STOP WATCHING MIXING TUTORIALS

WAY too many home studio musicians spend all their time watching mixing videos when mixing is only a SMALL percentage of what it takes to create amazing productions. I'm explaining why you should stop watching mixing videos and what to focus on instead.

My Studio Gear List:
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Logic Pro X: (use the app store)

Sample Libraries I HIGHLY Recommend:
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[steini]

I love how I searched for "mixing tutorial" and this was the first video that Youtube showed me

[MattMcConaha]

As an example, imagine a band playing a song live. The song was already written, they know how to play the song, they show up, get their effects ready, and then the sound guy sets the band's levels. The band will know and play the song and have little regard for the mix, that's the job for the guy at the venue. The mix will be a little different every time they play the song. The mix isn't part of the song, the mix is part of the recording/playback.

[ihategirlsXD]

I’ve been making music for 3 years now as a “soundcloud” artist and this helped me so much already. I’ve been so reliant on the mixing part to the point where I would say “Listen to my mix”. You were right on point with all the mixing tutorials being put out, making me feel like if my music isn’t being mixed like this then it’s automatically trash. I feel so much more confident and even more excited about making music now after watching this!

[TheRavn]

I been producing off and on for 12 years. Along the way, you learn in doses. One of the things I’ve learned and experienced is that no matter how much you mix, if you have bad instruments, nothing will make it sound better. Mixing isn’t about doing an extensive amount of work for clarity

[giftbygodclothingcollectio]

That’s crazy I needed to hear this. Wow. Mixing has been stressing especially when you have very little time to do so

[ayoutubecommenter]

I'm SO GLAD I clicked on this video, I was skeptical as first, but omg THIS FINALLY WOKE ME UP, my terrible mistake is probably overestimating all the plugins I use, so I end up being dissapointed at the end, that "the song should already sound good even if unmixed" is definitely gonna be a game changer for me. You earned a sub man!

[parisestrella]

I like what you talked about in this video! I learned 3 things. 1. It’s not about the mixing. 2. You’re not mad, you’re passionate. 3. Make GREAT music!!! Love that you’re passionate about what you’re talking about 💯

[tybond]

1. Great songwriting
- melody
- vocals
-tunes
-songwriting
2. Arranging / arrangement (vocals)
- gang
-reverse
-arrangement build
-single
Triple vocals
All the vocals and how

3. Edit
-tracking live


Last

4. Mixing (15% of the song) other 85 is hard inspiration and work!

[haitibenefits]

It's not our fault, it's due to the fact that music has been institutionalized, we've always seen it through other people's lenses but not our own

[shane]

Wow. For all this time, I’ve been starting at the end.

Now I realized I’ve been “mixing” without even finishing the producing phase.

Thanks for the video.

[RaptureMusicOfficial]

Nathan, this is really the best mixing video on all of Youtube, Period! It's all about the music, the melodies, the chords, the songwriting, the arrangement... nobody (literally 99% of your audience) doesn't care, how your song is mixed, or mastered! I know that, because I compose and arrange music since early/mid 90s... and no one ever cares about the mastering, or the mixing... the audience cares about a good song! Pure and simple. All that mixing stuff distracts from the essence of doing great music. Mixing is a big waste of time, don't overdo it! Focus on what's really important! A great mix or master can't save a bad song ... great video! Keep up the good work!

[dillonhach]

This might be 2 years old, but I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this video. I’ve been struggling with finishing songs because of how discouraged I’ll get because it doesn’t sound how everything on the radio does, when I’m only just starting to record. I’ve always known that I was being stupid, but hearing this from someone else’s perspective is seriously groundbreaking mental wise. Thank you sm

[iimiinextmusic]

This is so good. So on point that I can’t even look in the mirror because I’m so ashamed that I wasted a lot of years and dozens of potentially good songs because I got stuck at the wrong end of the process 😔 best thing I ever did this year was join a song writing club that compelled me to write a completed song a week, recorded on a phone, warts and all and subject to peer review. Might be a good idea Nathan for us learning to produce?

[paytonrooster]

this guys about music and not his image. Subscribed.

[cawmusic]

I really needed to hear this. my first few songs were just me messing around, not caring about mixing at all. Even though the quality is horrible, you could hear the cool ideas that I came up with. Nowadays, I focus on mixing to the point where I neglect some of the other (more important) aspects of making music. I should really get back in my old mindset

[evanloken]

What I learned from this video was that the definition of music mixing is different than what I thought it was. To me it included the production, but this helped clarify. Great video. Subbed.

[blamemonkey]

Great message, and something I need to tell myself over and over, even though the joy I get is when you find that phrase for the strings that accompanies the piano perfectly (according to me), the happy accidents of misplaced notes or unconventional chords. The main secret for me was just making stuff I enjoy and like, not trying to recreate or hit some zeitgeist.

[Markrspooner]

I can honestly admiit when I was just getting into music I ended up watching nothing but mixing and mastering videos as YouTube kept recommending them. so one of the first things I end up buying is gulfoss and izotope ozone, neutron and nectar advanced. This is before I had got any virtual instruments, the reason is I didn't know where to start. So I am now studying music theory and own instruments, but I still have a ton of mixing plugins I will probably never use.

[rosendoviegas]

I feel ur speech saved me a dozen of time to focus on actual music and now the value I or importance I think I had for mixing has totally changed thank you soooo much for saving me ps: I'm still an armature producer and started a month ago

[parasiteunit]

Sanest and most honest video about making music I have seen for ages.... a serious mindset adjustment right here...

've had one other recently...

Aim for better, always aim for better... HOWEVER!... never strive for perfection....

Perfection is an insane obsessive pinnacle to attempt to obtain.

STAY AWAY from attempting perfection (it changes through time as your skills evolve anyway), all you're going to do is never be satisfied with anything you do - so you're never going to do anything....