Top 10 Mixing Mistakes to Avoid

Stop sabotaging your mixes! This practical, informative mixing video course from pro producer Larry Holcombe highlights the most common pitfalls that can derail your mixes and shows you how to avoid them. Instead of chasing endless fixes, Larry helps you develop better habits, sharper ears, and a clearer vision for every project. The result: cleaner, more balanced mixes that translate across any system. These mixing videos are designed for anyone looking to improve the sound, effectiveness, and speed of their mixes.

Videos

• Mixing without a Clear Vision (11:36) - Without a clear goal, your mix can lose direction fast. In this first video, we show you how to define a vision early, which will help guide every mix decision with purpose.

• Poor Gain Staging (14:52) - Learn how improper gain staging can wreck your mix before it even starts. We show you how to set levels cleanly at every stage of the signal chain.

• Working Too Much in Solo (08:28) - Soloing tracks is helpful, but too much can cloud your judgment. Learn when to solo and when to mix in context for better balance.

• Avoiding Over-Processing & Getting Tricked by Loudness (13:48) - Louder doesn?t always mean better. We look at how over-processing and volume bias can fool your ears and ruin your mix.

• Avoid Bad Workflow Habits (10:52) - Good habits result in great mixes. This video explores workflow mistakes that slow you down or lead to muddy results.

• Avoid Over-Compressing (12:35) - Too much compression can crush dynamics and energy. Learn how to compress with intention - not out of habit.

• Using Compressors Instead of Limiters/Clippers to Manage Transients (06:24) - Learn why compressors aren't always the best tool for taming peaks. We'll compare them to clippers and limiters for more transparent results.

• Too Much Stereo Widening & Mono Incompatibility (08:23) - Over-widening can weaken your mix and cause phase issues. Here, we show you how to widen tastefully while keeping mono compatibility in check.

• Avoid Overusing Reverb (10:55) - Reverb can add depth, but too much muddies the mix. Learn how to apply it with purpose and clarity.

• Not Referencing & Getting Tricked by Room Acoustics (04:50) - Your room can lie to you, resulting in poor mixing decisions. In this final video of the series, we explain the importance of reference tracks and monitoring strategies to stay objective.