Making a Scene Presents - Mixing Quietly: Why Lower Volume Makes Better Decisions

There is one home studio habit that can improve almost every mix without costing a dime. It does not require a new interface, a new microphone, a new plug-in bundle, or some secret trick from a million-dollar control room. It is almost boring in how simple it is.

Turn the monitors down.

That’s it. Not forever. Not so low that you can barely hear the song. Not as a punishment. Not because loud music is bad. Music is supposed to move air. Music is supposed to hit you in the chest when the moment calls for it. But when you are making mix decisions, especially in a home studio, loud volume can lie to you. Low volume tells the truth more often.

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