Secrets of the Mix Bus: 3 Simple Techniques to Transform Your Mix

[@TheMixAcademy]

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[@TheMixAcademy]

I had to reupload to fix an audio issue... Thanks for watching!

[@deanrussell5901]

This is the audio equivalent of small wins. Excellent video I love it!

[@TheMixAcademy]

Much appreciated! Thanks for watching!

[@j.stribling2565]

Wow, that is striking. I did not expect 1 dB diff to have such a significant impact.

[@TheMixAcademy]

Thanks for watching!

[@Barry-Hall]

Question - for mixes like this that are heavily tweaked to squeeze out every last drop of loudness, what happens in the mastering phase? Or do you skip most of the traditional mastering workflow (compression, EQ, limiting)? Thanks for your great content!

[@TheMixAcademy]

I mix with the end in mind so that if my client wanted to (most do) they can release my final version as their master. That being said, whether I am the ME or not I will turn off the final clipper/limiter combo and bring the gain down to ensure the mix isn't clipping and then pull that into a separate mastering session. I will also make sure (when possible) that I have some time between finishing a mix and moving into mastering for a fresh perspective. If I'm sending to the client's chosen ME I will do the same. If I've chosen to use parallel compression on the entire mix I always keep that when sending off to mastering. I hope that helps!

[@Barry-Hall]

@@TheMixAcademy That makes a lot of sense. Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions!

[@TheMixAcademy]

@@Barry-Hall Totally my pleasure!

[@ViceSquad]

TOP NOTCH brother all the best from London UK 🙂

[@TheMixAcademy]

Thanks, man! Means a ton!!

[@rickythethird]

i dont understand what you did at the very end of the video. as i was watching i noticed you have mix a, mixb , and mix buss? whats the route order to them or why do you have 2 mixes and whats mix bus? the master? is that because your paralleled into a new bus ? thanks , just a nooby and i catch myself watching your videos to learn even tho some things seems complicated, i still appreciate your channel

[@VPROXE-HELLRAISER]

Actually a pretty good technique! Thanks bud!

[@TheMixAcademy]

Thanks for watching!

[@deltavistastudio124]

+1 David Glenn & The Mix Academy

[@TheMixAcademy]

🙏

[@kevinakacoolbreeze]

Let’s Go 👊🔥

[@TheMixAcademy]

Thanks for the love, Kevin! I appreciate you, bro!

[@ASDPOWER]

The techniquesd are dope thanks!! I have to say though I find this mix really lacks space and is quite shouty in the midrange. Was just listening to superunknown last night and the sound although very full at times has more distinction and space and is smoother thought the mids. I find this very fatiguing to listen to. Whereas the Soundgarden was not. Sorry to be super critical on the mix.

[@TheMixAcademy]

All good, man! The beauty of music... We all hear things differently. My references for this one were State Champs and All Time Low. Thanks for watching!

[@skeenan73]

Praying for you brother. Cyst is better than a tumor. Glass is half full. How can I donate? There’s no thanks button.

[@TheMixAcademy]

Thanks for asking! I appreciate the support. I just released a new course that's still donation based. Here's the link to check it out: academy.themixacademy.com/offers/U4tnZPZ6 I also have multiple courses and bundles available on the site: academy.themixacademy.com/store I'm here if you have any questions! David

[@Barry-Hall]

Great tips and ideas, thanks! On the first technique, since you have a limiter on your master bus, isn’t that going to essentially erase, or at least squash, any volume automation that you add?

[@lahattec]

I think the point is to increase the 'energy' in the mix, and in that case it would be pushing harder into the limiter which increases the perceived energy.

[@TheMixAcademy]

Great question! I've been doing this so long I forgot that significant detail in the tutorial. I'm actually doing this on a bus in Pro Tools which is post plug-in processing. This way it's a true 1 db boost and not changing the level going into the clipper/limiter. If you were to use a master fader in Pro Tools the volume automation would be PRE plug-in inserts which would merely increase the signal into the plug-in chain. I'm not familiar with too many other DAW's but I'm sure just about every DAW will have some tracks that are pre and some that are post plug-in processing. Does that make sense?

[@TheMixAcademy]

Great thought but I'm using a bus in Pro Tools and NOT a master fader. Busses in PT are post plug-in processing while master faders are pre-insert. Thanks for watching! @@lahattec

[@LeDemiChef]

Isn't that how clip gain works? What do you refer to as master buss then? @@TheMixAcademy

[@TheMixAcademy]

@@LeDemiChef In Pro Tools, clip gain is pre-insert which will affect the signal going into your plugs, the bus track type is POST insert (does not affect signal going into the plugs), and the master fader track type is PRE insert. Because I don’t want the volume automation to affect the signal going into my mix bus (mix a and mix b) and merely want it to be a jump in volume (post insert) I don’t use the master fader track type in Pro Tools. Bus for the win (at least in Pro Tools).

[@francescoburton6015]

Promo-SM 😇