A BETTER Way to use REFERENCE MIXES.

Comparing your mix-in-progress to someone else's mastered mix is a potential minefield, and most people fail on the very first step: choosing what song to reference. Kush Audio's plugin- and hardware-designer Gregory Scott has some thoughts on every critical step in this fraught process, from what to listen TO all the way to what to listen FOR and, most importantly, WHY.
For more tips, plugin discounts, and more, check out thehouseofkush.com/museletter

[@davepensado8402]

AMEN BROTHER!!!

[@Movocorp]

The crossover we need. The crossover we deserve. Pensado&Scott.

[@feliperojasc]

@@Movocorp UBK x Pensado > Avengers.

[@topa1798]

Aamiin Brother

[@disorphmusic9103]

Amen Break!

[@ezporcelain]

A lot of producers made their name by their songs SOUND very different! Dilla, Kaytranada and now there are more of them than ever!

[@andrewamicarelli]

Does anyone else feel like they're in a therapy session when Gregory Scott talks? Either way, good info and thanks for these vids!

[@j_magnus]

I thought I was crazy 😂

[@bonzzo777]

Oh yes.

[@RussArteaga]

If Owen Wilson and Matthew McConaughey had a son who became a therapist!

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Always!

[@coyoteserranoband]

YES! Also a great teacher:) Love this guy. Dont have to go to school anymore.. Kinda.. lol

[@tayzonday]

If Kush controlled my lipstick, he’d have saved many pigs.

[@dglassb]

mad respect to the one and only chocolate rain!

[@indef93]

Leeeeegend. Please collab with Kush :)

[@eddyray666]

I never expected to see a comment from TayZonday. But if I had imagined what it'd be like, it'd be this mysterious yet apt.

[@kenny5277]

Wonder if Kush has any advice for when you need to move away from the mic to take a breath? (probably just fix it in the mix)

[@casperbjerkehagen9386]

Hey! Listened to your songs and your singing is really good actually, you should hire a good producer to get a good production behind those vocals. The musical content is good, but you could become a real artist with a proper production and sounds. Id master one of those production for free if you would do it (:

[@iguatemigarin]

"...put it out there, it's art" I'm gonna frame this on my wall, right in front of me.

[@fxsurgeon1]

“Put it out there. Its’s art”. Loved that. We get obsessed with “technicals” but need to focus on the “art”. Cheers for that

[@sinaloawolf4686]

This man literally said "make quicker decisions when mixing, don't spend too much time on a sound" Tried it and my mixes never been the same 🔥🔥

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

Yeeahh!! 🙌

[@RocketFox]

THE bastion of true mixing knowledge

[@jellewierda3828]

Wow! Stop comparing! I like the 'feel' the song thing. I think we strive to much to become someone else and not our self's. Great content. Could you use your way of explanation to explain some techniques. Like you did with width and depth? How to listen to compression and why you use it? How to give room for elements? Make a mix loud without squashing it. Don't show us just the plugins but try to say it in a way we learn to listen if you know what I mean. Thanks!!!

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

​@Walter B And you never will, I only mix my own music and it's safe to say my music and my tastes bear no relation to anything 'mainstream'. And that's the way I want it!🕺

[@vrtk4870]

@@TheHouseofKushTV well said dude

[@monoscopes]

@Walter B well I assume he's mixed the intro theme for this video, and that sounds flawless.

[@aarongrubbs8699]

@@TheHouseofKushTV I only mixed my own music until COVID, except live, which is more taming chaos than anything, on the club level, with shit acoustics, and a lot of times, shit musicians, and I never needed a reference, because I know how I want my music to sound. But when mixing others, I do think it can be very useful--but more for balancing overall tonality than anything else. Tonal Balance Control from Izotope is useful for this.

[@edsohovocals]

Very wise words: "Use the reference more as a brain reset"; and "Could your mix sit in a playlist with the references?" Big picture thinking. And trusting in our art. Thanks Gregory.

[@robinberg6844]

I’ve been trying to formulate a big enough ’thank you’ for answering my question with such grace for the past hour, but I have difficulties finding big enough words (english isn’t my native language), so I write it in capital letters instead - THANK YOU! I think you gave me more insights in 10 minutes and 22 seconds than I’ll ever get again. And again - thank you!

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

You are very, VERY welcome, thank you for the fantastic question, a lot of people struggle with the same thing!

[@tutubeos]

Don’t worry my friend, you’ll get many more insights like this 😊

[@audio_odyssey]

Your English is better and more well written than most of the comments on KZbin. Thank you for posing an excellent question, that brought us this video.

[@fedecasagrande]

@@TheHouseofKushTV 1:04 I 'm still waiting for your thoghts on this topic. Thanks.

[@Jasonlimitless]

Anyone else worry Gregory might start a cult one day? Because at this point I'd do anything he says to be honest

[@Callmemrnichols]

it's disconcerting to say the least

[@eddyray666]

Same pal.

[@Jasonlimitless]

'Thou shalt not use an EQ unless thou can state WHY thou want to use the EQ, and what thou aims to achieve by doing so' - Gregory Scott's Commandments - Circa 2020 - Amen 🙏

[@seanemmettfullerton]

LOL... while mixing, sometimes the voice in my head sounds a bit like Gregory Scott :) Fortunately, i don't argue with that "voice."

[@mikakettunen7939]

this is the sense of humor i love

[@ebenritchie746]

This channel has taught me about how mixing is so much more about perspective, mindset, and instinct rather than methods and specifics, and it's the most valuable and effective lesson I've ever taken away from video instructors like this.

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

Right on!!!

[@fuckcensorship69]

you have to know the methods before you can fly off of instinct. before kush taught me how to use a compressor i was just smashing the peaks bc in my mind that would help me get louder mixes, when what i actually needed to do was remove some bass freqs.

[@u9s0e9r]

Prince was a visionary: mixing for Bose speakers before then even existed lol

[@davidasher22]

Secret inside source: “When Doves Cry” was used as a reference track for Metallica’s “..and Justice for All” album. Hehehe..

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

Hilarious!

[@giulioboobzilla]

is there a remastered version where u can hear Jason?

[@666cordyceps666]

@@giulioboobzilla you can't put something in, when it's not there from the first place! They probably forgot to unmute Jason while they mastered it!! "Sad but true" (pun intended!) hahaha

[@davidasher22]

@@giulioboobzilla there is that project where some guy redid all the bass and called it “::and Jason for All”. Pretty sure it’s on KZbin. Edit: it’s called ..And Justice for Jason.

[@davidasher22]

@@giulioboobzilla kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJzUhZaCrLqMoJo

[@promoted738]

My daughter is 22 now, but when she was 8 or so I was working on a record with some fairly emotional content. She came up to the studio to say goodnight while I was mixing. She sat a while and when I looked over she had tears in her eyes. It was a beautiful moment and I knew the mix was in the right place.

[@Sergio-nb4hj]

You sure she didn't tear up because you reached to adjust the vocal EQ by 0.2db for the 300th time? XP For god's sake, have mercy!

[@Winksmusic]

"chasing a reference is overriding your instinct"

[@MrmelodyUs]

assuming one actually has good instincts, LOL.

[@massivebeatzz]

Prince once said "If I ever hear my bass player - I'll fire him".

[@BluffMunkey]

I thought I was the only Prince non-fan on the planet, however my respect for the skill is huge. He was, the man. Another great video.

[@vinayvincent3462]

You are the only person I've come across that speaks about music emotionally and practically rather than just technically.I love your videos❤️. P.S : Your voice is angelic😍

[@josephriddlestone4684]

This is very true, it’s refreshing to hear. I’ve found over the years, when I listen to my work in retrospect, emotions have the most noticeable impact on my music. If I am struggling emotionally my music lacks direction. Yet no one talks about it. There is one other you tuber that also discusses emotion, ethics and philosophy in music. He is an electronic artist, but very authentic and musical. Benn Jordan; he even has a fascinating video on binaural music, sound healing. Peace

[@vinayvincent3462]

@@josephriddlestone4684 Hey Joseph,I'd like to hear some of your music.😊

[@alexcontreras1972]

This just changed my whole perspective on my songs. I always felt like there was a standard, thank you for stating that there's not. Your advice is so reassuring for me who's just beginning. Gregory Scott u da man!

[@PeterJDeVault]

Get your stuff out there. "It's art." Exactly - great advice to keep in mind.

[@ranapratimsarma9506]

I was having a lot of screentime today so I listened to this video on my phone, laying down staring at the ceiling, without watching it. Then I realised something. Your videos are splendidly done. But it would also be great if you had podcasts. I'd listen to them for hours, again and again. That'd be a whole another kind of chill.

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

Did one for 7 years, "ubk happy funtime hour" 😊

[@ranapratimsarma9506]

@@TheHouseofKushTV That's right where I'm heading then💕

[@yeahthatkornel]

@@TheHouseofKushTV Do you still make these? Where can I listen to them?

[@NervousBrideMusic]

That deflated feeling of comparing yourself to mixes you admire is insidious. This one changed my life Gregory keep doing what you're doing.

[@minttrax]

crikey this bloke talks sooo much sense and his explanations are so detailed... man a champion

[@mrbrightside5278]

"Use your mix as a brain reset." Yep!! This is exactly how I use my reference tracks! I've always thought of it as a bit of a palate cleanser for your ears

[@emmahearnemusic]

Thank you! You are the Oracle on mixing!

[@slumz12]

Who else about to play when doves cry to hear the bass?

[@Bthelick]

ya know the record label wouldn't put it out either. they said it sounded unfinished. Lesson no.2 Don't trust corporations with art!

[@eduardomartino7168]

Hahaha I paused the video to go and check!!! Hahaha

[@TheMirolab]

I have an artist that I've mixed several EP's for..... but when he sends me his tracks, he often points me to a couple 'reference tracks' on KZbin, and asks me to try to make his music sound kind of like those tracks. Uggghh... I hate that. What I prefer to do is simply listen to his song, and mix it to what I believe is the best version of itself that it can be. I base my mixing decisions on a lifetime of music listening, and my own internal compass. To be respectful... I will go and listen to his reference tracks.... usually just once to see what inspired him.... but I can't say that it's ever influenced my mixing. The artist ends up loving my mixes, and coming back to me, so I guess it's working.

[@MishazBts]

No ppl can dislike these words of wisdom .a legend

[@MichaelCareyMusic]

100% on-point. Reference mixes are not an exact science. Super useful for overall perspective, yes, but different songs are... different songs! ADPTR Metric AB on my master buss has been a game-changer for me: level matching, killer metering, and seamless, *instantaneous switching* between the reference and my session. Has saved me loads of time and enormously streamlined my reference process.

[@user-tz9vn6ht5u]

This is definitely one of the best mixing-related channels on KZbin!

[@philpower_]

8:33 “They’re different songs. They don’t need the same treatment, they don’t need to sound the same.” 👏👏👏💯

[@L.DOT.P.]

I have a degree in Audio Arts and Acoustics. The mix coaching in class wasn't nearly as good as Kush After Hours.

[@hettovennik2887]

“You have to start getting holistic with this stuff” 💡

[@casimirdekkers-newtrackout691]

I must give you a MASSIVE thanks: Because of this video I decided to put my first song out there. Otherwise my perfectionism and hesitation would've driven me up a wall and it would've never been released... Is it perfect? Far from it. Am I happy and proud of it regardless? Yes! Although I've heard it a million times already, I still play it. It's part of my journey, and I wanted to give people some laughter(It's a funny song) in these trying times.

[@TheMichaelseymour]

can you supply a link -good thinking btw !

[@casimirdekkers-newtrackout691]

@@TheMichaelseymour Thanks! I don't know which streaming platform you prefer, but if you search on my name(Casimir Dekkers) you can find it on all platforms. The song I'm talking about here is "DUH(Most Annoying Song Ever)". I've also got a new track out. It's way better, but still far from perfect....

[@JamieSandel]

These have to be the most exquisitely engineered spoken vocals on KZbin

[@luckyknot]

I always forget to reference. I'll continue forgetting. If it's okey for me, it's okey. No need to follow references with devotion. I will only use them just to reset my mind. That's the whole point. I feel I am better mixer now xD. No really, top advice as usual, blessings for these unvaluable lessons Gregory!

[@footnotedrummer]

If you were professor teaching music engineering... I go back back to school in a second. Your delivery is excellent. Very clear and concise.

[@djtoolhead]

You're winning the warmth wars with the audio in your videos.

[@silvenshadow]

Thanks for the love brother. We all need it. Create, be strong.

[@thecameraguy6883]

I was very surprised recently to listen to some of my favorite music from my childhood and realize how much of the mix was hanging out in the low-mids. It was surprising because I have no interest in mixing my stuff that way, but it remains really emotionally important music for me. It was a revelatory moment of realizing just what you're saying, there's no "standard" sound, it's just what makes it feel right.

[@RossCooperMusic]

The buildup in each episode from intro to when the theme music fully drops gets me so hype now! I’m sitting like, “yes, yesss, yessssss!” waiting for that knowledge drop. Thanks for covering this, have had lots of questions on it myself!

[@BorisBarroso]

I like your mindset, I think this helps more than chasing a *sound*, thanks for your videos.

[@dglassb]

hell yeah, new kush!

[@timjames308]

I needed to hear this so badly. The confidence to commit to just what the song needs

[@musicproductioncentral4540]

Listen to commercial mixes through your monitors for an hour everyday. Don't mix in your own bubble for days, and then listen to references. Listen to the references in order to understand your monitors.

[@mttlsa686]

Totally right buddy! I've used referencing exclusively to understand my monitors.

[@chsprod]

Awesome, as always. Thanks Greg

[@LaPlant_Mastering]

So much value on this channel, it's crazy

[@thomassheets8897]

I don’t even really use reference tracks, just love listening to this man talk and learning about this kind of stuff regardless

[@66fitton]

Excellent advice! I don't use reference tracks very often because I don't find chasing stuff works very well. To use a few different tracks for a reference "feel" is definitely a different approach. This I will be doing for sure. Thanks Gregory!✌

[@JonCresswellMusic]

Love your videos man! Keep up the great work!

[@reinhardvanbiljon1]

Thank you as always for really valuable stuff, Gregory.

[@leonfriedemann9151]

I love your videos. Can't really tell why, but I am allways happy watching them.

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

I have the same experience any time I watch a creative person sharing or discussing their process, I enjoy it even if I don't love or understand their work.

[@topa1798]

thank you thank you,you save a lot of my destroyed mix,now i search prince when doves cry

[@KapaDeFreitas]

Thanks for these videos man! Truly helpful! 🙏🏻

[@samuelmartin8326]

Such wisdom, grateful for these tips

[@marcdanielnelson317]

Excellent topic, Gregory! You nailed it with this one. Stay safe in the new year.

[@footnotedrummer]

Sage wisdom! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience.

[@pure.panic.productions33]

Thank you thank you thank you! This was a genuine question. Your videos are just the best. Every time!

[@thebasementfilmgroup]

Awesome advice as ever - so much respect!!

[@ollie4859]

Thank you Gregory! Your advice is really valuable!

[@MaKeXiuShi]

Thank you so much, Gregory!

[@SimoALLstarr96]

I love your videos so much that most of the times I add each one of them in my favourites. Keep it up!

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

Wow, thank you!

[@michaelkillebrew3114]

Great question, great response! Thankyou Kush

[@fatalitydnb]

Hey Gregory, great video once again, always an enjoyable and interesting listen 🙂 Thanks for all your great content this year and wishing you a happy festive season 🎄✌🏼❤️

[@alienhalfbreed1301]

It's so spooky, whenever I am struggling with a mix and I get myself a few days break to reset my brain, you come out with a new video that's treating exactly the same issues, and you find always the right words to let me feel confident enough again, to take a decision and continue to go my own way. Thank you

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

Woohooo, glad to hear that! Keep at it!!!

[@seamasmanly]

Awesome as usual, and yes, definitely the chill side of therapy, or a cool conversation with an older brother!

[@NO-nf4es]

thank you again for this! really love this channel

[@tohtorizorro]

Loads of brilliant points made in these videos! I ended up watching the one about how to listen to compression and this is fifth one in a row and they've all touched on situations that are very much relatable with a coherent, no bullshit approach. Also the whole atmosphere is very satisfying to me, from the very pleasing speech sound quality and music to the visual characteristics. Kudos, sir!

[@david_a_uno]

The best of the best!! Thank you Sir Kush, and Happy Holidays!!

[@christopherecatalano]

Brilliant. That’s it. Mix lifesaving advice, yet again. Thank you!

[@MrMaddox41]

Always the most brilliant. Thank you again for your thoughts

[@soundt1515]

Excellent advise as usual

[@kobuk]

I recently listened to some tracks done in the 80's like MJ's thriller in headphones and was really struck by how weird they sounded compared to anything mixed in the last 20 yrs or so. This all ties in with his other video about using a soft focus when you listen. You have to listen like an untrained person does and just ask yourself if it sounds good or what you want it to sound like. I have been able to identify trends in my mixes by comparing them to various pro level mixes (like too much low mids) but I agree that it's a slippery slope when you start trying to match the same sonic curve as another song.

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

Right on, yeah. Listening as an engineer is a rabbit hole, and for me the way out of that rabbit hole was 'thru' it. That is, once I really _got_ the main message of this video (not only is there no standard sound, there are a nearly infinite variety of beautiful sounds), I was able to enjoy the qualities of the production no matter what they were. So I still analyze sound and mixes and production, I can't help it, but I don't let my judgments take on any negative emotional values. Life's too long for that!

[@elgatorolo]

i always smile watching your videos. Thanks for sharing your mindset and!!!!

[@shorerocks]

One things that I like to add: It is equally important what you heard before comparing. For example, if I hear brighter mixed rock songs, and listen to mine, it is not as bright, and instinctively I think: Make it brighter. But try this - take not so bright, modern mixes (Europe or others), and then listen to your mix. And wow. Suddenly my mix sounds bright enough. So, what is 'right'? Well, obviously what feels right, has the right vibe (I just learned that from Marty Whites comment below), and is well balanced. That is why I check my mixes first thing in the morning, with fresh ears.

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

Nice! Totally agreed!!

[@rickdeaguiar-musicreflecti7692]

Awesome video, Gregory. Very insightful :)

[@sounddesires8506]

best vibe I got in 2020! You rock!

[@solmagnuslaggar2394]

Great as always! 🔥

[@yebitchye]

I love the sense of relaxation these videos induce. They're so helpful, and, imo, very necessary as the studio can become an incredibly sweaty and stressful place. Thanks for the vids!

[@redlgv7977]

I'm already a fan. This man knows things

[@123splendide7]

Thanks! Again very useful advice, and reassuring!! Thank you

[@official24or]

I appreciate your videos so much

[@jamesblack993]

Damn... This was a very timely video. I often just blindly chase the reference mix and it's energy but most of the times it is just causing unnecessary stress when in reality my track is sounding already pretty balanced and would work for what I intended to achieve with it. Thank you crazy man!

[@michaeldouglas2634]

Great video. It is truly art.

[@thesethreekings]

Gregory - I’ve been mixing (seriously) for around 2 years, so still relatively green, and all your videos seem to be coming at just the right time for me - so thank you so much, you’re really helping me out loads - Keep it up! 👊

[@lownotesinc1962]

...again, thank you for this perspective!

[@lutioliv]

Greg, you always save my day!

[@depalma1726]

Excited for next video ! Please

[@chrislysiak9561]

Amazing insight. That's exactly how I approach things for a long time!

[@ignaciojauregui7423]

this channel is such a bless, you giveaway some of the most useful, esoteric concepts. Can't thank you enough

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

It's my pleasure, truly!

[@BigBri550]

Back when I recorded & mixed in the late '80s/early '90s, I found that when I reference mixed & matched, I ended up with mud. That's where a lot of music was at in those days: indistinguishable tracks awash in digital reverb & delay. What I started doing was filtering my reference tracks through Dolby C which cleared everything up immediately. The over-saturation was whittled down to a very faint roar, and the tracks became sharp, clear, and dynamic. My mixes improved dramatically using Dolby C as my standard.

[@ViniciusOliveira-ti4be]

I'm in a moment in my life as a mixer where I'm starting to like my work's results, but sometimes I stumble over some doubt anyway. I just wanna say that these series of videos are really important to me, they make me keep going because they speak about things that are so intimate of this job that hardly anyone would understand. Most of the time are just the kind of things I need to hear. Thank you so much mr Gregory Scott!

[@jahnbon]

I love how your theme quotes Barry White. Love it!

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

aka "hard bite" 🙂

[@MrSNEAKFREAK96]

This is probably my favorite episode so far. Great thoughts on maintaining the identity of a song/mix, even if it varies from the norm.

[@jackiedixon5076]

Love your great advice. Thanks, my friend!

[@djcrote76]

Thanks! I was asking myself the same question. I love your channel.

[@mankytoe1061]

Such solid advice! Thank you.

[@leecoulter]

Thanks for speaking my language and making so much sense. Such great vids. Gratitude!

[@homeworldmusic]

This is the second of your videos I've watched, and both times I've shared them on Facebook as examples of understated brilliance and wisdom. I'll have to go through the entire library, but it's good to let them percolate in my consciousness one at a time for a couple of weeks.

[@theyounglovescene]

Knowledge AND Wisdom!!! These videos are so helpful Gregory, thank you!