Reviewing Mixes

In short, a good mix translates well between speaker systems. It sounds the same whether in the car, on earbuds, etc. 

Mixing can actually be quite subjective. While there is a lot of technical knowledge that goes into the process, there are decisions made in every step of the way that are inherently creative and will impact how the audience receives it.

When reviewing a mix, there is certain lingo that engineers use to describe a mix, and they typically relate to different frequency ranges. What is a frequency range? Its a range of frequencies grouped together based on where it exists in the spectrum of low-end (bass) to high-end (cymbals). 

Words like “boomy”, “dark”, “boxy” or “muddy” relate to sounds in the low-end of the spectrum, while words like “bright”, “airy”, “clean”, or “harsh” relate to sounds in the higher-end of the spectrum.

Take a listen to “Paper Thin” by Lianne La Havas, and compare it to “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran.

Both of these songs have similar instrumentation -- clean electric guitar, drums, bass, and vocals. However, listening to Lianne and Ed provides a far different experience. “Paper Thin” is noticeably boomier, darker, boxier, and muddier while “Thinking Out Loud” is far brighter and airier. 

Is one mix really better than the other? I don’t think so. The mix on “Paper Thin” helps to serve the song’s intimate, close, ominous, and somber tone. “Thinking Out Loud” is far more optimistic, pop-centric, and cheerful.

Another example can be seen in the mix on Travis Scott’s vocals from one song to another. Check out “Ghostface Killers” and compare it to “Kelly Price”, as well as “Huncho Jack”. 

“Kelly Price” is far airier and brighter than “Ghostface Killers”, while “Huncho Jack” is really pushing the highs to the limit to the point of abrasiveness. 

The best way to help us get your song to sound the way you want it to be is by providing a reference track, or a preexisting song with the sonic tonality you’re looking for. Remember to listen to it on every speaker system you use regularly to test the translation of the mix, because that’s the clearest mark of a great mix.