Question For Pro Mixers: How Many Mixes Before Showing Client?

[Robertt8]

When a professional mixer is mixing a full CD away from the band (different city where it's not possible to sit in with him or her). Do they typically mix a bunch of songs at once and then shoot them over to the band to listen too, or is it customary to do one tune at a time?

I know it can be done either way, but i was just wondering if there was a common practice with this.

What do you guys do?

 

[Cloneboy Studio]

Depends on the band and the desired goal.

For example, I'm mixing a 4 1/2 hour long concert for a two piece band (acoustic guitar and both members sing). Since the production is very consistent from song to song a single example is all that's needed for them to comment on the production.

Metal bands, that tend to want consistent sounds song to song are another example of mixing this way. Ultimately the client is looking for homogenous sounding tracks.

For more diverse artists sending them ALL the mixes is advisable because one song's mix may have nothing to do with the next song.

Another tip: when mixing "away" from the client I will generally make as balanced, middle-of-the-road mix as possible that leaves room for ANY element to get louder or softer, as well as have more/less top end, more/less mids, more/less bass, more/less reverb and so on. With the mixes I'll send them a questionairre asking if they want more or less volume/frequency/ambiance/whatever for each element of the mix.

That way you have room to maneuver mix-wise. It's always worked out great for me and resulted in a lot less "chase your tail" and a better finished product.

 

[Robertt8]

Thanks Cloneboy! good stuff.

anyone else?

 

[mixandmaster]

Do they typically mix a bunch of songs at once and then shoot them over to the band to listen too, or is it customary to do one tune at a time?

Depends on how much of the balance is paid.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

"Depends on..." seems to be the reigning champ for this thread, as I'd say the same thing as Clone and M&M.

I'd also add that it "depends on" deadline and project size as well.

If I'm given a CDs-worth of material to mix on a Monday and the client says they need it done by that Saturday, I'm not going to waste time giving it to them piecemeal. I'll explain to them at the outset that there isn't time for that back-and-forth stuff under that kind of deadline.

On the other end of the spectrum, if the client gives me the material and says take what time you need to do your stuff to it (like one of my current projects, which obviously is not an hourly billables contract), then I'll give them an occasional update to keep the client involved and not just out in the cold until the very end. Usually on those sorts of jobs, there's a little give-and-take anyway first track or two until we know that we are singing the same tune. After that, it's just to let them know that they are still alive in my world.

G.