How Mixing Is Like Baking
Love Music More · hosted by Luke F. Walton · Solo episode
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Topics discussed
Host note
Mixing is a lot like cooking: knowing when to apply high heat and take something all the way, and knowing when to leave it alone. I use food metaphors throughout to work through the uncanny valley of a mix, that specific discomfort when something is almost right but not quite, and why closing that gap is one of the more interesting problems in the job.
I also look at how mixing has changed even in the last five years, mono mixing used to be a much bigger deal than it is now, and where AI tools like Gulfos actually help: pushing a sound further, not sanitizing its character. The closing line is the one I keep coming back to going into the new year: don't make music that AI can make, don't mix like AI can mix, don't master like AI can master.
Selected moments
- Introduction and Gratitude 0:03 I express his gratitude for the listeners and introduces the core topic of mixing music.
- Mixing as Cooking 0:48 I discuss my love for mixing and uses food metaphors to explain my approach.
- The Uncanny Valley 1:30 I introduce the concept of the uncanny valley in music mixing.
- Balance in Mixing 2:16 Dissecting the balance between extremes in the mixing process.
- Modern Mixing Techniques 3:46 I reflect on the evolution of mixing over the past five years.
- AI Tools in Mixing 4:33 I explore using AI-driven tools like Gulfos in modern mixing.
- Character Over Perfection 8:21 I advocat for using mixing tools to enhance, not sanitize, character.
- Mixing Engineer's Role 14:25 I emphasize the creative role of a mixing engineer beyond technical execution.
- New Year's Resolutions in Music 15:47 I share my musical aspirations and resolutions for 2024.
- Conclusion and Future Music Releases 17:18 Wrapping up the episode with insights on upcoming music and engagement.
Selected excerpts
Happy New Year! It is Scoobert Doobert for Love Music More. First of all, I just wanted to say how grateful I am to be able to make this podcast and have people actually listen to it.
So today I want to talk more about one of my favorite subjects, a growing love that is called mixing.
You kind of have this weird uncanny valley that can happen so easily. And it's a really fun challenge as a mixing engineer.
It's about knowing when to apply those things, like really high heat, take it really far or to do nothing at all.
One of my favorite things is being in the modern era, you know, back in like you honestly even five years ago, mono mixing was a much, much bigger deal.
I've been doing that with some of these other AI-based tools, like Gulfos.
I want to take your idea and I pumped it up, I made it really loud, made it hit really hard and took some compromises.
Don't make music that AI can make. Don't mix like AI can mix. Don't master like AI can master.
FAQ
Who hosts Love Music More?
I is the host of the Love Music More podcast and a mixing engineer with a passion for experimental pop music.
What are the mixing techniques discussed in this episode?
I discuss various mixing techniques including balancing sound elements, the uncanny valley in music, and the use of AI tools.
How do I use food metaphors in mixing?
I compar the mixing process to cooking, emphasizing the need for creativity and balance in combining different elements to create a finished piece.
These pages are host notes, not a full transcript. An automatic transcript is on the Spotify episode.