KVR Audio

pluginnow · Post by **pluginnow** » Sun Aug 10, 2025 11:13 pm

Hey,
As the title says, looking for the most common mistakes when mixing.

I can point out the first two:
- over compression and associated saturation
- drums/percussion not correctly located (front/back)

Regards

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Sun Aug 10, 2025 11:18 pm

I would add that using multiple stages of light saturation/clipping usually sounds more natural than pushing one hard.

Aloysius · Post by **Aloysius** » Sun Aug 10, 2025 11:28 pm

Not testing in mono.

whassup · Post by **whassup** » Sun Aug 10, 2025 11:32 pm

Doing stuff because. Someone said so.
Not hearing a difference and doing it anyway.
Not listening but trying to understand data by looking at it without knowing what it means.

Spin Boyz · Post by **Spin Boyz** » Sun Aug 10, 2025 11:36 pm

adding FXs before balancing the mix

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Sun Aug 10, 2025 11:41 pm

Polishing turds...

i.e., focusing on the mix and spending time trying to find the perfect plugins and settings when your song idea sucks

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Mon Aug 11, 2025 12:19 am

cryophonik wrote: Sun Aug 10, 2025 11:41 pm Polishing turds...

i.e., focusing on the mix and spending time trying to find the perfect plugins and settings when your song idea sucks

Infinite thumbs ups. The thumbs ups reached dimensions unknown and came back out the other side.

morelia · Post by **morelia** » Mon Aug 11, 2025 12:22 am

I think too much reverb and not enough cowbell are common errors.

Aloysius · Post by **Aloysius** » Mon Aug 11, 2025 12:35 am

Buying a Mac because you think it instantly makes you look more professional.

dreamvoid · Post by **dreamvoid** » Mon Aug 11, 2025 1:39 am

And: Taking advices from self proclaimed experts on the internet, especially with no professional background whatsoever.

Bombadil · Post by **Bombadil** » Mon Aug 11, 2025 1:39 am

My main newb mistake, when I first used an fx rack (ART Multiverb, circa 1992) was using too much reverb. And since the unit was rented, the tracks were printed with the reverb. It gives the tracks an artificially glossy sheen. There are probably AI tools now that can remove it, and I might look into them, as I am remixing my old tapes with Logic's stem splitter. I know there's better AI algos for the splitting, reverb and noise removal out there, though. I may buy some time with one.

Aloysius · Post by **Aloysius** » Mon Aug 11, 2025 1:43 am

Ignore anyone who says, producers hate me for revealing their secrets.

slackhead · Post by **slackhead** » Mon Aug 11, 2025 4:04 am

Not referencing to other tracks enough. I'm very guilty of this.

jethrobull · Post by **jethrobull** » Mon Aug 11, 2025 6:16 am

Once I used an eq before the compressor....
What a school boy error that was.

Shabdahbriah · Post by **Shabdahbriah** » Mon Aug 11, 2025 7:44 am

Bombadil wrote: Mon Aug 11, 2025 1:39 am My main newb mistake, when I first used an fx rack (Alesis Multiverb, circa 1992) was using too much reverb. And since the unit was rented, the tracks were printed with the reverb. It gives the tracks an artificially glossy sheen. There are probably AI tools now that can remove it, and I might look into them, as I am remixing my old tapes with Logic's stem splitter. I know there's better AI algos for the splitting, reverb and noise removal out there, though. I may buy some time with one.

https://www.steinberg.net/spectralayers/trial/

Common mistakes when mixing: overused plugins and techniques