honestly could have got way more out of this mix then the ones you got over there. 2 was slightly better then yours in my opinion because of the clarity in the highs. Though i think your absolutely correct with combining 2 and 4 to get the best results.

[@aragorn767]

2 was my favorite. Big drums, without being too woofy. Vocals were perfect and the whole thing had a nice amount of air. I think you did the best when it came to the bass.

[@superlogico8260]

the problem is you like poppy soft sounds, so it will be very subjective. I'd have choose yours or the mix 2 for that type of "pop let's try to get some spotify love, just compress everything". But the 5 mix has more grit and harmonics, and it's easy to see by the sound waves it has a loooooooot more dynamics than the ones you like (although it lacks a bit of body). So I guess it's question of taste. For my kind of music I'd choose #5 9 out of 10 times before any of the other versions.

[@DodgaOfficial]

5 doesn't just lack body, it's extremely harsh, way too much air, and poorly balanced. I wouldnt go with mix 5 ever, what you gain in dynamic range you lose in every other way.

[@superlogico8260]

@@DodgaOfficialagain: that's OK if you like soft poppy sounds. I don't. It's not very difficult to understand

[@anubhav.music28]

Loved this video. I agreed with all your guesses about the mixes. I loved Mix 2 the first time I heard tbh. But your mix also had some great elements.

[@eklipseRomania]

I'm at min.13 and I paused to say just how much I hate mix no.5, it's horrible, even I can do better and I have no idea wtf I'm doing.

[@Jazzguitar00]

Jordan's right; whoever did this probably can't even hear the low mids.

[@garyloewenthal]

A definite benefit for me from this video was: Hearing your critiques helped me critique my own mixes of my music. I thought I had pretty good ears (I can detect when a note is sharp or when a chord uses a flatted fifth, or when the vocals are too buried during a gig, etc), but mixing is a whole new, large, skill set to learn, both in terms of tools and ear training. Videos like these help!

[@michaellee3199]

Can we talk about how bad the song is though?

[@cunnyfunt30]

Better than anything I could make

[@getkraken8064]

Nailed it.

[@spectrecular9721]

Sounds like a devout Christian rock artist who rebels against society by having the toilet paper roll face inward instead of outward

[@agonz2011]

Reminds me of that episode of the office when they play Jan’s assistants song.

[@theoriginaldanalogue]

@@spectrecular9721Pahaha. Well that is a crime against humanity.

[@kampfusbeke]

With my closed-back Neumann headphones I preferred your mix (and I can repeat the same having listened again with monitors), because 2 was a bit too bright for me and you also had better low-end/mids balance for my taste, especially when showing the bassline, I believe. I do tend to mix "rather dark" myself, though, and those headphones have a bit to do with that. It also has to do a lot with the fact that somewhat further in the past I used to mix way too bright and way out of balance due to improper gear and huge overworking to extreme ear fatigue, and now those mixes just kill me when trying to listen to them. Anyway, thanks a lot for the video! You opened my eyes on the fact that I can start offering my services for QUITE ENOUGH money relatively soon without feeling like a complete imposter and probably be able to save up for an education to get to a "complete" pro level.

[@paulmisty8998]

It’s all 100% subjective. There is never ever such a thing as the perfect or best mix. We’re just overthinking it.

[@JotasLair]

The difference between a good and a bad mixing would ruin your song or make it the hit of the summer.

[@kencrisp6333]

I applaud you for having over $1,400 of discretionary money lying around just to test a few commercial mixing services, especially when you seem to have complete confidence in your own mixing abilities (hence your advertised rate). Because one's ideas of what makes a "good mix" can be subjective, it would have been a more interesting video if you had provided interviews with the people who worked on the out-sourced mixes and gotten their feedback (no pun intended). 😁

[@kevisauceda]

Question. How much time was each Mix Engineer allowed to mix each song? That can make a world of a difference in outcome. Thanks!

[@paulis7319]

New here, just found the channel. Love it! I agree with everyone else on #2, and also agree that a hybrid of 2 & 4 would sound great. The price on mix 5 really shocked me, cause I thought it was mixed with an old cassette recorder and a CB microphone.

[@ulizarembach3747]

pleeeeeeeaaaaase... can you be quiet in the first passage and analyse afterwards? we are not stupid ;) *kisses*

[@JoeJ-8282]

Must be nice! I definitely have the right kind of "ear" for this type of thing right now, and I guess I always have throughout my younger years too, but without ever previously fully realizing it OR ever having even the very FIRST clue on how to actually monetize that ability, but/and I have NO kind of mixing equipment to do it on, NOR ANY money to go out and buy any of that necessary equipment either, even if it was only "virtual" or "computer based", so yeah; totally missed life opportunity!... I probably or even definitely COULD have been making literal millions by now doing this IF I had realized my strengths in this field when I was in my early 20's, as I definitely would've went to school for a TOTALLY different major than what I did, and now, already in my 50's, I'm kinda just "stuck" doing work that I'm NOT really TRULY passionate about, isn't nearly as FUN and enjoyable as music production, AND that doesn't pay nearly as good either, so it just seems like I'm kinda screwed now, because it's already too late for me to just barely start doing something like this on a pro level! It ultimately kinda pisses me off that I didn't even realize my strengths in this area when I was younger, and go into this type of field instead of what I did, because now, just as I realize my talents, my hearing is probably destined to start to degrade into "old age" pretty soon here, so at this point in my life I wouldn't even TRY to start a career in something like this! :(