Skye Heart Sound » The Pros and Cons of Hiring a Mixing Engineer

As the main mixing engineer for Skyeheart Sound, it's important for my clients to understand the pros and cons in this topic. Do you go with a third-party mixing engineer, or do you trust your producer to handle it? Let's break down the good and the not-so-good, especially when it comes to producers who might not give your vocals the attention they deserve.

Pros of Hiring a Third-Party Mixing Engineer:

1. Polished Vocals:

- Benefit: An outside engineer can bring fresh ears to your vocal sound, whereas a music producer might have a certain bias towards other elements in the song. If your mixing engineer is especially intimate with the 'vocal' sound, or, is a vocalist himself (like me :)), this can serve in favor of the song as a whole, and also the artistic goals of the artist!

2. Getting the Mix Right:

- Benefit: Dedicated mixing engineers are the experts in their craft. They help to ensure your vocals sit just right in the mix, but at the same time, giving enough importance to the other core elements in the song. Some producers might have issues separating the engineering ear, vs the producer ear. So the 'Engineering ear', is a way to listen to music in a spectral balance kind of way. The "Producer ear", is putting together elements that help drive an emotional experience. You need a good mixing engineer so the end result delivers that 'emotional experience' in all playback systems.

3. Saving Time and Getting Quality:

- Benefit: Hiring a pro engineer means your producer can dedicate their time to what they do best, like making new music for you. In result, you get better quality overall.

4. Access to High-Quality Tools:

- Benefit: Many mixing engineers have access to top-notch gear, giving your mix that "Pro" edge, especially crucial for highlighting vocals. It's important to note, that even though anyone can purchase this "top notch gear", these engineers are the best in utilizing it to get the best sound quality, better than anyone else.

5. Decisions Without Bias:

- Benefit: Pro engineers can make decisions solely based on what serves the song best, free from any bias or attachments.

Cons of Hiring a Third-Party Mixing Engineer:

1. Vocals Not Getting the Attention:

- Drawback: If your mixing engineer lacks experience or technical know-how, there may be issues communicating the artist and producer's sound goals. So, it's very important to make sure you have listened to their previous work and if they have any before and after mixing samples, which are the most telling.

2. Budget Considerations:

- Drawback: Professional mixing engineers cost money, and for those on a tight budget, it might not always be feasible. It's best to make this decision at the beginning of the project, so you can account for that extra budget for a separate mix engineer.

3. Mis-Aligned Artistic Visions:

- Drawback: Ensuring the engineer sees eye to eye with your artistic vision can be tricky, impacting the overall cohesion of your music. Make sure the engineer you choose has worked on a similar style to your music, and you have communicated with him/her on your artistic goals and visions.

4. Giving Up Some Control:

- Drawback: For hands-on creators, handing over the mix means giving up control, which might not sit well with some.

In the end, choosing a third-party mixing engineer is about finding the right balance for your unique project. The challenge lies in making sure vocals get the spotlight they deserve, especially when producers might be inclined to favor other elements. Clear communication and artistic alignment are key to making this collaboration a success. Please reach out to me, so we can discuss your project, and fine-tune your artistic and sound goals.