Are you a musician who’s been working on a mix for what feels like an eternity?
Do you struggle with knowing when your mix is truly complete?
If so, you’re not alone.
Knowing how to mix is great, but knowing how to finish a mix is absolutely necessary if you want to release music and build your audience.
As Dave Pensado once said,
“After awhile, the mix doesn’t get better, it becomes different.”
So how long does it take to mix a song?
How long is a piece of string?
It depends where you cut it.
That’s why in this video, I’m going to share with you 3 telltale signs that your mix is done or nearing completion.
By completing these 3 tests, you can be sure that your mix will stand up to the best mixes in your genre.
Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, these tips will help you take your mixes to that next level and finally give you the mix you’re proud to share with the world.
Let’s get started!
1. Foot Tap Test
The first test to determine if your mix is done is the Foot Tap Test. The ultimate goal of any song is to make the listener feel something, and if your mix doesn’t make you want to move, how can you expect your audience to vibe with it?
Before conducting these tests, it’s a good idea to take a break from your song for a little while. This allows you to develop some distance from the piece and approach it with a fresh perspective, giving you a bit more objectivity.
When you return to the mix, start by turning off your brain and enjoying the song.
As you listen, Do you find that you tap your foot or bob your head to the beat? If so, you’re on the right track.
If you can listen to your entire mix without anything sticking out to you, you’re probably in a really good place.
Make note of there are any areas that make you zone out. These sections may need more attention.
Your mix should guide the listener through your song without causing them to tune out. One way to achieve this is by introducing contrast between adjacent sections.
For more tips, Check out this video on how to add contrast to your mix.
Once you feel like the song sounds great, it’s time for test #2: sharing it with someone else.
2. Friend Test
Show the song to a friend and I guarantee you’ll realize what sticks out.
Presenting the song to someone else will shift your perspective to notice things that might not have been apparent when you were mixing alone.
I find that people rarely notice the things that I recognize as flaws, and instead will usually offer some some interesting feedback from their own perspective as a listener.
This is most effective in person because you get their full reaction.
But be careful who you ask, or at least know what kind of answer you’re looking for.
After taking a break from your mix, it’s time to get some outside feedback. Show your mix to a friend and see what stands out to them.
You might be surprised at what they notice that you didn’t.
If possible, share your mix in person to get their full reaction.
Pay attention to their reactions and listen to their feedback without getting defensive.
Don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions to understand their perspective better.
Keep in mind that everyone has their own taste in music, so their feedback may not always align with your vision for the song.
However, their input can help you identify any issues that need addressing.
Be careful who you ask for feedback, though.
It’s important to present the song to someone who can give constructive feedback by understanding the goals of your mix, as well as offer a fresh perspective.
Sometimes they are not the same person:
Normie Ears: “I love her voice! So clear.”
Info:
– listens to music passively/recreationally
– Exposed to Mainstream Popular Music (Radio/Big Playlists/Big Labels)
– Can offer Feedback as an average listener
– likely won’t understand deeper mechanics of the music
Great For:
+ Offering feedback as an average listener
+ can they listen to the song? Are they stoked? “It sounds like music”
Watch out for:
– They may just want to please you as a friend
– Their Genre tastes may effect reaction
Expert Ears: “No Noticeable Mistakes”
Info:
– Practices Active Listening (Trained Ears)
– Understands deeper mechanics of recording and music production
– Vast reservoir of musical references from years of listening
– Always listening to new music (developed musical palette)
Great For:
+ Offering feedback on the structure or energy of the piece (great for demos)
+ Can comment on specifics like the balance/vibe of the mix
Watch out for:
– As you get further to releasing don’t go looking for big changes in the final stages (don’t undermine your confidence)
– May have to tell them if you are not looking for changes (be more specific)
3. Playlist Test
To ensure that your mix is a good fit in your genre, set up a playlist between your mix and a few other comparable songs.
You can doing this in your DAW by volume matching your mix with around four references.
Switch between them to compare the impact of each track.
Listen to the playlist at an average listening level of 70dB. Pay attention to any changes as you switch between tracks.
Does your mix stick out in any away?
Does anything seem to disappear in your mix? This test will tell you
Then, briefly check your mix at a louder volume of 85dB to ensure that the overall mix gets LOUD without being harsh.
Listen for all the finer details and make sure you can hear each instrument clearly.
Ensure that there is clear separation between each instrument, particularly when listening in mono.
Go through a checklist:
– How does your bass sound compared to your references?
– How about the vocals, drums, and overall tone and level?
– Can you air drum/sing along with the melody
– Once Again, can you get hyped on your own song? In the presence of greatness
Next, listen to the playlist at a much lower volume, where your ears are more sensitive to changes in level.
This will help you get a better sense of the overall balance of the mix.
Makes sure you can still pick out the main instruments, such as the vocals, snare, and lead.
Make sure whatever’s important to the song can grab your attention.
References give you valuable information at every stage of the mixing process, so use them to check to make sure that all your mix decisions add up to a vibrant, 3-dimensional mix.
And for more tips, check out our video on using references to improve your mixes.
____
With these 3 tests completed, you can be confident that your mix is ready for the masses, because you, yourself can vibe to it, you got that real world feedback from another person.
you used references for really anything you can measure. And this gives you 1st hand comparison with the music that inspired your music, using the result of the that approach the reverse engineer ways of achieving a similar outcome to your mix.
And let me know in the comments if YOU have any other ways of deciding when the mix is done. Thank you for watching, subscribe if this video helped you out, and I’ll see you in the next one.
