How many engineers offer sample mixes for potential clients?

[Trill The Beatmaker]

As the title says, how many do it and how often? Even if you have a website that has samples of work you've done do you provide a 45sec-1min sample? After so long how do you decide when you no longer provide sample mixes?

[CoMpLeXx]

well what i do is i say give me 8/16 bars of your track and il mix them now, if you like I will mix it all

[fataltone]

are you talking about a audio reel of your mixes of past clients on your site
himbeats got it set up this way
scroll down and see

LISTEN TO A MIXTURE DEMO REEL HERE

LISTEN TO A HIP DEMO REEL HERE

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[Trill The Beatmaker]

Nah not like that. I mean someone asks can you give them a short sample of a mix to see how you can make their vocals/beats sound. Even though you have a site that offers a reel/samples of previous work.

[CPhoenix]

If you've got a good enough catalog, you shouldn't have to do work upset. That can be a little disrespectful to a serious engineer.

Me personally... my catalog isn't there yet. So I'm nice about stuff like that lol. But you're not gonna get a free mix out of me. I'll mix half of a verse so u can see. But i'm not gonna put in a big amount of work with no money.... that's just stupid and crazy of somebody to ask that. Go somewhere else w/ that... i don't have time for nonsense.

[Trill The Beatmaker]

If you've got a good enough catalog, you shouldn't have to do work upset. That can be a little disrespectful to a serious engineer.

Me personally... my catalog isn't there yet. So I'm nice about stuff like that lol. But you're not gonna get a free mix out of me. I'll mix half of a verse so u can see. But i'm not gonna put in a big amount of work with no money.... that's just stupid and crazy of somebody to ask that. Go somewhere else w/ that... i don't have time for nonsense.

True. Of course not a free mix. 45sec-1min with some good Eq and maybe a fancy fx to get them really hooked. If your worried about them stealing it put in random noises from a signal generator. You can turn it down but it acts as a security unit and deterent from those who wish to steal you of your time.

I think one of the biggest things is when they have special requests. Like can you pitch shift this one word or create a revese reverb on the intro...But a lot of cats do ask for these sample mixes. Im just curious how many of you other engineers are asked that.

[7thChannel]

good read

[chris carter]

I personally don't know any legit mix engineer who will do a free test mix. Doesn't matter if it's a whole song or a 1/4 of a song; it's not like it would only be a 1/4 of the time anyway. Generally speaking, potential clients who require a test mix are clients that are more trouble than they are worth - they probably won't hire you (duh, people asking for free work generally aren't the hiring type) and if they do, they will be a nightmare client always wanting more for less, will be unreasonably nit-picky ("move that up a quarter dB" a week later "turn it down a quarter dB" a week later "hey I need you to recall that mix and turn that part up a quarter dB", etc.).

The only time that stuff happens is if the artist is WAY above the level of the mix engineer. Like if Coldplay asked me for a test mix, then yes, I'll do a test mix! But there is no way on earth I will do a test mix for any unsigned artist, or even an artist on an indie, or most artists on a major. That's just dumb.

But someone trying to get started as a mix engineer, I could see why you would want to offer one - because how else are you gonna get a gig? That said, if you offer a free test mix you are basically telling the potential client "I'm desperate for work and if you decide to hire me, whatever I said I charge, you can pretty much offer me 1/4 of that and I'll take it."

BTW - I have a single in a smallish country that went #1 yesterday. Woohoo!

[Trill The Beatmaker]

@Chris Thanks for the insight! Great to read diff. views on the subject. I def. understand what your saying and it is somewhat insulting as cphoenix said. Opening up a new session just to mix for 45sec is a waste of time. If everyone asked for a sample mix then what would be the point of having a sample reel or a website to host such a reel? Thats why you should have either a front fee thats non-refundable or a fee that is refundable or full payment up front.

Congrats Chris! That sounds amazing.