How to Give Useful Feedback on a Mix

The revision process is a normal part of mixing. Most mix engineers expect two to three rounds of notes before a mix is signed off. The difference between a smooth process and a frustrating one usually comes down to how clearly the feedback is communicated.

Here's what useful feedback looks like - and what to avoid.

Listen on Multiple Systems Before You Write Anything

Before sending notes, listen to the mix on at least two or three different playback systems. Headphones, a phone speaker, car speakers, and a home stereo will all reveal different things. What sounds muddy on headphones might sound fine in the car. What sounds loud on a Bluetooth speaker might be perfectly balanced on studio monitors.

If something bothers you on every system, it's likely a real issue. If it only bothers you on one, mention that context in your notes.

Be Specific About What and Where

The most useful feedback combines three things: what the problem is, where it appears, and how severe it is.

• "The lead vocal feels buried in the chorus around 1:45" is actionable
• "The kick drum sounds a bit boxy in the verses - maybe around 250-300Hz?" is actionable
• "The guitars are too loud in the second verse" is actionable
• "It doesn't feel right" is not actionable
• "Can you make it more exciting?" is not actionable
• "It doesn't have enough energy" - better as: "The chorus doesn't feel like it lifts enough compared to the verse"

You don't need to know the technical solution. That's the engineer's job. You just need to describe what you're hearing or what you want to feel.

Use Reference Tracks

If there's a commercially released track that captures the sound or feeling you're going for, share it. "I want the snare to hit like the snare on [track name]" gives a mix engineer an immediate, concrete reference point. It's one of the most efficient ways to communicate.

References don't have to be in the same genre. You might want the low end of a hip-hop track applied to a country record. That's a legitimate and useful reference.

Separate Your Emotional Response from Technical Notes

It's worth distinguishing between "this doesn't feel finished" and "the reverb on the snare is too long." The first is a feeling. The second is a note. Both are valid, but they require different responses.

If you have a general feeling that something is off but can't articulate what, say that. A good mix engineer can ask the right questions to get to the bottom of it. What you don't want is to translate a vague feeling into a specific technical instruction that might not actually address the underlying issue.

What Not to Do

• Don't send notes after one listen at high volume - your ears need to adjust to a new mix
• Don't make notes while doing something else - give the mix your full attention
• Don't request changes that contradict each other in the same set of notes
• Don't request changes to the arrangement or composition - mixing works with the recorded material as it is
• Don't compare unfavourably to the reference track at the mastering stage - save sonic references for the mixing stage

The Number of Revisions

Most mixes land in two to three rounds of revisions. If you're on a fourth or fifth round, the feedback process has probably broken down somewhere. Either the notes weren't specific enough, or the scope has shifted since the original brief.

The clearer your notes from round one, the fewer rounds you'll need.

How the Revision Process Works at JNP

James finds the most useful feedback usually comes from clients who've listened to a mix a few times across a day or two - on different systems, at different times - before writing their notes. The first listen is often a reaction to something new. The second and third listens reveal what's actually there.

JNP's standard mixing process includes two rounds of revisions as part of the project. Most mixes land in round one or two with clear notes. If you're working through the feedback process and finding it difficult to articulate what you're hearing, just call or message - a five-minute conversation is often faster and more useful than a written note.