A lot of times we think what will help us get the fattest and best sounding mix is the tools/plugins in our mix arsenal or the daw. On the contrary, it is the little things that matter.
A simple thing like organizing the project before mixing begins can be easily downplayed on, but this goes a long way to ensure when you are doing the mix properly, everything remains in perspective.
Organizing a project in such a way that you can navigate the project without hassles can save you a whole ton of creative juice. If you spend a lot of time trying to get around a project while mixing, trust me your mind is super distracted and your ears are struggling to get the best of your attention.
Many top professionals around the world have mix assistants organize projects, even take the mix some step forward before the start tweaking anything. So hours before you mix (preferably 24 hours), Organize the project.
- Name your channels
- Arrange channels in a way that is easy for your mind to remember and navigate
- Color code so you can easily differentiate between parts
- Set ur markers for quick navigation
- Clean up audio and do your gain staging
- Tuning and pitch correction where necessary
- Set up busses, groups and VCA's
- As an extra you can set up your favorite FX sends and returns, Channel Strips, e.t.c.
Close the project. Then when you return, all you would be focused on is to mix. You'd be surprised how easy the process will be.
