One of the reasons why I have felt so strongly about the need for accessible world class mixing for the independent artist has been the numerous stories I often hear when talking with them.
"My friend put a lot of money into his project but it sounds cheap!"
"We worked on the album for months but we weren't really happy with the end product."
"I didn't really get the album I was hoping for."
While I really feel that great mixing is crucial to making a great album, I think that vision is even more important. I feel that an artist must have a clear vision of the type of project they want to make. Beyond that, they must really take the right steps to communicate that vision to all people involved working on the project.
The producer is the first part of this because he is the one who must understand the vision the most; he must make it his own vision (often by blending it with his own vision for the project) and execute it well.
Second, the artist and producer must chose a team to execute the project that can get behind the vision. This is why I don't encourage artists to stay in one place with one guy doing everything just because it is convenient. If that studio and that producer/engineer is what will best support and execute the artistic vision, then by all means, stay put. But, do your homework. research the work of producers and studios to find the best team for your vision.
As a mixer, I always make sure that the vision for the project is front and center. It is the creative "road map" that I use to navigate the project. It lets me know not only what the artists expectations are, but also how best to present the music in a totally professional way.
Take time in preproduction to outline the vision and goals for the project. You will not only meet your own expectations, but it will help those who work with you to do there best work!
