Facing a new mix can be challenging and intimidating, especially with a big session where you perhaps didn’t get involved in any of the recording. So what’s the best way to start a mix, whilst keeping everything efficient and focused? To achieve this, it’s important to keep your project and its files organised, we recommend doing this before you move a single fader or add a plug-in. In this article we’ll be giving you 6 recommendations on how to start your mixes with the right foot every time — let’s get to it!

Rename Your Tracks

First of all, name your tracks something meaningful. By default, Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) assign the name of the track to the name of the audio file. Though in some cases this might be helpful, the file name might also include tags, or numbers and dates that will cramp your display. That is why it’s better to establish a naming system that can apply to all of your projects. This is true for any software that utilises a layer or stacking system: by assigning names that mean something, you easily identify the content of the tracks.

Colours and Folders

Modern DAWs allow you to create folders and colour code your tracks. While this might sound unnecessary for mixing, it’s a great way of keeping your session tidy and faster to navigate through. Also, routinely using folders in your project helps you to not only organise your tracks, but also allows you to do batch processing, reducing the amount of plug-ins needed and freeing DSP from your computer. This could also be interesting down the line to create stems of your mix for mastering or client deliverables.

Markers

During the first pass of the song, focus on actively listening to it. Try identifying the verses, choruses and middle eight and create markers for them. This will help you to navigate quickly through the song during the mixing process. Also, adding Start and End markers, as well as a full song memory location or region, will make it easier to bounce or render the song.

Create a Template

In previous articles we’ve talked about the benefits of having a template for mixing. If you do use one, this can get your session ready for mixing in no time, because you would have your folders, track colours, routing, and plug-ins ready for you with just one click. Just load your template, drop your audio files and you are almost set!

If you don’t have a template, or you don’t know how to set it up, don’t worry! In a previous video we showed you how to create a basic rock template using Sonimus plug-ins.

Learn – How to create a custom template with Sonimus plugins

Gain Structure

Finally we only need to do one more thing: Gain staging. Before getting a first balance of your mix, it’s important that every single track has an optimal gain structure. This not only makes it easier to find their right level in the mix, but also helps the plug-ins receive the correct signal to operate without causing digital artefacts or clipping. To do so, you can use the clip gain feature found in most DAWs, or take advantage of plug-ins like Satson or Britson. These will provide the sound and feel from classic analog consoles, right in your computer!

Level Balance

With everything in place, now it is time to start mixing. It’s useful to create a quick level balance of your track to get the bigger picture of the song. While doing this, try to identify the most important and interesting elements of the track so that you can highlight them at the right moment. Once you have an initial mix going, you can start shaping and processing your channels until it sounds more like what you have envisioned.

The more projects you mix, the better your workflow will become. Just make sure that you take notes on what works for you and save it into your template so you can use it in future sessions. Most mixing engineers have a template that has been growing and changing throughout the years, allowing them to mix more efficiently and effectively.

We hope these recommendations will help you speed up your workflow and keep you focused during mixing. Don’t forget to check our blog and subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest articles and news about Sonimus plug-ins.

Happy mixing.