Not rushing a mix

[pathdoc]

One of the advantages a home recording buff has is lack of a set project deadline. Because of this I'm able to leave a mix for a week or two at a time and come back to it. In that time I'm usually thinking of ways to generally improve the mix. Dropping certain instruments out on a verse or a chorus or similiar ideas usally occurs to me long after tracking is completed.
Anyone else notice how much better a mix can be when you aren't rushed?

 

[mrface2112]

i've found that the key for me seems to be NOT mixing immediately after completing the tracking, unless it's one of those "going down live" things or something stupid simple (like singer/songwriter acoustic and vocals).

anytime i mix after i finish tracking (and usually it's the overdub portion), i end up mixing that which i've just tracked FAR too prominantly in the mix.

so i always like to give a day or two away from the material and come back to it with fresh ears.

unfortunately, though, i need to set myself a time limit when mixing. anytime i fiddle with a mix for too long always results in a mix that is over tweaked and lifeless, and going back to my "roughs" shows that the roughs are a lot of times better sounding. so personally i need to be very cognizant of over-mixing.


cheers,
wade

 

[DavidK]

Anyone else notice how much better a mix can be when you aren't rushed?

Not always. Sometimes I have better luck doing things right away.

Since I am now making CDs (as opposed to individual songs), I do rough mixes and then have a period at the end for final mixes. This can be months from the beginning of the project. In general, the music I spend the least amount of time on turns out the best. I have pieces that take years, really. Other pieces I do in a few hours. People like them better.

 

[Agent47]

Yes. I've slowly been working on a dance track just for fun. I basically do about an hour's worth of work on it on a Saturday afternoon, then decide to do some online gaming and open some beers... My girlfriend complains that I've been working on it for too long, and she's sick of my overly auto-tuned, thinly-EQ'd female vocal sampleloop wafting down the stairs...

Ah yes, it is WONDERFUL having this gear at home. To think I spent years (before I could afford all this) using college and work studios to do my own stuff. Now I'm my own studio manager and can do what the Hell I want when I want! Oh YES!!!