Do You Enjoy Mixing?

[michael11]

Does anybody actually enjoy the process of mixing and mastering,(if you do your own)?

Do you feel it gets in the way of your creative flow or do you see it all as part of the same game?

I know we HAVE to do it but do you enjoy it?

Michael.

[Russell Landwehr]

Oh yes! Absolutely.

Actually, in the styles I normally compose, mixing is part of the creative process and I mix as I go. By the time it comes to the "mix" stage, the song is practically mixed already. FX, EQ, rough balances are already done.

Even at that, however, when I've mixed other peoples' stuff and if my work needs a lot of mixing after recording, I still achieve that state of "flow" where hours seem like minutes and I have to force myself to take breaks.

Russell

[hummingbird]

Yes I do... since I compose from sound, choosing the landscape for each instrument and arranging them sonically is an integral part of the process.

[Len911]

I don't know,lol, have you ever mixed and processed, processed some more, tweak and tweak hour after hour, only to discover and question if you've really improved anything, or that there isn't really much difference, other than raising or lowering the volume?

I think to a degree, your ear and brain adjust to the mixing and mastering, to a smaller degree maybe the arrangement, but they don't have much tolerance for unpalatable compositions or taste in music. This says nothing though about the actual recording of voice or instruments, rather, applied primarily, to "in the box" instruments.

A prime example is mixing contests. Unless there are exceptional changes, usually though they are adverse in their affectation, more so than significant improvement, it doesn't seem advantageous.

I would venture to say that the more time that is spent creating, composing and arranging, probably means exponentially less time mixing and mastering. No?

[Kolstad]

I do now more and more, but I didn't used to.

I think now I'm more clear about what I'm trying to accomplish, and know more about how to achieve it by using compressors, eq's ect. But it definitely took more than 200tracks for me to find a satisfying workflow for mixing.

Now I'm happy, but way too slow

Mixing really require me to become smarter and plan ahead more. I love loud guitars, and I used to mix after playing for an hour. Not realizing my ears were all messed up, and I couldn't hear s***. So, now I make time for pauses, refreshing my ears.. ect. Otherwise I can't hear what those subtle software compressors are doing, and just slide down strings of bad desicions

You could say I've really gained respect for the mixing process, and consequently found enjoyment in it, because there's a lot at stake.

[jdstamper]

I do now more and more, but I didn't used to.

I think now I'm more clear about what I'm trying to accomplish, and know more about how to achieve it by using compressors, eq's ect. But it definitely took more than 200tracks for me to find a satisfying workflow for mixing.

Now I'm happy, but way too slow

Same for me, I always enjoyed the mixing process, but it's a lot less frustrating now that I understand it better, and that just comes from doing it. There's always more to learn. Way more

Likewise, I'd like to get faster at it too!

For me most of the mixing happens at the end, not so much during the recording process.

[cassmcentee]

YES!!!
It is another beast/animal of an instrument to me...
Did I enjoy learning the violin as it chased all of the cats out of the neighborhood? YES!!!
Did I enjoy learning the guitar even though my teacher kicked me out of the class 'cause I couldn't keep up? YES!!!
You know what I'm sayin'???

[feaker66]

I enjoy it. I just wish I knew what I was doing.

Gibby to the left Gibby to the right

Bass down the middle, fight fight fight

Paul

[dencol]

I absolutely love mixing. There is a great feeling that comes while mixing when you feel the music start to gel. It really feels like an exact moment when you can feel the hair stand up on the back of your neck and your ears start to perk.

[mobster85]

I am trying to learn more all of the time about mixing and mastering. It's very tedious and I find that my ears get worn out. I think breaks help but I have a tendency to to lose my drive when I take 1. Maybe the mixing session should be done on a separate day from the recording session. I'm not sure. What do u think?