How to Get Better at Mixing: The Answer That Solves Itself

In Episode 361 of the Mixing Music Podcast, hosts Dee Kei and Lu start with some Super Bowl talk and quickly pivot into a bigger conversation about obsession, creativity, and what actually drives high-level engineers to improve. Dee Kei shares a recent clip he saw from a well-known mixer talking about working extreme hours early on, and how an unhealthy level of obsession can sometimes be part of why people eventually earn enough skill, stability, and confidence to relax later.

From there, the episode becomes a deep mindset discussion about craft. Dee Kei argues that great work tends to create money as a consequence, not as a starting motivation, and that when money becomes the primary goal, it can de-incentivize the kind of care and curiosity that lead to truly great records. He uses a story about giving his young son an allowance and watching how the introduction of money changed the child’s relationship to making art. The broader point is that creative work is different than typical product-based entrepreneurship, because art has no built-in finish line and its value is often subjective.

They also talk about the difference between loving music and loving the identity of being a producer or engineer. Dee Kei suggests that real obsession is not something you force. It is an alignment that shows up naturally in how you spend your time, what you want to learn, and how much you care even when conditions are not ideal. He shares a C.S. Lewis quote about how favorable conditions never arrive, and why the people who achieve the most are the ones who keep learning and working even when life is inconvenient.

Lu adds a practical anchor to the conversation with a reminder that fundamentals beat trendy techniques. Whether you are mixing, recording, or working live sound, focusing on the basics of sound capture, decision-making, and working within limitations is what consistently produces results. They also touch on loudness briefly, including the idea of getting competitively loud while still feeling dynamic, plus how tools like clippers can be used creatively when the foundation of the mix is already solid.

The episode wraps with a short story about a Japanese sword parable that illustrates diminishing returns and restraint, tying back to the idea that technical mastery alone is not the point. The bigger goal is making meaningful art with intention, curiosity, and integrity, without reducing the whole process to profit, ego, or external validation.

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The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by ⁠Izotope⁠, ⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠, Sweetwater, ⁠Plugin Boutique⁠, ⁠Lauten Audio⁠, ⁠Filepass⁠, & ⁠Canva⁠

The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O'Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.

This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei's private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.