Top 10 Mixing Mistakes - Warren Huart: Produce Like A Pro

Warren talks about the top 10 mistakes made when mixing and how to avoid them!

1 - 01:55 - Take Breaks.
2 - 02:48 - Don't Listen in Solo.
3 - 03:43 - Be Careful with Widening Plugins.
4 - 05:42 - Cut for Corrective EQ.
5 - 08:45 - Avoid Digital Clipping.
6 - 10:47- Never Clip Your Mix Buss.
7 - 12:09 - Don't Master while Mixing.
8 - 13:36 - Use Volume Automation.
9 - 15:10 - Listen in Different Enviroments.
10 - 16:52 - Listen to the Song as a Whole.

Produce Like A Pro is a website which features great tips to help the beginning recordist make incredible sounding home recordings on a budget.

[Producelikeapro]

Thank you all ever so much! I am continually overwhelmed by the incredible support you give by commenting, liking and sharing the videos! The outpouring of positive comments and the sharing of your own experience and insight are truly amazing! Have a marvellous time mixing and recording, many thanks Warren!

[BirdYoumans]

I'm 75 and I've been engineering, producing, mixing, playing multiple instruments what have you since I was a teenager. Got my first studio job at 20. Owned my own studio since the 80's. I've produced and mixed hundreds of singles and albums during that time. I said all of that to say this, young people, listen to this guy. He knows what he's talking about!

[davidmood]

Another mistake that many people make (me included) is to get lost in details, especially at an early stage of the mix. It's so easy to spend a LOT of time on a tiny detail that may not make much of a difference in the end result at all. I do believe that attention to detail is important, but get your mix in the ballpark first, and then spend whatever time you may have left on the details. Otherwise you might end up with a perfect sounding shaker after three hours, when you realize that you don't have anything that could even remotely be called a mix yet, haha. Many thanks, David

[BirdYoumans]

Young people, listen to this guy. He is dead on the money. He just summarized what it took me a life time to learn, and as he said, I, we, are still learning! (I'm 73.) I go back (my first job as an engineer/producer) to when a "punch in" was taking two or three, maybe four takes on a two track Ampex while working the mix in real time (those machines sounded great!) and then picking out the best sections and splicing them together. Then go from that, through the board (8 channels, tube), mix in the vocals, fills, rides etc. and catch that on another two track and so on. As time went on we had better and better equipment including multi track machines with punch in capability. Heaven! Opened my first studio in 88. Today's tech is beyond amazing though. You don't really realize what is available to you unless you were there at the beginning. But his mixing tips are dead on the money. Pay attention and you will learn! Just found you bro. New sub! Oh, and the best tool of all? Ears! And remember, it's not about the tech, it's about the music. Pay attention to what the music is doing and make the mix compliment it.

[sounddesignmix]

Great, great GREAT advise Warren. I spent 22 minutes nodding my head yes. I think your first point of taking breaks is the most valuable. When I went independent (after being a staff mixer for over 30 years) my mixes immediately got better - A LOT better. The difference was as an independent, 70% of my work was being done from my home studio unsuped. I wasn't tied to the clock or a day rate. When I'd get tired or the mix wasn't gelling I'd get up and unload the dishwasher or walk the dog and then go back. It's not just resting your ears it's getting a fresh perspective for your creative mind. I'd add one thing to your different listening environments comment. Spend a certain amount of your time mixing with headphones you know and trust. Probably 90% of listeners will hear it with headphones and it can greatly effect your delay and reverb returns which are a much wider perspective in headphones. Also changing the playback engine in Pro Tools and listening on a MacBook Pro can reveal some loose ends hanging out. Thanks and keep up the great work!

[DannyHauger]

As a broadcaster in Los Angeles, and freelance musician, I can definitely concur with your points - and the subjectivity of mixing as well. I like you mix of theory, taste, and professional approach. These are a valuable resource. Thanks!

[JohnMorris-gehq]

As soon as you said, "Don't master while you mix." I knew I was in the right place. Thank you sir. Finally someone said it.

[GroveEndRoad]

Warren is so right on this, but he always is

[DavidDiMuzio]

I've watched a lot of these types of videos ...this was the best. Will watch again!

[EwaRiro]

YOU JUST GAVE ME A LOT MORE CONFIDENCE IN MY MIXES. THANK YOU SIR

[samlee]

Another tip I learnt from a video featuring a bunch of top film composers is to be in the room when someone else is there listening to your mostly finished track. It's a really weird phenomenon that occurs where any dud areas suddenly become really obvious and stick out, it's like you can sense the other persons reaction to it without them telling you and you can then figure out what needs changing. It might be a case of concentrating the focus onto the main two elements or adding a tambourine etc to keep attention and momentum flowing, hope this makes sense(!) cheers for the great vids Warren!

[voltanprodanimusic]

A very nice reflection of a real producer and artist👏👏👏

[angelmarcloid]

i've watched nearly 1000 tutorial videos on mixing, mastering, and production. this one stands out as very helpful and insightful among them. thank you!

[hlgoodkat]

This is hands-down one of the best Audio Production videos (and channels) on YouTube. Period. It should be required viewing for anyone eager to hone their craft. There are a million videos on how to do things and so few on mistakes, yet mistakes are what we most learn from. Thank you for making these videos. Your efforts and wisdom are definitely not wasted, and are much appreciated. Looking forward to more.

[TurboSol]

Great tips, I love how clear you lay stuff out in these videos. Volume automation is definitely something I have not been taking advantage of, the only time I have used it is when I run into a problem of something being too loud but using it in a creative way is something I will start doing from this day forward, thank man! Oh also something I have noticed about mixing, when I mix my own tracks I have noticed I am more attached to certain parts, for instance I collaborated on a song with a guy and in my mix I had the piano part I wrote kinda stand out because I really liked it, but when he did the final mix he had the piano low and sit in the background, well dang it it sounded better in the background! But I was too attached to realize it he he, now I try to tinker with volumes to see what sits better whether I'm attached or not.

[andymae]

Words of wisdom. Overtime I watch one of your videos, not only do I learn something new, I have to try it out and then find I have stolen another skill from you. Thank you so much for sharing.

[soundman]

I've noticed that, when driving and listening to a mix, certain aspects of the mix disappear into the road noise; aspects that are important. So I will go back and tweak the mix and road test it again. But there is a quicker way: Once you have your mix basically done, turn on a fan in the control room to simulate environmental noise, and listen to the song. If something important disappears, fix it with the fan running. Then turn the fan off and check again.

Also: Another way I check my mix is to play it back and then wander away, such that I can still hear it, but I'm not in the sweet spot of the speakers. I sit somewhere and read. When you take the focus off what you're hearing, your brain stops correcting little mistakes, and they'll start to jump out at you. Similar to taking a break, but more of a sanity test.

[MukeshRathore]

you are genius... everything you mentioned makes lot of sense.many thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[orcasea]

It's crystal clear that you truly enjoy teaching. There are tons of people on YouTube who will show you how to do something, but very, very few who can teach you why you do something.

You are an excellent teacher.

[NickWilliamsmusic]

Warren, I hardly ever comment on videos, but this is absolutely incredible. Such a phenomenal resource. Thank you so much for making yourself and your knowledge available.