Ask any mix engineer what slows down projects the most, and you’ll probably hear the same answer: communication.
Artists describe things in feelings: “Can you make it warmer?” or “The chorus doesn’t hit hard enough.”
Engineers, on the other hand, think in terms of frequencies, compression ratios, and headroom.
Neither side is wrong — but when you’re speaking different languages, it’s easy for feedback to get lost in translation.
So how can engineers help artists “hear the mix” the way they do? It starts with building a shared vocabulary.
Step 1: Translate Feelings Into Frequencies
When an artist says “the vocal feels thin,” that usually points to a lack of low-mid body (around 200–400 Hz).
If they say “it’s too harsh,” you’re probably dealing with a peak somewhere between 2–5 kHz.
Instead of dismissing vague feedback, engineers can connect the dots: “When you say harsh, you mean in the upper mids — let’s smooth that out.”
The more you do this, the faster artists start to associate feelings with sonic ranges.
Step 2: Use Reference Tracks
One of the easiest ways to bridge the gap is with reference tracks.
If an artist says “make it sound like Frank Ocean,” don’t guess what that means. Pull up a Frank Ocean track together, compare the low end, vocal space, or reverb tails, and identify what they’re really pointing to.
References turn abstract requests into something concrete you can both measure against.
Step 3: Educate Without Overloading
Not every artist needs a crash course in EQ curves or multiband compression. But sprinkling in little lessons during feedback sessions helps.
For example:
- “That airy feeling you like? That’s boosting the high shelf around 10k.”
- “That muddy vibe? Too much build-up around 250 Hz.”
The goal isn’t to turn the artist into an engineer — it’s to give them just enough knowledge to communicate better next time.
Step 4: Use Tools That Make Notes Clear
Endless email chains with “can you turn this part up a bit?” are nobody’s friend. Engineers need notes that are specific, actionable, and tied to the timeline of the track.
That’s where timestamped feedback tools come in. Instead of vague notes, you get:
- “At 1:12 the snare should cut more.”
- “At 2:34 the harmony feels buried.”
Clarity saves revisions. And revisions are where time (and budgets) usually vanish.
How TrackBloom Helps
We built TrackBloom to make this communication gap smaller:
- Timestamped comments mean artists can drop notes exactly where they feel something — and engineers know exactly what to tweak.
- Versioning keeps the mix notes tied to the right bounce.
- Quick summaries organise messy feedback into clear takeaways, so engineers don’t have to sift through paragraphs of “vibe talk.”
It’s not about forcing artists to think like engineers — it’s about meeting in the middle with a common language.
Final Thoughts
Great mixes aren’t just about technical skill. They’re about collaboration.
When artists and engineers learn how to “hear” each other — literally and figuratively — projects move faster, revisions drop, and the music gets to the finish line stronger.
The best engineers don’t just shape sound. They teach artists how to listen.