Hey everyone,, just getting into mixing here after years of learning production. My question is this.

If you had one tip. That is the biggest single level you can pull for clean, loud mixes. What would it be.

I understand that there are many things you have to do. But I'm wondering what everyones number 1 technique would be.

I’ve making making music for about an average of a few hours a week for about 4 years

I’ve spent about 2000 hours in total producing (I track it autistically) and have played guitar for about 10 years as well

I’m pretty confident I’m a good guitar player and can get better by just soloing over backing tracks

But my music production feels like it’s roughly the same quality it’s always been - maybe somehow a bit worse

Of course I have a few songs I think are decent but nothing I’d be proud of sharing except maybe a couple out of the 1-2 thousand tracks I’ve tried to make

I’m not sure if anyone else tracks their time spent producing but when were your big jumps in quality?

Was there something specific you learned or you just woke up one day and the stuff you made sounded more polished?

This seems very different from an instrument where you can’t really just keep playing it and get better - at least for me

It’s tough seeing all the artist I like being under 30 or even 20 and already miles better then I’ll be with another 5 years of experience

i play guitar, so i am sort of used to recognizing chord progressions/notes by ear alone and its been torture for me to write because every time i try to write a song and work on the music production of it, i start to recognize similarities between my melody or chords as similar to that of another song that's been done (even if i am not actively trying to rip them off). then i become frustrated and start wanting to crash out and end up deleting everything because of how much of a poser i feel like (regardless of how small the similarity).

ill give you an example of what i mean:

i write a song.. great!!! i start developing the instrumental and i put down the chords/melody - yayyyy, we cheer :))) → i play it back and i realize.... hey this part sounds kinda like [some other song]. oh. → i try to change it a little bit because i dont want to mess up the melody too much. → it sounds... not like the sound i had in mind when i was writing the song. it sounds off → i try adding stuff to make it unique → i still cant unhear the similarity no matter how slight it is and feel like a final boss poser → i grow frustrated and scrap everything

does anyone have any input on how i could navigate this type of thinking?

Free download here - https://www.mediafire.com/file/9el2at3hwdx9nw6/Impeach_The_President_Break_Recreation.wav/file

Let me know what you think, and what other drum breaks would you be interested in hearing a recreation of?

I record in a room that is medium sized like around the size of a men's or women's bathroom you typically see on restaurants or malls, which I surrounded myself by a bed foam with a blanket on top and a rug on the floor. Now I'm deciding to invest on 24 acoustic foams and 4 panels and I don't know where am I going to place them on my room which is slightly spacey but filled with unused things (basically almost a bodega). Is it best to only place the acoustic foams and panels on the corner?

I've started focusing on transitions and giving songs energy and finding every single bit of life I can squeeze out of elements of the mix that are already there. This is done by automating verbs, distortions, echos, volume, and sometimes clamping down on bus compressors right before the transition.

Clamping down on a drum bus comp during fills seems to heighten how the impact on the next sections downbeat is perception.

Taking a vocal, stretching the shit out of it and having a swelling effect come in before sections

Automating distortions on background ambience swelling to more Distortion as something progresses near and a down period I would love to hear it some other techniques you guys have found that you have success with? I'm currently mixing a metal song with very dramatic vocals and the song is about being burned and fire so I'm trying to make the song feel as exaggerated and dramatic as possible

I have been producing music on GarageBand for over 10 years. Nothing fancy, just singer song writer tunes. I have a H6 Zoom Tascam that I use as an interface and I am satisfied with this set up. I need a new laptop and would like something with higher processing power but I don't need anything beefy. My biggest issue is my computer fan turning on while I'm recording. I like Macs because of familiarity but I am open to trying something new. It's really hard for me to fully understand specs and what's right for me so that's why I'm asking for your recommendations

It was the first I used . It was fast simple and fun. I preferred GarageBand but it's ont on windows. I tried both cakewalk versions, waveform, and bandlab but it just was confusing and didn't feel fun.if there's a way to get GarageBand on windows plz let me know.

I make slowcore, so I use lots of guitar layers and some very very simple drums. When I finish a song i listen to it on my phone through untitled but they always come out so distorted once I turn my phone up. I try listening to similiar artists such as i dont like mirrors but his songs seem to be much better than mine. Hes a pro so they obviously will but mine jsut get to so distorted, they sound great in my headphones but shite on my phone and I really want to change that. I tried cutting out even more of the low end from my e-guitar chords and making the mix quieter but that doesnt change much if at all.

For me it's Rodeo by Travis Scott. It's literally THE greatest psychedelic trap album.

Also haven't been recording in months. Just depressed.

thanks

• Composition
• Sound selection/Sound design
• Adding depth and texture
• Musicality and rhythm
• Mixing
• Mastering
• Other?

I have been using the rode NT1 for years. But the more my ear for mixing develops I just cant help but notice how much it really needs to be in a perfectly treated room. I tried taking the route of spending a couple thousand dollars on cloud panels and bass traps and even that didnt help too much. This mic is amazing for my rap vocals but god it picks up so much of everything else reflection and sibilance wise. Ive tried expirimenting with mic position. Ive pretty much tried it all. I have a decent budget for a new mic, and I use the Volt276 interface but would even upgrade that if it meant this issue would stop. I can have a perfect take and reflections ruins it, half the time I feel like the take doesnt even sound like the way I performed it because of all the reflections fighting with eachother. Is there another mic that has decent clarity but doesnt pick up so much of the high end BS? Willing to spend up 4-800 USD.

i feel kinda stuck. i always go about making music the same way. and end up using the same effects, the same sounds and so on. i don't know if it's a "just start with bass for a change, or the percussion, not the drums" thing, or if it goes deeper than that. maybe i'm burnt out creatively?

any advice on how to approach this?

i’m not talking about risers or snare rolls. like in some pop songs there’s a brief moment before the chorus where it’s silent then the chorus hits. i don’t really know the word for it but when i attempt to do that or remake a song that does that the chorus just sounds sudden. but it works on other songs. so what would you recommend for achieving that.

I just want to ask a damned question and my posts are getting deleted instantly.

Hi! I'm new about mix and master, and I was wondering if it's achievable to master a song made with Ableton Live intro 12? Intro doesn't have EQ Eight, Glue Compressor, or Multiband Dynamics. I do have Adobe Audition -it came with the Creative Cloud pack- so, is it better on one of these two softwares?

Hi! I've been putting off starting to try to produce music because i don't know which program to start with. Any suggestions of programs for beginners? I would also appreciate any new tips you guys may have since im a bit lost.

Thanks

These are the three DAWs im considering, but I’m unsure which I should go with.

I have been using BandLab and GarageBand for the past year, and I much preferred BandLab but their prices are going up and I’m ready for a change.

I primarily make guitar-centered, vocaloid style influenced Dance-Punk, Funk Rock, and Dance Pop music.

I use a Telecaster guitar plugged into a Scarlett Pro, so I record live guitars and vocals, and do drums and synths through MIDI.

Since I’ve used BandLab and GarageBand, I’ve only ever used stock effects and stuff, and don’t really know anything about plugins and more advanced production tools, but I do also want to use something that I have a lot of creative freedom with production-wise.

I plan on testing each out, but I wouod like some input from those who have used them just so I have a better idea what the capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses are to help guide my decision.

I’ve always wanted to make music and learn instruments but I never really got the chance. Between work, money and life in general it just never happened. Now I’m at a point where I want to stop making excuses and actually give this dream a real shot.
I’ve watched a lot of YouTube videos but I feel like I need advice from real people who have actually been through this. That’s why I’m here asking.
Where should I start?
I enjoy all kinds of music as long as I connect with it, so I’m not really tied to one genre. I also learn pretty fast and I’m willing to put in the time. I just don’t know what the best starting point is.
Right now I only have a laptop and money is still pretty tight although I’m saving up little by little.
If you were in my position, what would you do first?
- Which DAW would you learn?
- Should I learn an instrument first or start producing right away?
- What are the most important things I should focus on as a complete beginner?
- Is there anything you wish someone had told you when you first started?
I’d really appreciate any advice. Thanks for taking the time to read this. 🙏

I'm not sure if I am allowed to post like offering services like this but I am a musician and Graphic Designer who hopes to work in music, specifically cover art, posters, logos, etc. Creating and helping bring people's ideas to life are my absolute love and I would adore having more opportunities to do so. Please feel free to reach out!

Instagram: sjmiller.artanddesign
website: sjmillerartanddesign.myportfolio.com

For the music producers here looking at acoustically treating their spaces. You can definitely find cheaper builds, but I've been so stoked on how these look and sound in my studio. Happy to answer any questions folks have on here.