UGH FUCK OFIAJSFOIAJSF

[Ganks]

Goddd.

How do you guys cope with this shit?!?!?!
I'm doing an EP for a band, and they're done tracking and now it's mixing and mastering time.

I feel so overwhelmed. So many elements, so many decisions.

I mean, EVERYTHING you do effects another element.

You could have 20938120498 different masters of the same song and they could all sound shitty, great, good, the best, etc.

Wtf?!?!
UGHH.

How do you decide and make a final decision?!

I mean, even with mixing.. I feel like as I mix, I learn new things, and then applying those new things changes everything else in the mix. So it's like..

Where do you stop?!

 

[updog]

I feel like this too. You'll just have to find the best settings somewhere in between.

I'm supposed to have HUGE synths and HUGE guitars at the same time, no way man.

 

[storming heaven]

I think you should have a vision about how the mix should sound like. You and the band should discuss beforehand. And I'm not saying only in terms of the sound of the band, but also the mix and tones themselves should be in your head even before tracking stage.

There are many ways to make a mix for a band regardless of the genre. You can have the guitars scoop or mid rangey, you can have a clicky or boomy kick, snare can have snap or not, you could use paralell compression, bass might have some dist, vocals could be double tracked etc..

If you're unsure about the overall sound in the mixing stage, you will try to go after different sounds and as you said, there wouldn't be so many elements to choose from. (If you want a clicky kick you won't seek boomy or other tones. All you'll have to do is to make that clicky kick to work in your mix) You have a picture in your head and all you have to do is to draw it.

 

[Norris-wf]

I'm in the exact same place as yourself, although it's for my own band so I guess there is no pressure, but now that the tracking is done I am looking forward to the next stage, although that being said, there is so much to do, settings, levels, trying to decide what sounds good and on top of that I can't trust my monitors. Actually it is sounding daunting now when I think of it. I'm just gonna take it one step at a time, that way it wont overwhelm me

 

[Everybody]

you post in the rate my mix section until people dont complain about it

just remember you CANT get it to sound like your favorite mixes, your too new to this, your ears arent trained, your gear isnt perfect, you havent learned how to use everything to its full potential. It all comes in time. Referencing is great, but dont listen to every-single-piece or youll get bummed.

how did you get your last bands song to their final mix? cause that sounded GREAT!

Having a vision of where to go from the start is a greatttt piece of advise. Dont go into it blind.

Also, sometimes take a break for a day or two, and then come back to the mix...it just might be the best thing to do if your getting frustrated.

good luck!

 

[drew_drummer]

I make decisions during the recording that limit my options during the mix - easy

 

[joeymusicguy]

you have to do what most men are afraid of.... make commitments