Totally agree. Since I only mix my own music I tend to give it a day or two when I think the mix is finished, then go back and realize "I need to change XYZ, the hi-end is a bit too high" etc ..... i'll usually work on other tracks during that time so I FORGET how my song was mixed, that way I can go back totally fresh and be more analytical.
"I didn't realise I was poor because Iwas having so much fun." This is one of the loveliest things I've ever heard, more people should have this attitude. Money is not what makes you happy; too many people strive for money for the sake of having it. I'd never heard of you, Dave, but you are some bloke. Thank you for a great fifteen minutes.
Your comment here was a year ago, so if you haven’t found it yet by now, go look up “Pensado’s Place”. That 15 minutes you got here is about to become about 400 hours. Dave truly is an amazing person and spills all his secrets!
Oddly enough, the happiest people I know aren’t rich. I know many wealthy people as well, and most often there’s underlying family problems like addiction, infidelity, mental health problems. Many of my ‘poor’ friends are people who have travelled the world touring in vans and are some of the most satisfied humans you’ll ever meet.
Dave's an angel in this dirty music game. He shares things without hesitation and for the benefit of all of us. The industry is full of jealousy greed and to see a man share everything he knows is incredible and inspiring
He shares and grows bigger everyday, even now! That's the secret to his phenomenal success I believe, which even he himself mightn't be much aware of. An old Indian proverb: The more you teach, the more you learn.
dave pensado is someone we all strive to be. not just a fucking phenomenal mix engineer in the top 1 % in LA mixing legends, but also an outstanding man with true character. His wisdom is through the ceiling with simple explanations and good humor to go with it. and not to mention extraordinarily humble and grateful.
Allan Evans I was just talking to my engineer about how down to earth and humble of a guy he seems. Like he'd be willing to learn from anyone or anything. His philosophy on music is beautiful. True inspiration.
"When you figure out was better about the rough mix than your 12hr mix, then you really become an engineer." Don't let the profoundity of this simple advice pass you by. This wisdom is so important for any creative to learn. It's something called humility.
HOLY SHIT right? this definitely hits home.. in my last couple years of getting better ive fucked up a lot of mixes and wasnt until after spending the countless hours that i realzied what i did wrong and what not to do the next time..
exactly... it was why early elvis, early r&b, sex pistols, Stones, 13th floor elevators teams all had something that the smushy pop they were battling against didnt have... BOLLOCKS! (in the ''give it some bollocks'' sense that Pistols fans would say) And that much pop, is so proccessed and cleaned up, that the energy/vibe that made the actual live band generated it actually lost... (think 1950's skiffle bands with their washtub bass, and washbaord percussion and the vibrancy of it, and then stuff that is just a mere list of production and mixing techniques taking away any of that humaness.. and his advise to take advise as just opinions to consider and understand, incase they help in some situations, and ignoring the rules is vital... much like if we all robotically, so to speak, just did exactly what teacher taught us, as musicians, or composers, or mixers, or etc, then NO ONE would have created anything new, and we'd still be listening to ''How Much IS That Doggy In The Window'', and Beatles, Stones, Bill Haley, Pistols, Chemical Brothers would never have gotten off the ground...
I just learned more in 15 min than my first few months in music school ...which cost me 18,000 $ for 11 months thanks a lot Dave,,,another tip ... being genuine like this guy is a good thing : ) Peace
I'm a goth type & produce rather dark, foreboding music. I've picked up a lot of mixing tips from Hip Hop artists, trip hop, trap & several other genres I'm not into. You can learn from places you'd never expect if you keep your mind open.
Im a rap producer and engineer and ive picked up a ton on mix knowledge from metal engineers. Also learned a bunch from edm production even though I really don't like the music, gear wise there on point
As I learn new things about production, I like coming back to re-watch stuff like this every 6 months. It helps me see how far I've come and I understand his advice better!
I'm not a sound engineer. I'm a hobbyist who likes to record myself playing guitar at home. In my real life, I'm a lawyer. But there's a lot of wisdom here. Very real. Very useful in all walks of life.
Agreed... I never thought I'd wake up today and learn a valuable lesson about mixing via a spaghetti analogy. Not corny, Dave... Actually quite enlightening.
AK Did you take away he spent 2-6 hrs a day of tweaking like a 2 track stereo mix like right off the radio? He didn’t have the multitracks or stems... I am not sure what you learn from applying things like a mastering engineer as to how things fit together...
Dave Pensado 2016 'I didn't realize I was poor because I was having so much fun' absolute gems your giving here thank you Dave and LANDR for making this happen
I was in L.A. with the legend David Porter and Garry Goin to get a 13 song album mixed.We chose to let the Dave the Great mix 3 songs and K.D. who is amazing in his own right mix 10 songs.We used Larrabe nd The Enterprise studios, K.D. preferred to work alone, so im like a-ite imma go hit the town nd I'll be back to check out the mix. Met up with Dave,gave him the music and I tried to tell him the same thing, nd his response was ,na you aint going nowhere, you gonna stay here nd help me mix this album hahaha.I truly admired his approach nd passion , work ethic. He is foreal about those different moniters after all the big boy moniter he said " ok lemme see how it sounds on this "...it was a pair of lil baby speakers like on an Old record player or sum in the corner,we both were leaning over it nd I was thinking in my head it sounds good lol ,he checks everything! he inspired me, nd even sent me some kick nd snare samples back to Memphis for me to chop.He's funny too! He told me "with All the megamixes he's done for numerous HUGE stars, his kids didn't think it was a big deal until they saw his name on the credits for mixing on the Pokemon movie!!😂😂😂Dave was driving that llil blk benz truck then,nd shots out to Jeffery Osborne, Scarface, Will i am, womack.. I met them while out there..ikr too long but Dave was supa cool!!
There are a few people on TH-cam who are at the master level of their craft and wiling to share with us. It can be anything from welding to audio engineering. Thank you for your sincere interest in making others better.
There are a lot of younger youtubers (who haven't composed for two years) doing these kinds of videos and I haven't been able to learn anything from them. This is different. I want you to know your experience blasts through within the first few tips. Thank you for this video
This is literally the best advice on mixing I've ever heard. Right from the first point: multiple monitors, which I discovered on my own, but have never heard anyone ever talk about, to the basic idea that you will mix uniquely as yourself, are really true and refreshing to hear. When you're on youtube looking at professionals talk about mixing, some of them come up with this, "This is how you make drums thunder!" thing or this is how a mix should sound, blah blah blah. But Dave really reminds us that there are many ways to do it, so find your own way. Amazing advice.
9:55 THAT'S the whole point! That is deep truth. Forget all technical advice (don"t - it all helps!) but this is the real deal. And not too many people tell it.
When I first started recording and mixing, I had these two musicians in my inner circle and they were constantly criticizing everything I produced, and they would also criticize the amount of focus I would put into it - they would say I was putting in too much time or thought, and that mixes were "good enough". I chose to listen to their critique of my production, and ignore the critique of the effort I was putting in. One day, I looked up and realized I was way past both of them in knowledge and in just empirical capability. Taste will always be subjective, but knowledge is what you get to keep, and while it is possible to overthink the process, you'll never lose by putting in effort.
This is some of the best advice I've come across on mixing. And it's so true. It's all about the energy, the vibe and finding that magic that made you fall in love with a song so much you wanted to dedicate your life to doing that. I love the part about hearing those songs as a kid that floored you, and thinking about it, I can go back there and name 5-10 tracks that did that, that made me fall in love with music. "What is this magic? This sorcery? How do they do that? How do they make me feel like that?". Can't like this video enough.
I think "rules" are great for beginners because it narrows everything down into comprehensible chunks. A long time ago I read "Gradus Ad Pernassum", it is a music theory book from the renaissance. What is interesting is not what it is about but how it is written, as a dialogue between teacher and student. It is a great insight into how they thought about music back in the day. And in it the teacher advises the student to use the first 2 years to just practice, don't try to make something artistic, just practice small pieces for the sole purpose of practice for 2 years and then go nuts. I think that is a great way to approach it because as a beginner it can be so confusing and intimidating to start because the possibilities are endless. Find some stem tracks, just do 30 seconds, focus on only cleaning up the tracks, only making a volume balance, make a mix with limited plugins, make a mix with loads of plugins, find stems of with very few instruments, find stems with loads of instruments, find stems from all kinds of music from weird folk to ambient soundscapes and just do a little, 30 seconds 1 minute of a track. Then try to be patient, try to restrain yourself and do that for 2 years. You'll make loads of progress and you'll have so many ideas you won't make the 2 years.
"Gradus ad Parnassum" has been used in art and music for a long time. It is a fugue textbook that was written by Johann Fux in 1715 that was studied by Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. It is also a piano method by both Clementi and Czerny. It literally means "Steps to Parnassus" or "Climbing up the Mountain. As long as that mountain is a great big plate of spaghetti. With meatballs. And pecorino romano. And a big glass of Neuf de Pape...
I totally agree with you and Dave. I come from an “educated” background and they taught us the “rules” for music theory from the various eras of music, which are useful if I want to write something from one of those periods. That’s what rules are for, if you want to sound like something specific, you need to know the rules. The best part of knowing the rules is also to ignore them and try and create something on your own.
Don't take advice literally. Love it! Don't know how many methods I learned and tried to apply them all at once. You don't need to put salt and pepper on something that already has all purpose seasoning. Great 💎
When I was 18 I delivered rack gear and effects from a company called Rack Attack to Dave Pensado almost every week at Alpha Studios on Magnolia Blvd. He was always the nicest guy, always knew my name from the moment he met me...and I was just a long haired 19 year old who played guitar at the time. We're talking about 26 years ago...so this was before Dave became the legend he is today. But it was always great day whenever I would deliver to Dave....almost as great as his mixes are to listen to! Thanks for posting!
I just LOVE this true MASTERCLASS Legend, Mentor, Teacher! THANK YOU Dave for all that wisdom, humor, integrity, nerdiness, humility and YOUR GIFT! Simply amazing!
I keep coming back to this lecture over and over, like i need more insight from Dave this guy is a genius and a great teacher. (Master your craft) Thanks..
I appreciate this so much. Dave Pensado stands out to me not only in his mixing profession, but equally how he is just a humble, kind and intelligent man. He’s probably my favorite of all the greats!
Dave, thank you for sharing your experience and viewpoints. You are a hero and loved by your industry. Stay doing what you love. I'm grateful for your time
Mr Pensado that was a TRUE TEACHER imparting his WISDOM... Thank you So much for your insight.... I m experience a couple of them .. . you know I see lot of videos and try to learn but when it comes to mixing I just don't know how to start
Couldnt stop listening once he started talking. As someone very new to production everything made so much sense and although being extremely talented at what he does he seems so easy to understand. Damn, how much could you learn with 1 day in the studio with him. Thanks for a great video :)
Just one reason I hate to know anything about mixing is that I can't enjoy a song as just a song without thinking "how was that made?" or "that's a nice effect, I have to try that" or something like that.
I felt the same even before I started to mix, but from the view of a musician and music theorist. I still can't listen to music not analyzing the harmonies, structure of leading melodies, and attentively listening to the rhythm section.
I agree and not. For a while I thought that, but then I decided to embrace our “super powers” as sound engineers. So I developed an exercise where I’ll listen to one song in several different ways (just drums, bass, fx only, etc). Once I know everything i can about its details, I try to just hear “the song”. It’s really opened up my mixing because I’m starting to think 1. Like the audience 2. Like the singer/band 3. Like the mix engineer/producer Fun fun fun
That's what happens when you're a musician, or even try to enter a world and really learn it. When I started learning music I listened to a song. But nowadays I really LISTEN to a song, like the composition, for example a classical piece i'm hearing and i'm like "uh the oboes. Oh this is a great part, oh and bassoons they're intertwined with the violins I like that"
I am loving how usually boss ch2 is really hyped and i am seeing a boss ch3 on the back really interesting, I came to see a mixing tutorial and found something really interesting
That last line and chuckle. Idk why but that is so reassuring. Listening to this guy makes me feel like he believes in me more than anyone else i've known (not a lot of them do, at least as far as music goes) even though he has no idea about my very existence. And his wisdom is so enlightening yet simple. Truly an amazing guy.
Thank U LANDR and Mr. Pensado. I have seen many 'Pensado's Place' videos , but this candid one on one by far hits closer to home for me. I consider these not 2 be just "tips",...but rather, "gems". Peace
wow wow wow. no matter how many technical videos on mixing and producing i watch this one stands out above the rest. "Study your heroes influences, not your heroes".....
What is not to like about this video. I always wonder about people who give a thumbs down for Videos like this. They must be people with no self esteem that get pleasure out of messing others up, especially others who are successful. It eats them up so they do what they can to have a negative impact. Notice how they never leave comments because they are true cowards. What a world we live in.
One of many professional engineers I have seen on youtube that is constantly sharing valuable information that can help you become a professional now all we haft to do is practice what we just learned
My goodness... anyone else get emotional? Been a while since I’ve really sat and watched one of your videos Dave and hearing the passion with which you talk about what you do is beyond inspiring. Thank you sir.
1:35 is right on. Always burning a disc and listening in the car is great advice. The best advice for starting a mix. Crank it and take notes on a pad of paper of which parts need to come up or down 3 dB.
13:40 "Rules are not made to be broken, rules are made to be ignored"... It matches a proverb i like " Know the rules and their origin, and know when not to follow them". Wish you the best, thanks for all the so relevant advices.
Ya, thats one thing I think sounds really thoughtful but really doesnt mean anything. If you followed that back up the chain all the way youd wind up stealing tips from Pythagoras himself. Thats one thing I just dont buy. I think you just STOP thinking in terms of heroism and stop being a fan and learn to be an admirer and a person whos appreciative of the gifts of another artist. That way youre learning from everyone not just heroes.
Tuve que coger los tips en la descripción y traducirlos.. aquí están👉 Consejo 1: utilice varios monitores de estudio Consejo 2: trata tu habitación Consejo 3: Utilice las pistas de referencia Consejo 4: Venda su gusto, no sus habilidades Consejo 5: sea paciente con su progreso Consejo 6: Mezclar es lo que debe hacer para terminar la producción, no agregarle nada Consejo 7: trabaje con personas de su vecindario Consejo 8: estudia las influencias de tus héroes Consejo 9: deje de recibir consejos tan literalmente Consejo 10: Los profesores son el mejor recurso Consejo 11: mezcla las pistas de otras personas Consejo 12: Los plazos son vitales Consejo 13: Sepa por qué la mezcla aproximada es mejor Consejo 14: Practica con canciones mezcladas y masterizadas Consejo 15: Apunte a capturar los sentimientos al mezclar Consejo 16: Las reglas están hechas para ser ignoradas
Man - the learning together bit is something I feel so hard. I have always had a really hard time learning by myself, but having a like minded companion with whom you can riff ideas and sanity check one another helps exponentially. It’s definitely a 2+2=5 kinda thing.
Not at all, I've always considered it mandatory. Not only is it a different acoustical reference of your mix, but it instantly places the listener in a vastly different headspace, which I consider even more valuable than simply swapping out a pair of speakers.
I'm not a musician or engineer or anything to do with music, I'm a writer and I find these tips extremely useful. Wisdom from someone who has actually done the thing they are talking about, well, transfers across everything. I just need to find some good speakers and soundproof my room now.
Also for people who are seasoned but are feeling insecure for whatever reasons. Its reassuring to hear a master like Dave tell us that we all go through the same shit.
Thank so very much Mr Pensado. I just finished listening to some other tips these will make a pile of sausage, gravy, grits, and lemonade. I will apply what you said. And I will remember this advice can be just for me to add and take away. Have a wonderful day and go Miami with its great sounds past and present.
Some of the best tips and insight I’ve ever heard. It goes a long way for all aspects of music, art and entertainment. Only a very wise and experienced person could compile this list.
Also, you seem to be short of being full of yourself, yeah! I love that in a person humility goes a long way even if you know your stuff. And by the comments I gather you do.
Man I love how Dave explains everything simply. Watching his vids a couple of years ago really eased some of the intimidation I felt starting out with music production.
I think what always stands out about Pensado, whether he's speaking of techniques that are totally over my head at the moment, or just reviewing a new song...is that no matter what he's still a musician who loves great music. The HUMAN factor in his delivery and his approach always exponentially improves my whole entire attitude before I start a new project or get back to work on an existing one. Ever faithful reminder to stay pure to and love the music you are creating. Compressors be damned, make it sound wonderful. Thank you Sir. This one's getting bookmarked to keep my head fresh each and every time.
"Aim to capture feelings...". I agree! So often trying to stick to the rules hinders our creativity and ability to explore new pathways. It's almost as though going against the norm is what we should be doing more often as opposed to sticking to what sounds commercially viable and accepted. Having said that, it's the producers and artists who are bold enough to go for something different which in turn becomes the new 'norm'. Thank you for sharing!
I have a huge amount of respect for you!! I really do love your work, and you are an amazing influence in my career!! I met you at AES, in NY 2017, and you were a total gentleman, and an inspiration to us all!! You are one of the most humble man I’ve ever met in the music industry!!!! Godspeed to you brother!! I pray that I can reach half of your success!! Cheers from LES , NY!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Every time I mix for 8-10 hours a day, the result makes me happy, then I listen and compare with the references and get very upset. I like it, sounds exactly like I want, in balance and space, in energy. But comparing with references, and for 6 years of experience, I'm sure no one will like it, maybe just not destiny. I still will not give it up, I like to work with sound.
I totally get you, bro, I feel the same way. It feels like, the reference track has that "HD" kind of a sound that my track is missing. Though, it sounds good on it's own.
If the mix sounds flat, walk away from it for a few hours. Ear fatigue is a real thing.
Flat means?
Music Power yeah that’s a good phrase for it. I had that today and I was wow this actually sounds really good after a long break.
Music Power it kicks in even worse on your own tracks. and i talk mixing , not mastering. no artist should ever master his own works.
Totally agree. Since I only mix my own music I tend to give it a day or two when I think the mix is finished, then go back and realize "I need to change XYZ, the hi-end is a bit too high" etc ..... i'll usually work on other tracks during that time so I FORGET how my song was mixed, that way I can go back totally fresh and be more analytical.
So true. It's like coming back to a completely different mix.
"I didn't realise I was poor because Iwas having so much fun." This is one of the loveliest things I've ever heard, more people should have this attitude. Money is not what makes you happy; too many people strive for money for the sake of having it. I'd never heard of you, Dave, but you are some bloke. Thank you for a great fifteen minutes.
Obviously he's not from the hood 😆
yeah there is some merit to that but being able to make a living is... you know... crucial lol
Your comment here was a year ago, so if you haven’t found it yet by now, go look up “Pensado’s Place”. That 15 minutes you got here is about to become about 400 hours. Dave truly is an amazing person and spills all his secrets!
Oddly enough, the happiest people I know aren’t rich. I know many wealthy people as well, and most often there’s underlying family problems like addiction, infidelity, mental health problems. Many of my ‘poor’ friends are people who have travelled the world touring in vans and are some of the most satisfied humans you’ll ever meet.
"you're selling your taste, not your skill..." is exactly right.
That's the whole ballgame.
Supreme Wisdom!
My favorite quote
Hi
that line hit home
What does he mean by that? I’m not grasping that tip for some reason
Dave's an angel in this dirty music game. He shares things without hesitation and for the benefit of all of us. The industry is full of jealousy greed and to see a man share everything he knows is incredible and inspiring
He shares and grows bigger everyday, even now! That's the secret to his phenomenal success I believe, which even he himself mightn't be much aware of.
An old Indian proverb: The more you teach, the more you learn.
dave pensado is someone we all strive to be. not just a fucking phenomenal mix engineer in the top 1 % in LA mixing legends, but also an outstanding man with true character. His wisdom is through the ceiling with simple explanations and good humor to go with it. and not to mention extraordinarily humble and grateful.
so true
The same holds true for Matthew Weiss.
Allan Evans I was just talking to my engineer about how down to earth and humble of a guy he seems. Like he'd be willing to learn from anyone or anything. His philosophy on music is beautiful. True inspiration.
60's 70's & 80's Rewind Covers Love him!
That's cos he's a pisces. You can't get better. :P
"Mix to taste not to skill". Brilliant.
Dave is the real deal fuckin love that guy
#Facts
Yeah man I agree... and I thought Santa Claus wasn't real.
Just kidding around love this guy! XD
"When you figure out was better about the rough mix than your 12hr mix, then you really become an engineer."
Don't let the profoundity of this simple advice pass you by. This wisdom is so important for any creative to learn. It's something called humility.
You said bro! Agreed!
HOLY SHIT right? this definitely hits home.. in my last couple years of getting better ive fucked up a lot of mixes and wasnt until after spending the countless hours that i realzied what i did wrong and what not to do the next time..
accuracy!
exactly... it was why early elvis, early r&b, sex pistols, Stones, 13th floor elevators teams all had something that the smushy pop they were battling against didnt have... BOLLOCKS! (in the ''give it some bollocks'' sense that Pistols fans would say)
And that much pop, is so proccessed and cleaned up, that the energy/vibe that made the actual live band generated it actually lost... (think 1950's skiffle bands with their washtub bass, and washbaord percussion and the vibrancy of it, and then stuff that is just a mere list of production and mixing techniques taking away any of that humaness..
and his advise to take advise as just opinions to consider and understand, incase they help in some situations, and ignoring the rules is vital... much like if we all robotically, so to speak, just did exactly what teacher taught us, as musicians, or composers, or mixers, or etc, then NO ONE would have created anything new, and we'd still be listening to ''How Much IS That Doggy In The Window'', and Beatles, Stones, Bill Haley, Pistols, Chemical Brothers would never have gotten off the ground...
also, when it comes to ''rough''.... Did Elvis or Little Richard use por-tools? lol... (just mean it figuratively as i'ev nothing against pro-tools)
28 years to figure out that room treatment is important....
Thanks Dave!
I just learned more in 15 min than my first few months in music school ...which cost me 18,000 $ for 11 months thanks a lot Dave,,,another tip ... being genuine like this guy is a good thing : ) Peace
Me too. Lol
7
Then you were not paying attention in school.
And all of a sudden, this man just changed every single thought I had about music and mixing. Dave Pensado, you genius!
“Study your heroes influencers.” That’s a nugget to hold onto in all facets of life. Gold right there.
I'm a goth type & produce rather dark, foreboding music. I've picked up a lot of mixing tips from Hip Hop artists, trip hop, trap & several other genres I'm not into. You can learn from places you'd never expect if you keep your mind open.
totally agree brother
goth and darkwave are definitely "production cousins" with the best hiphop
The way I see it pretty much every genre has some merit. Maybe except dubstep :P
Im a rap producer and engineer and ive picked up a ton on mix knowledge from metal engineers. Also learned a bunch from edm production even though I really don't like the music, gear wise there on point
Battle Cat I’ve actually picked up some useful tips from dubstep producers
What a guy. Every time I listen to Dave he opens another door to the next level. God bless you Dave.
He's like the Eckhart Tolle of Producers
I've met Dave and had 1 on 1 conversations with him on a few occasions...One of the NICEST AND realist and genuine guys I've ever met!!!PERIOD
antwan hawkins how'd u meet him
You lucky lamb! I'm kinda jealous. How I'd love to meet him in person and talk!
“Deadlines are vital.” This has been a game changer for me. Thank you Dave Pensado, my mix game is 10x due to your instruction.
Study your heroes influences... amazing tip.
As I learn new things about production, I like coming back to re-watch stuff like this every 6 months. It helps me see how far I've come and I understand his advice better!
I'm not a sound engineer. I'm a hobbyist who likes to record myself playing guitar at home. In my real life, I'm a lawyer. But there's a lot of wisdom here. Very real. Very useful in all walks of life.
"it's about the plate of spaghetti"
thank you. really, thank you.
riight that was a great analogy
Agreed... I never thought I'd wake up today and learn a valuable lesson about mixing via a spaghetti analogy.
Not corny, Dave... Actually quite enlightening.
Yes! In hindsight this may sound simple or basic but listening to him say this is genuinely the first time I understood the goal of mixing.
AK Did you take away he spent 2-6 hrs a day of tweaking like a 2 track stereo mix like right off the radio? He didn’t have the multitracks or stems... I am not sure what you learn from applying things like a mastering engineer as to how things fit together...
Dave Pensado 2016 'I didn't realize I was poor because I was having so much fun' absolute gems your giving here thank you Dave and LANDR for making this happen
Beside that he´s a great engineer - he´s just a wonderful person!!!! I love this man!!!!
Gerald Meyer So humble, thank God for it!
Oh yeah? Would u marry him? 🤣 I kid I kid. Sorry had to be childish there with the opening u left
Great info here! 💯
Glad it was helpful!
I was in L.A. with the legend David Porter and Garry Goin to get a 13 song album mixed.We chose to let the Dave the Great mix 3 songs and K.D. who is amazing in his own right mix 10 songs.We used Larrabe nd The Enterprise studios, K.D. preferred to work alone, so im like a-ite imma go hit the town nd I'll be back to check out the mix. Met up with Dave,gave him the music and I tried to tell him the same thing, nd his response was ,na you aint going nowhere, you gonna stay here nd help me mix this album hahaha.I truly admired his approach nd passion , work ethic. He is foreal about those different moniters after all the big boy moniter he said " ok lemme see how it sounds on this "...it was a pair of lil baby speakers like on an Old record player or sum in the corner,we both were leaning over it nd I was thinking in my head it sounds good lol ,he checks everything! he inspired me, nd even sent me some kick nd snare samples back to Memphis for me to chop.He's funny too! He told me "with All the megamixes he's done for numerous HUGE stars, his kids didn't think it was a big deal until they saw his name on the credits for mixing on the Pokemon movie!!😂😂😂Dave was driving that llil blk benz truck then,nd shots out to Jeffery Osborne, Scarface, Will i am, womack.. I met them while out there..ikr too long but Dave was supa cool!!
that is cool memories man
What was the name of that album?
There are a few people on TH-cam who are at the master level of their craft and wiling to share with us. It can be anything from welding to audio engineering. Thank you for your sincere interest in making others better.
There are a lot of younger youtubers (who haven't composed for two years) doing these kinds of videos and I haven't been able to learn anything from them. This is different. I want you to know your experience blasts through within the first few tips. Thank you for this video
This is literally the best advice on mixing I've ever heard. Right from the first point: multiple monitors, which I discovered on my own, but have never heard anyone ever talk about, to the basic idea that you will mix uniquely as yourself, are really true and refreshing to hear. When you're on youtube looking at professionals talk about mixing, some of them come up with this, "This is how you make drums thunder!" thing or this is how a mix should sound, blah blah blah. But Dave really reminds us that there are many ways to do it, so find your own way. Amazing advice.
This man walks what he talks. One of my favorite people.
I'm not an audio engineer, but stumbled on this. What great advice for anyone--in any field!
9:55 THAT'S the whole point! That is deep truth. Forget all technical advice (don"t - it all helps!) but this is the real deal. And not too many people tell it.
When I first started recording and mixing, I had these two musicians in my inner circle and they were constantly criticizing everything I produced, and they would also criticize the amount of focus I would put into it - they would say I was putting in too much time or thought, and that mixes were "good enough". I chose to listen to their critique of my production, and ignore the critique of the effort I was putting in. One day, I looked up and realized I was way past both of them in knowledge and in just empirical capability. Taste will always be subjective, but knowledge is what you get to keep, and while it is possible to overthink the process, you'll never lose by putting in effort.
I think this is third time watching this over the last couple of years.. Always hear something differently.. With new and older, ears.
This is some of the best advice I've come across on mixing. And it's so true. It's all about the energy, the vibe and finding that magic that made you fall in love with a song so much you wanted to dedicate your life to doing that. I love the part about hearing those songs as a kid that floored you, and thinking about it, I can go back there and name 5-10 tracks that did that, that made me fall in love with music. "What is this magic? This sorcery? How do they do that? How do they make me feel like that?".
Can't like this video enough.
Thanks, Dave! When you said ignore the rules, you've set me free :) It's good to hear that creativity is at the first place in your workflow.
Absolutely!
I think "rules" are great for beginners because it narrows everything down into comprehensible chunks. A long time ago I read "Gradus Ad Pernassum", it is a music theory book from the renaissance. What is interesting is not what it is about but how it is written, as a dialogue between teacher and student. It is a great insight into how they thought about music back in the day. And in it the teacher advises the student to use the first 2 years to just practice, don't try to make something artistic, just practice small pieces for the sole purpose of practice for 2 years and then go nuts. I think that is a great way to approach it because as a beginner it can be so confusing and intimidating to start because the possibilities are endless. Find some stem tracks, just do 30 seconds, focus on only cleaning up the tracks, only making a volume balance, make a mix with limited plugins, make a mix with loads of plugins, find stems of with very few instruments, find stems with loads of instruments, find stems from all kinds of music from weird folk to ambient soundscapes and just do a little, 30 seconds 1 minute of a track. Then try to be patient, try to restrain yourself and do that for 2 years. You'll make loads of progress and you'll have so many ideas you won't make the 2 years.
"Gradus ad Parnassum" has been used in art and music for a long time. It is a fugue textbook that was written by Johann Fux in 1715 that was studied by Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. It is also a piano method by both Clementi and Czerny. It literally means "Steps to Parnassus" or "Climbing up the Mountain. As long as that mountain is a great big plate of spaghetti. With meatballs. And pecorino romano. And a big glass of Neuf de Pape...
I think Dave covered this also when he said, "Just start on the mix." Don't even worry about it, just start doing it. It's in this video.
I totally agree with you and Dave. I come from an “educated” background and they taught us the “rules” for music theory from the various eras of music, which are useful if I want to write something from one of those periods. That’s what rules are for, if you want to sound like something specific, you need to know the rules. The best part of knowing the rules is also to ignore them and try and create something on your own.
I suggest cambridge-mt.com for multitracks
neeeeeerd!
8:33 'Because I wan an artist still then' - I would definitely say you're still an artist Dave! The way you mix is art.
Don't take advice literally. Love it! Don't know how many methods I learned and tried to apply them all at once. You don't need to put salt and pepper on something that already has all purpose seasoning. Great 💎
"Acoustic treatment" is such a lovely thing which, too often, doesn't get the respect or the usage it deserves.
True.
Teachers are the best resource we got! ABSOLUTELY!!
When I was 18 I delivered rack gear and effects from a company called Rack Attack to Dave Pensado almost every week at Alpha Studios on Magnolia Blvd. He was always the nicest guy, always knew my name from the moment he met me...and I was just a long haired 19 year old who played guitar at the time. We're talking about 26 years ago...so this was before Dave became the legend he is today. But it was always great day whenever I would deliver to Dave....almost as great as his mixes are to listen to! Thanks for posting!
Thanks for taking the time to watch. That's amazing that you have such a good recollection of that time.
I just LOVE this true MASTERCLASS Legend, Mentor, Teacher! THANK YOU Dave for all that wisdom, humor, integrity, nerdiness, humility and YOUR GIFT! Simply amazing!
I keep coming back to this lecture over and over, like i need more insight from Dave this guy is a genius and a great teacher. (Master your craft) Thanks..
I appreciate this so much. Dave Pensado stands out to me not only in his mixing profession, but equally how he is just a humble, kind and intelligent man. He’s probably my favorite of all the greats!
One of the GOATS...Some real gems here wow.
Thanks for watching.
Dave, thank you for sharing your experience and viewpoints. You are a hero and loved by your industry. Stay doing what you love. I'm grateful for your time
The wisdom of this legend is priceless.
This guy is the real deal! If we can't learn from him we are not listening! Thank you Dave!
Mr Pensado that was a TRUE TEACHER imparting his WISDOM... Thank you So much for your insight.... I m experience a couple of them .. . you know I see lot of videos and try to learn but when it comes to mixing I just don't know how to start
Coming from the post-production world of photogrpahy, it's amazing how much of this is transferrable and relatable
Definitely
Amazing! Probably my favorite Dave's video to date. Nothing by respect and love for this guy.
Hell yeah. Dude is the real MVP.
ayeeee @chris wellz
Reshard Watson sup fam! Lol
even better than ITL when he's with someone else's program. the reel deel no argument.
Couldnt stop listening once he started talking. As someone very new to production everything made so much sense and although being extremely talented at what he does he seems so easy to understand. Damn, how much could you learn with 1 day in the studio with him.
Thanks for a great video :)
Just one reason I hate to know anything about mixing is that I can't enjoy a song as just a song without thinking "how was that made?" or "that's a nice effect, I have to try that" or something like that.
I felt the same even before I started to mix, but from the view of a musician and music theorist. I still can't listen to music not analyzing the harmonies, structure of leading melodies, and attentively listening to the rhythm section.
I agree and not.
For a while I thought that, but then I decided to embrace our “super powers” as sound engineers.
So I developed an exercise where I’ll listen to one song in several different ways (just drums, bass, fx only, etc).
Once I know everything i can about its details, I try to just hear “the song”.
It’s really opened up my mixing because I’m starting to think
1. Like the audience
2. Like the singer/band 3. Like the mix engineer/producer
Fun fun fun
That's what happens when you're a musician, or even try to enter a world and really learn it. When I started learning music I listened to a song. But nowadays I really LISTEN to a song, like the composition, for example a classical piece i'm hearing and i'm like "uh the oboes. Oh this is a great part, oh and bassoons they're intertwined with the violins I like that"
yeah working with music changes everything. you cant enjoy music like before.
Niko Nissinen this is old but definitely how I think!! Lol
I have never said this online but... I’d just hang out with this guy and listen to him. Good vibes and wisdom is hard to find.
Truth!
I am loving how usually boss ch2 is really hyped and i am seeing a boss ch3 on the back really interesting, I came to see a mixing tutorial and found something really interesting
He forgot blowing weed smoke onto the gear before you start.
Great video as always, Landr! Thank you, Mr Pensado!
Don't forget to bless the gear!
Priceless advice Mr. Pensada! Thank you so much for taking the time to make this. 😍😇😇
I'm too old to have heros, but this guy just became my hero.
crazy bro this guy really blows my mind, he spend doing something 2-6 hours a day for 3 to 4 years which was something and look how hes come
Anything is possible! Definitely inspiring.
That last line and chuckle. Idk why but that is so reassuring. Listening to this guy makes me feel like he believes in me more than anyone else i've known (not a lot of them do, at least as far as music goes) even though he has no idea about my very existence. And his wisdom is so enlightening yet simple. Truly an amazing guy.
Thank U LANDR and Mr. Pensado.
I have seen many 'Pensado's Place' videos , but this candid one on one by far hits closer to home for me.
I consider these not 2 be just "tips",...but rather, "gems".
Peace
wow wow wow. no matter how many technical videos on mixing and producing i watch this one stands out above the rest. "Study your heroes influences, not your heroes".....
What is not to like about this video. I always wonder about people who give a thumbs down for Videos like this. They must be people with no self esteem that get pleasure out of messing others up, especially others who are successful. It eats them up so they do what they can to have a negative impact. Notice how they never leave comments because they are true cowards. What a world we live in.
One of many professional engineers I have seen on youtube that is constantly sharing valuable information that can help you become a professional now all we haft to do is practice what we just learned
Teachers are the best resource we got. Thanks..
My goodness... anyone else get emotional? Been a while since I’ve really sat and watched one of your videos Dave and hearing the passion with which you talk about what you do is beyond inspiring. Thank you sir.
brilliant as always.
1:35 is right on. Always burning a disc and listening in the car is great advice. The best advice for starting a mix. Crank it and take notes on a pad of paper of which parts need to come up or down 3 dB.
Wonderful teaching - thanks so much for your skill and wisdom.
13:40 "Rules are not made to be broken, rules are made to be ignored"...
It matches a proverb i like " Know the rules and their origin, and know when not to follow them".
Wish you the best, thanks for all the so relevant advices.
“Study your hero’s influences not your hero’s” Thanks Dave! My quest starts here. #pursuegreatness
Ya, thats one thing I think sounds really thoughtful but really doesnt mean anything. If you followed that back up the chain all the way youd wind up stealing tips from Pythagoras himself. Thats one thing I just dont buy. I think you just STOP thinking in terms of heroism and stop being a fan and learn to be an admirer and a person whos appreciative of the gifts of another artist. That way youre learning from everyone not just heroes.
Dave Pensado is an Angel,I never get tired learning from him
Tuve que coger los tips en la descripción y traducirlos.. aquí están👉 Consejo 1: utilice varios monitores de estudio
Consejo 2: trata tu habitación
Consejo 3: Utilice las pistas de referencia Consejo 4: Venda su gusto, no sus habilidades
Consejo 5: sea paciente con su progreso
Consejo 6: Mezclar es lo que debe hacer para terminar la producción, no agregarle nada
Consejo 7: trabaje con personas de su vecindario
Consejo 8: estudia las influencias de tus héroes
Consejo 9: deje de recibir consejos tan literalmente
Consejo 10: Los profesores son el mejor recurso
Consejo 11: mezcla las pistas de otras personas
Consejo 12: Los plazos son vitales
Consejo 13: Sepa por qué la mezcla aproximada es mejor
Consejo 14: Practica con canciones mezcladas y masterizadas
Consejo 15: Apunte a capturar los sentimientos al mezclar
Consejo 16: Las reglas están hechas para ser ignoradas
Man - the learning together bit is something I feel so hard.
I have always had a really hard time learning by myself, but having a like minded companion with whom you can riff ideas and sanity check one another helps exponentially.
It’s definitely a 2+2=5 kinda thing.
Always listen in the car - I thought I was the only one .
Not at all, I've always considered it mandatory. Not only is it a different acoustical reference of your mix, but it instantly places the listener in a vastly different headspace, which I consider even more valuable than simply swapping out a pair of speakers.
Absolutely. That's the best set of speakers.
Car/TV/Phone. If it sounds good in all 3 you’re good to go.
I am always doing it. Not rare a go down 18 floors to the garage just to check on my mix.
and walk away from the engineer that doesn't
I'm not a musician or engineer or anything to do with music, I'm a writer and I find these tips extremely useful. Wisdom from someone who has actually done the thing they are talking about, well, transfers across everything. I just need to find some good speakers and soundproof my room now.
I love this, very encouraging for someone starting out.
Also for people who are seasoned but are feeling insecure for whatever reasons. Its reassuring to hear a master like Dave tell us that we all go through the same shit.
Thank so very much Mr Pensado. I just finished listening to some other tips these will make a pile of sausage, gravy, grits, and lemonade. I will apply what you said. And I will remember this advice can be just for me to add and take away. Have a wonderful day and go Miami with its great sounds past and present.
Curiosity is the mother of discovery
Necessity is the mother of invention
Some of the best tips and insight I’ve ever heard. It goes a long way for all aspects of music, art and entertainment. Only a very wise and experienced person could compile this list.
Glad you think so. Pensado is a sage.
Master chef. Respect.
Master Mixer!
If you havent watched the Warren Huart interview of Dave, its a must watch! Youll learn so much about why and how dude is amazing and humble.
"Teachers are the best resource we've got" - If only this principle was followed throughout humanity and it's interconnected interactions
5
Top guy Dave.. honesty is king . Thanks for these fab tips 9 mins in was the best analogy for me. The rough mix that has dynamics won the day.
Thanks Dave
That should be a thing that the internet will say
Sadly I've never heard of this guy, but I am super glad I stumbled across this. I love his philosophies and advice here.
Also, you seem to be short of being full of yourself, yeah! I love that in a person humility goes a long way even if you know your stuff. And by the comments I gather you do.
Man I love how Dave explains everything simply. Watching his vids a couple of years ago really eased some of the intimidation I felt starting out with music production.
That's great!
A lot of what you said applies to far more than just music.
Essential life advice.
God bless you Dave for your good heart to help other engineers learn and grow.
This was actually a really great video. TH-cam recommended the video and i was like, eh, probably sucks. But this had some great stuff in it
I think what always stands out about Pensado, whether he's speaking of techniques that are totally over my head at the moment, or just reviewing a new song...is that no matter what he's still a musician who loves great music.
The HUMAN factor in his delivery and his approach always exponentially improves my whole entire attitude before I start a new project or get back to work on an existing one.
Ever faithful reminder to stay pure to and love the music you are creating. Compressors be damned, make it sound wonderful. Thank you Sir. This one's getting bookmarked to keep my head fresh each and every time.
This advice has improved my mixes a whole lot actually, I like to reference to both modern and old school music like those influences he talks about😁👍
"Aim to capture feelings...". I agree! So often trying to stick to the rules hinders our creativity and ability to explore new pathways. It's almost as though going against the norm is what we should be doing more often as opposed to sticking to what sounds commercially viable and accepted. Having said that, it's the producers and artists who are bold enough to go for something different which in turn becomes the new 'norm'. Thank you for sharing!
Super thoughtful, heavy tips here. Could be applied to lots of other things apart from audio.
man.. You are my teacher, my influence, and my hero.
The last tip “Ignore the 15 other tips above this one” there’s no right or wrong way to mix. This guys a legend
I have a huge amount of respect for you!! I really do love your work, and you are an amazing influence in my career!! I met you at AES, in NY 2017, and you were a total gentleman, and an inspiration to us all!!
You are one of the most humble man I’ve ever met in the music industry!!!!
Godspeed to you brother!! I pray that I can reach half of your success!!
Cheers from LES , NY!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Every time I mix for 8-10 hours a day, the result makes me happy, then I listen and compare with the references and get very upset. I like it, sounds exactly like I want, in balance and space, in energy. But comparing with references, and for 6 years of experience, I'm sure no one will like it, maybe just not destiny. I still will not give it up, I like to work with sound.
Those references have been mastered, too. Have you had any of your mixed professionally mastered?
Good Job Bro keep workin. Keep Studying.
Hey do you still mix?
I totally get you, bro, I feel the same way. It feels like, the reference track has that "HD" kind of a sound that my track is missing. Though, it sounds good on it's own.
Teachers are the best resource we’ve got.