Welcome to another episode of the Joker Tone Podcast. Today, we dive into the critical final step for every self-producing artist – check your final mix of your music before its release. This process is often overlooked, but is critical to ensure your hard work shines brightly when it reaches your audience.

For many independent musicians, balancing the urge to release quickly against the quest for perfection is a delicate act. While it can be tempting to publish your song as soon as it feels “good enough” this can lead to missed opportunities for creating a truly impactful track. Thorough final checks and gathering feedback can help elevate a song from being ‘just okay’ to a complete masterpiece.

Once you’ve gone through the production stages like recording, mixing, and mastering, it’s crucial to approach the final mix check with the same dedication you’ve given the entire project. Allocate time for collecting valuable feedback, not just from yourself, but from a trusted circle who can provide constructive insights.

Releasing your song should ideally be a one-time event to create the best impression. Reworking and re-releasing tracks can confuse your audience and dilute the impact of your music. It’s essential to ensure your song sounds as good as possible across various playback systems commonly used by most listeners, from car stereos to in-ear headphones.

You don’t need to perform the final check alone. Fresh and independent ears can provide a perspective you might miss. Here are three categories of people to consider:

Enlist friends who have an in-depth understanding of music, especially those who love your genre. These individuals can provide valuable feedback on the nuanced aspects of your mix.

Since your audience isn’t composed exclusively of music experts, ask close friends or family members for their honest yet constructive opinions. Their layman’s perspective can offer insights that align with a general audience’s view.

Utilize Facebook groups and forums where musicians and music enthusiasts gather. However, be cautious about the quality and intentions of the feedback you receive from strangers.

Effective feedback is obtained through a well-structured process. Here are key elements:

Provide all pre-listeners with the same resolution files (WAV, MP3), ensuring they have a consistent basis for evaluation. Specify the devices and environment for listening to maintain consistency.

Create a standardized assessment system. Use specific questions such as, “How do you find the vocals in the overall song?” with multiple-choice answers like “clearly too quiet,” “a little quiet,” “just right,” “a little too loud,” and “clearly too loud.” This structured format simplifies comparison and decision-making.

Make sure listeners know the goal of their listening session, whether it’s ensuring the mix sounds good across different systems or evaluating specific elements like bass or vocals.

Ask listeners to evaluate the song on different devices, including in-ear headphones, car systems, studio monitors, etc. Furthermore, request them to listen at varying volumes to identify inconsistencies.

Once you gather and analyze all the feedback, identify common themes and make necessary adjustments. Decide if the vocals need to be brought forward, if the bass is too overwhelming, or if the treble is too sharp, based on the collective insight from your listeners.

The process of checking the final mix is vital to the success of your music. By following a structured feedback system and ensuring you gather diverse perspectives, you can release a polished and well-rounded track that resonates well with your audience. Take your time, communicate effectively with your test listeners, and remember, the goal is to achieve the best possible version of your song.

Communication: Discuss feedback for more profound insights.

Test Thoroughly: Ensure comprehensive testing before release.

Small Group Feedback: Use a small, manageable number of feedback providers.