Since I can't always come up with totally "unique" tips, here's an oldie but goodie. Even if you have a great, acoustically balanced studio, this tip is important even for seasoned engineers (which, if they're seasoned, they already know!). But if your studio leaves a lot to be desired, then this tip is particularly useful and can literally save your mix!
It's very simple: reference your mix (i.e. compare it) to a successful, comercially released track, which you feel is at least to some extent similar to your own. Perhaps you'll need to reference it against multiple tracks.
Sometimes you might like a particular drum sound on your reference track 1, but you love the pad placement on reference track 2, and so on. Play those tracks frequently when mixing your own music. Does your music sound too pale in comparison? Too dense? Or are you already beginning to sound like a pro?
Some producers I've worked with take this a step further. They don't just listen and compare. They actually load a finished reference mix into their sequencer and align it with their own production, so they can switch "on the fly."
Occasionally, when their arrangement structure is closely modelled on someone else's I've even even seen them re-arrange their whole song to conform to that "proven formula." Yeah I know what you're thinking... I thought the same: it sounds an awful lot like "ripping off!"
But, believe me, it needn't be. And in my experience with this technique, it never was. But what it does is, it allows you to instantly reference everything from sound to transitions to hooks. And you're free (and indeed obliged) to do everything your own way!
Worth a shot? This referencing method can fast-track your studio processes and help you turn out great-sounding mixes. As long as you're paying attention, of course!
LISTEN TO: 224-Q/Monday May 25, 2009
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