MIXING WITH A REFERENCE – week one
When producing music, after finishing the recording process and having a rough mix, a reference song can be used to help finalise the track. The chosen reference would relate to the song in some kind of way, an example being that it would be the same genre and you are trying to achieve the same vibe of that kind of song. Selecting a track that has had successful releases can be good references when mixing. This shouldn’t be a tutorial on how you mix every instrument, but rather guide you in how you can approach mixing to get the sounds that you want. In addition, referencing can help in areas such as volume and balance, where you can compare the sound of your work to the reference.
It also gives your ears a break since it stops you from listening to that one track on repeat, so much that it makes it hard to figure out if it is the right sound that you want.
Having a track to reference to can be a good guide to help you figure out if you feel your piece sounds finished or not and can be helpful rather than relying on your ears that have been listening to the same sounds on repeat – it would be hard to figure out if it sounds finished without having a finished reference.
Without a reference track, it is as if you were ‘mixing blind’ – where you solely base your decisions on your ears and what speakers you are playing your track from. Therefore, having a reference speeds up the mixing process.
Mastering The Mix. (2020). Using Reference Tracks Whilst Mixing. [online] Available at: [https://www.masteringthemix.com/blogs/learn/using-reference-tracks-whilst-mixing#:~:text=Choose%20reference%20tracks%20that%20are.]
Messitte, N. (2022). 13 Tips for Using References While Mixing. [online] iZOTOPE. Available at: [https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/13-tips-for-using-references-while-mixing.html.]
Roth, D. (2018). Reference Tracks: The Simple Trick That Makes Your Mixes 10x… [online] Musician on a Mission. Available at: [https://www.musicianonamission.com/reference-tracks/.]