The Journey out of Mixing and Mastering Myths

Mixing and Mastering Myths are just a few of the mis-perceptions that plague the music industry.
Mixing and Mastering is nothing without a music production...
If the music recording is poor the mix and master is poor...

So why are you concerned about mixing and mastering?
Doesn't it seem like the focus should be on your music?

My question is are you more concerned about what equipment is used on your project, to mix, and used to master or are you more concerned about the end results?

Do you find yourself looking to others to fix the problem? Do you think that someone else has something your missing? Do you feel like if you had one more piece of equipment or learned one more thing you would be ready to really get serious and do something? If you say yes, to anyone of these you have been duped by the Mixing and Mastering Myth.

The mixing and mastering myth says you don't have the right audio mastering software, you don't have the right mixing plugins, only professional results come from a mastering studio and so on.

But today is different - you have the tools. If you don't, they are inexpensive and its time to start locking the door in your studio, shutting the phones off and moving forward... You can have all the greatest gear and songs in the world but the music production is the key to all mixing and mastering.

Make sure first and foremost the song is different. It's not saying the same thing that everyone else is talking about. Give the music 'your' touch that only you can give it. Start with great samples and great sounds. Get all instruments you choose in the proper frequency spectrum when making the track, adjust mix volume levels, use EQ settings to separate frequencies and use compression to make each individual sound come to life. The mix should sound industry standard, just quieter. That is the process of audio mixing before achieving a perfect master.

Mastering is very simple afterwards. Using mastering tools such as multiband compression, eq, sonic maximization, limiting and metering tools are just a few of the weapons of choice. Whether they are hardware or software does not matter nearly as much as your ears.

Last and most important is your ears. Making sure you can hear all the subtleties of each tool, volume level, etc. The thing thats cool is you already know where you're trying to get to - that is what you hear on the radio, movies, etc. So the elements are there in the pot, it's just up to you to stir them up correctly.

The last ingredient missing is you showing up in your studio and figuring out the details that it takes to get where you're at to the level that you hear on the radio daily. Then stir the pot every moment you get, keep focused until you start seeing the results you're after. When you reach that stage, CELEBRATE!!! ...Then get back to the grind cause the journey never ends. There are many victories won, battles fought and land you conquer in the world of the new music industry we are in..