So in all the years I have been mixing I only found out about this a few days ago. Its called the -3db mixing trick, let me explain, it has changed the whole game for me.
When starting a mix, when you are at the gain staging stage, start with the kick drum, you want to get it to peak at -3db on a VU Meter. Once you have done that, then you want to unmute the bass and with both the bass and kick you want it to peak at 0db. When you have done this then you can mix everything else. Ive tried it and it really works, and now I cant stand listening to my beats I have mixed before learning this trick.
Mixing bass and kick is the hardest part of the mixing workflow, this trick makes it simple.
Heres my last mix that I did a couple days ago, to test the trick. Played it at the studio on the big yamaha's and it sounds fucking great, used to always have a problem with too much bass, not any more. When the bass isnt taking up all the headroom it opens it up for everything else and makes a big sounding mix far easier.
When starting a mix, when you are at the gain staging stage, start with the kick drum, you want to get it to peak at -3db on a VU Meter. Once you have done that, then you want to unmute the bass and with both the bass and kick you want it to peak at 0db. When you have done this then you can mix everything else. Ive tried it and it really works, and now I cant stand listening to my beats I have mixed before learning this trick.
Mixing bass and kick is the hardest part of the mixing workflow, this trick makes it simple.
Heres my last mix that I did a couple days ago, to test the trick. Played it at the studio on the big yamaha's and it sounds fucking great, used to always have a problem with too much bass, not any more. When the bass isnt taking up all the headroom it opens it up for everything else and makes a big sounding mix far easier.
