Lightning Fast Mixing With Templates (Ft. Billy Decker)

Learn how the right mix template in Pro Tools can unlock massive speed gains in your mixing workflow.
And when it comes to mixing very, very fast, there are few people better at it than Billy Decker - if you want some proof, just watch how fast he mixes in this clip from his Nail The Mix session where he demonstrates how he uses templates to automate much of his process.
Want to learn from the man who's mixed TWELVE #1 hits and sold over 25 million albums? Get instant access to this session + Billy's mixing class ► nailthemix.com...
NAIL THE MIX is an online mixing school created by Joey Sturgis, Joel Wanasek and Eyal Levi - the guys who produced bands like TDWP, Chelsea Grin, Blessthefall, Machine Head, Monuments, Miss May I, Reflections, Born Of Osiris, Asking Alexandria and dozens more of this generation's best metal bands.
Every month, NAIL THE MIX members get exclusive access to the REAL MULTI-TRACK SESSIONS from a REAL ALBUM, and a 6-8 hour live streaming class from the producer who mixed it. These aren't bogus covers played by some nobody off of KZbin, these are the actual sessions by bands like Meshuggah, A Day To Remember, Chelsea Grin, Periphery, Papa Roach, Machine Head, Gojira and State Champs - and NTM is the only place in the world you'll get access to them!

[@SixPieceSuits]

I've gotten to spend a lot of time with Billy in the studio. I've seen him mix from scratch and mix from templates, and he is unreal fast with his productivity. We can learn a lot from Billy. How to use templates, EQ strategies, compression tips, and so much more, but what we can't do is use his ears. He's also just a cool dude. I will not name names, but I've seen some big names with big egos come into his studio with bad attitudes, and Billy keeps his cool all the way.

[@AxonRiseMusic]

This is legit one of the BIGGEST game changers ever in music. I've cut off so much time using templates and presets I've made for songs. Billy's the man! He seems awesome!

[@ChristianIce]

Amen. Since I started working with a template, building it and improving it every time, every mix sounds better than the previous. It's not about using the same samples, to me, it's about the routing, the base mastering, the FXs. I am just sorry that I thought about that too late, but I had to wait for Tom Holkenborg to enlight me :)

[@xLoxLoLex]

it's weird, I've been doing it since I started without knowing about it hahahaha amazing

[@zeclomal2265]

@@xLoxLoLex me too, I've always saved my preset and everytime I created a new one I changed the name of the month (because I like to have backup copies).

[@the.brad.thomas]

Unreal!!!! Amazingly quick workflow!! Think of the number of tracks Billy can mix using this! Mind blowing

[@Aeronaut1975]

I was listening to a URM podcast the other day with Billy, he says his record is 17 songs in one day day!! Yes, 17 songs, fully mixed, in one day...

[@ChristianIce]

Anyway, I import the audio files in the template session, it's kinda quicker :)

[@goatsurgeon]

I need this video Because the perfectionist type don’t get content out You have to wrap it up and call it good when it’s good and not get tinker-itis Templates are KEY 🔑

[@marc_leblanc]

Working with templates has been a huge timesaver! As for using room mics. I usually don't use them either. If I need an ambient sound, I'd much rather create a 'fake room' on an aux and tweak it to fit the song or genre. I get more control over it that way.

[@EricChesek]

I gasped when I heard the full mix kick in at 8:42. Hahaha

[@Charlyfromthenuclearcity]

Well well well, I think I'm gonna take a look again at my template.

[@francisgarde]

that moment when he's about to drop the mic = GOLD.

[@kevinhenrich5024]

Fluff ( riff, beards & gear ) in the Backround ? :D

[@DanDuskin]

Looks like you could use PT 2018 Track Presets. ;)

[@bachbeats2217]

does anyone know if hes using DI bass signal or the mic'ed?

[@warpold]

That was awesome!

[@thebarcodestv]

Is there a reason he has all faders at -11.1db? Is that his reference line for the -18db reasoning? Thanks for your answer...!

[@JJDPROMEDIAPRODUCTION]

Leaving room for mastering..

[@hogblockula9335]

god i love this guy

[@fatcitysoundstudio4218]

Need to go back and buy that month.

[@joshhayes5561]

Super helpful video!

[@anthonylarussa8385]

So killer

[@LubeckStudiosEngineer]

yo PAUSE at :49 sec....is that Fluff in the background?

[@CameronEarlyMusic]

holy shit

[@musicproductioncentral4540]

Holy fucking shit...

[@SteveStockmalMusic]

I really have to get over the fact that we record drums and then we sample everything so it doesn’t sound like drums anymore. Or rather, we record a real drum set and then sample it so it sounds like a real drum set. LOL

[@tvtime1505]

This is why it all sounds the same.

[@Jon_Tate]

#Decker_URM_2018.

[@Temperjames]

oh LORD SAVE ME... does Pro Tools not have "Paste In Place" like Cubase?????? You "Cut" audio from one track and select another track and "Paste In Place" and it pastes it, starting exactly where the original was located.... it even works for cascading tracks, so you can Cut and Paste multiple tracks at once Yikes at all this dragging !!!!

[@thesoundresidence]

That is so sad...

[@michaeltownsly1493]

“I replace every kick with samples”... Maybe you wanna ask the recording engineers you work with to give you better material. Or maybe you should try mixing a real kick, it’s not very difficult. I can understand if someone is using a $200 drum mic kit, but when you’re at this level you should not have to replace every kick with samples.

[@jamiedavie91]

I think you're missing the point of Billy replacing all the kicks. Being a mixer in Nashville is a super competitive profession, so I think he approaches it from a consistency and repeatability point of view. Pretty sure he said that "kicks sell records" and so he would be putting himself at a disadvantage if the stuff he's putting out kept having an inconsistent low end/rhythm backbone. It's part of his sound and that's what people pay him to do every day.

[@Jazzguitar00]

People expect to hear super consistency in kick drums; very few drummers provide that. I don't think you don't understand how much people's ears have changed after hearing so much electronic music and heavily edited rock and metal.