Here are 5 quick mixing tips. They are not brand new and you maybe heard them before, but since we humans sometimes forget things, it can't hurt to refresh our memory.
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1. Save, save and save
Save your new, still empty project with a filename, learn your sequencers "Save project" shortcut and use it often, while you're working on your project. Crashes, lockups, reboots and blackouts will just make you smile from now on. You might want to check whether your sequencer offers an auto-save option, if so, enable it.
2. Create default templates
Most sequencers allow you to create your own templates. Setup all the channels, routings, screen layout and other things you need and which you do manually every time you start a new project. Those templates will save you time when working on the technical part, letting you instantly start with your creative process.
3. Check for mono compatibility
You should always check your mix for mono compatibility. There are different reasons why to do this, one of them being a very annoying one. It is possible that some sounds could completely dissapear from your mix, due to phasing problems. Layering two 100% identical soundwaves, will double their volume. Flipping one of them upside down, will completely eleminate the sound. If the 2 soundwaves differ a little bit from eachother, it will end in a decreased volume, instead of complete silence, which you surely do not want either. You can switch to mono using your hardware or your software. If you can't find any mono switch, you can also use a plugin on your stereo mix to add that feature to your sequencer. Just turning off one of your monitors is not mono.
4. Have a break
If you are listening to your track for a long time (an hour or even a few hours), your ears become tired. Your ears have the great ability to adapt to your acoustic environment, but unfortunately this is not really helpful when working on your mix. So give your ears some rest once in while, or you will not be able to hear the mix the way it really sounds. Maybe you already experienced that a mix somehow sounds totally different on the next day? That might not have happened, if you had allowed your ears to rest during your session.
5. Use different sources
You should definately listen to your mix on different sources and not only on your monitors. Listen on your headphones, your laptop or mobile phone, your mp3 player, in your car, in a club and whatever source you have available. This can help you to spot some unwanted or missing frequencies.
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