Disappointed with Your Mixes? 

Honest Truth: Your Songs Will Suck Until You Learn How to Mix with EQ

I know it sounds harsh, but the truth is that your mixes will sound unprofessional until you learn how to use EQ.

Learning to use EQ is the most important skill to develop for mixing.

It's more important than compression, reverb, saturation, automation or anything else.

Why?

Because EQ is what allows all of your instruments to blend together harmonically.

EQ is what lets you free up "headroom" so your mixes can be loud. EQ allows you to make your mixes sound rich and full.

And EQ is the secret to making reverb and compression work better.

What do next?

One of the most challenging things about mixing is not knowing when to do each step. You bring up the low end in the bass and lose the kick. You cut mids in the guitar and the mix feels thin.

Sometimes mixing feels like being a cartoon character sticking their finger in a leaking dam: every change you make just causes a new problem!

At the end of the day, every one wants feel joy of creating - and sharing - music that they're proud of. But it's incredibly difficult when you don't know what you're doing.

In fact, it's not just difficult, it's not fun to make music when your mixes suck.

If you're anything like me you've given up on songs out of frustration. You've tried one more tweak.

And one more tweak.

And one more.

Then you realize that you hadn't even turned on the EQ.

If you're not being intentional about your choices, you will always end up stuck.

However, when you know what you're doing, mixing becomes an exciting, enjoyable adventure.

When you know that the main thing you want to focus on is finding all the bad frequencies in your sounds, you can quickly focus on the task hand, expertly hunting down all the mud, hiss, harshness and resonances. When you understand how instruments are supposed to fit together - and where problems are likely to arise - you can quickly make tweaks that allow them to coexist. And when you sense where your mix is lacking, you can boost the right frequencies of the right instruments - without throwing your whole mix out of balance!

But there's an even bigger benefit to intentionality and having a system!

You know why you're making each EQ move in advance instead of randomly fiddling. And if you're not hearing the EQ respond in the way that you intended it to, you will instantly remember that you need to turn it on!

The 10 Stages of Being Stuck with Using EQ

Does this remind you of anyone?

If we're being honest, does this sound like you?

No need to be shy, we're all friends here.

When has your own lack of knowledge about EQ prevented you from creating the songs you have in your head and sharing them with your friends?

Getting stuck happens to talented producers. There are people that write brilliant beats, play guitar gracefully, or create the lushest patches, but they just can't figure out how to produce a song they're proud of. People who can make an interesting demo, but can't share it without apologizing.

Why do some producers go on to release song after song to Soundcloud? Why do some producers have hard drives full of half-finished beats? 

"Maybe I'm Missing Something?"

Using EQ is too complicated to be taught be a series of random YouTube videos. 

Most people think that a fancy new EQ plugin or a bunch of EQ presets are the secret to great mixes, which is tragic, because once you understand the basics of the R.O.S.E. system, you can easily craft incredible mixes with any EQ you like. 

And you'll never use an EQ preset again

In contrast, frustrated producers kept looking for the "perfect preset" or spend time Googling "how to EQ snare." Which shows that this producer doesn't know enough about EQ to be asking the completely right questions.

In contrast, producers that successfully put out track after finished track looked for systems.

Both sets of producers faced the same obstacles, but they focused on different solutions.

Sure, some producers look for help when they get stuck. Maybe they search for a specific video about their current problem, or buy a shiny new "vintage" plugin. They might even forget about producing and binge listen an entire music podcast. (Know anyone like this?)  

Hey — at least they’re looking for answers. But the heartbreaking thing is that they genuinely believe if they find the “right” preset or plugin then all their problems will disappear and they'll be able to nail that goal they’ve wanted for years.

You and I need to know better. We know they’re playing the wrong game entirely.

The honest truth:

• They could get the perfect preset... and nothing would change
• They could find the exactly how Dr. Dre EQs his kick drums... and nothing would change
• They could buy the perfect plugin... and nothing would change

No matter how good your patches, presets, and plugins are, mixing is still tough! You and I are going to continue to face the same challenges every time we start a song.

In fact, the better you get and the more complicated your songs become, the more challenges a song will throw at you!

Some producers get stuck. Their musical skills plateau.

Meanwhile, the best producers out there a quietly playing a different game.

The R.O.S.E. System to the Rescue

When I looked at successful producers, they weren't chasing the newest toys. In fact, many of them used software and hardware that was years out of date! 

Why? 

Because they knew it backwards and forwards. Because they'd mastered the systems and knew exactly how to translate their vision from their soul into sound. 

And they all probably have some version of the R.O.S.E. System at work in their studios.

They approach mixing with EQ strategically. Isolating problems. Gluing their mix together. Then listening for what else is missing and adding a bit of sweetening on top.

Now, Really Imagine Your Favorite Producer or Mixer

When you imagine them sitting down to make a track, do you think they feel overwhelmed by their software? If something bad happens, do they immediately look for a new preset?

Of course not! Their ability to channel their creativity, unlike most people, is based on the fact that the understand the tools and systems they use.

That's why I want you to focus on a what really matters. Building a framework to understand a framework for using EQ. Understand EQ's strength and weaknesses. I want you to find a way to consistent apply EQ so you can build a mix from the ground up, instead of making random EQ tweaks that conflict with each other.

Forget tips, plugins, or presets. Understanding EQ's creative framework outweighs all of this. 

Mastering this framework will let you appreciate the nuances of each instrument instead of having to memorize specific frequencies for each one from the ground up.

The secret most people miss is that EQ is really just a series of instruments affecting each other. The goal isn't to get the perfect drum sound, it's to get the perfect drum sound in the context of all the other instruments that also need to sound perfect.

Once you learn the frame work for each step of the R.O.S.E. System, you'll be able to mix anything you can imagine.  

"You make your mistakes to learn how to get to the good stuff." – Quincy Jones

I love that. He understands that creativity is a fleeting thing that needs to be captured when inspiration strikes. But it's only possible to capture if you know what you're doing. 

He doesn't dismiss the early stages of being producer, with the mistakes and bad judgements, and the sense of being overwhelmed. No, Q sees it as an essential part to becoming world class.

As I've worked to develop How to Mix with EQ, the songs I've mixed been streamed millions of times on Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and FaceBook, placed in films and TV shows, and licensed by top-of-the-line music libraries. 

Situations that would have derailed a song years ago don't even phase me.

Like, "Oh no, the drums sound flat?"

Three years ago I may have abandoned the song - or worse, finished but told everyone it was a demo because I knew it wasn't great. 

Now though? I know that if I need to add some oomph to the drums, it will most certainly be bumping. And I know what tools I can use to do so.

And I came to realize that there were more fundamental ways to teach EQ that couldn't be conveyed through a few simple YouTube videos. Even after writing my book on mixing with EQ, I felt that to really help aspiring mixers, I need to create a video course so they could see - and hear - EQ in action.

That's why I set out to develop the best course on mixing  with EQ in the world: How to Mix with EQ.

Introducing...

How to Mix with EQ!

The video course How to Mix with EQ offers you a simple 4-step system for quickly creating crystal clear mixes that capture the listeners' imagination.

How to Mix with EQ is the perfect course for producer laser-focused on "big wins" in their mixing. In it, you'll learn exactly how to think about EQ so you can make it work for your songs. Using the proven power of the R.O.S.E. system, you'll be able to easily analyze what to do with EQ for each instrument.

Importantly, this isn't just a bunch of frequencies to memorize, but rather a system for consistently (and quickly) getting great results. This deep approach to EQ works for any genre of music, from hip hop to metal.

And there's no fluff. After watching this 2 hour+ course, you'll know exactly what to do the next time you sit down to mix.

Go from "good" to "great" by developing an understanding of the systems that top producers use - and gain the skills needed to achieve your creative vision

What People are Saying

"This is great! That's a really clear explanation - I can visualize that whole process of creating space in the mix for each instrument. I feel I'm being initiated into the secrets of mixing! Simple yet profound!" - Martin T.

Some people choose to be stuck. Others choose to unleash their creativity.

We spend most of our time producing alone.

We see successful producers and wonder how they do it.

We feel embarrassed about our "demos."

We feel demoralized about all those unfinished tracks.

We consider spending hundreds of dollars to have a pro mix just one of our songs. How sustainable is that!?

And we think that spending more on plugins will fix everything.

Worst of all, though, we have nothing to show for all the time we spend making music.

What I've learned is that you don't have to struggle through all these challenges. In fact, if you just mastered a few of the most important aspects of EQ, you'd be leaps and bounds beyond most bedroom producers.

Most people go a lifetime chasing random tactics, becoming frustrated, and even giving up. Think about it — that's DECADES of frustration.

How many people do you know who let opportunity after opportunity sail by…even though they claim they want to put out music?

How many supremely talented musicians do we know who are 30, 40, even 50 years old, who have spent a lifetime tinkering with music, but have never released anything?

Now, fast forward in your own life: What if you did nothing differently today…and ended up like them tomorrow?

Top producers recognize the importance of mastering tactics, but they know that their knowledge of important systems is the one key that can never be taken away.

How to Mix with EQ provides the ultimate guide to achieving your dreams of creating amazing sounding music so you can proudly share it with your friends and family.

You don't have to do this alone. I went through the painstaking process of discovering, distilling, and teaching these essential components of this course. They've helped me get publishing deals, TV and film placements, and reach a huge audience on YouTube, and I'd like to share the same with you.

These aren't one-time techniques you'll use this week or next month. In fact, these aren’t “techniques” at all.

This is the deep, wholistic approach embodied by every producer who has “won” the game. So it's natural that you have lifetime access to this course — since I expect you'll refer back to this now, 5 years from now, even 15 years from now.

I created How to Mix with EQ as your "secret playbook" to improve your confidence, develop your focus, control your motivation, and engineer an optimistic outlook. You don't have to tell anyone you joined the course. They'll just notice your quiet confidence next time you share a track, the new way that your music bumps, and — when you hit a roadblock — how you still find a way to finish the song.

Nobody can ever take those away from you.

Let's take this journey together.

A year from now, you're going to be a year older. What are you going to do?

If you have any questions or concerns about the course, email me at stockmusicmusician[at]gmail.com. I'm happy to help.