If you have a laundry list of mix notes…
…then one of three things is true:
1) You’re a new artist working on the first record.
When you’re a new artist you believe that a little more compression on the kick drum will tip the scales your way. The tambourine panned 10% more to the left is really what the bridge needs, and so on.
And believe me…tis’ true: God is in the details…but before you use that to nit pick all the day long…God is also in the wisdom of the person mixing, who is a professional at mixing, who loves mixing, who mixes all the time, who is a lot better at mixing than you.
But I get it. The laundry list of mix notes at least shows you care deeply. Keep going, you’ll learn a lot on this journey.
2) You hired the wrong mix engineer.
No no no, you didn’t hire a bad mix engineer you just didn’t do your homework and hire the right one.
That’s what your laundry list of notes is really saying.
When you have the right engineer for mixing your particular record, the first round of mixes are at least 80% there, probably 90%.
So if you have a laundry list, it’s your problem not theirs…it’s more of an “uh-oh we screwed up” than a “hey, why aren’t you doing a good job”
But you hired who you hired and you don’t want to switch mixing dudes. I understand. If you understand too, you’ll be fine.
3) And this one happens whether you’re a new artist, seasoned artist, big budget, no budget, A-list mix engineer, not-on-the-list mix engineer.
It’s this:
You and everyone else is channeling their stress, anxiety and insecurity about the song, record, marketing plan, photoshoot and touring schedule into the mix notes.
The laundry list of mix notes is an escape, a cop out.
The truth is you got a pretty legit mix back on the first round. But then everyone gets fidgety. Everyone has their doubts. Everyone wonders if they’re gonna lose their job if they sign off on this record.
So someone at the label thinks the reverb needs to come up on the vocal. And someone from management thinks the reverb needs to come down. Now a meeting has to be called to discuss the reverb…and because a meeting is called, now there are several other opinions about the reverb that didn’t even exist before the meeting!
And then there’s also a list of mix notes from the band, management, label, agent and extended friends and family (you might laugh at that the friends and family bit…but it’s real).
The mix notes are the last great frontier in the process to channel your fear about the songs when in actuality either the material just isn’t that great, or it is in fact great but you and/or the team is just too afraid to let it rip.
Go into the studio with great material. Do your homework and hire a mix engineer who gets you. The mix engineer is an artist too, let them contribute their artwork.
p.s. What about Coldplay? What about Lady Gaga? What about Scott Stapp?…they talk about getting every last detail just right and not letting anything slip through the cracks.
A) They have a lot more money. Mix engineers will tweak till kingdom come if you can shell out and are nice to hang with. B) They have a razor sharp creative vision and know how to clearly articulate it to everyone. C) They have a lot more money. D) They only hire people they trust understand their razor sharp vision.
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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com