The Secret To Mixing Like The Pros (In Ableton)

[@gdgzhrr]

people have 0 excuse as to why they can't figure stuff out on their end when videos like this exist. Usually people forget to explain something or gloss over it and that leaves me confused.. but this video fired on all cylinders and left me speechless without questions! exactly what I needed and looking for, very intelligent!

[@archiespeller1029]

This was great. As a beginner I have been taught a lot of over complicated 'tricks' and 'hacks' and it's easy to forget that the essentials need to be mastered before any of those more advanced methods can be used. Watching you use the EQ was a lightbulb moment, thanks mate.

[@erikbosgra1775]

Great to see that its not simple to mix, but that we shouldn't think to difficult about it. Thanx for simplificating the proces so we can follow along 🔥🧡

[@CompleteProducer]

that's right! it just takes practice and you get better with every song you mix

[@Slimcado]

You successfully made mixing, which I find to be the most boring part of the entire process, to be very approachable, easy to understand and replicate. It seems like a lot of people who teach mixing just want to talk about plug-ins and talk about mixing in a abstract sort of way that it’s hard to even follow and sort of feels like they are gatekeeping so thank you for not being that way.

[@eliasgportillo]

I’m so grateful for this video bro you have no idea how much this helped watching. Lately I’ve been discouraged and have wanted to give up but this is something that has really inspired me to not give up on the process

[@CompleteProducer]

love to hear that, keep it up!

[@Miss.ChiefStudios]

I often feel the same too. It is not easy is it. What kind of music do you make.

[@TONELOWOFFICIAL]

The stick of butter vs mountain analogy for compression is the most simplest and easiest way to interpret how it works! My man! I'll be watching more!

[@dimsumchili]

you are one of the most insightful music producer youtubers, so good to see you post so appreciated

[@precisionsoundworksstudio]

Pro Tools is my DAWr, but I still found this very useful and that part at the end about simply creating music and practicing was a great reminder. Good stuff. Thank you.

[@wowflower]

this video feels like a big warm hug. thank u

[@zacklovesdrums]

I wasn't able to use all of the plugins due to cost, but damn this video was spot on and super helpful. My first mix ever and it sounds waaaaaay more professional than I could imagine.

[@DivergentReactions]

Ive just started recording some of my old songs and this is exactly the video I needed to make everything come together. Can't thank you enough!

[@MÜS1DELiC]

dude thank you for simplifying this so much and making it accessible to everybody (:

[@grizzlythief]

at 12:00, you can eq the hats out by finding their frequency and either pulling down with EQ or by using the frequency option on the compressor or using multiband at the hat freq.

[@mihu.96]

I was wondering why he didn't just EQ the hats. Obviously he's a pro mixer so there's got to be a reason for that but I can't quite figure it out.

[@rk9radio]

You could do that (and I have plenty of times bc I mix like an animal) but you’d lose some of the character of the other elements like the kick. Then again compressing also changes those elements. Maybe a matter of taste or how the specific track reacts that guides whether that makes sense or not.

[@davesworld7688]

Ive watched a bunch of mixing tutorial videos on KZbin, and I have to say this video has been the most useful and most informative video I have come across. Your tips are helping me immensely and l just wanted to say thank you very very much.

[@laytonkelly1108]

Got my subscription! This is exactly what i needed to see right now, after struggling and getting stuck with what to do next i now have a checklist to follow and a much better understanding of the whole mixing process in general! Thankyou!

[@Miss.ChiefStudios]

I love the song you are working on. Your friend has a gorgeous voice and the instrumental is fire. You did an amazing job on the mix and master. I love it. Thank you so much for the tutorial. Really brilliant and helpful ❤🙏

[@julesester2480]

the way you are explaining difficult things is just amazing!! I can't thank you enough for doing that! I did a college course on production and wasn't sure about some of mixing techniques even after. Your style of teaching is just so relaxing and clear! it's just ❤

[@kimberleylooijen]

Thank you so much for this! I started producing my own music one month ago and your video has been the best one I watched so far.

[@CompleteProducer]

You're so welcome! Glad to hear it. Keep it up

[@alexandrosbitoulas]

Many thanks for this video! You are one of the best ones I’ve seen on the internet, very pleasant to watch, always to the point, relaxed and efficient. Appreciate your work, cheers, Alexandros 🙏👍👏

[@CompleteProducer]

thnak you!

[@xapk]

Hey Ethan, great tutorial thanks for sharing your knowledge so generously!

[@At0m_444]

This man is going to help me go far 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@ohelyse]

this song is just gorgeous, and the practice of mixing so patiently explained... bless you for sharing this! if you ever need an example track to demo for a future mixing video I volunteer as a tribute 😅 seriously though, so generous to pass along your gifts to those of us just trying to fit in some creativity after a long day ❤

[@sirwanmusic]

This is really easy and effective technique. Most KZbinrs make stuff way complicated like mix bus processes calshing frequency. Compression for glue and all of these stuff i know is good to get them right. But stilll I’ve noticed if we use less plugins sound become more natural and warmer.

[@LOLCoolJ]

Some very good advice here. In my opinion, reference tracks should be used from the very beginning of the mixing process.

[@BRINK_Music]

Without doubt.

[@seazons_official]

Every damn time ❤

[@hussainshahabuddin1423]

Hey man, this video was really helpful for me! I've been navigating music for some time now, but I found some challenges in understanding the mixing process. I love the message to creatives at the end as well. Cheers!

[@shillongvibesstudio]

Thank you Ethan and thank for the pdf God bless you

[@jayrecords9353]

1 min into the video and this guy dropping gems shortcuts 5stars

[@nami7810]

this is honestly one off the best mixing videos I have ever seen on youtube!

[@MartinPNairn]

Its like if you are some king of production angel and you just uploaded a video of exactly what i wanted to watch, at the perfect time, and with that nice chill vibe you record with hahah amazing thanks

[@CompleteProducer]

hahahah

[@devinkk]

This was still somewhat helpful and taught me good practices for organizing the tracks. Thank you!

[@9wallajus2]

Had me interested from the start and hooked me right in when you said "Splice the new version is whack". I was legit laughing so hard cause it's so true and a few number of people understand the struggle! Amazing video. Very knowledgeable and helpful. Thanks!

[@user-Chikotillo]

Thank you brother, you’re doing a great job! This method of mixing is hands down - the best tutorial i ever found on internet in many years! God Bless 🤝👍 Merry Christmas and happy new year!

[@dsands15]

really appreciate your analogy at the end! super important

[@CompleteProducer]

(:

[@t-boy8734]

Bro really big thanks for your vids! I started to lern how to make music and it feels so good making progess cause i learn that stuff from you

[@danielson1111]

Man you’re god sent 🙏

[@GeoffNelson]

This is fantastic in it's simplicity. Thanks

[@sleeptownProductions]

Hey Ethan! If you click "Collect All and Save" right away, it creates a new folder, adds all the correct folders inside the project, and you don't need to save as anymore 😎

[@rhesuspositive4459]

Thanks for the vid Ethan. Brilliant message at the end too...

[@JulianAbreu]

Hey man, been following for a while, love your vids and ableton tuts...thanks for sharing !

[@andrewg5639]

I've been dragging in stems 1by1 for way too long - I didn't even know that was a thing 😂 Thanks Ethan!

[@bboymac84]

😂😂😂

[@fredperry7697]

Hey just discovered some of your videos today... It's great man! :) I'm a new subscriber

[@beingjesika]

Thank you for the video and the pdf check list!!

[@Razorider1]

great video. Big question though should all the levels be at zero when starting mixing? Whats the foundation starting level?

[@TheMim1000]

Great video!!! Can't find "3 steps to actually finish the song" can you link it, please?

[@CompleteProducer]

it's now called "What Pro Producers Do That You Don't"!

[@Winkle89]

You are a fantastic teacher 🙏

[@Casey_Stumpo]

YAY!! I didn't realize you put this up already! thank you ethannnnn

[@everhuerta12]

You have taught me sooooo much! Thank you!

[@bboyjenson2615]

These are some truly helpful tips, Thank you. You also put lots of efforts in video editing🔥. Do you prefer put effects on a group over on a bus channel? or are they the same?

[@badvibe442]

Love from India ❤❤❤

[@nicholasvetri4261]

Such a good helpful video. Thanks man.

[@austinkramer]

thanks so much Ethan!

[@dallasdominguez2224]

Excellent tutorial. Very step-by- step which I love

[@JRod0409]

This guy is the real deal

[@carsonrodriguez8019]

This was so productive thank you so much

[@BardouWolfVideoEditor]

Ethan! Today I made my first song that sounds great almost instantly and I for sure want to thank you for your insight! I haven't even watched this video yet, just want you to know how much your guidance and the clarity of it helps! Thank you!

[@CompleteProducer]

i love to hear that!

[@BardouWolfVideoEditor]

@@CompleteProducer Thank you so much ('://Do you have a format where your viewers share music, they've made with you using your shared knowledge?

[@Burd805]

Joe's Cafe Santa Barbara, I have had many a good nights there! Dope tutorials brotha, very insightful.

[@djjaye]

great video some things i didn't know so thanks for that. i cant see the 3 steps to finish for spotify video you said about can you link it?

[@TheMim1000]

Same

[@Peabea94]

Jeez these vocals are niiiiiice

[@conduets4939]

I have a question. I’m working with a song that has a lot of dynamic changes. For example, different drums are used in different sections. Different instrumentation and pads on different verses. Even different vocals and chops. In this setting, would it still be best to categorize / group according to drums, bass, mids, and vocals? Or do you think it might make more sense to almost categorize according to section with those groups as sub groups within the section? Example: VERSE 1 GROUP (sub group of bass, mid, drums, vox) and then CHORUS (bass, mid, drums, vox)? I noticed this feels more organized to my brain but it obviously takes longer since I’m having to mix each individual section with their sub groups accordingly. Yet on the flip side, if I have ONLY the broad group stacks of bass, drums, mids, vox - I run into the issue of mixing the drums for verse 1 but then those general group effects applied don’t translate well to the drums in the chorus… and so on… does that make sense? What are your thoughts on this? 🤔

[@JerryCrow]

Great info alltogether! great tips on the workflow. But umm; that isn't a rimshot that's crosstick. A rimshot is when one plays the snare "normally" but has the stick also hit the rim giving a "ping" with the snarehit.

[@warrenpeace5173]

Love it! I'll be trying this out ty!!

[@sassas2802]

It might be stoopid but is it also necessary to use a compressor to mix midi sound as they're already "controlled" ?

[@brianbiggs1637]

I am new to mastering and have copied your template for PRO L 2. I set my kick at the default track volume "0" and have built a fairly good mix around the kick. My mix before any limiting is -15 LUFS. However when I increase the gain of the limiter to try and achieve a -7 LUFS, it distorts. Is that a sign that my mix is off? I'm confused on how to get a good mix at -7 LUFS without distortion using the limiter.

[@EdsMusic]

Mixing tips are always good

[@aiRxShop]

Holding Alt+Left Mouse Click a track arrow will minimize every track in Ableton including the Groups.

[@snakejazz]

Awesome video. Shouts to Dave Pensado too 💪🏼💪🏼 I watched so many of his videos back like a decade and a half ago

[@CompleteProducer]

Same!! I once went to his studio when he was working on a mix for a friend of mine. I literally found a Grammy under the couch in his mixing room haha

[@snakejazz]

@@CompleteProducer what a cool moment, absolutely jealous you got to hang in that legend's studio

[@nadmanganiankutasu]

there’s no point in using a preset on rvox, since it has basically no settings. there’s no attack and release to tweak, the only thing that the preset sets is the amount of compression, which is dependent on the source, so you should adjust it based on the source volume and how many db of compression you want. a vocal that’s peaking at 0 is gonna be compressed completely differently than a vocal that peaks maybe at -6 db, using the same preset. it’s the same situation with a vocal that’s been compressed while tracking, the compressor will react differently to it.

[@CompleteProducer]

sounds like you should probably start a youtube channel!

[@trickylights4380]

Bro you are a legend

[@ARTTRAVELS-MUSICTRAVELS-4LIFE]

Highly Appreciate This ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽🔈🔉🔊🔥🔥🔥

[@keenaniwinski6549]

pep talk at the end got me lowkey

[@enroc2620]

Amazing video Thank you!

[@Joelfrancis]

No way he knew the exact BPM 😂

[@TKAM88]

He used the track ruler, but yes, he was in the ballpark.

[@minecraftlover6971]

It’s honestly not too hard when the drums aren’t very humanized. With no groove or purposeful human error, it’s quite easy to line the drums up with the beat lines

[@Dubld-uo1wx]

Hi

[@uptopboogie8]

Unable to find the download. Is it still available, I know I'm late to the party, LOL. Thank you in advance

[@jonatankilrud2303]

Great video! Damn that edit at 1:20 was dope also

[@CompleteProducer]

thanks! that was courtesy of my editor, i told him i loved it! haha

[@whoispetesake]

Does throwing a limiter on your master before you actually mix it crush your dynamics? Seems counterintuitive

[@ZoraJones]

why do u use pro q instead of eq eight on some elements? are their sound profiles that much different?

[@dailymusic549]

Thank you Ethan

[@Purposemusique]

Oh my God ANOTHER ONE🔥

[@vsp237]

That was great. Thank you so much!

[@thealterrmusic]

Thanks ethan really loved this one 💙

[@luisschlosser9011]

Hi I have a cuestión, do you warp complex pro your sounds ?

[@chrisrivas289]

What is your tuning on the Chapman Stick?

[@ARDx812.]

I signed up to get the checklist but it never came through to my email. Disappointing.

[@ignite2069]

Do you have a course strictly on mixing in Ableton for those who produce outside the computer but track their audio into Ableton?

[@ArisingAdventures]

Super video! Thank you so much... may I ask why you don't use any saturation except for the CLA 2A build in saturation?

[@CompleteProducer]

usually for saturation i assume if the artist wanted something to sound saturated they would saturate in the production phase!

[@extraction706]

Super helpful!!

[@coachablecontent]

My issue is with knowing what “sounds good” or not. Any tips on what I should be listening for?

[@devinkk]

Where's the "3 steps to actually finish a song (for spotify)" video? I can't find it anywhere!

[@matthewmk8dx]

lol this was the only actual helpful mixing tutorial i could find

[@TKAM88]

Thanks for the tips. I’d say my only criticism is that PRO L-2 is cpu heavy.

[@CompleteProducer]

oh i didnt realize that. i only have one instance of it on the master. i also have a pretty good amount of ram on the M1 and haven't had any issues with it so far, but i realize not everyone has a powerful machine. refer to my latest video on making a remix for an alternative to pro L2 with Ableton stock plugins!

[@TKAM88]

@@CompleteProducer you’re fine, dude. One instance won’t do that.

[@hleet]

Thank you for sharing your workflow ! Love it

[@GalaxiaDeFavio]

Love It!

[@djellisdee]

Hi Ethan, I notice you are using the Audeze LCD-XC headphones, would you recommend those 100% for producing & mixing EDM tracks in Ableton? Thanks!

[@scottsetzke7967]

Buy monitors with a flat signal. Monitors will always be better than headphones.

[@pogskey]

hello, does anyone know why there is no "Master" in the output type of the midi track? There was two option whenever I click it "CONFIGURE and NO OUTPUT"

[@heeradzahedi1443]

Subscribe to this guy man almost on 100K, we want more of these so support!

[@BigQui]

Should I use stems instead of midi tracks when mixing my own songs?

[@ondadevapor]

OMG. This channel is what i need. Insta sub

[@JohnGegogeine]

Finally!!!!!!! someone agrees that the new Splice layout is wack!!! lol I love the old style way more.!

[@joshcas3591]

Those tracks dropping in with the audio on my speakers scared the shit out me lmao

[@roeeamir7020]

thank you!