The Real Way To Use Reference Tracks

We’ve all heard the advice that we should use reference tracks — professionally mixed and mastered songs that you can try to make your own song sound like. And while this can be a great idea, in practice, many of us end up listening to a reference and just thinking: “My mix sounds nothing like this.”

To get the best from reference tracks and make them truly useful, here’s how to use them effectively:

1. Match loudness
Use a gain plugin to bring your reference track down to the same level as your mix. References are almost always louder. Comparing a finished song at full volume with your quieter mix will almost always make your mix sound worse — unfairly so.

2. Compare one element at a time
Instead of just listening to the overall track, focus on specific elements. How loud is the vocal compared to the drums? How bright are the acoustic guitars? How are the vocals panned? This gives you practical details you can recreate in your own mix.

3. Use multiple references
Don’t anchor yourself too tightly to a single track. Songs can sound very different, and sometimes your song simply won’t sound right if you try to match it to your usual go-to reference track. Instead, have a few reference tracks on hand so you have various options for what your mix could sound like, rather than just one reference that every mix should sound like.

Following these steps will help you use reference tracks more successfully, turning them into a practical tool in your mixing process.