I've had an idea to create a forum for producers, recording artists and engineers to network and hopefully collaborate and share skills. Also has general studio and business chat, but the mission of the forum is to get people sharing stems and taking their music to the next level, both in musical and engineering terms. I think one thing barrier to budding mix engineers is the lack of music to work and hone their skills on, and this may give both them and the musicians a chance to improve and grow. I've included a showcase section where people can hear before and after mixes.

It was a spur of the moment idea, but it's intentions are purely to help and be of service. Would appreciate any feedback both positive and negative which will help me improve and develop it, so it's what members want.

Please don't let it's infancy put you off, from small acorns remember!

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admin@mix-xchange.com

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The Mix-Xchange

I think the idea of producers, engineers etc sharing all their best kept secrets on an internet forum might be a good one, but in practice I'm not sure it would really work.

Most producers and engineers are working with other people's music so won't have the permission to make stems available to other people (They're are various places to download raw multitracks to practice on, including a very useful link on the SOS forum)

Alot of engineers and producers won't be open to the idea of letting everyone know how they work, what techniques etc they use for other people to just copy them - it is this knowledge and experience that gets them ongoing work.

There is always SOS and GS where people can do exactly what your suggesting, so I feel that there is no problem to be solved.

Sorry to be entirely negative about your idea but I just don't see a gap that needs to be filled. If you could expand on the idea and come up with something unique and genuinely useful then it has, in my humble opinion, a better chance of getting of the ground and becoming a forum people will use.

HTH

JPHogg

Thanks you very much for the valuable feedback JP, and your response is anything but negative.

In terms of the sharing, I want it to be more towards a musician or recording artist gaining from a mix engineers ear, and for engineers having some interesting music to work with. While sharing individual techniques and settings would be interesting, it is very subjective as we all know depending on the music. So not really aiming at people revealing their secrets, more collaborating with other people who have a different expertise and/or equipment and monitoring facilities.

Maybe it is a wild idea, but my 'vision' would be for a place where an engineer could visit, and find a producer outside of their usual realm that they can offer to collaborate with. Also for a musician to visit with something they feel could be better, and get the expertise of an engineer who's willing to donate their time. All this will hopefully result in some tunes reaching a higher potential; letting producers concentrate on creativity, and engineers focussing that feeling into something more balanced and appealing.

Truth is I could be going down a dead end, but it would be great if even just a handful of people could get something useful out of it.

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The Mix-Xchange

I wonder if you might be an ex student trying to promote your skill. I think your idea is commendable. However, as the previous poster said, nobody wants to upload their skills to the net if they already have work.

So much is down to luck and connections. For instance if you search carefully you will find someone who needs a masterer (and there are many musicians who need a polish) so offer your services and get to know them. Meanwhile you stock shelves all day...and then someone else who heard your mastering gets in touch and the day job gets in the way. I guarantee you will get work because I know of someone who did just that.

It is a slow game, but better get to know the producers who need a hand than advertise yourself on the net.

The networking side might be quite useful, especially if there's a facility to upload examples of work. I would probably sign up and put a few tracks up in the hope of attracting more clients.

You've got nothing to lose by giving it a go and if you attract people with the same idea and have a fairly decent traffic count you could maybe add a subscription charge.

Good luck!

JPHogg

Quote Ross@mix-xchange: />
I've had an idea to create a forum for producers, recording artists and engineers to network and hopefully collaborate and share skills. Also has general studio and business chat, but the mission of the forum is to get people sharing stems and taking their music to the next level, both in musical and engineering terms. I think one thing barrier to budding mix engineers is the lack of music to work and hone their skills on, and this may give both them and the musicians a chance to improve and grow. I've included a showcase section where people can hear before and after mixes.

It was a spur of the moment idea, but it's intentions are purely to help and be of service. Would appreciate any feedback both positive and negative which will help me improve and develop it, so it's what members want.

Please don't let it's infancy put you off, from small acorns remember!

mix-xchange forum
admin@mix-xchange.com

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Could this be extended to include a freelance arranger/mixer/producers site where someone could upload their music and let someone have a pop at arranging/mixing/producing and if the results were satisfactory then a full jobby would be done for money?

That's a great perspective atechnogirl, and although I did graduate with an Electronic Music degree a good few years back, I perhaps am looking at it from bias engineering perspective. That said, I would class myself as a producer way before an engineer. I for one do struggle sometimes and am never really happy with my mix, and would really appreciate a place where I can go, listen to some engineers skills and perhaps approach them about doing a mixdown on something I'm happy with musically but can't quite get the mix right. Of course I'd have to hope they were into the music too. I am full time employed and so this would also be another place I could connect with people, but specifically for what I said above.

JP again thanks for your invaluable feedback, and I'm hoping that you get something from the site. I do need to market more though, especially to the musicians/bands etc.

OneWorld, I'd be more than happy to add that facility if what is there doesn't already cover it. You could post in the relevant genre forum with an example of what you want somebody to have a go at and a description of what you are looking for . I'm sure somebody would have a go but you would also need to be happy with what they have to offer you. The payment/contract stuff would be done outside the realms of the forum – it's just there to facilitate.

Great feedback from all, I owe you big.

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The Mix-Xchange

thought I'd put this one back up