Why Your Mixes Suck (and how to improve quickly)

Not happy with the results of your mixing? Don't get discouraged! Here are a few of my top tips to take your mixes to the next level and advice on staying patient in the process!

🎛 Mixing Presets & DAW Templates

🎹 Synth Presets & Drum Samples:

🎓 Video Training Courses:

*I have the Musician Plus plan

🔈 My Studio Gear

💬 Let's Connect

Disclosure: My videos contain affiliate links to products and services I use and recommend. I may receive a small commission on sales through these links, at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support as this helps me continue to create content for the channel!

0:00 Introduction
1:13 POOR INSTRUMENTAL / VOCAL BLENDING
2:29 USING TOO MANY PLUGINS
3:37 BUYING PLUGINS YOU DON'T NEED
4:19 INCORRECT USE OF COMPRESSION
5:28 NOT GETTING THE BASS / LOW END RIGHT
6:55 IMPROPER RECORDING / ENGINEERING

[SuperFoxMulder]

Always a THUMB UPS. Is there anybody who follows this channel that hasn't been helped by Sean Divine? Real talk. This dude MADE my MIX. He speaks clearly. He explains clearly. He obviously expects you to have a little bit of an ear (when he's talking 'bout brightness n' low-end etc), but he basically walks you through the whole thing without any hassle. This guy is a total professional, and it feels like you're in the same room as the dude when he's explaining things. When somebody asks me for tips on mixing, I say "Sean Divine."

[nicjohnson]

Lowkey gets me angry how underrated your channel is. You have so much content and not only the quantity but the quality of each video is outstanding and you do a great job of explaining. Thank you so much, you are making a huge difference for many people

[AbstractCatsMedia]

No offence taken, I more then willing to admit, most of my mixes suck, or end up sucking! Thats why I'm here :)

[Trussles]

You are the first person I have come across that doesnt try to sell me some bull shit on another website to learn how to produce. I appreciate your content man, glad I found you today.

[tsihme]

My personal favorites: mix levels in mono, EQ first in mono then stereo, make drums and low freq content stand out from vocals, and blend keyboards and tonal synths using matching EQ.

[kingvonbee]

Dear Sean, you are just DEE-VINE ! ! ! 😍 ☺️ Lots of thanks for sharing your knowledge with us ! 🤗

[OneManAndHisSongs]

Putting an EQ on the master bus to monitor low end is SUCH as great idea, thank you! You're explanations are clear and concise - great stuff :)

[lairdriver]

Sean gives good advice here, pay close attention to what he says about mixing audio levels. In a track it should be Kick, Bass and Vocals first. That is to say that you bring every channel in your mixing down to complete zero. Move your Kick up first, Bass up second and Vocals third. That way you can work on getting your kick drum and bass lines to blend with sidechain compression and eqing etc. It also helps because it will show you if there is frequency overlap from the low end of your vocals and the start of the low end of your kick and bass. You should be able to sweep a good portion of the bottom end of you vocals out to leave room without losing the thickness or presence of your vocals.

After that you bring in your synth/piano/keyboard work. Work with it off the vocals. After that your percussion and fills and effects come last and they should be spread further out in the mix.

[Imagiknowledge]

Just tried the tip about managing the low end frequencies that shit cleared up my mix so much THANK YOU

[daniellouviereii]

I knew the name Sean Divine from way back in the day on SoundClick, and even then your music stood out to me more than others. But man, after following you on Spotify and really paying attention to every song on your channel, you're one of the realest artists I ever heard in my life. Not to mention the most humble and God fearing. Respect bro. You got mine. And I appreciate everything you do on YouTube. I never planned on commenting on any of your videos. I was just going to soak up the knowledge and run. But nah. Sometimes a man just gotta swallow his pride and give credit where credit is due. Good Lord willing I live long enough to perfect my craft and release my music to the public, it would be an honor to collaborate with you someday.

[HaddonMusic]

Tip 4 is so true. I've been mixing over 2 years and still learning more about compression. It is KEY though

[no-yjcf]

Very true. Every single one of my vocal mixes have sucked, but they get less suckier the more I watch your videos lol

[darrellcrammusic]

Only recently came across your mixing and mastering videos man and I have to say you stand out as one of the best production teachers that are kicking about on YouTube. I've been producing for just over a year and my biggest struggles have been getting an effective mixdown and vocal processing and just after watching 4 of your videos I already no longer find them quite so daunting. Keep doing your thing bro your channel is due a blow up.

[Jansku]

"buying plugins you don't need" *cough cough* maybe "pirating plugins you don't need" xD

[lairdriver]

Also remember to mix your bass and kick in mono. Understanding the importance of mono mixing makes a massive difference in the sound spectrum you have available./

[j.jerome]

Big thanks to your wonderful delivery!! Subscribed!

[mannylittle]

Sean, i love you. You took my music so far. still have a long way to go though.

[MickDarkstar]

Finally someone who gets "less is more". Good thumb rules! Alot of todays music is over-compressed, to loud, smashed with plugins (cause they are available and cheap in this new era of digital home studios). Thank you for reminding us of focusing on things that matter

[heartseasebliss]

I love watching these tutorials now you explain things so much more clear and better!

[PeanskeanENT]

man Im just finding your channel May 2017, good shit bro, even for Vets, - Peanskean Riddler