How To Mix Better Than 99% Of Producers

In this video, you'll discover how to achieve pro-level mixes by implementing 3 powerful mixing hacks that have literally changed my life. Hey, I'm Philip from Pick Yourself, and I've created this channel to help electronic music producers like you make meaningful progress with their music.

When it comes to mixing your music, your workflow is absolutely crucial. I've found that establishing a well-defined process in Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic, Cubase, or any other DAW, can significantly streamline your mixing process. I'll show you how to optimize your workflow, ensuring you spend more time creating and less time getting lost in the mix.

The way you listen to your material can make all the difference in the world. I'll share insights into developing a critical ear for your mixes while not getting lost in analysis paralysis. This step is often overlooked, but it's a game-changer in achieving clarity and balance across various elements in Techno, House, and EDM genres.

Organizing your session is the key. I'll guide you on structuring your project in a way that lets you easily access the most important parts of the mix. This simple adjustment can drastically enhance your workflow and boost your overall efficiency.

At the end of this video, I'll share a game-changing mixing workflow hack that I wish I had known earlier. This single tip can help you avoid frustrations and pitfalls in your mixing process. Trust me; it's a game-changer.

[drumandbassonvinyl]

One of my mentors taught me to “Learn the rules well, so you’ll know how to break them.” That was one of the most important things I’ve learned about music production.

[danceswithwolves]

Artist Me: Chooses a resonant lead synth sound

Mixer Me: Notches out those resonances i just picked out

[danbient]

I really needed to hear the whole mix as an artist vs engineer thing. I feel like the vibe and energy are there right after balancing and then I tweak the life out of it.

[PhillipJohnsonphiljo]

I use the exact limiter on every single track, the audio cue to hear what is being limited is such a huge benefit. I remember producing tracks and basically didn't eq, didn't group, didn't compress or limit, zero mixing or mastering basically, because I didn't know it was even a thing. At least I panned stuff?
That was over 20 years ago. It's been a fun journey even though I'd still call myself an intermediate/advanced producer at most, not a master of the craft despite well over 10, 000 hours. There is never a day without learning when it comes to producing.
It's like the weightlifting meme of the music world. Do you even lift? No, no you don't lift.

[obiwantschernobyl]

that limiter trick is truly very helpful. Thank you very much. Makes you also understand better what youre doing wrong

[leongrant]

Thanks for the tip of using the listen function on the limiter for extraneous sub bass which could be eating up headroom😊

[staysmuth]

“Mix like an artist” is such an incredible piece of advice.

And it’s the reason why I don’t outsource mixing anymore, even if my product is inferior quality.

[gumbilicious]

In my experience, people don’t really care about EQ and compression when evaluating a song. It has to sound ok with The Mix, but song writing, instrumentation and arrangement are where the song is made… then mixing helps the sound. Spend most of your musical efforts writing songs and recording, get them to sound interesting, this goes much farther than mixing tips

[BigVic]

Doing most of the work in the mix plus just using just a limiter on the master has done me some good!! Plus using reference 2 with some good references help. Side note love your tutorials man! You give no bs advice and get straight to the point like my mentor

[ricardochiesa]

Im a videogame music composer, and as soon as you said listen like an artist, not like an engineer, you got me. especially in video games where there is not a single idealized professional sound, but more like profiles that correspond to a particular artisfs works aa if their mixing style part of the composers craft and an extension of the composition itslef. It's really refreshing to come up across someone finally saying this. Keep at it!

[artemijssaveljevs]

Good info! I always struggle with flute as a lead. Its have too much resonance. I start to cut ringing parts, and after that flute is completely dead. idk what to do, just to let it resonate?

[Powhart]

I gotta say - this is something new I've never heard before and it is a really interesting approach

[germainfraisse]

So simple but so clever ! It seems obvious now, thanks for this tips !

[mttlsa]

this happened to me just today. I was making a2nd mix version of a track and i've started to surgically fix some things in the main synth elements (old recording of some grooveboxes of reaktor, very articulate and with various elements each) and i ended with a perfectly balanced track with no emotion and character. So i went back to the first version, fixing just what it needed.

[albinholmlund]

I’ve looked up the lufs values for some of my favorite tracks in my genre (Swedish punk) a few years ago and that’s where I found out that not only Swedish punk but almost all punk is mastered to approx -6 lufs. And ever since then I’ve been using that as a target, and it has worked really well for me. But it has always bothered me that everyone everywhere keeps recommending that you master the tracks low. This is the first time I hear someone even mention the -6 lufs target! Maybe I’m doing something wrong, but whenever I master low volume it sounds muddy and lame. But whenever I push it to between -8 and -5 lufs it slaps 😄

[apoplexiamusic]

2:42 the problem with this mix isn’t the high frequencies. It’s the incredibly boomy, muddy bass with the heavily reverberated kick that’s way too loud.

[agapeleone]

I dig this... after many years of experience (learning from scrartch a decent bit)... I moreso found this vid to be confirmation more than anything but there was also some interesting food for thought. The vid is legit from all I can tell!! Great work!!

[JonValtandtheEvilRobots]

Lol when he says listen to this sample and tell me what you focused on, I was keeping tally of the different *instruments* I was paying attention to. I wasn’t aware of any mixing stuff - wasn’t listening for it. His Tip #1 is spot on.

Glad I got to experience it. Because I always hear “mix with your ears” and I do believe it, but perhaps I don’t truly practice it.

[amarug]

I am a mechanical engineer and a hobbyist composer. It's funny how we put priorities differently. When I compose I can fuss around ages with harmonies and voicings to the point of going nuts, I can search for the right sound effect and instrument forever, EQ them and what not. But the moment the tracks are done, I can somehow take a "step back" and listen to the song like a "consumer". I open the mixer and really just blitz through it at the speed of light. It is honestly 0.1% of my time in the overall process. For all the constructive criticism I get, it has not once been about mixing per-se. To me the harmonies, melodies, dynamics and fundamental textures are so much more relevant than fussing in the mixer about something no one will care about at the end. If you attend a live classical orchestra concert it sounds heavenly.... with zero "mixing", just instruments changing pitch and expression over time.

[rickgeahci]

One very important method is to use reference tracks and own ears. When you get there where you feel it sounds good, then you're almost ready! Less is more.