Encouragement for a beginning mixer
I got this message this morning from one of you, apropos of my post about using plugin presets:
I am insecure about mixing and I use presets. In fact I can’t do anything without presets.
Argh. I am totally failing at mixing my songs ... so hard wah wah wah!
My encouragement: keep at it!
Reference other people's work a lot as you’re mixing, and go back and forth comparing the thing you're working on to professionally-made work.
How is the vocal different? How is the bass different? How are the drums different? How are the instruments different?
Focus on one instrument at a time, and write down what you perceive the differences as being between theirs and yours. How is your snare drum different from their snare drum? Too much low end? Too much midrange? Too loud? Too soft? Narrow it down. Quantify it.
And then go down your list, focusing on one instrument at a time, and see if you can get it closer!
By breaking down a problem into smaller chunks, you can make it more manageable.
Brick by brick — jamie