Dale's Audio Tip 2...Don't eat chips when you mix....

Greetings All, Dale here with another tip of the week... Don't eat Doritos when you mix. 'Why?' one may ask. Well chips make loud noises in your head causing the listener to miss potential flaws in the mix that occasionally occur. Even after listening the a mix a jillion times before passing the final keeper mix, there is always the remote possibility of some digital artifact poppping in on the final pass. These 'snaps' and 'pops' are rare if one's rig is dialed in correctly, but Murphy's Law can and will apply to this phenomnom. Save the chips for before or after the actual pass (I love to eat in the studio by the way). One might prevent a remix for some non-artistic, ulilitarian or dumb reason. Chip scenerio aside, the real point here is to keep your head in the mix, and the recording session. Really listen and concentrate on what things are sounding like. Pay attention to what is working and what needs more work. As an artist and engineer, I have consistently found, if I don't like something in a mix or take at that moment, I will not like it later either. Save time by being honest with one's feelings and remixing or retaking to get something one can live with, forever. It might only take 3 more minutes! Serious listening uses a lot of brain power, I am seriously wiped after 12 hours of mixing, even while sitting for most of it. There is no shortcut for concentrating. This will ultimately save time in the long run and get everyone an awsome work. Keep your head in the Mix. Happy listening, happy creating. Dale