3 Low End Mixing MISTAKES That Are Killing Your Mixes

These 3 low end mixing techniques are taught over and over again in colleges and online...

But if you're mixing rock and heavy music, these could actually be mistakes that are killing your mixes - not helping them!

Here are 3 common low-end mixing mistakes that should avoid when mixing rock, metal and hardcore.

[BoyOfLol]

Best mixing tip I ever heard: split the difference between clarity and togetherness. If something is a little muddy but it gels with the rest of the track, that is much preferred over a clear sound that stands alone or an ultra muddy sound that's buried in the mix. Great video!

[lewisbulled]

You should do a mini series for this - low end, mid range and high end mixing mistakes!

[exitthelemming]

Not nearly enough audio gurus for the 'rest of us' i.e. those who DON'T make EDM. Incredibly refreshing to hear an industry professional debunk some enduring myths propagated by those for whom excellence is invariably 'dope'

[GrandNebSmada]

You are the first guy I've discovered that actually gives good tips. Other big channels say some good stuff too, but you really give precise explanations for stuff that makes sense in a way that I can actually apply it. Never have I heard anyone else talk about the "focusing too much <100 and not in the 100-500 range more.

[danmehal]

I've learned more from Jordan's vids than I've learned in Audio Engineering school.. This guy knows his stuff!! My mixes are a hell of a lot better due to him!

[CaptainIrvitron]

I so appreciate you summarizing at the end of this video, it’s not done often enough on tutorials. It wouldn’t be a surprise to know that when things are presented in a list form by the time you get to number 3 we’ve forgotten number 1 and 2 and on & on it goes.

[CaptainIrvitron]

Thank you for summarizing. So many tutorial videos never do. It’s like nobody realizes that by the time you get to number 3 you forgot what number 1 was. The longer the list the less you remember each item… 😊

[deepaksugathan]

I would like to add that the side chain compression can also be performed over specific frequency ranges of an instrument. Certain plugins do have that feature. So even though a good strategy would be to resolve frequency conflicts before/without side chaining for genres like heavy metal, rock and the like. If an issue persists, One could still use selective frequency compression or dynamic compression as an added option to further resolve or to get more definition in the low end. I personally found it to have subtle and impactful results at fewer instances. Having said that if recordings are done in correlation to its intended purpose, one may not feel the need to side chain compress in the first place.

[uwtm]

100%! I just watched your video today, went back to my dense mix I was struggling with and brought back the lower mids (while avoiding the real muddy mud). WOW what a difference! And let me tell you, for the first time since I started mixing in the last year and a half, my mix is FINALLY translating on ALL sources! Car, phone, instagram, you name it!

[onreel]

for the side chain stuff Just side chain to where the conflict happen in the low end with a multiband comp or by splitting the signal between sub and the rest. it won't damage the sound of the bass in the mid and low range but make you feel the kick better. If the rythm is slow it's pretty great.

[santiagoabad]

Best mixing channel! Really solid info here for any genre

[valerivelikov]

Hi ! I'm beginer in mixing but after some unsuccessful trials I decided that the idea for side chain kick - bass is no't for me and carving i the low-end too. Accidentaly (or not) I saw your video and my conclusions were confirmed. I think the key is careful listening. Thank you !

[DadRockAndGuitars]

That 808 impression was amazing 🤣 Great tips 👍

[soulschizm]

I've learned more from your videos than any others, easily. And the unconventional wisdom is the best part. Thank you for providing all of this content free on the web. I know you probably don't have to!

[BenScooter]

Great video. Picking up on your point regarding carving, I think I have a useful analogy to describe its excessive use. Imagine you're making a stir fry, you've got all the typical ingredients in the pan (the rice, chili, chicken, onions, ginger, snow peas, etc) but everything is in its own separate section of the pan with no two ingredients coming into contact. Everything will 'cook' individually but without the 'stir' aspect (or the 'mix' of components) you won't achieve something that can easily be described as 'greater than the sum of its parts.'

[Projacked]

All of the above are absolutely true. Good mixes are done with volume, even eq'ing can be devastating for the mix...

[magicjackm]

There was a point where I was obsessed w/ carving as it related to the low-end, this was a very short-lived phase but yeah, getting out of that mindset was definitely a huge improvement & generally I think a lot of mixers become so fixated with things not being "muddy" that they over-equalize everything & the mixes in general end up sounding too clinical, inorganic or even just harsh. It's ok to let the low-mids live

by this point i'll basically decide which instrument to give the lowest freqs to & then put a sub boost on the master, since the other instruments i've already kept out of that sub-80 range anyway

[Markpianist]

Maybe not in metal but side chaining is definitely a good solution when needed.
I use it and it works. Everything else I agree.
The most important thing for bass and kick clarity is lo cut filter.
You don't need 60 or 80hz in the heavy guitar.

[clowncarqingdao]

Thanks ... reminds me of what I should be doing ... listening not looking at mix charts.

[rmcga]

This is why I have followed your advice and used your training since the start, because nothing I followed was working, you are very outside the box and seem to be all about going with what works for YOU. This is why I track my leads exactly the same as my rhythms (two tracks, panned hard left and right). This works for my style of music and although having a single lead track down the middle works sometimes, I find the dynamics of my music really shines when I leave the mid space for my bass and vocals. Thanks for more awesome advice!