Ready for some more seemingly contradictory advice from this direction? That inner discipline is the constant challenge for anyone undertaking the mixing and mastering tasks. Yet, being overly self-critical can also be discouraging. While you still want to be proud of the work you do, complete satisfaction is a sign of complacency. Perhaps the biggest intangible with mixing and mastering your own work is the pursuit of continuous improvement. And by early mixes, I mean every one up until the next one. How do I know this? All of my early mixes suck. Sorry, but your early mixes are going to suck, and that new mastering plug-in will not magically make your projects sound good at the click of a mouse.
With high expectations and low desire, you have a formula for discouragement. You can, just as you can purchase the brushes, paints and canvases and create your own paintings. Mixing and mastering as processes are complex, daunting, and full of seemingly contradictory advice coming from every direction.
