Do alot of producers have their beats mixed by their engineer?

**dmajor100** · 05-28-2012

I love producing and even tho im about to graduate from a audio school for engineering I cant seem like enjoy mixing. I really dnt know what it is maybe its becuase of the lack of experience or the understanding of mixing and making everything fit in gour mix and sound good like a pro which I have never had happen. My total number of hrs mixing in a controlled enviornment is less than 50 so maybe once I hit 1000 it might be easier. I really need to make a decent site with my music mixed and mastered but I dnt have the besy confiedence in myslef to achieve a pro sound so should I get a personal engineer to do my mixing and mastering to just make my few playlist songs and those that are for sale presentable or should I just do what I can and learn as I go. Its very time.consuming and I kinda wanna be dishing out beats and have fast supply so thats why im wondering if I should have assistance.

**fataltone** · 05-28-2012

keep practicing and get a classmate who is better at mixing to help you out
and
of course who can actually get you the mixes you're looking for.

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**BeatGenerals** · 05-29-2012

Most up and coming producers dont have their beats mixed by professional engineers, that would be way too costly. Mixing is one of those things that youll get better at the more you do it, keep workin!

**Bobcat** · 05-29-2012

Well, in my opinion people are overthinking the whole mixing thing. When I do my tracks, there is no such a thing like a mixing stage. I mix the track while I'm producing it. Because I might bend different sounds together and use effects and such, to create a complete new sound from these other sounds. And I do that with EQ, compression, reverb etc. which are all part of the mixing procedure. But I know with what I start in my track, and with what I finish it, because every new track I will add will be mixed to what's already there. So this is something to think about - I usually start with the kicks, then the bass and the melody at the same time, and then go on from there. I add the less important things to the end, like sweeps or crashes. So basically, my bass and my (melody) synth will be mixed to my kick, which is the key element here. In the end, my sweeps and my crashes will be mixed to almost the whole track. See my point?

Of course, during the production stage I will always adjust all levels correctly. And at the end again of course, to fine-tune everything. But, like I said before, I would bend sounds to obtain another sound. For example, my bass are actually 4 basses. The way they're mixed will decide what TYPE of bass and what SOUND it will have. So I have to do this before even going on, because it will stay like that and I want to mix the rest of the track to how I WANT this bass to be. I don't know how to explain deeper. If this bass is not mixed correctly (or the way I want it), it could give a complete different sound. This is my point.

Every time I add a new track, a new sound or whatever, I instantly "mix" it. I add an EQ and cut everything I don't need away. I would add a reverb, cut some lows from the reverb again, see how it fits with the rest. Then adding a compressor eventually, side-chaining it maybe, seeing how it works with the track... etc etc. And then I move on to the next sound.

**DJR** · 05-29-2012

most labels tend to insist that your work is checked over by their mix engineer no matter what. If you are freelance it's up to you, If you are not happy with your mix then definitely get it checked over buy a good engineer.

**BeatGenerals** · 05-29-2012

Originally Posted by DJR

most labels tend to insist that your work is checked over by their mix engineer no matter what. If you are freelance it's up to you, If you are not happy with your mix then definitely get it checked over buy a good engineer.

Of course once you sell it, theyll be putting their own mix on the final song. I think he meant just tracks to shop around etc.

**P. Casso** · 05-29-2012

What's the point of going to audio engineering school if you are going to pay another engineer? That's cool if you want to watch him and possibly learn from it. Getting decent at mixing takes time. The more you do it the better you will be at it. Who else is better to practice on other than your own work? Just dive in.

Does your school have many mix sessions where you guys are able to ask questions? I milked those sessions when I was in school. When I started working afterwards I literally stuck to the owner/Mix Engineer like glue. Anytime another engineer came in I watch them just the same. At some point you beyond why they are doing and starting to figure out the why's and how's.

**Trill The Beatmaker** · 05-29-2012

Everyone has a prefernce. Depends on your level & what your willing to do. Some producers do send to engineers to mix (like myself) because they want their sound to be crisp and to-par with these other mixes. You may find an engineer who is willing to do it for free, but keep in mind that just because its free won't mean its good. Their "free mix" may sound just the same as your own mix so keep that in mind.

Another thing is the engineer won't have a clear idea of what you want. So they may just make the kicks knock and turn down the synth that you wanted as the main element. But as everyone said it just takes time and lots of practice. I see a lot in this forum people asking how Johnny Juliano or Superstar O get their mixes so clean/punchy. It doesnt take a lot, they just make space for their kicks/808s and hpf everything else, start with quality samples, and the then brickwall everything when they "master."

At the end of the day if your on Grand Hustles label & you make a beat for T.I. and he loves it, your still going to have to give the tracked out version to an engineer for proper mixing. At a smaller level just keep practicing or hire someone to do it. I'm sure myself or any of these other great engineers can help you along your way. Peace.

**LTZbeatz** · 05-29-2012

keep on it.. every track you make you should look to improve on an area. you wont ever know how to be better unless you train your ear.

**dmajor100** · 05-29-2012

Actually our mixing and mastering course was about two full week on a few songs and one mastering session. And that was basically it for studio stuff ut I learned alot in live sound mixing maybe even more. So the school was kinda a ripoff and only had practice on my own personal time which is hard and still havent had a successful mix and cant do it at my house cause of improper acoustic treatment and space.