NOT listening to the mix.

[regebro]

It's funny how useful it is to not listen to the mix, but just have it going in the background, while you do the dishes, take a shower or write bullshit on HR.COM.

I discovered that my last three mixes are lacking in the bass department. Theres no oompf in the kicks, and my bass sounds are typically very low, so there is no high-bass/low-mid in the mix.

I also realized one of the songs is far too slow, so I'll have to re-record the whole song! Luckily all I have on it is 12-string guitars, which I already knew I wasn't happy with and my singing, which is to be replaced with somebody that can sing. So It's no extra job! Good thing that I discovered that before we did the real vocals!

 

[Sennheiser]

if you have only guitar recorded, why not just speed up the mix a bit? Is it that slow?

I've listened casually like that before, but then when it's time to go back to the console I can't remember what it was that needed adjusting.

They say the mind is the second thing to go. I can't remember the first.

 

[Stealthtech]

I keep a notebook handy and review my songs on different devices such as a home stereo, car stereo, jam box, someone elses stereo, etc... This way I get a feel for how it sounds on each player and take notes of what needs to be changed such as more bass, more or less mids & high's, louder on the vocals, etc..This certainly helps when its time to work on it again. This is what makes computer recording so great, non-destructive editing !

 

[Sennheiser]

That's a great idea, but it's not really passive listening. You are listening to hear errors that need correction.

He's talking about doing the dishes, cleaning house, doing laundry, etc., while passively listening. Kind of like letting the sub-concious take over for awhile and seeing what it thinks of the mix.

I understand the concept completely, though as I stated in my above post...

 

[regebro]

if you have only guitar recorded, why not just speed up the mix a bit? Is it that slow?

Because, then all the sequenced parts will be out of tune.
Btw, I realized we haven't set the key on that song yet, maybe the singer wants to switch key anyway, so I'll have to do that before re-recording the guitars.

And, yeah, it's both the subconscious, and it also not letting your brain look for details, but by concentrating on something else than the music and just listening to the complete sound.
And I think it's also a bit about listening to it on low levels, so I'll start to do that when I mix too.

 

[Seanmorse79]

For me, listening passively does more harm than good. The things that I didn't like start to become invisible and I get sucked into the "that's the way it's supposed to sound" thing. I do burn and listen actively on other systems, but I'm unable to listen passively without screwing up my brain. ...wish I could though.

 

[Aaron Cheney]

Couldn't agree more!

When I bought my house last year, I moved in thinking I'd fix this or that, and change the ugly bathroom wallpaper, and carpet, etc, etc, etc,
Now I've lived here a year, and I've gotten so used to all those little things that they don't bug me any more.

Mixes are the same way. My philosophy is to work a mix for some period of time, listening to it critically on a variety of sources, tweaking until at some point I decide I've done the best I can and surrender it.

Even then I still question things for a while, but I force myself to give it up. Eventually I come to accept it, and all is well.

Aaron
http://www.voodoovibe.com

 

[Aaron Cheney]

However, I will add this:
I often listen to mixes from another room. I'll get up to take a stretch, and walk around for awhile as the song plays, listening for frequencies or instruments that jump out or disappear when I'm not perfectly positioned in front of the speakers.

Aaron
http://www.voodoovibe.com

 

[Seanmorse79]

That's a good idea. I'm going to try that!

For me, it seems like it's tough to let it go sometimes. There's always something that can be improved, and it's hard to find the place to draw the line. Usually, if I'm well into the mastering stage, I'll say "screw it" and leave it alone

 

[digia]

Of course it's hard to let go, it's your work of art.

Critiqueing the mix is a good thing but you have to remember, it'll never be perfect. What I try to do when I mix is formulate what I want the tune to sound like, give myself a set amount of time, and try to match what I want it to sound like. At the end of the time if I'm close, I quit, if I'm way off in left field, I start the whole process over again because apparently I've wondered off somewhere in the mixdown process!

Cheers