Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The mixing debate continues. In this episode of Mix Trick or Trash, we’ve put multi-platinum mix engineer Lu Diaz in the hot seat to tackle 20 of the most argued mix tricks in the game.
From a straight-shooting takedown of over-complicated gain staging to his thoughts on AI and why Michael Jackson proves your vocal reverb rules may need rethinking, Lu cuts through the "best mix tips" social media’s algorithms taught you to adopt. Find out which legendary tips get a perfect 10 and which tips shouldn’t deserve any more of your session time!
• 0:31 - High-pass everything
• 0:45 - Always mix with reference tracks
• 1:04 - Mixing in mono
• 1:19 - AI in mixing is the future
• 1:40 - Checking your mix in the car
• 2:07 - Mix through your master chain as early as possible
• 2:30 - Tempo sync reverb controls to your song's BPM
• 2:50 - Never boost EQ, only cut
• 3:16 - Tune every vocal
• 3:36 - Sidechain compression
• 3:53 - If the mix sounds good on AirPods, it'll sound good on anything
• 4:19 - Use just one reverb for the entire mix
• 4:42 - Pan your backing vocals away from your lead vocal
• 5:10 - Parallel compression
• 5:38 - Always mix at low volumes
• 6:07 - Proper gain staging is non-negotiable
• 6:46 - Automate volume on lead vocals
• 7:17 - LUFS are overrated
• 7:44 - Magic is in the mid-range
• 8:10 - Vocals must have at least some reverb to sound good
• 8:29 - Gated reverbs belong in the past
• 8:49 - Preamps don't matter
Watch previous episodes:
Noah "MIXGIANT" Glassman #5: youtu.be/RseC9Uz7K00?si=tOmw6ojLJ2fvtNN2
Oak Felder Episode #4: youtu.be/8JF-HhpEOFY?si=AcDtpI5K98MMtpFW
Chris Lord-Alge Episode #3: youtu.be/lH8Q2Megcjo?si=kpz-_XCMqR2ILNNo
Joe Chiccarelli Episode #2: youtu.be/NpQWYv4Mr-k?si=dkTZVr4YAOx9nOvv
Chris Galland Episode #1: youtu.be/i2DR0H8e7h8?si=s0NsM351F8g_Gw7S
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: rebrand.ly/wavessubyt
Follow us on Social Media:
Instagram: rebrand.ly/wavesig
Facebook: rebrand.ly/wavesfb
Twitter: rebrand.ly/wavestw
Linkedin: rebrand.ly/waveslnkd
Telegram: rebrand.ly/wavestl
Visit our website: rebrand.ly/wavesaudio
The mixing debate continues. In this episode of Mix Trick or Trash, we’ve put multi-platinum mix engineer Lu Diaz in the hot seat to tackle 20 of the most argued mix tricks in the game.
From a straight-shooting takedown of over-complicated gain staging to his thoughts on AI and why Michael Jackson proves your vocal reverb rules may need rethinking, Lu cuts through the "best mix tips" social media’s algorithms taught you to adopt. Find out which legendary tips get a perfect 10 and which tips shouldn’t deserve any more of your session time!
• 0:31 - High-pass everything
• 0:45 - Always mix with reference tracks
• 1:04 - Mixing in mono
• 1:19 - AI in mixing is the future
• 1:40 - Checking your mix in the car
• 2:07 - Mix through your master chain as early as possible
• 2:30 - Tempo sync reverb controls to your song's BPM
• 2:50 - Never boost EQ, only cut
• 3:16 - Tune every vocal
• 3:36 - Sidechain compression
• 3:53 - If the mix sounds good on AirPods, it'll sound good on anything
• 4:19 - Use just one reverb for the entire mix
• 4:42 - Pan your backing vocals away from your lead vocal
• 5:10 - Parallel compression
• 5:38 - Always mix at low volumes
• 6:07 - Proper gain staging is non-negotiable
• 6:46 - Automate volume on lead vocals
• 7:17 - LUFS are overrated
• 7:44 - Magic is in the mid-range
• 8:10 - Vocals must have at least some reverb to sound good
• 8:29 - Gated reverbs belong in the past
• 8:49 - Preamps don't matter
Watch previous episodes:
Noah "MIXGIANT" Glassman #5: youtu.be/RseC9Uz7K00?si=tOmw6ojLJ2fvtNN2
Oak Felder Episode #4: youtu.be/8JF-HhpEOFY?si=AcDtpI5K98MMtpFW
Chris Lord-Alge Episode #3: youtu.be/lH8Q2Megcjo?si=kpz-_XCMqR2ILNNo
Joe Chiccarelli Episode #2: youtu.be/NpQWYv4Mr-k?si=dkTZVr4YAOx9nOvv
Chris Galland Episode #1: youtu.be/i2DR0H8e7h8?si=s0NsM351F8g_Gw7S
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: rebrand.ly/wavessubyt
Follow us on Social Media:
Instagram: rebrand.ly/wavesig
Facebook: rebrand.ly/wavesfb
Twitter: rebrand.ly/wavestw
Linkedin: rebrand.ly/waveslnkd
Telegram: rebrand.ly/wavestl
Visit our website: rebrand.ly/wavesaudio
