The SIMPLE Mixing Workflow (How To Mix a Song From Scratch)

Learn how to mix a song from scratch! In this video, I'll show you my step-by-step mixing workflow you can use to mix a song from start to finish. Here's the breakdown of my S.I.M.P.L.E. Mixing method:

00:00 Intro to Simple Mixing Workflow
00:17 Overview of the Mixing Method
00:33 Session Prep
02:41 Initial Balance
03:11 Mix Bus
03:50 Process Top Down
06:08 Listen-Throughs
07:01 Evaluate Translation
08:51 Simple Mixing Method Recap
09:04 Free Bonus!

[masteringcom]

What's YOUR current mixing workflow?

[MusicisPartofMe]

FINALLY SOMEONE WHO EXPLAINS "WHY, " INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING "DO THIS!" THANK YOU!

[leona]

That was probably the most helpful video I’ve watched about mixing so far. Thanks!

[borisshramek]

Man has just saved hours of my life in 10 minutes

[LucasDomProject]

i like this guy, he doesnt bore my ear holes

[maninderchahal]

Great explanation! I had come to some of these conclusions through sweat and tears. I am a live venue recording enthusiast, so mostly subtracting is more important than adding. 👍 Keep it up you are helping many!

[itbe]

This was such a great breakdown. THANKS!!

[JamesAllenDjMadlogik]

It turns out that my layout and workflow intuitively found it way into a very similar pattern, although I don't always mix top down per say, sometimes depending on the material, I'll do bits of top down and bus processing at the same time.

[cook-music]

Well said, well put together. Great video, helped solidify a lot of what I came to on my own, but the accronym was a beauty move

[quentinjames]

2:42 What about mixing in mono? Once we've achieved the best balance using faders and panning, should we switch back to mixing in mono? Cheers for the awesome videos!

[mazely]

3 different sources, in a playlist with the references. Good advice. I go walking hearing my mix in the headphone, and also check how it sounds in the car and in my system in the living room.

[kiliankraus]

This video is just golden, thankyou so much

[djnickhodgkins]

Rocking; thank you! Might you have a pdf of all the steps and sub-steps?

[julienepouhe]

Excellent !
But I admit that during balance I more often prefer to apply a few plugins individually and directly when I perceive a phase problem.
I don't apply too much, but just enough to fix some flaws.
And I must admit that before I didn't see the need to put a Q and Compression again on the busses. I thought it was too much processing but I assure you, it contributes even more widely to a better quality of mix.
Thanks guys!

[paulopinheirosc]

Great video, Jake.

I like the top-down approach, but having to put high-pass and low-pass filters on each track to get rid of noise gremlins forces me to start at the bottom.

[sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

What are "AH" & "BR" for the additional background vocals?

[hleet]

I like this recap :D. If I may add that it "could" be a good thing to cut low freq that are not human audible (below 20hz) as it "could" add unwanted muddyness on the mix.

[ctnicetune]

is a mix bus necessary or can you just use the master channel?

[aajmusic]

I start with drums then bass and once I have drum and bass working I add instrument making space for every instrument..and last the vocal

[angelinagargano]

Thanks....ummm what is the name of the music you played in this video?