One of the big challenges with mixing is knowing when you're done.

You can keep slapping plug-ins on a mix until your CPU breaks down and starts crying in the corner but if it's not making your mix any better why bother?

It's insecurity. 

You want to make absolutely sure that nothing you have in your DAW is going to add that magic to your mix. I get it. I do it all the time. I keep trying out new compressors, plug-ins, spaces and routing shenanigans until the mix is so convoluted with plug-ins that anything I do breaks the mix.

And then I listen to the original rough mix and it's so much cleaner, making me realize that all I did was waste time.

So if that's something you can relate to, here are a few steps to do to keep you on track to a finished mix.

1. Make a rough mix that sounds good to you. Not just a static mix where the chorus is good, a complete mix that sounds great from beginning to end. Have fun, experiment, knock yourself on the plug-ins.
2. Bounce it out, upload it your phone, take a walk and listen to it on your earbuds. My dog loves this parts of the mixing session.
3. Listen to it a few times on your walk and make mental notes of anything you would like to change.
4. Go back to your session, make your tweaks, do the necessary automation and bounce it again.
5. Now find a reference you like and compare it to your mix. Make a list of what you need to change.
6. Go back to your mix session and apply the necessary fixes from your reference.
7. Bounce it again, go for another walk, return happy with a finished mix.
8. Rinse. Repeat.

Don't get stuck on all the minor details that don't contribute anything to the final product. But also don't ignore things that need to be fixed. 

Sooner or later you'll find that you don't have to overanalyze and obsess over every little detail in your mix to make it sound good. You don't need every single Waves plug-in package to make your mixes sound powerful, punchy and professional.

In fact, all you need are the five plug-ins I teach you how to use inside the Mixing With 5 Plug-ins course that's open to new members until Sunday.

It's getting to be your last chance to register so if you want to learn the most important tools to take your mixes from good to great, then Mixing With 5 Plug-ins is for you.

Click the link below to register:

www.mixingwith5plugins.com

P.S.

I got a new question today from Joe, who asked me whether the videos will be downloadable inside the members area. The answer is YES, they will be both available for streaming and download so if you don't want to watch it within the members area you can always download them and watch them at your convenience on any of your devices.