If your mixes keep fighting you, the problem likely started before the DAW ever opened. In this podcast takeover, Mike Indovina (Master Your Mix) digs into a source‑first mindset with London engineer and mixer Will Purton (RAK Studios), unpacking the practical decisions that make recording faster, mixing smoother, and translation far more reliable. From choosing the right instrument and tuning it properly to mic selection, placement, and preamp saturation, they explore how each link in the signal chain shapes the end result, and how to make those choices with intention.

Will explains why ambience is a tool, not a garnish. He breaks down room miking that works in world‑class spaces and home studios alike: close‑spaced omni pairs that capture a coherent stereo picture without lopsided lows. They also dive into overhead strategy, using darker mics and adding top end with sweet EQ, to get shimmer without harshness. Throughout, the focus is emotion first: record sounds that make the room light up, then protect those decisions by committing on the way in so the mix becomes a matter of presentation, not repair.

Translation gets its own deep dive. Learn how open‑back headphones serve as a portable reference across unfamiliar control rooms, why acoustic treatment beats bigger speakers, and how to build a reference playlist that exposes strengths and flaws you can trust. They touch on quick genre ear training from TV sessions, the realities of large studios, and the discipline of sending pared‑down sessions that communicate vibe clearly to the mixer.

If you want mixes that travel from studio to car to earbuds without falling apart, start with better ingredients and intentional choices.

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