Mixing on Mute: This pointblank Lecturer Just Pulled Off the Impossible!

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Ever wondered if a pro could mix a track only by hearing it once? That’s exactly what pointblank London lecturer Jacques Jenkins did when one of our students dared him to mix a song completely on mute. If you’re interested in developing professional mixing skills, check out our Music Production & Sound Engineering Degree, Music Production & DJ Performance Degree, and Music Production & Vocal Performance Degree to learn from industry experts like Jacques. 

The Challenge: Mixing Without Listening 

In this demonstration, Jacques takes on a challenge proposed by one of his students: mixing a hip-hop track completely on mute after hearing the song only once. While this might sound impossible, Jacques’ methodical approach reveals the deep technical knowledge and experience that professional mixing engineers develop over years of practice. 

“When you’ve mixed hundreds of records like I have over the years, there are a lot of common traits and common themes that happen,” Jacques explains as he works through the track in Logic Pro. He demonstrates how experienced engineers develop an instinctive understanding of problem frequencies, compression settings, and tonal characteristics that allow them to work efficiently even in unusual circumstances. 

It’s safe to say that our tutors at pointblank aren’t just teaching you simple techniques. They’re active producers and DJs who bring fresh industry knowledge straight to your classroom. Whether you’re studying at our campuses or joining online, you’ll learn from experts like Jacques who are still out there crushing it in the industry, and that’s the knowledge you’ll soak up when you learn with us. 

Jacques’ Methodical Approach 

Jacques begins by listening to the track just once to get a feel for the overall sound and identify what needs improvement. He notes that the snare is too quiet, the kick is slightly too loud, and the hi-hats are too loud. He also identifies that the double-stacked vocals need to be balanced better with the lead vocals. 

From there, he demonstrates his systematic workflow: 

1. Balancing the levels: Adjusting faders to create the proper foundation 

1. Processing the drums: Using EQ to tighten the kick and enhance the snare 

1. Treating the low-end: Applying specific techniques for bass and kick integration 

1. Enhancing instruments: Adding character to pianos and strings with saturation 

1. Vocal processing: Using multiple stages of EQ, compression and de-essing to achieve clarity and presence 

Technical Insights and Pro Tips 

Throughout the video, Jacques shares numerous professional insights that would benefit any aspiring producer. Watch this video if you’re interested in these advanced tips: 

• The importance of a personalised mixing template to streamline workflow 
• Using SSL channel strips for that classic hip-hop console sound 
• Applying “early reflections” to place elements in the spatial field 
• Organising bus routing for better session management 
• Utilising mid-side processing to control low frequencies 
• Employing compression stages for different purposes (peak control, character, glue) 

The Results 

The most impressive part? When Jacques finally listens to his mix at the end, the results are remarkably good. While he notes a few minor tweaks he’d make (slightly less reverb on the vocals), the mix achieves exactly what he intended – the vocals sit prominently, the bass has depth without overwhelming, and the drums punch through nicely. “Music is definitely not about numbers and specific targets,” Jacques emphasises, “but over time as you develop a particular sound that sounds good on a lot of records, then you remember that and it allows you to mix that bit faster.” If you’re passionate about developing these kinds of professional mixing skills, pointblank’s Music Production courses can help you build both technical knowledge and critical listening skills. Our expert lecturers, like Jacques, bring real-world industry experience into the classroom every day. Want to learn more about professional mixing techniques and music production? Check out our range of degrees and take your first step toward becoming an expert engineer. 

Inspired?  

We are incredibly proud of our industry expert lecturers. Thanks to their dedication and expertise, pointblank have earned a prestigious Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). Achieving this Gold title is a significant milestone, placing us among the very best institutions. This accolade not only underscores our commitment to delivering world-class education in an industry-focused learning environment but also bolsters our impressive credentials. Learn more about our awards here. 

When it comes to higher education in music, you want to learn from lecturers who are not just active industry professionals but also part of a TEF Gold award-winning team. This ensures you’re learning from the very best, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to match industry standards. Whether you’re passionate about DJing, music production, sound engineering, vocal performance, software engineering, radio, songwriting, or foundation year – pointblank offers degrees in our London as well as our Online campus. 

In addition to providing a wide range of degrees with flexible start dates throughout the year, we offer short courses in all subjects mentioned above. Our campuses are not only based in London but also in Los Angeles, Ibiza, and Online—making them accessible wherever you are in the world. No matter your location or aspirations, we are here to help make your dreams a reality. 

Register to Access Free Courses, Plugins, Projects, Samples & More 

When you register with pointblank, you access an array of free sounds, plugins, online course samples and much more! Simply register below and visit our Free Stuff page to get your hands on a range of exclusive music-making tools and tutorials provided by the team. 

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