A few thoughts for aspiring audio engineers

Mixing/mastering is largely a customer service job.

Do your best early on to find out what it is the client wants.

Ask for reference songs (it’s ok to ask for files, because referencing against multiple stream sources can be a pain).

Feel free to say it if you think the refs aren’t fitting (to an extent that’s your job; you’ll grow into it).

There are times when it’s your job to find out what the clients want if they don’t fully know what it is.

Make sure to convey from the get-go that some discussion is expected…because everyone gets some jobs rejected sometimes, and there’s nothing more annoying than doing your best and then only hearing “Well it’s not what I’m looking for, bye”.

And sometimes what they want may be a 2 dB tweak away or a kick that is a bit less muscular…you just have to have them say it.

There’s a small amount of people who are reluctant to communicate and they assume you to read their mind, but audio engineering isn’t a one-way street most of the time. Promote healthy discussion and make clients feel welcome about asking for changes.

Be responsive. I can assure you this will give your client some confidence that they are being heard.

There are times when the song, or something in it, sounds bad to you (e.g., vocals too bright or not enough bass) in the end after some discussions and client wishes for tweaks, but don’t put your ego on the way: the end goal is not to make it 100% fitting for you, it’s to make it 100% fitting for the client.

Feel free to suggest changes, but don’t be too adamant about them. It’s not your song.

Patience gets tested sometimes. This line of work requires that. After all, it’s customer service.

Don’t send out a song if you are unsure about it; instead, ask for a bit more time to feel as good about it as possible.

Taking a bit longer and providing a good-sounding song is often more important that doing it fast.

(Pet peeve as a busy engineer: someone orders a job and wants it soon and then takes a week to respond for the first time after I’ve sent the first version)

Btw before you ask: that 🧢 is available from my site (also in olive)

Any Qs? 🗣️