Listen before mixing

Listen to your rough mix and references. Take notes on what needs to change. Separate Technical vs. musical processing modes, which means getting your technical stuff done first.¹ Have an intention and a plan for each mixing move.

Bob Clearmountain listens to each track in solo, like they’re characters in a play, as if to figure out what they contribute to the story. With lead vocals, he asks, “Where should this be living?” regarding reverb and delay.²