Why Your Mixes Don’t Sound Release-Ready (3 Fixes You Need)

Your mix sounds decent, but when you line it up against pro tracks on Spotify, something’s off. The vocals don’t sit right, you don’t know where to start, and the whole thing feels over-processed. In this video, I break down the 3 biggest problems that keep home studio mixes from sounding release-ready—and show you exactly how to fix them.

First, I’ll cover how to get vocals sitting properly with compression, automation, sidechain, and even saturation when things get dense. Then, I’ll show you why starting with the mix bus using a top-down approach instantly brings clarity and direction. Finally, I’ll walk you through how to strip back an over-processed session so your mix feels clean, powerful, and pro.

If you’re serious about making your mixes sound release-ready, these three fixes will get you there faster.