The 4 Main Mix "Shapes" (...what's the frequency curve of your mixes?)

Across countless mixes that reach his studio for mastering, Justin Colletti has found that practically all of them fit into one of 4 general EQ "Shapes".
What does that mean? What "Shape" are your mixes? And what can you do with that information?
Dive deep in this week's episode of the SonicScoop Podcast.
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[@roomofidiots]

The longer I do this, the more I find how important the level balances are in getting a brighter or darker mix.

[@bsb2516]

Justin you are a pearl of wisdom and a treasure for all the young pups that get a chance to meet and hear you in real life or virtually. Keep'em coming and may you get to be a grumpy old man like me. I'm 65 and have been in music since the age of 10 (first live performance on drums), at 16 first record released with my band, that record is now a collector item in my neck of the wood (world). First record as a producer and engineer at 24 (Rufus Thomas, Gil Scott Heron, Carla Thomas, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye etc...). AND still kicking it! Did I say I was 65 y old boomer :)))))) Anyway it was just to say that I endorse what you have been saying since the first video I had the pleasure to watch made by you. Keep up the good work.

[@SonicScoop]

Awesome to hear! Thanks so much for the kind words. Sounds like quite the journey with some pretty amazing artists! I appreciate you being here. -Justin

[@JamEZmusic86]

I really like dark mixes. I can listen to them for much longer. Surely while you are mastering for a bright song it can fatigue you and sound annoying after a while right? On multiple repeats? I don't master so I have no clue. but this is certainly what happens to me while mixing.

[@jhkarjal]

My mixes are definitely scooped and over-hyped, always too much 3-7khz. I think it's a way to hide (not fix) problems in the lower midrange.

[@fivebyfivesound]

I’ve mixed mostly rock, experimental rock and similar styles music, and every time I try out and automated master service it just comes back sounding overhyped in the lows and highs, and it muddies up the low mids where I worked so hard to create clarity 🤦🏽‍♂️ Maybe as I mix more mainstream EDM, hip-hop, R&B or other forms of pop music it would be more flattering. But I’ve come to the conclusion that I can learn to master my mixes way better than these services can do. Very helpful insights on the common frequency profiles of mixed. I’ll definitely be taking a look at my mixes to see where my tendencies / the mixes lie and take that into consideration moving them into mastering 👍🏽

[@andrewbolam4346]

totally right, always end up brightening mixes when I should wait for mastering to do it - excellent vid Justin you nailed it. Thankyou

[@Hugoknots]

Great stuff, very concise, very useful, and well delivered information.

[@Silver6003]

A mix of number 1 and 2 … I’m still learning 😀

[@zian3694]

Me to my mix - I am in love with the shape of you.

[@nelsonriches]

Love your channel mate!

[@SonicScoop]

Love having you here! -Justin

[@mariospirosrugge]

Thank you

[@summerfazed]

Yeah, my mixes always seem to be dark and need a high mid shelf. Just ordered the Dangerous BAX hardware. oops😆But I know it's going to be killer and can't wait to see if the hardware is a lot smoother than the plugin. Good point about the high end fatigue, that's probably what it is.

[@slim1275]

So, I mix/master my own music. I have developed a template that I work into. Is it necessarily wrong to mix into presets on the master bus, then adjust those presets as need be? Or, should I not touch the master bus until the "mix" is complete? I have found the latter to be counter productive, being that as soon as I start adding anything to the master bus, my mix goes out the window.

[@grsfhhytff]

I'm SO guilty of the over-scooping problem.

[@HitWaveMusic]

Magical.

[@mhavock]

Good points! Is this similar to dealing with frequency masking? Is there are technical name for these 4 EQ curves or just Smiley face etc?😀

[@BinExis]

Most of the time my mixes are too heavy in highs and lacking in lows.

[@raphlasne]

Serious stuff here.

[@kevinstoneham1245]

I bet the most common is the volcano on the left and the valley in the middle and on the left?

[@OZKitchen]

I mix the shape of you

[@codycreepcore]

Pretty sure I've been everyone of those types of shapes over the years

[@SonicScoop]

Guilty as charged here as well! You hone in by going to far the wrong way on occasion. Hopefully less and less so over the year. It's a little like tuning an instrument. -Justin

[@radhasharma8899]

Your voice resembles motivational speaker Robin sharma.

[@TheManInCommand]

What is your definition of "hype" when it comes to Mixing and mastering?

[@SonicScoop]

Scooped mids, big bottom, bright top, often coupled with significant dynamic control. Hope that helps! -Justin

[@TheManInCommand]

@@SonicScoop thank you!

[@createausernametrue]

🐬

[@redblock1382]

Do you coffee while mixing tho?

[@SonicScoop]

I try not to! Makes me prefer brighter sounds than I would otherwise if I overdo it. Common thing. I have an episode where I go into that in some detail. -Justin

[@chinmeysway]

My fridge’s noise floor is curvy but I still like your high level master hair mix.

[@callmedavyjones]

1st. ✅

[@anthonyhendriks]

Justin, you say your last name so fast I can't catch it.

[@SonicScoop]

"Colletti" :-)

[@elequentum]

show us. talking about it, is not very helpful.

[@SonicScoop]

We've got a TON of videos like that! Try here: kzbin.info/aero/PL3yghKGBjggTkBYyc-1_larMT6K4rGwmr The podcast isn't really a "showing" format. Hope the videos linked above help you in your journey!

[@elequentum]

@@SonicScoop thanks