Mix With Your Ears, Not Your Eyes

[X_S_]

when listening back to more than just 8 bars at a time, I always like to turn around and not look at any sort of audio gear-- seriously, not staring at the DAW screen, or even SEEING the monitors, helps put things into perspective-- which can get lost after a 12 hour writing day.

This. One can get so Plugged into the digital realm since we are essentially sound designing AND writing tunes for hours on end. Pulling outta that zone and *listening* does wonders. I could stand to write the thread title and tape it to my lappy.

[nylle]

yep, i usually loop about 16 bars at a time, minimize, and check facebook, message people, post in here, etc. after hearing the same thing over and over again it makes it easier to figure out what needs to be turned down or higher or compressed more or whatever

it helps to not be visualizing the software in your head while youre listening too because i think as producers that's sometimes hard to do. so a distraction is probably useful..

[paravrais]

when listening back to more than just 8 bars at a time, I always like to turn around and not look at any sort of audio gear-- seriously, not staring at the DAW screen, or even SEEING the monitors, helps put things into perspective-- which can get lost after a 12 hour writing day.

This. One can get so Plugged into the digital realm since we are essentially sound designing AND writing tunes for hours on end. Pulling outta that zone and *listening* does wonders. I could stand to write the thread title and tape it to my lappy.

Now that's an idea!

[decklyn]

Yeah things defo sound different the next day.

I've never used a speculum analyzer myserf.

[amphibian]

very true although being a Reason user I dont really have any visual guides anyway.

It could be said that this might be something of an advantage to Reason, actually. Even with pattern sequencers though there can be a tendency to make a beat that's visually symmetrical and appealing but sounds bad...

Regardless of the DAW, it's simply a matter of closing your eyes from time to time and just listening. Listening is kind of like exercise in that most people have to get warmed up a bit before the ol' ears are really at their best. Also like exercise is the fact that your ears get tired after a while [hearing fatigue] and need rest.

It's funny how easy it is to take for granted what's really the most important part of music... hearing the sound.

This.

Closing your eyes means your other sensory perceptions become more sensitive - and it happens after only 30 seconds or so - but really deepens about 10-15 mins in. It gets quicker the more you practise (meditation).

In fact I find it doesn't take much to start noticing where things are off just by closing your eyes - eventually your aural spectrum fills with color and you notice the gaps pretty quickly. It also highlights those things that are really nice about your tune