Why Great Mixes Start Long Before You Press Play

If mixing ever feels really difficult, the issue often isn’t coming from the mixing process — it occurred at the recording stage.

That’s because great mixes don’t begin when you start balancing faders or adding plugins — they begin with great recordings.

Here are some ways to improve your recordings:

Use tried and tested mic techniques
Don’t just place a mic and hope for the best. Research how to record the instrument properly — mic type, placement, distance, and angle all make a huge difference to the sound you capture.

Get great takes
Editing can help, but strong performances will always give better results than piecing together multiple weak takes. Do your best to capture well rehearsed performances.

Control your room
Most home studios aren’t acoustically treated, but the room still matters. Less reverberant spaces usually sound better. Carpets, curtains, and absorbent materials can help tame reflections.

Fix problems at the source
A ringing snare, buzzing guitar, or humming amp is far easier to fix before recording than during mixing.

In home recording, it’s easy to focus solely on mixing and treat recording as less important.

My advice: give the recording stage just as much attention. It makes mixing easier, faster, and far more effective.