How often do you get outside opinions on mixes you feel "stuck" on?

Jordon

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Sep 14, 2008
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Chicago
I'm mixing an album for the largest client I've ever had.

- The drums were tracked at a top-notch studio, and I edited said drums. Sound fantastic, and they love how they sound.

- They tracked the bass at my studio, and I edited that. Sounds pretty damn good to my ears. They're very happy with it.

- They tracked everything else (guitars, vocals, synths) at their own places. Good equipment over all: guitars were PRS through an Axe FX, sounds mean. Vocals were an SM7b through a UA LA-610 and Distressor. They sound good, but they are absolutely CRUSHED to death and the editing job isn't perfect. A lot of cleanup work and all that. The synths sound good, but they take up a lot of space in the mix, which is to be expected.

Now. They usually record, mix and master everything themselves. Now they want me to do it because they like my work (woohoo!), and I'm more than happy to help out some friends and work with a bigger client on a label. Unfortunately, the label needs the single ASAP and I have a raging cold....Basically I feel stuck on the mix. I've been thinking of sending the mix to a couple producer/engineer friends that I absolutely respect and look up to, but the band is (rightfully) strict about leaks.

It got me wondering, how often do you guys send mixes to peers for an outside perspective?
 
Not often at all. I usually have a very clear picture of where im taking something, and outside opinions tend to dilute that vision. Having a cold is a different matter entirely, just bad luck. Surely the label can hold if you just explain you cant do anything with the cold?
 
It depends... I like to get an outside opinion but mostly to see how the comments line up with what I was aiming for from the beginning :) eg certain sounds I went for/ choices etc :)
 
Never, really. Don't like people saying "IMO the snare should be this and that", "bring the blablabla up a little bit" or "too much low mids/high mids/whatever" about my mixes. I read lots of threads on the RMM section, and it seems like most of the comments are based either on personal taste or a too narrow minded concept about how music should sound. I silently disagree most of the time, because I don't want to pick a fight with anyone; just keep it to myself if I don't have anything good to say (though sometimes it's unavoidable).

On the other hand, if you're sick and feels like you can't do it properly within the deadline, and you know good producers you can trust with good work ethics, then go for it.
 
I do it sometimes, just to see how people respond to the song. I also often do it I am not doing rock.
 
I like to do it when I feel like something is off and I can't point my finger on it, or if I lost perspective and the whole thing could be better or worse than I think.
Only did it with own or practice mixes tho, for clients I relied on my and their opinion so far.
 
Hardly ever, because people that mix are like musicians. Wildly different from one to another, so that guitar tone you love to death might be shit to another.

Plus I don't question the obvious anymore (such as timing issues) so it's all in the overall sound and I trust myself enough.

It seems to be to hard to get an honest opinion on what frequencies are doing only, instead you will get a thousand "that snare sucks" or "that guitar tone sucks." Then I will waltz into the same song and go "what the fucking fuck? That snare is perfect for this track."

All I want to fucking know is if the bass is cutting through ok or if the overheads aren't peeling the paint off the walls or maybe some other things I overlook like sibilant shit on the vocals.
 
I have two other engineer/producers that we send each other roughs on almost everything we do. While I agree with Ermz that its not really a good idea to dilute your vision, I do think its helpful to have someone who isn't obsessed with it to take a non biased listen.

I think it's much easier for a friend to immediately notice problems that may be blurred by the hours you've spent on the track. They pop the track in and usually will say "sounds good but the kick is too loud" or "moar bazz".

Its a fine balance. I wouldn't send it till you feel like its done, but I would definitely recommend doing it, especially for label work. With those people you generally don't get a chance to do a recall.
 
If I'm not sure about something I'll ask for opinions but usually only a couple people who's ears I trust and then I'll also send it to a friend or two who have no idea about mixing or whatever, just pure music fans.

If any one critique is repeated by a couple of them, I'll know its something to dig into further
 
If I'm not sure about something I'll ask for opinions but usually only a couple people who's ears I trust and then I'll also send it to a friend or two who have no idea about mixing or whatever, just pure music fans.

If any one critique is repeated by a couple of them, I'll know its something to dig into further

Same here !
 
I get opinions usually, but only from people I trust when it comes to how something sounds. People that have a similar taste to mine. Otherwise, you are just going to get feedback that may take the mix in a direction other than how you imagined and that's more work than needed, IMO (basically what Ermz said).
 
I have 1-2 people I send everything when I'm close to done. Just to see what they think.

If I get an answer like "I don't like the snare and it should be a higher pitched one" they can get fucked. I like asking them because another person can often tell you "the entire mix is cloudy" or "the bass is overly boomy, were you aiming for that" or "hey man the snare almost isn't audible" They can give quick responses to the ugly things that might be sticking out. Don't ask them something that's going to sway the whole mix to be changed from a 2000's metalcore sound to 90's D-beat sound.
 
Not necessarily "stuck" but I uploaded something tonight to the RMM thread... I don't normally... but in this case I was, for lack of a better word bored and wanted some outside ears/opinions on a "new" mix approach i adapted for this particular project. Take a gander at it if you feel like ripping me a new arse. :)

I don't mind opinions and ideas after all thats all they are... everyone, like others have said have a certain preference on this and that, but at the end of the day its "your" sound that people come to you and pay you for in the end. But a little knowledge and collaborating of ideas never hurt anyone. :)