Mixing A Song Start To Finish: Can You Hear The Difference?

In this video, I show you my approach to mixing and mastering a song step by step. There are lots of tips and techniques you can apply no matter the music you are producing or mixing.
Focusrite has invited me to join forces with guitarist @ChrisBuckGuitar and singer-songwriter @iamkarramusic in a three-part series exploring the journey from a guitar loop to crafting a fully mixed song using their new Scarlett 4th Generation interfaces.
You can watch the full series here on KZbin.
Watch Chris Buck record the guitar, bass and drums: • From Loop to Track Wit...
Watch Karra write the song and record the vocals: • Focusrite Scarlett Rec...
Discover Scarlett 4th Gen:
bit.ly/In-The-Mix-YT
0:00 - Series Overview
1:15 - Rough Mix
3:25 - Drum Mixing
5:05 - Bass Mixing
7:07 - Guitar Mixing
8:20 - Vocal Mixing
14:20 - Mastering
15:32 - Before and After
📱 Instagram: @michael.inthemix
📱 All my links: linktr.ee/inthemixlinks
🌍 My Website / Contact / Hire me: michaelwynneaudio.com
🎧 My Sound Banks / Preset Packs: inthemix.store
#mixing #mastering #musicproduction

[@iamkarramusic]

Thank you for making my recordings sound amazing 🤩

[@inthemix]

It would be a challenge to make them sound bad. Thanks for recording them so well!

[@cesargonzalezbueno3359]

At what sample rate did you guys worked that song?

[@iamkarramusic]

@@cesargonzalezbueno3359 48k Sample Rate with 32 bit float

[@inthemix]

⁠@@cesargonzalezbueno3359 I also worked at 48kHz, 32Bit. This way you just don’t ever need to worry about headroom or noise floor. However, it’s common to export masters at different sample rates, bit depths and dithers depending on your needs.

[@cesargonzalezbueno3359]

@@inthemix thanks.

[@thetrashpanda9085]

This is a perfect example of how a solid performance can make so much difference for the mixing and mastering process. Micheal, Karra, and Chris are all so masterful!

[@inthemix]

Chris and Karra certainly made my job smooth. They are both immensely talented!

[@legionofboombap4705]

Sidechaining the delays so the tail ducks down on the transient hits is brilliant! This one tip alone was worth the watch. Your vids and advice are always excellent!

[@santi3574]

It can also be done with reverbs!

[@inthemix]

@@santi3574I actually don’t know why I didn’t do it with the reverbs too. It’s such a good trick!

[@NikkieJurnigan]

@@inthemix can you do video with my track

[@Liatris]

@inthemix I actually questioned that too, since you did reverbs right after you sidechained the delays, and I was like "What, why didn't you do it with reverbs too?" Then you said "This'll be more like a stereo-widening than a reverb" and I went "Oh. Yeah. Gonna do that."

[@DrumNBassed]

It’s amazing how much confidence a little bit of compression brings to the mix.

[@DJPastaYaY]

These more in depth and walkthrough style videos I always find super helpful. Just so much detail and insightful tips that you can't really get in a 2 minute video. Keep up the great work Michael!!

[@inthemix]

Long live long form content!

[@brandybraxtone1087]

Self-taught producers such as I appreciate your work🤝. My journey with Fl Studio started right here 5 years later...a certified sound engineer😄. Much love from Kenya.

[@ChrisBuckGuitar]

This was awesome! Thank you Michael; smashed it mate!

[@inthemix]

After editing this I've had your guitar loops stuck in my head all week! Such detail yet so easy and laid back. Hope to work with you again one day soon!

[@DaniCorbalanSpain]

Here we can see a professional doing a brilliant mixing & mastering session for free. Personally I would make the long vocal reverb a bit larger, the vocal sounds a bit dry in the full mix in my opinion. I don't know if you used it because it isn't in the video, but I always sidechain a little all the instruments and sounds except for the kick and sometimes the bass with the vocals, this glues the vocals and the instruments together. Anyway, wow, the difference between the raw and the final master is incredible. Will save this video to watch it every time I start a mixing session, thanks for your work :)

[@inthemix]

Thank you for those insights! I want to go back and try that sidechaining technique now… The vocals also sound great with more reverb, I tend to overdo reverb and delay so pulled it back a little after the mastering section. Maybe I could increase the long reverb time and also side chain it? This could give a larger spatial effect without overloading it.

[@DaniCorbalanSpain]

@@inthemix I watch all your videos, but also a ton of music production videos, so I can't remember if I learned this from you, but I think you already made a video about sidechaining reverb using Fruity Peak Controller, that's the technique I always use for reverb and delay, so I guess that's what you are thinking, also adding an EQ to the reverb cutting lows and highs.

[@RaphayoStudios]

What I find more facinating is the channel set up before mixing.

[@inthemix]

It’s all in my template that I released on my Discord server (And YT some time ago). Maybe I could break it down in another video?

[@decibeats9668]

Music is so subjective, but I really appreciate your view a lot. I'm a bass fiend so I'd shelf it slightly but it sounds great !

[@inthemix]

Listening back I also want to shelf it. You can never have too much bass!

[@harshitavlogs]

Wdym by "shelf" the bass?

[@shivamgaikwad5002]

I miss you bro upload more or upload vlogs I wanna see you

[@ElijahEzell]

Agreed. Would love to see more

[@zachsteiner]

Gay. Just kidding, I agree lol.

[@prodbyjexus1]

this the realest shit i’ve ever seen

[@XXROCKANDROLLPOWERXX]

You're incredible! Thank you for all your help to the producers community!

[@poptny]

Love this kind of videos!! So much to learn and you also make it look sooo easy, very helpful!!!

[@AzulTierraMusic]

I loved how you side chained the delays with the vocal very clever. Makes the vocals more clear! The vocal performance was amazing! Really good song I would listen to it a million times.

[@jondilliom]

This is the best mixing video I've seen in a while. So many ideas

[@itisnaja]

11:15 blew my mind, that's very helpful, I had no idea about it

[@shadow325lone]

Omg this is the most beautiful new year's gift I've taken! A start to finish mixing tutorial and even with my studio gears and the plugins I have... Truly amazing, I can't tell how much I'm grateful. Thank you 🥺💙

[@sciscoug3492]

Wow, this is the video i was looking for all these decades, finally. It's super helpful and i would like to thank you guys for the efforts and love you put in to make us great producers. Thank you.

[@KevinMerinoCreations]

Great video! I am completely new to mixing in so this is perfect for helping me understand what I need to focus on while I learn. Thank you, Chris Buck @ChrisBuckGuitar, and Kara for sharing your talents! 👏👏👏

[@alex.florin.prod_shorts]

Some of the greatest people united to make this video! Congrats!

[@matthewmargetts8516]

It's invaluable to see you going through the thought process and applying processing. I have saved this video and can see myself coming back to it time and time again. Thank you.

[@HongFeiHo]

I love it when my favourite producers work together! Awesome!!!!

[@gengargum]

so excited you did another one of these just got more into mixing and your vids help so much, welcome back! :)

[@nafawi7965]

My favorite part of the series. Thanks!

[@galoguevara6049]

Nice. I would have added a little bit of "air" to the lead vocals (and maybe a tiny bit to the "lead" harmony). Not "shure" if the drums were a stereo loop, or separate tracks. But if separate, I would have made a copy of the kick drum, then created a sub-kick out of the copy by HF cutting everything above 60Hz, and boosted the 40Hz with a medium tight bell by 6-8 dBs. Add some hard compression, and fast gate to reduce any "sub-tails" after the initial hit (this makes for tightness). Correct for any phasing between the kick and new sub-kick - then blended the sub-kick into the kick to taste. This adds a little "umff" to the low-end. Or maybe done this technique to the Bass guitar instead (not the kick drum). But definitively not create a "subs" for both the kick and bass, which would be too much. I think creating two subs would have taken away from the groove of the guitars. Nice though.

[@inthemix]

That kick reinforcement is something Im going to try. I especially like the idea of gating the additional sub to prevent the decay ringing out. Thanks for those ideas. Happy New Year!

[@SouthPhilly28th]

Thank you for creating this video! 👑

[@Makzin_Makza]

The tutorial I've been waiting for ❤❤ thank you

[@furiobisotti8150]

Wow... Extremely useful path for a beginner amateur like me. I appreciated a lot compression and eq, which saved the original groove from musicians. It makes everything professional in a hifi mode (not easy to be found nowadays). Bravo!

[@xten93]

WOW!! really love this!! As i am a beginner in the Mixing and Mastering section, this really helped me a lot and lets me know what I needed to improve. Thank You!! Hoping to see more videos like this.

[@sonicart1808]

Bravo Michael, you did a stellar job on this track...

[@DarkPhive]

Great job man, watching your videos took my production to a new level! Also the song is incredible

[@riidzmahn0481]

thanks i managed to get some really good pointers, well done.

[@HaniHashiya]

The mix and mastering really add depth to the guitarist and singer's awesome performance!!

[@iainmackenzieUK]

Incredibly useful and inspiring - many thanks

[@wyshwood]

Nice work. Sounds like you helped with the groove as well as bonding it all together. I like your style, nothing too extreme.

[@jmosouthernsoul1967]

Thanks for all the lessons

[@Hagoromo6]

Thank you for sharing this ❤

[@deltamack]

😊❤Thank you, Michael.

[@MrMikomi]

Very nice song. Got 90s vibes, for me at least.

[@Barnsey87]

It's a blessing having Mike Mixing for you. 👍

[@BrandonShere]

I love that you used Karra's vocals!! You both are great to watch!

[@OUTSHADES]

Literally the balancing and leveling part in a smooth playthrough really helped me understand it a little bit more, I've always struggled with leveling and it takes me quite a while to get it right. What I find hard is keeping the volume difference between the verse and the chorus fairly minimalistic yet choruses have to sound energetic and secondly keeping the drums at a level where they are not too prominent but at the same time loud enough to be exciting and not sounding dull!

[@ericdias4199]

I wanna hug you, Michael. Thank you ✌

[@spacembf]

Dope video. Great editing, everything looks so seamless and allows us to just focus on the music

[@rowlandhyde3477]

This guy doesn’t know how much he has helped me, I’d love to meet him and thank him in person 🙏❤️

[@Kudobeat]

Always enjoyed your teaching

[@janitzioIII]

incredible thank you so much

[@CraftedByDirt]

Always love what you put out❤

[@kemal_ozturk]

This is very helpful and super fun to watch!

[@LittleBigDebbie]

Omg what an amazing new years gift, you always teach us so much 🥺🥺🥺 theres so much to learn at once when youre just starting but its so comforting to know we are being well guided 😊! Happy new year!!!

[@inthemix]

You're welcome! I'm trying to make my videos as easy to follow as possible these days. The best way to learn is to load it up alongside your own mixing project and take it one chapter at a time. You'll get there in no time.

[@venkatsailor]

Thank you so much!

[@ibrahimalmahdiii]

🙋‍♂️From the Arab world... specifically Libya🇱🇾... I salute you💯💯 for this most wonderful work ⚡️with the talented Kara in recording vocals.

[@inthemix]

Thank you from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@sanketnepal6078]

Awesome video. Thank you sir.

[@craiggavin250]

Super helpful Thankyou!

[@MusicProducerrr]

Top-notch as always 🔥🔥. Waiting for release

[@veelik8987]

This is so much fun and helpful! Thank you, Michael, Happy New Year

[@inthemix]

Happy New Year

[@ajaykhandka4207]

Very Nice. What a Mixing !

[@dylanthekoreanteacher]

Thanks for the great video!

[@edhooo2602]

this video was helpfull, keep it simple like this and keep creating

[@sykemypie5216]

This sounds marvelous!

[@Aerons560]

High quality, splash. Happy New Year!

[@inthemix]

Happy New Year!

[@BVK.]

Fricking useful! Thank you sire!

[@mogimuziki]

Thank you, sir.

[@aneudylopez1723]

SHE SINGS AMAZING AND YOUR A GENIOUS , LOVE UR CHANNEL

[@c1966m]

nice video format, the right length, very informative, thanks!

[@inthemix]

I'm glad I balanced it right this time!

[@slurpeexyza17]

That master is ear candy! Amazing!

[@inthemix]

Thank you!

[@GaborKmetyko]

Wow, nice job! I like the results, only thing I would try (and maybe throw ayaw after trying) to start the "transition" drumbeats (the part you also repeated during the final showoff) from a lower level and let them build up to max, for some more dramatic effect. Maybe works, maybe not, worth a try. But yes, this is what mixing is about. Chapeau!

[@inthemix]

That's a great idea. Honestly, I'm considering making a video or stream where I try out all the brilliant suggestions that people have left in the comments here. This comment section is like a gold mine!

[@mrpudikin]

"It actually sounds pretty cool" during the vocal tuning got me.. Helpful video. thanks

[@inthemix]

I sometimes talk before listening!

[@larswillsen]

Thanks, mate! I typically keep the vocals quite simple, usually just one direct voice, perhaps with a few choir voices. I've come to realize that experimenting with doubling and panning might yield better results. I'll give it a try tomorrow. Thanks again for the inspiration! 🙂

[@inthemix]

Something that I learned when mixing this one is how the vocal production formed the mix. When more volume or excitement was needed, Karra recorded more layers instinctively and it made the vocal mix very straightforward.

[@TheLloyd91]

very insightful.

[@davidorlov]

Respect! Loved ur mix. I wish I was even half as good

[@eynakashna6980]

fantastic tips

[@Fuck_kalamkaar]

YOUR VIDEO ARE REALLY VERY HELPFULL....THX FOR THE CONTENT MATE

[@originunknown3209]

Superb Michael! Enjoyed that!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏. Cheers!

[@Cola.Cube.]

Happy new year Michael. Have been using FL studio since version 4, you would have been just a baby. Thaught myself the basics but you're helping my mixes shine. You're irreplaceable as a tutor. ❤

[@inthemix]

That’s 20 years of free updates! Thank you, Happy New Year!

[@madzoo4399]

Great Music! Amazing!

[@PrashantVermaMusic]

Really helpful content to organize workflow, thanks brother 😍

[@GoutamSingh]

one of my favourite teacher ....yes Boss ❤❤❤❤

[@afsaudio]

Amazing as usual 👏

[@prodbyjexus1]

this was beautiful ♾️

[@lionrecords57]

I really love the Way you balance ♎ the mix , using reverb & Delay for really you'r my favorite mix engenner!!! More videos Dad✓ 😢😢😢

[@slsemitone2487]

wow that's amazing work yah...! love It😍😍

[@bremflux6464]

That wave is looking beautiful bruh bruh. Thanks for the info as always!

[@AlientoAcustico]

That guitar is amazing

[@inthemix]

Chris absolutely nailed it!

[@ezradavid5877]

One of the best content I've seen on KZbin about mixing, and I've seen plenty. This is in my top 3.

[@abhisheks5625]

which are the other 2?

[@tomschlaiss5735]

Great work as always, cheers from Germany

[@dj_Kzas]

Sound amazing and her voice OMG I just melt loved it. Great video but we need a whole session with all the details please make a pay course.

[@djcitieofficial]

youre my inspiration whenever when am down Sir you just give me this power to make something nice .....youre the beat Michael keep up Sir

[@inthemix]

Thank you. I’m so glad to have that effect!

[@charles.9391]

Amazing video! Really awesome mix, and great information

[@glennfordsolinap8606]

man, the master just sounds so full!!!

[@Code-zq5yo]

thank you so much

[@cajuncrackerranch7990]

Great job man!

[@victoriousakadiceproductions]

That's awesome and Happy New Year.🎉

[@inthemix]

Happy New Year!

[@MrAdrianloera]

Much respect I really like your methods 👍🏼

[@djjelgui]

It is perfect!😍🔥👏🏻

[@prodby._Major_P.]

Ty your GOATED 🙏🏾💯

[@karlboman]

So good! And as noted already, a good end product *always* starts with a good performance. Personally I would have tried to keep the vocals more immediate/intimate, so no delay and maybe a different approach to the reverbs.

[@HaddexGames]

Thanks for the video!

[@inthemix]

You're more than welcome!

[@vewilli]

Cool! 👍🏻

[@FredImhotep]

Thank You