How to Know When a Mix Is Ready (and Stop Tweaking It)
I’ve been there.
With the session open at 2:47 a.m., asking myself if that de-esser is right, if the room tone is too clean, if the scene needs more.
And even though everything sounds correct, I can’t stop.
Because the concept of “perfection” is so subliminal, so mental, that it keeps you stuck for hours where there’s nothing left to improve. In many of those late nights… I wasn’t looking to improve, I was looking for peace. And that doesn’t come in the form of a plugin.
This post isn’t technical.
It’s about that moment when you know—but won’t admit—that it’s already ready.
Here are my personal signals (developed after many stumbles) for deciding that a mix is ready:
1. Is it fulfilling the narrative intention?
Before asking yourself if it sounds good, ask yourself if it sounds clear.
Is what you want to convey understood both emotionally and technically?
If the answer is yes, you’re on the right track.
2. Am I still making changes out of anxiety?
A veces ya hice todo, pero sigo cambiando cosas por inercia.
My rule: if I make three consecutive moves that I then undo, I move to another point in the timeline or force myself to close the session. (This usually happens around 3 a.m.)
3. Has the client already approved it… and I’m still making tweaks?
This one’s tough. If it’s already been approved and you want to “deliver it even better,” there’s no doubt you’re overworking out of insecurity. “More” isn’t always better. Sometimes it’s just more.
4. Have I listened to the mix on different systems?
Speakers, headphones, iPad, car, laptop. If it passes the general test without major issues, it’s ready to go out into the world.
5. Can I stand behind this deliverable?
Not in front of a hater, but in front of a colleague or director. If you can calmly explain why you did everything, and it all serves a clear intention, it’s ready.
My conclusion
It doesn’t matter if you’re mixing music, film, radio, or television.
An imperfect but clear mix is worth more than a “perfect” one that never gets delivered.
Because yes: it should sound good.
But good doesn’t mean perfect. And perfect isn’t always useful.
That it works. That it connects.
And if it sounds perfect… even better.