Great mixes don’t just come from compressors and EQ curves—they come from perspective. Before you touch a single plugin, there’s a mindset you need to step into. One that focuses on intention, honesty, and emotional connection. Because at the end of the day, mixing isn’t just technical—it’s deeply human.
Here are four essential tips that have nothing to do with compression, faders, or frequencies—but everything to do with making better music.
1. Listen Like Your Listener Would
Before you put on your engineering hat, step into your listener’s shoes. Your audience doesn’t care about which boutique preamp you used or what reverb tail sits on your chorus. They care about how it makes them feel.
Play your mix in the car. Listen while doing dishes. Ask yourself: would this song connect with someone who doesn’t know a thing about audio? When you start hearing your mix the way your fans do—without the bias of the gear or process—you’ll start making more musical, less ego-driven decisions.
Pro Tip: Don’t just do this at the end of your mix. Do it throughout the process to keep your perspective sharp.
2. Be Brutally Honest About the Source
You can’t EQ your way out of a bad vocal take. No amount of parallel compression will fix a flat performance. The truth is, mixing starts way before the mix session opens—it starts with the song and the performance.
Ask yourself: Is this take the best representation of the song? Is the arrangement supporting the emotion? If not, fix that before diving into plugins. Great songs with great takes mix themselves. Mediocre ones become endless rabbit holes.
Rule of Thumb: If you’re trying too hard to “rescue” a track in the mix, it’s probably not a mixing issue—it’s a performance or production issue.
3. Get Feedback—But From the Right People
Feedback is one of your greatest tools—but only when it’s coming from the right source. A fresh set of ears can tell you what your brain, fried from looping the bridge 30 times, simply can’t hear anymore.
That said, not all feedback is helpful. Random opinions from non-musical friends might derail you just as easily as overly technical critiques. Choose people who understand the goal of your music—and who aren’t afraid to be honest.
Pro Tip: Ask focused questions like “Does the vocal feel emotional enough?” or “Does the energy drop in the second verse?” to get actionable input instead of vague reactions.
4. Reference… with Intention
Referencing other tracks is not about copying—it’s about calibrating. The best mixers in the world constantly reference other songs, not to steal ideas, but to stay grounded in what works.
Find a few professionally mixed songs in the same genre or vibe and listen with a critical ear. Take notes on their low end, their vocal tone, the space around the drums. What emotions do they trigger? What elements grab your attention?
The Key: Don’t just compare for the sake of it. Use references to guide your mix toward an emotional goal—not a technical one.
Final Thoughts
These tips won’t teach you how to dial in a perfect compressor setting—but they’ll help you make better music. Because behind every great mix is a series of smart, human decisions made long before the first plugin is loaded. So the next time you’re about to open your DAW, pause and get your mindset right. Your mix—and your listeners—will thank you.