This Is Going On All Of My Mixes Now... (NOT SPONSORED)

In this video, I dive into the new MixHead plugin from Make Believe Studios. MixHead was modeled after the SPL Machine Head unit, most famously found in the mixing chain of world renowned mixer Serban Ghenea. Is this plugin actually the secret sauce to some of the biggest mixes of all time? This video is NOT SPONSORED in any way, shape, or form.
Try Out Make Believe Studios' MixHead
www.makebelievestudio.com/mix...
Shop Our Samples, Presets, MIDI Packs, and Courses!
makepopmusic.com
Explore Our New Course, Producer Principles - Indie Rock
makepopmusic.com/producer-pri...
Subscribe To Our New Podcast Channel, The Sound Table!
@TheSoundTable
Explore Our Start-To-Finish Production Course!
bit.ly/3hWTpYI
Follow Our "Next In Pop Playlist":
bit.ly/49gHcUI
---
Follow us on Instagram -
/ makepopmusic
Listen To Our Podcast! - rss.com/podcasts/thesoundtable
Join Our Facebook Community - bit.ly/3nXYJe0
Follow us on TikTok - tinyurl.com/4k5c25vf
---
Listen to some of my work!
www.austinhull.com
/ austinhull23
www.tiktok.com/saucetinhull
spoti.fi/3Z8GaEI
---
Use The Affiliate Links Below To Shop My Gear
www.makepopmusic.com/studio-gear
DAW: Cubase 13 Pro - bit.ly/47zT3eK
Monitors: ATC SCM25 Mk 2 - bit.ly/atc-scm25
Subwoofer: Dynaudio 18S - bit.ly/mpm-dynaudio18s
Interface: RME UFX ii - bit.ly/mpm-ufxii
Interface Controller: RME ARC-USB - bit.ly/mpm-arcusb
Desk: AZ Studio Workstations - bit.ly/mpm-artista
Main Microphone: Lauten Audio LT-386 Eden - bit.ly/3tEExop
Other Microphones:
Lewitt LCT1040 - bit.ly/47wEM2o
Lauten Audio LA-320 - bit.ly/mpm-la320
Lauten Audio LA-220 - bit.ly/mpm-la220
Lauten Audio LA-120 - bit.ly/mpm-la120
Slate ML-1 - bit.ly/mpm-ml1
Shure SM7B - bit.ly/mpm-sm7b
Advanced Audio 251 - bit.ly/mpm-251
JZ BH-2 - bit.ly/mpm-bh2
JZ V11 - bit.ly/mpm-v11
Voiceover Mic: Lauten LS-208 - bit.ly/mpm-ls208
Compressors:
AudioScape 76D - bit.ly/mpm-76d
AudioScape Opto Comp
MIDI Keyboard: M-Audio Code 61 (Discontinued)
Keyboards:
Arturia Polybrute - bit.ly/mpm-polybrute
Roland Juno DS88 - bit.ly/mpm-DS88
Moog Subsequent 37 -
Roland Juno 106 (Vintage)
Guitars:
Fender American Professional Stratocaster - bit.ly/mpm-strat
Gibson Les Paul Studio - bit.ly/mpm-gibson
Taylor 214 CE Plus - bit.ly/mpm-214ce
Preamps:
Heritage Audio HA81A - bit.ly/47x1IyK
Rupert Neve Designs Newton Channel Strip
Audient ASP800 - bit.ly/3NUB23S
Auto-Tune Unlimited - bit.ly/3krYaWI
Camera: Sony A7iv
Lens: Sony 24-70mm f2.4
Camera Lights: Aperture Amaran 100Xs
---
Timestamps
Who Is Serban Ghenea 0:00
Is This Serban's Secret Sauce 1:00
Navigating The MixHead Layout 2:45
Testing Different Controls Of MixHead 5:40
Mixbus Example #1 7:13
Mixbus Example #2 11:35
Drum and Perc Loop Example 13:45
Melody Loop Example 15:16
Vocal Stem Example 16:09
My Thoughts On MixHead 17:20
Outro 18:23

[@MakePopMusic]

Well Make Believe Studios was so happy that we made this video, they reached out and wanted to do a giveaway with us! So if you want to enter to win a free copy of MixHead, visit our Instagram (link in description), to enter the giveaway ❤

[@CFox.7]

snake oil and im listening on studio monitors. So this dude has an old bit of equipment that hes just used to and somehow its the magicsauce.. jesus

[@PaulFisherMedia]

Where is the entry on IG?

[@PTFWWDB]

@@CFox.7 I can't find what to do on IG to enter to win

[@user-bo8ex4ji7n]

​@@CFox.7 seriously man I cannot believe how people fall for the hype. Literally any tape machine plugin like UAD's Studer made all the way backk in like 2012 sounds better and is more flexible than this thing (and still has the HF shelf AND, get this, a LF shelf too!)... An emulation of an emulation - when will it stop? I am sure the Machine Head was pretty innovative back when it was released... in 1999... as what was essentially a plugin at that time. In 2024 it's a waste of rack space - doubt Serban has turned it on in a decade, but it's a cool piece of history.

[@atmos4197]

The Serban preset definitely opens up the mix. He also uses the Metric Halo channel strip which def. has a sound of it's own.

[@user-bo8ex4ji7n]

How would you describe the sound of the Metric Halo channel strip?

[@samarthsaxena7455]

Thanks, Austin. Amazing information as always, I owe SO MUCH to you and this channel! ❤ PS: I got to know Serban through this video and also found this one QnA where he was asked for one thing that anyone mixing should be paying attention to. Sharing his answer below if it interests anyone: "I really have no bag of tricks. Everything is a different treatment. It depends so much on the genre, and on the specific artist and song. The song dictates what you need to do. So if I had to say one thing - I would say, make sure that the song itself is first. So many people concentrate on, you know, drums and kick and snare sounds, etc. And when you do that, it's easy to miss the most important question - does the song come across? It needs to come across and affect people emotionally, otherwise you haven't done your job. For any given song, you need to listen and figure what it is in the song that affects you, what it is that touches you - and then try to maximize that. You need to find whatever is the special thing about that song. It's going to be something different in each song, so you need to discover it and maximize it. It's a subjective thing, but hopefully it's going to affect others in the way that it affects you." - Serban Ghenea

[@MakePopMusic]

BINGO!!! The key to a good mix is figure out what the FOCUS of that song is and just maximize that.

[@MakePopMusic]

Have fun diving down the Serban rabbit hole

[@lolx1847]

In the Gearspace forums Serban’s assistant once alluded that Ozone’s Vintage Tape “sounded nice!” This product just all but confirms that some kind of Tape sauce is part of the magic and that they’ve at least attempted to get it from other sources. In my experience what that Ozone module does sounds very reminiscent of this plugin. It restraints the transients, focuses the high end, and makes the midrange sound less “naked”. Less “iPhone camera”, more “film”. Subtle but there.

[@alex.florin.prod_shorts]

it's really got something special to it. Thanks for sharing with us!

[@jaynsadaam]

what's so special about soft clipper + hi shelf?

[@alex.florin.prod_shorts]

@@jaynsadaam the way it opens up the mix

[@screendrem]

I'm so stoked you made me aware of this plugin. Thank you Austin you're a GEM!!

[@LukeDimondTV]

An emulation of an emulation, and its sick! Good video Austin!

[@tomasshannon6537]

great vid as always! grabbing this rn haha

[@massimosammi]

Fantastic video, thank you!

[@a-danisch3841]

HEy Justin, great video. The PLug in doesn't do much for me that I can't quickly rebuild myself. Thank you for your great videos ❤ and the inspiration you give us.

[@MaxSikkinkMusic]

Really cool plugin! Might have to grab this one

[@davidasher22]

i just picked this up. It sounds awesome!

[@AlexLapugean]

Just for info, he is of Romanian origin (born in Bucharest), and his name is pronounced something like: Sher-bahn Geh-neh-ah

[@metawoofer]

I saw one of his sessions when he used the metric halo eq channel strip.

[@CiXoLoLPvP]

I love tape emulations! They instantly add life to any mix, literally almost as if the instruments come to life. I have tried many in the market and IK Multimedia’s Tape 80 has been just hitting different for me. The pristine mastering preset, with -5 input and +5 output has been my industry secret that you should try it out! As for this plugin I will definitely look into it!

[@MC-og5ss]

Tested it, bought it, love it. Not sure if presets make sense in a plugin like this without information about the input level the preset was created at, or am I missing something?

[@huberttorzewski]

Serban mixes pretty clean that's why he uses some saturation on the mix bus to thicken up the mix and glue it a bit more. If you're already using some more saturation on the individual elements of your mix it may not work as good for you. It's specific to his style of mixing - which some may prefer and others don't. For me I feel it's not gonna do anything because I tend to mix with C1 drive and their BCA eqs also add a bit odd harmonics saturation and dynamic control (like a tape does). So usually I need very clean sounding plugins on the mix bus to not make it sound dirty

[@whoisthecoppacnk]

Hey, great video. What are you using to find his credits? Is that a search function in Spotify? Thanks :)

[@DjKayD]

Sounds neat, I like using the UAD Ampex but this might be a nice alternative.

[@raj-thefakeshady9954]

Any tutorial on making a funk song would be treasured preferably with only vsts. I love your content❤

[@MakePopMusic]

We have a silk sonic video that's pretty funky!

[@FreeDooMusic]

It sounds awesome. Now im going to try to recreate the effect with other tools before deciding on buying it.

[@MakePopMusic]

Go for it! Let me know what the result is. I haven't found anything that opens the mids up and gets the top end shiny but not harsh like this yet (at least that doesn't take a shitttt ton of time to dial in)

[@FreeDooMusic]

@@MakePopMusic ozone 11 Clarity and Stabilizer module followed by decapitator and Type-A from audiothing gets me in that direction but its not sounding the same. Seems this is a special little plugin.

[@FreeDooMusic]

@@MakePopMusic ah yeah forgot to mention that i also added the tape saturation module from ozone as well. i used to use the tape plugin from slate before i unsubscribed.

[@ao20999x]

Could you make a tutorial on how to do create those granloops that are in the Sweet Tooth pack?

[@boristubeti6776]

Would be cool to look at what it does with a plugin doctor

[@skylerfelix7609]

The Serban preset is absolutely wild. My only complaint is there should be dash marks on the knobs.

[@JT-qc2nb]

I tried it myself, used GainMatch, not seeing really any difference between many other good saturation plugins TBH. I do like Metric Halo/MBS, however. What I do want to know is, how did you get that mix to sound so huge? It sounds like that pre-saturation.

[@MakePopMusic]

Different strokes for different folks! Honestly, both of these mixes were pretty quick to dial in. Just good monitoring in a good room and sculpting a good production into a solid mix! I also produced these tracks so there’s a lot of pre mixing and arrangement stuff happening that helps the mixes

[@TheChromaticz355]

I think it’s like general light compression-mixhead-multiband compression- limiter!!! But keep in mind that they might keep in the mix buss what’s been added from the producer!!! So you never know what’s happening!! In my conclusion and testing Ive done, the crispy highs but not harsh are a result of tape or smth similar, hence the mixhead!!!

[@lexingtonsmp]

Austin, I know you're somewhat a Lauten Audio loyalist, and they sound great, but what are your thoughts on Neumann mics? I searched your old vids and didn't see it discussed. Are there things you don't like about them? I'm considering the TLM 103 but wonder if it's overrated. I've watched a ton of KZbin reviews with headphones and something about the Neumanns seems like I can feel them in the center of my head whereas other mics seem to stop at the ear drum.

[@thevaultrecordingstudio]

its great- but can be tough with silabance, the 2khz area is also a point of contention with me. you will want to move on after a couple years but always a great microphone to keep for a great bright capture

[@CherniXStyle]

Bro, hi. What kind of camera and lens are you shooting with, the quality is just a cannon

[@MakePopMusic]

Sony a7iv

[@billyolsson3340]

his experience and ears is his "secret weapon", not a half shiatty vst plugin that does extremelly little.

[@DanielStefanescuStudio]

I am also a music producer and I've mixed and mastered a little over 3000 musical projects but no one gave me a Grammy !!! 🤩

[@basscase78]

I think the MixHead also acts as a limiter. I was putting it last on my 2 bus and driving the input and output, and it didn't seem to clip the master at all!

[@mirkomarkovic3438]

Yes there's a limiter in the plugin

[@javascript6948]

Seems to me what it does is very subtle , nothing ground breaking here !!!

[@mirkomarkovic3438]

@@javascript6948 just like mixing down to tape

[@cekirdekci32]

def not sold on this yet. I ll see if others using it than i may try. Song is way too crowded to identify if its actually adding some quality or not. And i hear like resonances on those snares and cant tell if it gets better with this on or not. anyways. I like you Austin off course💕

[@MakePopMusic]

There's a 30 day demo if you want to try it. But I would argue that both of these productions are rather minimal. These aren't super crowded arrangements. And I showed it on individual elements.

[@braelen9]

Dude's such a good engineer he's harnessed the power of gravity to make his mic float

[@MakePopMusic]

🧙🏻‍♂️🪄

[@S4MUS.of.the.boreal.valley]

Austin i hate that you always show stuff that I want to buy.. thats so Bad for my whole Financial Situation.. Great Video as always!

[@MakePopMusic]

Hahahaha I feel that. I’m the same way with people I watch! I will say, there’s a 30 day trial and it is almost half off so definitely try it before the sale ends!

[@jakestagg]

Is there a promo code lol I have been watching👀

[@jakestagg]

Iykyk

[@wagnerbertolino2]

Breathe in ... breathe out ...

[@Misha.Joseph]

Can you do a tutorial about making the auto tune vocals on the over now extended version by Billie eilish it’s sooo vibey

[@drucartier2164]

I use to take to Serbian alllll the time … I never would have thought he would be the best in the world. He did a lot of Dru Hill records

[@NothingThatMuchSpecial]

Hey Austin,can you please make a video about how to make songs like House of balloons/Trilogy album by The Weeknd?

[@1234tiberiu]

Born in Romania, emigrated to Canada

[@josealves1097]

I love your androgenous look!! Super cool!

[@MakePopMusic]

Is a bud light tee and a full beard an androgynous look? 😂

[@josealves1097]

@@MakePopMusic It's awesome! How would you compare this plugin to the God Particle?

[@garrett6240]

​@@josealves1097 Completely different.

[@MakePopMusic]

Totally different tools for totally different things. The God Particle is a multiband compressor / exciter and limiter. Both tools are amazing! I think MixHead will get used more often for me personally, but The God Particle is great!

[@josealves1097]

@@MakePopMusic Thank you for the clarification! Love the channel!

[@shellymoreira]

Great video Justin, thank you. In the Gearspace forums, Serban's assistant (John Hanes) insures that they do not use any kind of outboard gear at all, people see the pictures of his studio and wonder what he's got on his rack and etc... all the peaces on his rack are turned off, he used to use them years ago but in this days he uses plugin alternatives to use instead. He's probably very happy because now there is a plugin that simulates a peace of gear that he really likes but doesn't use for years, well... now he may use the new plugin version. He also have a mix bus compressor NEVE 33609 on his rack and he also doesn't use it for about 7 years.

[@MetricHaloAudio]

Actually that's not correct. He confirmed that they have been using the Machine Head for the last 20 years, and they recently switched to Mix Head (a bit before they endorsed Mix Head) because it gives them what they need, plus recall-ability and high sample rate support. Its in the GearSpace thread.

[@mikeyisdead]

But But But .... how do you use it, where should it be placed in your mix chain... does it replace your eq or limiter or stereo widening etc.. does it go before or after compression or instead of?

[@MakePopMusic]

use it however you want. There are no rules. For me, it's been on my mix bus after my compressor but before my limiter. I've also been using it on individual channels

[@sourcefor]

This vs Neve 542?

[@breezyoakk]

why the hell would they animate the flickering of the power button 😂

[@MetricHaloAudio]

You can the animation off. But he original device's power button did that, and the UI designer thought it was cool...

[@AllWaysOfficialYT]

we’re still waiting a song like one one direction 😌❤

[@MakePopMusic]

Working on it. Those take time. lol it will come

[@Bville-E]

I never understood why any producer would want to sound like some else

[@MakePopMusic]

He’s a mixing engineer

[@jj07164]

hey man can you give tutorial on how make beat like Montero by lil nas x

[@jj07164]

need it so bad pls help sir

[@MakePopMusic]

Ooo that could be a fun one!

[@Azfurita]

Bump

[@studiodsr]

I feel vindicated. For decades now people have insisted that Serban was %100 in the box, only using plugins. Now it’s been uncovered that he in fact uses hardware inserts on his mix bus, making him a hybrid mixer, not fully ITB. No wonder it’s proven impossible to fully replicate his sound with plugins only

[@patrickkreman5424]

I prefer Oxford Inflator for this kind of magic touch.

[@KomalSammal-hd6hj]

Pls make a video on how to make song like Stephen Sanchez plsssss

[@MakePopMusic]

i feel old cause i do not know who that is lol

[@KomalSammal-hd6hj]

@@MakePopMusic but I know u can examine his song and than u come for it plsssssss. Btw love from india bro

[@josuamuller4543]

@@MakePopMusic you don't know until I found you?

[@halmagyinorbert]

Read it like "Sherbawn Gheanyaw"

[@MakePopMusic]

legend. thank you!

[@cristicons7362]

He’s born in Romania so his name would be pronounced Sherban

[@user-pv2jy4yn7f]

Was it terribly tuned horror sounding vocal do you really think it makes a difference?

[@MakePopMusic]

shout out to frank for finding out what autotune as a specific desired effect is in 2024

[@paulmistygatz7888]

Listening in my iPhone and can’t hear any difference than a slight boost/Saturation in the higher mids.

[@eranddroory9987]

Technically the hardware was an outboard unit but it was all digital. Nothing analog at all.. 😊

[@mariusmatulevicius3716]

By the way, support is 1000% and the 97th level!!!!

[@1234tiberiu]

He's a Romanian after he's name

[@MakePopMusic]

I saw that!

[@Quant-Beat]

Yeah, but do you know for sure that he really use it? Not just being in the rack...

[@MakePopMusic]

yep! He was in contact with Make Believe during the creation of this plugin and since this plugin has gone to beta testing, he's been using on releases instead of his actual Tapehead

[@EvanCline]

It’s pronounced Ghena like “ Kenya “ but with a G

[@jazzybeeff]

I don’t believe this guy actually exist 😂

[@user-bo8ex4ji7n]

Guys this is obvious snake oil in 2024.... It wasn't at the time the Machine Head rack mount was made. Serban went fully in the box back in like 2004. There were no high quality tape machine plugins at that time. Tape machines were used all over the industry and they were extremely expensive (you even had to pay $$$ for the tape you printed to). When SPL released the Machine Head in ~1999, they were filling a market gap - they were offering a rack mount as a digital version of a tape machine without all of the crazy, ongoing costs and maintenance issues of a real tape machine, sort of like what a plugin is to a rack mount in 2024. Fast forward to today and there are MANY plugins that do an incredible job at emulating tape ITB, arguably SIGNIFICANTLY better than this rack mount was capable of back in 1999. This plugin is an emulation of a DIGITAL rack mount that is an emulation of a real tape machine... this is literally 2 steps away versus the single step of any modern tape machine plugin that is actually an emulation of a tape machine. Any UAD tape machine allows significantly more flexibility than this, a HF shelf adjustment, and more for a sale price of like $30-50... STOP BEING FOOLED BY HYPE.

[@stephenwright7142]

Even buying a Steinway & Sons concert grand piano will NOT make you play piano like Lang Lang. Even buying a Stradivarius violin will NOT make you play violin like Anne Sophie Mutter. Even buying this plugin will NOT make you mix like Serban Ghenea. "It's not the tools, it's the carpenter!" - Got the point?

[@MakePopMusic]

wow that's poetic

[@PaulSchug-pc6bp]

I feel like this plugin is just for that 1% that most people don't even hear...i mean it's great but it will definitely not make your mixes better especially if you're a beginner.

[@PaulSchug-pc6bp]

at this point every compressor/ saturator will do

[@MakePopMusic]

@@PaulSchug-pc6bp I'd say for 5%-10% that most people with average hearing on pretty much any system can discern but yeah. it definitely won't RADICALLY change a mix.

[@plutostube]

he is Romanian, just use google translator choosing Romanian and you'll find out how is the correct pronunciation

[@thedevilsadvocate5210]

is this ilok? no thank you