"I want pro mixes but they always sound weak and thin..." try this

I wonder truly, how many calories do we burn going back and forth from the car to test our mix lol

Maybe I shouldn't write this letter cause it might make your mixes better but also reduce the amount of calories you burn haha

Anyways, I get asked this question a lot.

And I wanted to break it down from a high level why you're having this problem and what you can actually do to solve it.

Now, if you're having this problem, I can almost guarantee you are overly cutting the low end on instruments that don't need to have that much low end cut from.

Keeping space for your sub bass is key but dont get scared and start overly cutting every instrument - this is what leads to a weak, thin sound.

I've said it before and ill keep saying it - relying on your ears instead of reference is an amateur mistake.

Unless you’re ears are already highly developed from practice and knowing what to listen for, you’ll always be unconsciously making your songs weak and thin.

It's like trying to ride a bike for the first time without training wheels.

You CAN learn how to figure it out but how much easier and more sustainable is it when you use training wheels?

Its the same with music production.

Use a reference mix as the training wheels until you can ride/mix on your own.

Your ears are only doing what you think sounds good...

But clearly what you think sounds good is weak and thin since your ears simply arent tuned to the right things in a mix yet!!

And I don't want to be judgemental in that - I was probaby worse than you at mixing when I started.

But I want to highlight that it's not your fault you don't like your mixes.

It's simply a skill you haven't developed yet :)

How do you learn to mix better?

You learn this by practice or by seeking guidance from someone else to show you what you’re missing and doing wrong and how to fix it permamently.

That simple.

When it comes to learning by practice, this is not a bad way to go!

I don't believe mentors have secret methods of doing things they hide, its simply that they have spent wayyy more time and energy (and usually money!) into figuring out how to solve the problem your're facing because they too had that same issue and had to find a way to solve it because of how frustrating it was.

The problem with going thing alone and on your own is that it takes too long and its costs more than simply finding someone to help from the start.

Like to make it simple, what's more valuable?

Your money which you'll get back after a few more weeks?

Or spending who knows how long trying to figure it out yourself.

Running back and forth from your car, tweaking small EQ or limiter settings on your master?

Watching multiple YouTube videos trying to copy them only to go to the car and find your mix sound worse than before?

(all things I remember doing which really sucked lol)

Now ok, am I saying coaches are the only solution?

Not at all.

I still personally believe that before you work with a mentor, you atleast try and solve the problem on your own - whether thats for free with Youtube videos, trial and error or even by purchasing some in-expensive courses.

This is because it will help you better understand how to problem solve on your own and give you more confidence in finding the right solution for you.

Instead of just blindly getting a mentor cause someone said so.

Now the reason mentors are good is because everything you get is personalized (at least the good ones do this!)

They will help you with understanding what you're doing wrong, what the root cause of the issue is, and how to fix it.

And a good mentorship will help you implement the solution permanently and learn how to avoid making the same mistake over and over - so you can focus on improving your music in other areas.

And now a days, it seems like everyone is a coach of some kind lol.

So there are a ton of options to choose from and a ton of teaching styles and programs to invest in.

Hope this was helpful and you start EQing a bit better in your tracks to avoid making everything so thin!

Peace,

Vig/MA

PS - remember that sound design community I talked about a bit?

I have the alpha phase all mapped out and we will be launching it Monday, May 27, 2024.

Those of you who I talked to and joined for it, thank you and I'm so excited to get started with our calls and community!

For those of you who are interested, unfortunately it is currently closed for this alpha phase.

We will be opening it up in the beta phase to more people sometime mid or end June 2024.

If you want to be first on the waitlist for the beta phase, fill out this form here.

We are only accepting max 30 people for the beta phase.

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