Keep These Tips in Mind When Mixing

by Kenneth Sutton

ut in a reference CD, see what it is you like about the CD and work to get a comparable sound. Just remember, you are going for a mix. Don't try to get the level as hot as the reference CD, you're reaching for the tone, balance and placement in the stereo field.

• Avoid digital clipping.
• De-ess the vocals and carefully compress the vocals a little more so you can hear all the lyrics.
• Compress the bass a little more so it's even sounding.
• Keep the crash cymbals low in the mix.
• Make the kick a bit louder than you think it should be.
• Compare your mixes with your reference CDs.
• Don't over-process.
• Don't try to make your mix as hot as commercial CDs, that's what mastering does.

Book a pre-mix clean up session. Take an hour or so to come in with Ken, and erase all the throat clearing, the guitar clicks, the out-take solos, etc. At mix time, you can concentrate on the creativity, not the housekeeping.

• Don't compress the stereo output buss. It restricts what can be done in mastering.
• Listen to your favorite commercial CD's in the control room to compare with your sound.
• Be aware of the level of the lead vocals from song-to-song. Re-listen to your previous mixes.
• Allow for extra time to mix. Nothing is worse at this critical stage than running out of money, and you end up stuck with less than the best. Mixing is a crucial point in your project.
• Take breaks, have fun, enjoy the process.

Ken Sutton: "This is the Orignal 4-track mix with Altered State, which was recorded on 3/3/01, on a Tascam 414 4-track. I Remixed the song in ProTools, and I must say they really do have there own way of playing."

   Listen To: Orginal mix of Altered State

    Listen To: Remix of Altered State

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