15 Mixing Tips for Faster Mixes

[@casokolbyrne]

An amazing time saver. Thank you for taking time to show us all of this!

[@braedenhenderson2358]

Even as a member of MOAM and someone who's watched most of your resources this was still an excellent an instructive new set of tips. Bravo! Also: would love to see everything you have listed in Logic's notes section.

[@masteringcom]

A few people have asked for the project template. Here it is! musicianonamission.training/speedy-mixing-template

[@palladium123music]

Killer template! thanks man really appreciate it ;)

[@xanderknight8032]

any chance you could include those FX chains?

[@faridrider240]

I can' t access your gift _template_

[@frankjonez3459]

Awesome information! This will save me hours per month. I love your use of the Marquee tool for automation nodes - this will keep me from getting carpal tunnel!

[@studiopolka]

Your project template is amazing! -PLEASE let us download it somehow. ..-Pretty please...

[@masteringcom]

Looking into this..

[@MicSolace]

Right?! That'd be super nice to have for my next projects.

[@matthewjohnluca]

i agree

[@masteringcom]

Here it is! musicianonamission.training/speedy-mixing-template

[@ziafab134]

Omg, this is amazing! And the cherry on the cake is that automatic gain staging plug-in...

[@ketiwww]

It would be soo nice to have that mixing process in 11:55 in PDF. Anyway, great video!

[@TheFriedSky]

#1 - ORGANIZATION: 0) Remove the original recording tempo from all tracks 1) Set the tempo and key/ time signature 2) Add the extra "O" measure. 3) Normalize all tracks to-6DBFS. 4) Drag the tracks to their respective busses. 5) [Dont) rename the tracks. 6) Color the tracks. 7) Get a 2-minute volume balance 8) Re-organize markers into song sections. 9) Set buffer size to 1024. 10) Group tracks together for rhythmic editing 11) Engage Sonarworks. #2 - EDIT: 0) Add "Edit" presets to each channel. 1) Phase: - Auto-align stereo mics. 2) Cleaning: - Use noise gates or de-bleeder on drums/EGs. - Use Slate Drum Trigger if necessary. - Clean audio (strip silence, crossfade, etc.). - Transfer vocal breaths to new track. - De-ess the vocals and BGVs. 3) Rhythm: - Nudge instruments forward/backward to fit better - Tempo-align or quantize track timing if necessary. 4) Tuning: - Tune lead vox (detailed), then BGV's (dirty). - Select all "blank" BGV blobs, then decrease volume. #3 - BALANCE: 0) Add "Balance" preset to each buss. 1) Fix: - Find room resonances and cut them. - cut the noise of each instrument's unused low end. 2) Enhance: - Balance the mic levels of any stereo instruments. - If there are stereo mics, pan them UR. - Shape each instrument's tone with pre-tape EQ. - Engage all VMRs. #4 - FINAL PREP: 1) Bounce: - Set up Auto-VU to gain stage any busses - Turn off Sonarworks. - Select Bounce > Track in Place for each inst bus. [Any room mics need to be bounced separately.] - Move original edited versions to "EDITS" folder -Turn the tracks off; bypass all plugins; hide all tracks. 2) Reorganize: - organize, recolor, and rename new stereo files - Separate vocals into V/C/B sections. - Find two references; set them up (mono) with Auto-VU. - Pull all faders down; set the vocals to -8 dB. - Lower the width of all stereo pan knobs to mono. 3) Engage: - Select any channel strip presets you need. - Engage Perc/Inst/Vox processing. - Engage Sonarworks. - Put the VU Meter on your second screen. #5 MIX: 1) Volume Balance: - Loop the loudest part of the song. - Listen to your references. - Do an initial volume balance. 2) Tonal Balance, Pt. 1: - Listen to your references again - Set up your mix bus processing. - Do your range allocation EQ. 3) Dynamic Balance: - On each instrument, set up the compression, saturation, and limiting (if necessary) 3) Tonal Balance, Pt. 2: - Listen through your mix. Where are the problems in the tone? - Go ahead and fix those issues. 4) Spatial Balance: - Pan your instruments. - Add reverbs and delays. 5) Automation: - Automate your volume. - Automate your panning. - Check your dynamics and make sure that they'll work for mastering. - Stop here on your first mix draft. 6) Make It Interesting: - Add your modulation. - Change up the arrangement. - Add your effects. - Add any creative ideas. 7) Final Tweaks: - Listen through the song and write down notes on what needs to be fixed. - Go and fix it! - Make any necessary changes for future drafts. - Send it off to mastering.

[@ketiwww]

@@TheFriedSky Omg, you're a god!

[@leyuentertainment2429]

Thanks man! Great help!

[@MicSolace]

I learned so much from this! Thank you guys!

[@nattyfyah3859]

I understand fully now... Time saving 🙏🏾

[@GoldenProductions2019]

Hey man great job on your mixes and your videos

[@djDivineJustice]

Great video!!!

[@davidbrussard-composer7372]

Great video man, some gold tips on here.

Thank you man. Amazing video.

[@TraxtasyMedia]

Hmm.. Doing some these steps part wise probably I should invoke that to my work flow. Question: is this part about 17:00 the Brauerize concept? Didn't know that I use tip 6 since using my DAW (FL STUDIO)

[@BrianMagnan]

Track stacks are one thing from Logic I really miss in protools.

[@steveleslie4628]

Superb video, thank you. One question: in the explanation of how to use Hornet VU Meter around 29.00, you say that you should turn off all the instances of HUVM once you've played through the song. Can you explain how the plug-in has gain staged tracks after being turned off please? Thanks

[@lucalondon]

please share the template!!!! what a great job!!! in the meantime best wishes for 2020!!!:)

[@ZERAVI]

Why normalize to -6db if plugins work better when the signal is -18dbs?

[@real_franco]

For the "Create channel strip presets" section, how do you get it to do the flyout menu for the "User Channel Strip Settings" and then the categories for "1-DRUMS...8---------" ?? I created 2 that are saved in "MY NAME > Music > Audio Music Apps > Channel Strip Settings > Track" that show right in the dialog popup when I click on "Setting".

[@alexfont]

This guy is brilliant! This course should cost 1.000€

[@GoldenProductions2019]

Great mixing template in my Logic Pro x template I have some of the same stuff your using on my channel

[@studiopolka]

The toggle tip is great! But is there a way to do it with windows i full screen mode?

[@MixingGBP]

This is making me wonder why I have invested 10 years using Reason as my DAW. There are so many things mentioned here that it simply can't do. Reason is great for creativity of music but not as good for workflow efficiency.

[@Cakasaurus]

I'm on Reason and I feel like using the browser and saving combinator patches is sufficient for my workflow. Has that not worked for you?

[@MixingGBP]

@@Cakasaurus yeah, it's just that Reason can't do things are super easy and logical that most other DAWs do. Like nicer fade ins and outs and side chaining of VSTs from makers like iZotope. You are very limited to customization. And on and on. If I were a Mac user, I'd probably have tried Logic by now.

[@Cakasaurus]

@@MixingGBP ah, yeah I agree that some functions aren't as streamlined as they could be. Isn't sidechaining done through CV routing though lol

[@MixingGBP]

@@Cakasaurus You could be right, I don't use CV in Reason very much. Can you share a video link about how to do that? When I asked iZotope and Reason about this, they both said it could not be done but they were working on it.

[@PLaZMaKaT]

Any chance we could get a copy of that template?

[@heavymetalmixer91]

Thanks for all those useful tips! Now, my own tip for faster mixing (when mixing, not before): Use the Yin-Yang method. This means that if you need something from a track, process other tracks to let the first one shine through. For example: I have a lead vocal and a guitar, the vocal needs more presence but the guitar is fihgint with it for the same frequency range that is the high-mids. Now, usually you would go for an EQ and boost the high-mids on the vocal, right? But with this method, you go for the EQ and cut high-mids from the guitar until the presence of the vocal can be clearly heard. This method MUST be done in the context of the mix. There's already a video about it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nn2koHuQfL51hqM

[@MykeyMassacre]

This video changed my life

[@brilliant586]

Damn! Thank you so much 🙏🏽

[@44gg37]

Seems like you can't cycle through windows in Logic X when you're in fullscreen mode. Or am I missing something?

[@simonbostock877]

what is the name of the key command in Logic that opened/closed the folders? I couldn’t find it in key commands menu.

[@RMKTOPPEN]

Search "open/close all track stacks"

[@kendallhoulder5139]

THANKS A MILLION!

[@masteringcom]

Our pleasure!

[@montazownianr1]

Im even tired just to listen this to the end ;) But is good knowledge.

[@deshawnjimerson659]

Great

[@MrBuckshot18]

Please make a video on how to create a vocal chain. I dont want to put my vocal chain on a bus I want to put my chain on one channel I can send to other vocal takes but cant figure this out. I also dont want to have to load the channel set up on ever vocal channels.

[@51wallflowers29]

RTP Sound I think sadly pro tools is your only option for this

[@MrBuckshot18]

@@51wallflowers29 no you can do it on logic i just dont know how to

[@Table-Top]

I do retro (80s) music. I'm struggling to find a modern reference track mix that I like.

[@frankharley442]

You can find anything on KZbin, but you got to pick the best version

[@stevieflowersbeats1506]

Reference your reference...music from the 80s

[@Table-Top]

@@stevieflowersbeats1506 trouble is, that music was mastered 40 years ago. And the versions I can find are online but perhaps not good enough (converted from VHS tape etc) to use as a reference.

[@stevieflowersbeats1506]

@@Table-Top You have a point but to the modern listener, that sound IS what that music sounds like so maybe some tape saturation, reverb and lo-fit plugins could be the way to go. Best of luck man

[@frankharley442]

Here where I live I can go to this store that sales vinyl, cassette tapes and cds.find a shop near you. That would be the best way to get the sound quality you're looking for. Other than that download it from Amazon

[@cyb1552]

THX!

[@jmons33]

Wow 🤩

[@dinosaurmonkey666]

First! Awesome upload 👍

[@ghoshneh]

Second! Fantastic upload!!!

[@victorrabeloficial]

Avicii worked 12h per Day...

[@jeffmarc1846]

As Logic and others have Linear Faders as default, why would you say that your faders sound best at 0 dB. You could change to exponential-fade, which would make your Fader more sensitive at 0dB, but not sound better. Besides, why would you want to limit your sensitivity to an inch or so on the screen? Now, with an analog fader, that would be accurate, but not at all within Logic and most DAWs.

[@braedenhenderson2358]

You're both right, in a sense. Since a fader is a relative control, a fader will only sound better at a given position if the signal level associated with that position is in some way ideal. In this instance, he's setting his signal to consistently hover around -18dBFS when the fader is at the 0 position, which is important because -18dBFS is the ideal operating level for analog-modeling plugins (since -18dBFS=0dB in the analog domain). So for HIS workflow, the fader DOES sound best at 0, but not necessarily yours or mine if we calibrate our levels differently. If he gain staged so his signal hovered around -24dBFS, his faders would sound best at -6, etc.

[@jeffmarc1846]

Braeden Henderson 18 dBfs. Why? are you thinking in “analog” terms? Here’s some more current ways of thinking about the digital domain. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZmVhqd3n7KKp9E

[@doguskucuk]

so much talking...