Rekindling Your Love for Music: A Guide for Mix Engineers
As mix engineers, we often find ourselves so deep in the technical aspects of our work that we can quickly forget why we fell in love with music in the first place. That first time you heard a distorted guitar through headphones, or that moment when a perfectly crafted song moved you to tears – these experiences shaped who you are, yet they can feel distant when you're staring at a DAW for 12 hours straight.
Here are practical ways to maintain (or rediscover) your love for music while building your career as a mix engineer:
1. Listen Like a Fan Again
Schedule dedicated time to listen to music purely for enjoyment. No analyzing the mix, no scrutinizing the frequency balance – just experience the music as you did before you knew what a compressor was. Try these approaches:
Use consumer-grade headphones or speakers occasionally
Listen while doing something else (driving, walking, cooking)
Create playlists of music you loved growing up
Explore new genres you've never worked in
2. Attend Live Shows
There's something magical about experiencing music in its raw form. Live shows remind us that perfection isn't always the goal – connection is. Make it a point to:
Attend smaller venue shows where you can feel the intimacy
Watch performers who truly love what they do
Focus on the audience's reaction to the music
Leave your "engineer ears" at home
3. Play an Instrument
Remember when you used to just jam without worrying about mic placement or gain staging? Return to that pure creative space:
Set up a small practice area separate from your mix room
Join or start a casual band with friends
Learn a new instrument just for fun
Write music with no intention of recording it
4. Create Boundaries with Work
Maintaining your love for music requires protecting it from becoming just work:
Set specific mix hours and stick to them
Take regular breaks to listen to music you enjoy
Don't accept every project that comes your way
Reserve certain artists or albums that you never mix to
Keep some music sacred – just for enjoyment
5. Connect with Other Music Lovers
Sometimes we need to step outside our engineering bubble:
Join listening groups or record clubs
Share music recommendations with non-industry friends
Attend album listening parties
Participate in music appreciation communities
Remember Your "Why"
Every mix engineer started as a music fan. That passion led you to want to shape and craft sound. By maintaining your connection to music as an art form, you'll:
Make better mixing decisions
Connect more deeply with artists
Find more satisfaction in your work
Sustain your career longevity
Preserve your creative spirit
The technical excellence we strive for should serve the music, not overshadow it. By actively nurturing your love for music, you'll not only enjoy your work more but also create better mixes that serve the emotional core of each song.
Your relationship with music is worth protecting. Make it a priority to regularly step back from the technical side and remember what drew you to this path in the first place. The best mix engineers aren't just technically proficient – they're music lovers at heart who never lost touch with that initial spark of inspiration.
Remember: Great mixing comes from understanding not just how music works, but how it feels.
