5 must-have qualities of a great mixing engineer

News | Blog Filter Posts by
March 24, 2021 in: Blog

Paul Owen Joins DCR Nashville

Today, DCR Nashville announces some big news in the entertainment production industry. As the COVID-19 pandemic brought the touring industry to a screeching halt, DCR Nashville saw this as an opportunity to tune up their operations. “During these challenges, opportunities present themselves. The pandemic has certainly provided its fair share of both. Our leadership team rallied… Read More

August 2017

5 must-have qualities of a great mixing engineer

Mixing Engineers have great personalities: The key to success in any career choice is how you interact with those you work with and those who surround you. There is no difference for live engineers. A FOH engineer must be able to interact positively and except criticism, both constructive and negative from the artist, the artists… Read More

  1. Mixing Engineers have great personalities: The key to success in any career choice is how you interact with those you work with and those who surround you. There is no difference for live engineers. A FOH engineer must be able to interact positively and except criticism, both constructive and negative from the artist, the artists managers, the artists wife or girlfriend and the audience members. FOH engineers sit in the crowd and quite often can be the link to the artist for the audience. A bad attitude can quickly sour the experience for an audience member and or facility. Monitor Engineers have a quality, that allows them to use their personality traits to connect with each artist and musician on the stage. A good monitor engineer can remove his personal tastes from the equation and put himself in the shoes of the musician that he or she is working for. They can diffuse situations that arise either from the artist own nerves or from technical issues that arise and keep everyone focused and on track. The best engineers have an ability to serve and do so willingly.
  2. Mixing Engineers are music fans and or musicians: We chose music for a reason, it is important for us as engineers to be fans of music. Not necessarily the music of the artist you are working for but fans of the process of the music they create and the message they are trying to deliver. Being a fan of music and or a musician yourself helps you understand through listening and or practice what makes a good arrangement and allows you the engineer the ability to execute mixing techniques and decisions that support and heighten the listening experience for your audience. It is important to understand what your artist is trying to accomplish with their music and to be able to translate it.
  3. Mixing Engineers have the ability to adapt to new technology: One thing you learn quickly about creating music is that technology is constantly changing. The up and coming generation is always quick to adopt the newest technology where some of the music veterans fall behind. The engineers that seem to stay on top are the ones that adopt new technology and find a way to incorporate it into their workflow.
  4. Mixing Engineers are perpetual learners: “If you aren’t growing then you’re dying” Mixing is a never-ending learning experience. You don’t just wake up one day and decide that you’ve learned how to mix because you’re always learning how to mix and you’re always learning how to make your mixes better.
  5. Mixing Engineers are willing to share information: If you feel your job is in jeopardy and all of your tricks are secrets, then you have most likely chosen the wrong profession. We have a responsibility to provide better productions throughout our industry and one way we do so is by helping and mentoring others to be successful. If you are afraid that you will lose your job by sharing your secrets then you might want to make sure you are qualifying in the above-mentioned areas as well. Remember this key component “The more you give the more you receive”