How to Clean up a Muddy Mix - Simple Mix Trick

This technique is broken into two parts.
1) Finding the Problem Frequency
2) Finding exactly what causes the problem/imbalance so you can use your skills to fix it
Usually, you know when a mix is muddy but finding the cause of the problem can leave you scratching your head and frustrated!
Hopefully, this technique will help you find the problem frequencies so that you can focus your energy where it's needed the most.
Free download for SPAN - www.voxengo.com...
The song used in the video is here - • Miavono - Nothing To L...
Happy Mixing :)
🌍 My Website / Contact / Hire me - michaelwynneau...
📱 Join My Discord - / discord
🎧 My Sound Banks / Preset Packs - inthemix.store
💸 Save money on DistroKid if you signup through my custom link - distrokid.com/v...

[@khalilsingh]

mute instead of solo! Thats genius! I will definitely try that. Its like a type of deductive reasoning.

[@TheIsahn]

This tip was extremely helpful, thanks

[@DatAnydeks]

There’s a German saying: “What is thought unclearly is spoken unclearly”. Michael is special. I notice I hardly hear him say “uhh”...”like”...”annndd”... Just the way he shares in these tutorials reveals how he thinks. Logical, clean and intelligent thinking. Keep it up Michael 👍🏻

[@greggeverman5578]

"What is thought unclearly is spoken unclearly"... Likely true.

[@purebread6522]

He does display intelligence and enthusiasm.

[@astropop2]

I've noticed that too. This guy's the truth!

[@JayTheYTGuy]

He's very meticulous and calculated while remaining concise and accurate to the points. He also gives very clear supporting details to his concepts. I believe that's where most people lack is within their reasoning. It shows the difference between "I learned this so I know it's true" and "I understand this and here is why." He's not taking someone else's input. He is using his own even if it's tied to old, custom, or standard tricks within the audio engineering world. Good stuff!

[@sportsfreundberlin]

Never heard of this saying. And I‘m German 😂

[@lawrencevaughan5373]

I know this is an older video of yours, but I do find myself often revisiting your channel. Your work is amazing. Knowledgeable, practical solutions and workflow with zero bullshit. To the point, concise and clear. Amazing teacher and top quality content. It’s really appreciated.

[@inthemix]

Thanks Lawrence. That’s what I’m trying to do!

[@nenissaK]

7:48 one important note to add: whenever Michael is nodding to a beat, it means that the problem is solved

[@MaNuLaToROfficial]

agreed

[@nikolassehman]

I've been mixing on my own for 4 years now, and have been in University for audio engineering for the past 2 years. This is the first time I've seen the muting vs soloing solution to finding problems. I'm not a pop producer or anything even close to it (I'm more of a country-rock mix engineer), but I absolutely love your tutorials! I always seem to find little tidbits of gold in them! Keep up the good work!!

[@BIGpony777]

Nikolas Sehman WHat? should i not go to university???

[@omagro8267]

@@BIGpony777 No absolutely not. Look into it, every single billionaire says the same thing. Top companies are dropping the requirement. But if you're not a self-started and not committed and you need someone to hold your hand, consider it. Even then, you're better off teaching yourself discipline. Start with making your bed every morning, next week do 20 push up, right before your shower, add a new thing every couple of days until you have a routine. After that add a time to study what you love and go for it. Also, limit your video games, until you're good at what you love video games will always provide a quicker shot of dopamine then finishing something you love to do. When you're creating something you will not get the satisfaction until the end or a tiny bit throughout but the feeling is better, video games give you shots of dopamine when you get a kill or a win, this will get you hooked and make things you like seem boring. It's your mind wanting an easy high. I know this from personal experience. Maybe none of this pertains to you, but if it does really think about it and it might save you YEARS.

[@BIGpony777]

ive been producing since i was thirteen right after i got my first pair of microphones, i am excited for uni because i wanna meet people

[@Sool101]

@4:16 a little mistake when he says he's going to solo but meant muting, and vice versa.

[@Youngguy]

Nikolas Sehman hey man what’s your insta handle?

[@ferenctulics9688]

It's almost unbelievable how easy is to understand almost EVERY situation we might get into, after listening to your very valuable and super informative lessons. I'm listening to you every time. when I have a chance, even while driving my big truck. NOT WATCHING, just listening, learning, and dreaming about the day when I'll be able to apply in real life all those great lessons. Thank you for sharing them with us and, please, keep up the great work you do! It's unbelievable. For me, at least. Thank you, brother!

[@laithjarrarmusic]

Man your mixing skills and your overall tone is getting better and better everyday! Keep going guys👏🏻

[@inthemix]

laithjarrar1 Thank you,I really appreciate that. Still got a long way to go but it's getting there :)

[@bambok306]

Always good to watch your tutorials, straight forward, no spam, and no bullshit. Deffo 10 top channels for music on KZbin. I have produced for over 10 years and can tell you know what you're talking about as other uploaders slip with misinformation or incorrect terms, great stuff mate!

[@inthemix]

Bambok I appreciate support like this so much. Thank you my friend :)

[@johnhurd3257]

You are the best one as far as clarity and focus. Verbal fluency like 10! Thanks for sharing what you know to be fact.:)

[@vic3675]

You're literally the only one that makes me understand mixing.

[@WeAllFloatHere]

I've had a mix that has been muddy that I've been sitting on and I kept playing with my bass sub frequencies trying to fix it. Using this technique I immediately identified that my kick was adding crazy sub frequencies to the mix, so I moved my high pass filter up just a touch and instantly my mix was 10x cleaner. Thank you for this. You just made my mix SO much better

[@inthemix]

▶ Support the channel and get early access to these videos www.patreon.com/inthemix ▶Our Patrons - Kristopher Gage Andrew Glenny Craig Taylor Clint Hughes Dewayne Jackson Jack Austin Laurent Paret Alex Bella Kevyn Cooling Jonathan Bjornson Louis Jans Salahadin

[@pedrokoury1352]

The soloing buses part was my major learn with this video. Very logical and strategic...the problem isn't necessarily in one single track but can be shared. Never thought of that in the manner you've just demonstrated

[@the_infinull]

I'm actually happy that as soon as you pressed play on the track, i knew where the problem was tonically before you used the EQ on master. All these years of practice really pay off guys, keep working! And big ups for your tutorial man, i hope more people will get educated properly and apply the knowledge into practice and results.

[@angelfmusic]

One tip I learned was to mix as you go in Mono. Because if you can seperate the sounds in mono so they sound good together, it'll sound definitely sound great in stereo.

[@kudraabdulaziz3096]

Interesting 🤔, thanks for the tip bro 👊😎

[@LunarMoth]

Eh

[@nikolaswalter490]

I swear If I ever make money off my music thanks to your amazing tutorials, you're getting a check.

[@yusifmhmoud4340]

My problem is that I don't know if the mix is muddy or clear like it could be muddy but I would think it's okay

[@inthemix]

Usuf Emad Try to listen to many other songs in the same genres that you like and see if you notice any differences in the low mids :)

[@yusifmhmoud4340]

In The Mix thanks man that would help:)

[@yrcandymusic8862]

Same problem here

[@DJ-TimeShift]

Learn about 'the standard' mixing problems that might occure when you produce music. Even though every track has its own little issues that need to be solved. but at some point your ears will have developed at a point that you'll quickly learn where these problems are and what to do about them. But this is the part that takes time and offcourse, is diffrent for everyone :). Also when mixing your own track don't forget to use a reference track that you like!

[@xentiment6581]

you must calibrate your ears. its the thing i spent quite some time doing. my mixing was pretty awful until i started using bunch of visualizers and and reference tracks for month or two and my mixing improved dramatically, and soon i used only 1 visualizer on master just to make sure i covered entire range and limiter to make sure nothing gets clipped.

[@andrejkelcik4133]

You are one of the few youtubers who actually do their tutorials in a formal useful way and do not try to be annoying clauns half the time

[@synthoelectro]

He is, I can agree to it. Many others say, your mixes suck, do this instead. That's a really petty way to help people, don't you think?

[@thriift840]

When u turn that channel on and off and the noise goes away it’s so satisfying lol. Thanks for these videos it’s nice to learn from someone who actually knows what they are talking about instead of just saying “eQ tHe LoW eNdS aNd UsE a SoFt ClIpPeR”

[@abel_7799]

First video I’ve searched on the topic & all I can say is that you’re a very skilled and wise teacher. I’ve produced for some years but I’m just now tackling and wrapping my head around mixing my tracks (It doesn’t seem as scary as I thought it would be)... I love your message about “locating the problem” and then using your skill to pretty much solve it. Love your approach of STARTING OFF by listening to everything as a whole and MUTING single tracks as oppose to trying to SOLO and isolate a “problem track” on its own. That is such a skilled and wise approach because I think our nature as humans is to try and immediately isolate what we think might be the problem, and that becomes our starting point. I believe you teach a very simple but skilled technique in this this video!! Your approach seems to be very effective in time. People usually recommend a specific skill/method/technique to fix a problem and they preach it as the end all be all, but I love how you acknowledged that there are multiple techniques to achieve a result. Obviously , it’s also important to learn new and different techniques, so when I watch a video and someone is preaching a mixing & mastering technique as THE way to fix a problem, I’ll take it with a grain a salt, learn, and appreciate the technique. But I acknowledge that there’s possibly 10 other techniques and tricks out there. Great video

[@dreamedwave]

This INSTANTLY helped me solve a problem I didn't even realise I had until now, thank you!

[@craigcollier3034]

this was very helpful, was having some problems with mud/rumble and was wasting my time altering the EQ curves for all the sounds that didn't need it, however this tip definitely got me going in the right direction for getting a cleaner sound. thank you :)

[@TheeZmeister]

I often see this video, when I am going to finish my track. I just fixed med current project by reducing/adjusting the reverb, including mixing of to basses fighting each other. I swear to god. If I ever make it big, you will be credited equally to my biggest inspiration, Avicii. Thank you for sharing this high quality content!

[@dsanj4745]

At about 4:12 you say instead of muting tracks you'll be soloing them to find the 'mud'. I understand you meant (and proceed to do) the opposite. This is a great technique and one that I've used for years. Yours is the only channel.where I've seen this technique being shared. No surprise really... yours is one of the best channels out here.

[@DJROODYOfficial]

This guy is the best who explains things without doing idiot faces ... straight to the point and calm .. thanks

[@xenofi1128]

The best thing about this Channel is that everytime Michael says "I might make an own tutorial on only this (as here it's SPAN)" he always does. Coolest guy!

[@maurycy_gnc]

This band soloing is what I absolutely loved in Ozones' EQ

[@allywilkeforsenate]

Reaper has a subtractive eq that will do the whole track automatically.

[@risukual]

This trick has helped me A LOT.. can't believe I found this almost 2 years later geez.. Thanks for the video!

[@topnotch5966]

You just saved my entire first EP.. Boss!

[@jackiedixon5076]

Instead of cutting and scrolling the EQ,, my method is try to find the emphasized offending freq. However, good ears and good headphones can eliminate the lying room's contribution to sound. Your method works just as well. Thanks for this gold information.

[@halseyballistic]

Absolutely awesome instruction and explanation of why you do this. I like you teaching methods and smooth way you deliver the information. You gained a subscriber here.

[@inthemix]

Halsey Marcoux Thank you Halsey, I really appreciate it :)

[@Hlomika]

I've been watching your videos for almost a month now and I can say that you are an amazing teacher, I'm 27 and I've just started using FL Studio and I can easily say that I've learned A LOT from you, you really do know how to reach out to your audience and that is the most important factor when it comes to teaching, no matter how much you know, if you can't reach your audience then your knowledge is practically useless. I would like to send my special thanks to you, and maybe even reach out to you personally, just to keep in touch one fellow musician to another, and support each other in our goals and dreams (even though I'm pretty much very new to production/mixing/mastering I've been trying to compose songs for almost 8 years now), anyway I think you are a really good teacher AND a really nice person that I find really close to my own personality. Even if you just read this comment it's still enough for me. Cheers man!

[@HAL-qf3nq]

This is legitimately one of the best EQ tutorials on KZbin.

[@microwavememes]

Had span for years and never knew it could do that. Thanks so much :D

[@Hifcrea]

Love how this guy explains how when where and why in a full project context. I’ve been trying to figure out mixing issues for a few years now and suffer from learning tid bits here and there and never knowing how to properly apply them. These vids show you themes in context and it’s great

[@harshbhise6182]

I was working on a Remix... and boom mike just gave me a way to mix and master..! Thankyou Sooo... much....!

[@inthemix]

Good Luck with the remix! You are more than welcome, If you haven't downloaded SPAN yet, I left a link in the description for a free download :)

[@harshbhise6182]

In The Mix really appreciate that..! thanks..!

[@kimallen7545]

thanks for being articulate and simple-worded simultaneously.

[@JoyuuMusic]

please don't stop the tutorial series. it really helps me a lot. been producing like 3 years, but you changed how i mix my songs in a good way. you're awesome !

[@synthoelectro]

I like your videos, you're to the point, you don't muck around with telling people, your mixes suck, do this instead (that's never helpful imo) I've been mixing and mastering since 2000, so all info helps, because audio is ever-changing, and new techniques continue to evolve.

[@jpkriel528]

After not making any beats for almost 10 years I took the hobby up again during lockdown. being 39 years old i do actually enjoy making trancy stuff haha, though even with the remix contest I'm participating in I'm stiil influenced by the sounds of the early 2000's. Anyway using FL studio myself I keep coming back to this channel. but not only that, your simple yet detailed explanations help a lot and it's clear you're not just sucking nonsense out of your thumb. Love your music, love this channel. Thumbs up mate. Now let me get back to that darn mix....Deadline is on the 29th

[@FrankiePhoenix]

THis was actually a very helpful video. I also like how you explain the more basic details that from what I've seen most instructors forget to mention or think it's too common sense.

[@AlexXanderXChirchirdj]

Much love from Kenya, thank you for sharing your knowledge with the world. It has helped tremendously

[@piedeboermusic]

Great tip! Would also recommend people trying active EQ or multiband compression on certain tracks/groups, if simple EQ can't fix the problem. Could really help with harshness, nasty resonances, etc. Cheers!

[@inthemix]

Pie Db That's a fantastic tips, dynamic EQs are so smart and perfect for that sort of job

[@reagenbrooks]

This is probably my favorite mixing tip I've learned from anywhere or anyone. Great video!

[@popnfresh24]

Discovered your videos and have been loving them. In this one at 4:16 when you start giving your explanation, you mixed up mute and solo in your description. You said instead of muting them, you're going to solo them, but you meant it the other way around :D

[@alejandronieto576]

Thanks for this, I was a looking around for a comment to confirm my suspicion. However, thanks Michael, from Argentina, for this generous video!

[@Stormbringer81]

Thanks again for your instructions Michael. Unbelievably useful.

[@djGreenALERT]

Over the years I have learned from everyone right across the board when it come to mastering, but you have taught me more than anyone! You make everything look so easy! Great and highly informative video! Thanks!

[@LukaReeson]

I'm so happy this video showed up on my suggestion feed. Subed!

[@iranoutofideas3422]

Good job on this tutorial. I learned a lot from it and learned something new about SPAN. Been using it for some time now yet I just learned through you guys that it has a solo band feature. Thank you.

[@inthemix]

LoneHunter 24 I think it took me about 6 months of using the plugin before I figured that out. It's in the manual but it completely missed it too! Happy to have helped :)

[@iranoutofideas3422]

In The Mix hahaha.... guess I should start reading manuals of vsts I download.

[@alitorab3182]

Bro dont ever say I hope you have learned something every video is a masterpiece

[@linaeller]

Thank you for separate the idea to find problem track by steps. I also use kind of technique - rise frequency by bell filter up and listen where the problem getting worst.

[@dopebeatproductions6164]

I love you’re tutorials! Very informative. I use a song that I mixed well as a reference. I realized that it’s the muddy mix ruining my songs. Thanks once again!

[@fabbrismidnight]

Good demo and approach. Good point about avoiding soloing when mixing. Instead mute one or two tracks at a time to find where conflicts are coming from.

[@thespringsteels2384]

I have a feeling this is going to help a lot of the mud issues I get when dealing with heavy guitars and symphonic elements competing in my mixes. This is great and I am definitely downloading Span and watching the tutorial next!

[@mayatomusic5699]

The best part about all of your videos is that you show us the technique practically! You are showing us how the sounds are affected, and the mix is affected, etc. Very few people on youtube are doing this. Bravo! Love your videos!

[@bradleymedina8783]

man this really made things a-lot clearer for me thank you

[@johnnynarcotics7299]

Your tutorial on SPAN is excellent

[@pedrokoury1352]

Even though we work with different instruments, I always listen closely to your tips and lessons. Technically speaking, you're basically almost mentoring me in a way, ha-ha! But I do follow other KZbinrs who work with orchestras, which is my thing. I love your work. You're the most articulate and didactic streamer on KZbin.

[@reginaldworthington7558]

Hi, I’ve watched a few of your vids now and just want to say thanks for your calm, reasoned presentation and clarity in these. On finding the mud, one thing I tend to go to first is the reverb bus or busses, as this can often be the culprit in the low-mids buildup. The technique you’re using here is great and would work really well to identify and then scoop out some of the offending frequencies without necessarily having to go on a hunt channel by channel as a first step. Cheers.

[@diehermit796]

Another common issue is that a single person doesnt have the band mind, I mean I was in a 7 members band and the rhythmic guitar always messed up with my bass, so we fixed by doing a slightly sharped guitar plus panning. When we mix our own productions by ourselves we should keep in mind any instrument, sample, noise... is a musician which need space and adaptation in the mix. I say that as further advice, not as a critic, great work and great help to me as an starting solo producer. Thanks.

[@LetsChat]

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude! This was the exact video I needed to watch! Augh! You're channel is so good!

[@zimmermaniacs]

you always explain in a very understandable way what you are doing....I really love your tutorials...as for being a complete newbie into mixing I always rely on your videos after going through lots of those that confuse me....thnx man

[@MarkusAliasCmn]

very transparent example, and very well explained. thanks.

[@syedbukhari6578]

That muting tip is so good. Very smart. Thank you!

[@Tedx_Records]

NGL, this is very useful. the issue for me is that when i'm playing leads or the entire track, there's a lot of latency. and yes, i could consolidate it, but the buffer and scratching is still there. I May just need to take it easy with the synths or get a better laptop, but this is so very good as a Tutorial

[@heavymetalmixer91]

More complex than most of the tutorials about it out there, and yet I think this is the best one I've seen. I'll test it in my next mix later on, thanks.

[@inthemix]

heavymetalmixer91 Thank you, do let me know how it works for you :)

[@heavymetalmixer91]

Let me ask you something: Did you get part of this tutorial from Jason Moss, right?

[@inthemix]

heavymetalmixer91 I don't know who Jason Moss is? (This might be embarrassing if I should know!) But I got inspired to do this by Warren Huart and another mentor from Belgium :)

[@heavymetalmixer91]

Oh, sorry. It's just that Jason (Behind the Speakers) was the first person I saw the "mute tracks to discover the muddy one" technique from.

[@lucasj.lomonaco5667]

hey man really appreciate this tutorial, it's always nice to have a clear and concise problem solver especially on youtube. Thanks a million!

[@danielgehr9185]

Honestly the best tutorials about mixing I found on KZbin so far. Keep it up!

[@DeRoxx4114]

This video was perfectly timed, thank you! I literally just learned about reducing in that frequency range to clear up a muddy mix(something I have been having a chronically hard time with) I was mixing a heavier metal track in FL and I just started reducing everything in that range and it worked! Except the song lost all of its power and energy and I had to go back and add a bit more in that frequency range again. Especially the guitars, they just weren't muddy on their own and didn't need any reduction. I learned a lesson with that mistake. This will help me tackle muddiness in a much more logical way! Thank you for the tip!

[@nicomoreno9531]

One of the most helpful videos i've seen, thanks a lot

[@andrewmccain7274]

Yes! Please make a Span tutorial! I know I am not using it to its full potential.

[@InvisiGaming]

i've learned more from 2 of your tutorials about mixing and mastering than i have in the last 3 years i've been producing

[@georgevarghese383]

I'm hooked to your channel... You're an amazing teacher

[@dylanwnorman]

When you muted the drum bus is the moment I realized what I am looking for. Thank you.

[@albert-stefanstancu4634]

As always an amazing tutorial. I can say there are 2 incredible KZbin channels on the KZbin about FL studio, this is top #1. One suggestion, you can fearless make tutorials about stock FL studio plugins, they are amazing and you really have an audience on that.

[@zany_zombie7276]

This tutorial was amazing, kinda logical too, good job

[@vitaleonis1196]

Absolutely Awesome fix technique! I think your music track was amazingly full of all the spectrums.

[@markusmartinez]

LOVING YOUR STUFF, MAN!

[@danquay9504]

I find span very helpful when tidying up a mix & muting the channels also what helps, you should also put it into mono to test the left & right , it takes very trained ear & eq helps too👂 as qualified sound engineer & making EDM music for over 20 years & by doing this technique my quality of mixes & tracks has certainly improved over the last several months, Great tutorial easy to understand

[@OdedSpectralDrori]

Great one ITM. Thanks! Just started using SPAN myself

[@soundmakerstudio2486]

Your knowledge sharing is benefiting the world! Thank you!!!

[@stressfacture]

that plug-in is insanely helpful

[@aluyoradamsa5432]

I always learn from your video. I just want to take this time out to appreciate you for what you've been doing. I pray for more knowledge and strength. Thanks a lot.

[@garyshirinian]

Very well explained thx . Also the vocal is amazing , well sang.

[@zycon8968]

So helpful! Thank you so much guys! And congrats for 75k

[@ZajaOfficial]

I really love your videos! I must say, I don't think you videos are too long or that you take to long to come to the point. I really like that you take the time to explain things step by step so that it really makes sense! Don't jump over any steps, because it might confuse some producers that's new in the game or whatever. So keep doing it the way you do! I love it! :D

[@DragmuseOfficial]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I've been trying to figure out this new cover I'm making for the background music (has a lot of things going on) and had way too much bass and too much high and not enough mid and this weird frequency in the string VST was distorting the frequency on the trumpet line. Finally got it all leveled out and now sounding clean!

[@lukailic1950]

You are amazing. Been watching a lot of your videos and it helps me very much

[@whispermusic3522]

I tried a lot of technics but none of them did work, thank you very much this, it helped bringing my mixes to the next level, By the way i wasn't a big fan of that genre of music but now after checking out each one of your songs haha i really really loved that way you compose your music, and that inspired me, i really loved the way you over compress your violins so that it have such an aggressive sound, but still we feel the emotions out of it, I wish to know more about what libraries you're using for composing your songs make a video about it would be awesome 😁 Thank you again 😊😊

[@inthemix]

MR Music Thank you so much! Yeah it's about different, usually the strings sections are from analog strings by OUTPUT and the violin is a cello being played in very high registers. It can be hard to tell when in a mix. The passion comes from a wonderful talented musician we record. I'll try to share more about my process on the future but it is ever evolving :)

[@kobalt77]

This is really good ..................... I would never have thought of doing that technique as obvious as it may seem, but that is usually the way .... Well done Michael , another top quality tutorial. :)

[@aidanstapleton129]

Mike, your content is absolutely amazing. So helpful!!!

[@salaam76]

Great video. I just started learning how to use the parametric eq 2 which helped me a lot. But now I see soloing it helps thanks for the advice.

[@SteveWatsonMusic]

Thank you Michael, as always, for your practical and efficient solutions!

[@gialuu781]

What a great tutorial ! Btw, your accent is so clear and smooth. I find it super easy to listen to.

[@zachary963]

I watched this video when it first came out, and here I am using it almost every day lol

[@avigaba1796]

You create the best tutorials on youtube.. hats off to your content .. thanks For creating these videos..

[@wolfgressive]

Very cool. Very helpful. I’ve sort of been doing this but not in some sort of prescribed method like this. Thank you.

[@kieronconcannon]

Great - thanks again. Love the accessible way you present quite complex processes.

[@causeno1048]

Really helpful! Especially that little tip for SPAN. Thanks a lot.

[@whatisyourexcuse]

This is really fabulous stuffed! Made clear in a very straightforward no-nonsense manner. Great info that I can use! You got a subscriber here for sure

[@kennycobra8924]

great tip, i didnt really think EQ would do anything at all. gonna try this with current project