Mix Reviews help anyone that mixes music
For newer, or even experienced mixing engineers, one of the best ways to gain confidence and improve what you do is through a process called mix evaluation, or more commonly - mix reviews. Mix reviews by an experienced mentor or coach is an unbeatable tool for any engineer to have in their toolbox. This process allows them to gain invaluable feedback on their mixes and improve their mixing technique. With regular mix reviews, new mixing engineers can learn the fundamentals of sound engineering, develop their skills, and ultimately create way better mixes!
We have all asked our friends what they thought of a mix in progress and it varies from "I hate it" to "Sounds fine, dude!" to super detailed feedback on things that really don't matter when it comes to how the average listener is going to react to the music. The first benefit of mix reviews for new mixing engineers is increased confidence, and trust me, even the most experienced engineers have days where they just aren't 100% sure about what they have done! Mix evaluation provides an objective opinion on the work to help build an engineer's confidence. An experienced engineer like myself as your coach can listen to the mix and give an unbiased opinion, which can be invaluable for new engineers. I'm not here to criticise and pull your work apart, I'm here to help you deliver consistent professional results and since I'm not your buddy, you'll get total honesty! This can be especially helpful for those who are just starting out, as it can give them the feedback and support they need to push themselves and build their confidence in their mixing abilities.
The second benefit of mix evaluation for new mixing engineers is improved workflow. By receiving useful feedback from a more experienced engineer, newer engineers can become more efficient and consistent in their work. It's all very well knowing about all the tools, and all the techniques you've picked up, but an engineer can learn how to produce a consistent and quality sound from a professional engineer and use this feedback to develop their own ideal, personal workflow and techniques. This can be especially helpful for those who are just starting out, as it can give them the knowledge and experience they need to develop their workflow and have a smoother mixing process.
The third benefit of mix evaluation for new mixing engineers is mastery of techniques. With the help of an experienced engineer, new engineers can learn more advanced sound engineering techniques. There are thousands of how-to videos on YouTube but most of them are made by people who have never really worked in studios, or made real records. Being able to sift through all of this with someone with experience in the real world of engineering can be invaluable for those who are just starting out, as it can give them the knowledge and experience to develop their own sound engineering style.
The fourth benefit of mix evaluation for new mixing engineers is access to feedback. As I mentioned before, feedback from an experienced engineer can be invaluable and a lot different from asking your friends for the improvement of a mix. Not only can the engineer gain objective feedback on their mix, but they can also learn techniques and methods to improve their mix that perhaps they'd never think of. This can be especially helpful for those who are just starting out, as it can give them the guidance and support they need that is hard to get without a traditional studio background.
The fifth and final benefit of mix reviews for new mixing engineers is an understanding of sound engineering principles. Having access to an experienced engineer can unlock the "why" behind the techniques or tools used in a mix that nobody ever explains! An experienced engineer can also explain the principles behind the mix to the engineer., from why the room is important, to monitoring, to referencing. This can be especially helpful for those who are just starting out, as it can give them the knowledge and experience they need to understand the fundamentals.
Mix reviews can be a great tool for any new mixing engineer to develop their skills. By utilizing the feedback and advice of an experienced engineer, new engineers can increase their confidence in their mixing abilities, develop their workflow, and learn advanced mixing techniques. Additionally, they can also gain access to feedback and a better understanding of sound engineering principles. With the help of someone giving them regular reviews, any new mixing engineer can have the guidance they need to create better mixes and ultimately, become a successful, confident mixer!
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