How to Use Reference Tracks

Are you using them right?

Reference tracks when you mix. Everyone preaches this to use them. Has anyone ever stopped to tell you ‘How To use’ them? I am guessing they didn’t thats why you are here. Let me say two things.

Don’t over think the reference track and EQ the hell out of something.
‘Reference’ is the key word. It is just a reference.

With that in mind, I bet when you are told to use this (insert song name here) as a reference you start by trying to make yours sound exactly like it. Like if you are using it as something to make an exact replica of. Stop doing that now! That is not what the reference is for, it is just a guideline, not a guide.

Let me explain to you exactly how to use them.

I will explain exactly how to use a reference track when you are mixing so you can achieve the right balance and correct sound when mixing a song. Every mix engineer should use reference tracks but use them the correct way. So you can achieve the correct sound the artist is going for!