Mixing A Song With Separation & Clarity

When you think of an amazing mix these two words come to mind - SEPARATION & CLARITY.

In this video I will show you my approach to creating Separation & Clarity in my mixes.
Hopefully after watching this you will better understand how to declutter, unmask and remove muddiness from your mixes, leaving with you with something that really shines!

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(00:00) Method
(01:42) Levels & Panning
(08:35) Vocal Compression
(12:30) EQ - Unmasking
(23:59) Spatial FX (Reverb)
(25:30) Drums & Compression
(29:44) Drum Samples
(30:54) Before & After
(31:50) Final Thoughts & Tips

Keep in mind this is just a rough mix for demonstration purposes!
I would spend a lot more time on this if it was a proper mix for a client.

If you want to check out the official mix I did, listen here:

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[spinlightstudios]

Thanks heaps for watching guys! Don’t forget to hit that like button and subscribe for more :) also if you want some tasty drum samples while supporting the channel at the same time, follow the link in the description to my website 😊

[TeddyLeppard]

Once I learned to view all music recordings as a collection of frequencies in a spectrum, I started to learn to separate those frequencies and carve out space in the mix to gain clarity for each track. It's a fascinating process.

[edpogalz]

You did what I feel like every other mixer on YouTube is too scared to do

[suedetvrecordingstudio]

I have been a recording engineer with my own commercial studio for years...this guy knows what he's talking about..well done!

[ChristopherWilley]

“If you can’t hear that, just put on some better headphones and you’ll hear the bass.”
Love this advice, so commonly overlooked somehow

[gregsonmatthews]

Mate it’s great to have a practical step by step work thru on a project like this. You have provided Clarity and Separated yourself from the mess of online content. THANKS SO MUCH - OUTSANDING

[douglasnethercote]

Hi Rhys. IMO this tutorial is deserving of 1.7M subcribers rather than 17K. So many of the big guys do not drill down in such a concise manner or baffle many users with long plugin chains with subtle nuances that are almost inaudible in context with the delivery platform. You are much more than "Just a studio nerd" and you also bring song material here that is well fit for purpose. KUDOS, and keep aiming higher because you have earned that.

[BradyA]

Summary:
- Achieving separation and clarity in mixes involves several steps.
- Key elements for good mix separation are volume, panning, EQ, compression, and spatial effects.
- Spatial effects include reverb and delay.
- Fancy techniques like parallel compression and saturation can enhance mixes but are not always necessary.
- The mix demonstration shows how to start with raw tracks, set faders, adjust levels, and pan instruments.
- EQ is used to shape the sound of each instrument, removing muddiness and defining clarity.
- Reverb adds depth and spatial dimension to the mix.
- Compression helps control dynamics.
- Drum samples can be used to enhance the drum sound.
- Monitoring in both solo and context of the full mix is essential.
- The video concludes with a before-and-after comparison, showcasing improved separation and clarity.

Tips for achieving mix separation:
1. Start with proper volume and panning.
2. Use EQ to shape instrument tones and remove masking frequencies.
3. Utilize compression to control dynamics.
4. Incorporate spatial effects like reverb and delay.
5. Focus on context and monitor in solo and mix contexts.
6. Experiment with drum samples to enhance drum sounds.

[pilotgav]

Dude... This is THE best mixing demonstration video I've seen. You rocked it.

Great moves and explanations! THanks.

[fabellara]

This uncovers all the mysteries and unanswered questions in mixing for me. Forever grateful

[louieAdams]

Dude! You nailed this video. This is what every beginning mixer needs to see. Been mixing for years and the simplicity is Thanks

[WaBoo]

I've watched your video twice already and I'm still impressed! Simply great!

[varleymon]

WOW! Fabulous demo and tutorial on cleaning up a mix - I will be applying the methodology to ours! Thanks a ton, and cheers!

[blu_scuro]

Holy mother! I'd give this a thousand likes if I could! Best mixing video I watched to date, you explain everything so well! Thank you

[LesterWayneDobos]

Looking good in the -20dB's guitar sounds lively and real. Great work.

[rays]

I'm not even 3 minutes in, and I'm LOVING this. This is gonna be so helpful. I can already tell.

[Lilliputian]

This is the best mixing demo I've ever seen. You go through every single aspect with a large range of instruments and vocals. There is NOTHING missing from this instructional video and all done in a short 35 minutes. Thank you.

[JustifiedHope]

This was awesome, you’ve got yourself a new subscriber. Thank you! No “best way to mix” crap or “the only plug in you’ll ever need” just make it sound GOOD!

[OfficialStevenCravis]

I like how you got what sounded to my ears like a final mastered sound, just at the mixing stage. VERY impressive, helpful, and appreciated!

[DrProgNerd]

This is exactly what I needed. I'm a total noob - so much to learn. I've been overwhelmed lately - feeling at times like I'm never going to get it. But I was following the moves you made and why you made them. This was the right video at the right time for me. Thank you. Subscribed.