Mixing Your Music for TV and Film - Tip #1
I thought I would share my #1 trick for mixing music for sync licensing. I’ve been using this trick for over 10 years. It has helped me get music on radio, win awards, and get sync placement music into TV & film over and over again.
It is simple but super powerful.
I just got an email from one of my sync licensing course students about a big sync placement they got, and it reminded me how important your mix is for getting a sync placement.
When it comes to mixing music to pitch to music supervisors, there is no magic button, some great settings, or the newest DAW. It has more to do with “inspiration.”
When you are mixing your music, think of it like a performance. The essence of a great mix is one that makes a song emote. I found this trick when I was recording a big artist in Canada.
When you are recording, first things first, it has to be recorded well. If it’s recorded well, you should be able to turn the mix up and it should sound like it’s 80% there - before the mixing engineer even touches it.
So, What’s the Last 20% of a Music Mix?
While working with this artist, I was messing with the levels and listening back to the track. The mix wasn’t there. It was fine and basic, but it wasn’t emoting. So, I went back to the board, and zeroed everything.
I played the song and started bringing up the tracks one by one. Within 45 minutes, I had a mix.
The bottom line is when you are mixing a song:
First do a fast mix, no more than an hour, and then save it and put it away.
Give your ears a rest and take a break.
When you come back, sit down, take your time, and mix it how you usually would.
After you’re done the second mix, compare it to the fast mix you did first.
What you’ll find is some of the tracks might sound better and emote more in the fast mix!
By using this trick, you will have options.
You can take the best parts of both mixes to make one great mix that is emotional and pops.
Mixing music for sync licensing is about inspiration. This will help you when you submit music for sync licensing.
Before you submit music for sync, be sure to check out our second post on this topic called Mixing Music for Sync – Tip#2.