Are you frustrated with the mixing process?

How to Create Jaw-Dropping Mixes in Less Time Than You Ever Thought Possible Without Wasting Gobs of Money on Fancy Hardware and Plugins

Discover a "stupid simple" 5-step mixing process that makes mixing effortless, even if (especially if) you've never finished a single mix in your life.

Dear Musician,

If you've ever wanted to create pro-level mixes that wow your friends and make your music buddies jealous (without wasting thousands of dollars on fancy software plugin bundles and high-end studio equipment)…while only spending a few hours on each mix…then this may be the most exciting message you've read in a long time.

Here's what this is all about: My name is Joe Gilder. A few years back I got my degree in audio production, but I couldn't mix my way out of a paper bag. They taught us how to run recording sessions out of multi-million-dollar studios, but they didn't teach us a dang thing about mixing.

I had a class where the final "exam" was to play a finished mix of a band project we had produced that semester. A panel of professors listened to my mix. Their only comment was: "The drums sound boxy."

That was it. I didn't know what boxy meant, and I sure didn't know how to fix it.

Pretty frustrating, right? You pour yourself into a creative project, only to receive useless feedback. They acted like mixing should be simple and obvious. "Just make it sound good, dummy."

But that's not how this works at all.

That's when I realized:

I had to figure this out on my own.

So I got to work. I mixed anything I could get my hands on. For years I devoted countless hours to recording, producing, and (most of all) mixing.

I had thousands of dollars' worth of plugins at my disposal, and I deployed them like a military general launching an all-out offensive on the enemy.

But my mixes still sucked. I would mix for hours on end, only to come back later and realize the song sounded worse than it did when I had started.

I felt like quitting. Something had to change. All these fancy, beautiful plugins, and still my mixes sounded like hot garbage.

Then it dawned on me.

"Maybe it's not the tools. Maybe it's ME."

Armed with a tiny glimmer of hope, I went back to my mixes and made two vital changes:

1. I ditched the fancy plugins and only used the stock plugins that came with my software.
2. I chose to take a minimalist approach to mixing.

I suspected that I had been doing too much in my mixes. It was a classic case of owning a hammer and viewing everything as a nail. I decided to ONLY use plugins when absolutely necessary. I focused on really listening to the raw tracks themselves, and letting THEM tell me what they needed.

I treated it like that old game show "Name That Tune," only instead of saying, "I can name that tune in 4 notes," I would say, "I can mix those drums with 2 plugins.

And what happened?

My mixes improved OVERNIGHT.

• My mixes went from muddy and lifeless to huge and powerful.
• I enjoyed mixing again. (It's no fun to be bad at something; I felt like I had unlocked a secret weapon.)
• My confidence soared. (In a matter of months, I went from feeling timid and unsure of my mixes to feeling convinced that I could mix any song that came my way, and make it sound INCREDIBLE.)

I found myself cranking out high-quality, pro-level, radio-ready mixes in a fraction of the time. And I knew I had come across a huge revelation…

The Audio Industry is WRONG About What it Takes to Create Pro-Level Mixes!

They tell you that you need to buy expensive hardware and software if you want any hope of creating great mixes. "This new plugin will make your mixes sound amazing!"

But it's simply not true. (No more than it's true that Eric Clapton's guitar is what makes him sound amazing. He could make any guitar sound amazing.)

In fact, many embarrassed home studio owners have confessed to me that owning all those plugins, without first understanding the fundamentals of how to create a great mix, actually destroyed their chances of making any progress. (One guy sheepishly told me that he had spent $20,000 on plugins without seeing any improvement to his mixes, and that a few lessons from me had changed everything for him.)

Back to my mixing experiment…

Surging with this newfound confidence (and feeling like I had developed super-powers), I proceeded to mix approximately a bajillion songs with this new approach. I then stepped back and analyzed my mixing process, and I noticed something.

Every mix, whether it was a massive full-band production or a simple guitar/vocal demo, went through the same five phases.

Every time, without fail. And the results were consistently great.

I Had Stumbled Across a Simple 5-Step Secret to Amazing-Sounding Mixes

I was honestly shocked. After all, I don't have "golden ears." I wasn't born with a "gift" for mixing. Heck, I didn't even have a bag of fancy mixing "hacks."

I had unintentionally developed a 5-Step Mixing System that anyone can follow to crank out pro-level mixes.

It's a simple, easy-to-follow process that simply works. If you can follow directions, you can become a great mix engineer.

Mixing greatness isn't a mysterious process only available to a few "chosen" elites.

It's readily accessible to people just like you.

To get there, you can do what I did: dedicate the next 10 years to figuring it out on your own, one painful mix at a time. It is 100% possible, but it's SLOW.

OR I can teach you.

I created a training program to teach the 5-Step Mixing System to people like you, so you could see for yourself how it transforms your mixes.

The program is called, simply, Home Studio Mixing.

"Home Studio Mixing was THE game-changer for me personally, and the best investment in my time in this game EVER." - Scott Parker, Middletown, Maryland

Inside Home Studio Mixing, you'll discover:

• The one unbelievably simple single-word concept that will change your approach to mixing FOREVER. (It's something that most people ignore, and it's ruining their mixes. Once you implement this one change, you'll never go back to the old way again.)
• How to set up your software in a specific way that allows you to mix much faster than you ever have before, without sacrificing quality. (One of the hallmarks of a great mix engineer is their ability to get results quickly and efficiently. This simple template allows you to do just that.)
• An easy way to wrangle large sessions (with 100+ tracks) without feeling even a little bit overwhelmed. (The key is to group all the similar tracks together, so a song with 100 tracks really only feels like a song with 8 tracks.)
• The right way to use EQ, which goes against much of the EQ advice out there. (Most people make things WORSE when they start adding EQ. My simple EQ philosophy prevents this from happening.)
• How (and when) to add tools like compression to your mix. (And how to add it in such a way that even one compressor can completely transform the mix…in a matter of seconds.)
• How to use compression like a pro, and how to avoid using too much compression. (Compression is like salt on your food. Too little and the mix feels lifeless. Too much, and the mix is ruined.)
• One specific compression parameter that will make or break your mixes. (Most people don't realize how powerful this setting is, and how it can sabotage your mixes if you set it the wrong way.)
• How to make drums sound big, full, and punchy, EVEN if you've never mixed drums before. (Most people are intimidated by drums, and it's a shame. Drums are one of my favorite things to mix, and when you mix them the way I teach, you'll unveil a big, hard-hitting, punchy drum mix in less than 5 minutes.)
• The secret to making bass guitar sound like a warm hug rather than a muddy mess. (It involves a powerful but counter-intuitive approach to EQ that no one ever talks about.)
• A simple approach to making sure bass guitar and kick drum always play nicely together. (And it doesn't involve anything crazy like side-chaining the bass from the kick.)
• How to make instruments like guitar and keyboards fill up the mix without making it feel muddy or harsh. (Done right, you can set up your guitar and keyboard mix in just a few minutes.)
• The simple trick to setting perfect levels for all the tracks in your mix. (It's so simple, you'll be tempted to ignore it, but please don't.)
• A one-second change you can make to your setup that virtually eliminates any clipping issues in your mix. (This has the added bonus of making your mixes vastly more consistent. The more consistent you are, the faster your mixes will improve.)
• How to get rid of muddy mixes forever, and how to pinpoint exactly where the muddiness is coming from. (Oftentimes, the muddiness is sneaky, and the culprit isn't the track you suspect.)
• How to make vocals stand out and "sit on top of the mix." (So many people have a fundamental misunderstanding of what a good lead vocal sounds like, which means their vocal mixes are either too muddy or too harsh.)
• How a simple panning technique can dramatically improve the sound of your mix. (This is something the pros do all the time, but a lot of people don't realize it.)
• When to use plugins like EQ, compression, reverb, delay, and more. (Plus how to avoid the single most common mixing mistake: adding plugins too early in the process.)
• The right way to use effects like reverb and delay. (When people get this wrong, they create more problems for themselves and end up with amateur-sounding mixes.)
• Why most mixing advice out there is unnecessary and overly complicated, and what to do instead. (It's human nature to want to over-complicate things, but if you embrace a minimalist approach to mixing, you won't believe how much better your mixes will sound, and how much faster you're able to finish them!)
• How it's possible to mix HUGE songs with only a handful of plugins, if you do it the right way. (Imagine cutting your mixing time in HALF or more by changing your fundamental approach to mixing…how many more songs would you mix if you didn't have to slave over the mix for hours on end? A lot more, right?!)
• How to decide what order to use plugins. (EQ then compression? Compression then EQ? What about reverb and delay? You'll discover a simple process for choosing the right tool every time.)
• Why stock plugins (the tools that come with your recording software) are more than capable of creating pro-level mixes. (For this entire course, I ONLY use the stock plugins that come with my software. If you can't get a good mix with stock plugins, the problem is your approach, not your tools.)
• How to avoid the soul-sucking process of mixing songs one track at a time. (Instead of your mix sessions being a total snooze-fest, they'll become action-packed adventures, where you'll dial in amazing sounds in a matter of MINUTES rather than hours.
• Since mixing is all about problem-solving, you'll learn to easily and quickly diagnose problems in your mixes, and you'll know exactly how to solve them. (You'll find yourself hearing things you never thought possible, and intuitively knowing exactly how to solve the problem. It'll feel like having super powers.)
• How to MAKE MIXING FUN AGAIN. (Rather than dreading your next mixing session, you'll be chomping at the bit to get into the studio and finish another amazing mix.)
• The three types of BALANCE necessary to achieve pro-level mixes. (Once you learn these, any imbalances in your mix will stick out like a sore thumb.)
• How to get jaw-dropping mixes with only EQ and compression. (You'll use more types of plugins, for sure, but you'll be amazed at how great things can sound with only these two tools, using the method I teach.)
• How to know, for certain, when your mix is FINISHED. (A system I accidentally developed to help me know WITHOUT A DOUBT when my mix is finished.)
• What automation is and how to use it to put the finishing touches on your mix. (And no, it doesn't have to be a long, laborious process. You'll learn my quick 'n easy approach to automation that you can implement in just a few minutes.)
• Why complex solutions are almost never the right choice, and how simpler solutions almost always sound better. (People don't like the idea of simple solutions…until they hear the results. Your job isn't to ADD a bunch of "stuff" to the tracks. Your job is to do as little as possible to make the song COME ALIVE. And it's FAR easier than you think.)
• A controversial approach to mixing that will help you mix songs FAST. (There are people online who HATE this approach, perhaps because it gets such great results in such a short amount of time…that it feels like cheating.)

The 5-Step Mixing System

There are two ways to learn my 5-Step Mixing System.

One way is to hire me to come out to your studio and teach you, one-on-one for a few days, but that's expensive (starting at $4,000 plus travel expenses).

The other option is to enroll in the Home Studio Mixing online video training course.

Inside the course, I will teach you, in detail, everything you need to know start getting great mixes in your home studio. You'll learn important concepts, techniques, and strategies. As I teach you each concept, I'll show you exactly how that concept applies on a real-world mixing session. (For example, when I teach you the core concepts of how to best use EQ, in the next video I will demonstrate by using those EQ strategies on my mix.)

"I knew absolutely nothing when I started. I can't believe how far I've come in such a short amount of time. You're an awesome teacher!" - Marcy Bogren, Fort Collins, Colorado

The course is a fun combination of training and demonstration. Over the length of the course, you will get to follow along with me as I mix one of my songs from start to finish. (Some students choose to mix the song along with me, using the provided tracks. Others like to finish the course first and THEN mix the song. The choice is yours.)

If you have questions along the way, Each video has a comments section below it. I make it a point to respond to any questions here. I'm with you as you go through this process.

Most people take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to finish the course. There are no live classes to attend. You can work at your own pace.

How much will you pay for the course? Only $247. (And you only pay that if it actually transforms your mixes. More on that later.)

"Awesome! Just awesome. After completing two other mixing courses in the past and being discouraged, I FINALLY feel like I'm really beginning to understand what a good mix is and how to implement one of my own." - Mike O'Baugh, Mount Sidney, Virginia

I haven't even told you about the bonuses yet.

Bonuses Worth $535

In addition to the core content of Home Studio Mixing, you'll also receive the following bonuses.

Bonus Mix Sessions (from Home Studio Recording) - Home Studio Mixing is one of 4 flagship courses that I offer (I have one on Songwriting, Recording, and Mastering as well). In the recording course, we record one song three different ways: a simple guitar/vocal, a "medium" production with lots of tracks and even cello, and a full rock band version. As a special bonus for Home Studio Mixing customers, I recorded mixing tutorials for each of these songs as I mixed them, walking you through the 5-step process on each one. Learning the concept is important. Repeating the process over and over again is how you get better. I've included the tracks to these bonus sessions, so you can mix along with me. (Value: $297)

8 Detrimental Mixing Mistakes - This bonus training helps you avoid the most common mistakes I see plaguing home studio folks, sabotaging their results. You don't have to make the same mistakes I did. Implement the ideas in this training to instantly advance your progress by years. (Value: $47)

10 Ways to Slash Your Mixing Time in HALF - What if I told you that you could mix a full song in under an hour? A lot of people think that's impossible. But it's not. This bonus training gives you 10 ways to shave lots of time off your mixes. Why does that matter? If you mix faster, you can make more music, accomplish more in less time, and see results faster than ever. (Value: $47)

Voiceover Mixing Blueprint - Mixing spoken word is very different from mixing a singer. A lot of my students find themselves in positions where they need to be able to get consistently great "voiceover" mixes, whether they're creating a podcast, YouTube videos, or perhaps mixing sermon audio from their church. This training will show you the exact process I use for getting consistently great-sounding spoken word recordings, every time. It's much simpler than you think. (Value: $47)

Mix Practice (50+ songs to mix) - As you learn this new way of mixing songs, you'll want to practice these new skills. Mix Practice gives you instant access to over 50 multi-tracks to download and mix. Not only will you be able to practice your mixing skills, but having access to high-quality tracks will help you better understand the recording and production process, what your raw tracks need to sound like if you want to get great mixes. (Value: $97)

The total value for the course plus these bonuses adds up to $785, but your price today for everything I've mentioned is only $247.

"I have been home recording for about 4 years now, but I learned more in these past 5 or 6 weeks than in all that time before!" - Lee Odell, Johnstown, CO

It's All GUARANTEED (no really)

If you follow this course and apply the system to your music, you will see transformational results. You won't believe how great your music will sound. If not, you can request a FULL REFUND. I call it The Most Ridiculous Guarantee on the Internet. You have ONE YEAR to decide if this was worth the money. (Try returning a microphone to the store after a year; they will laugh in your face. Not me.) I want to take the risk out of the equation for you. You've got nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

Why would I offer such a generous guarantee? Because I honestly believe in this program. Thousands of people have gone through it and changed their lives because of it. But I know that ordering an online course can be intimidating. I've been selling online courses since 2009. I'm not going anywhere. I wouldn't have built a sustainable business if I didn't take amazing care of my customers, including offering generous refunds to help them feel comfortable with their purchase.

"Your course is mentoring and was so groundbreaking for me. No more trial and error, no more guesswork, no more ultimate frustration." - Walter Kreutzer, Rastatt, Germany

Common Questions

Here are the answers to a few question you may have.

Joe, where can we hear some of your mixes?

I've released 50+ of my own songs on all major streaming platforms under my name. But here are a couple of my favorites (all produced and mixed by me):

"Fighter" by Joe Gilder:

"It's Okay" by Joe Gilder:

Will this 5-Step Mixing System work with my style of music?

Yep. While the songs I use in the course are mostly folk/rock tunes, the core concepts of mixing apply to any genre of music. I've used them on everything from a cappella songs to orchestral music to hip-hop to French rap. Mixing is mixing.

Joe, I'm just a hobbyist. I don't need to invest in a course, right?

If you're happy with your mixes, then by all means, continue as you are. But if your mixes are disappointing and embarrassing for you, it makes sense to invest some of your music budget into fixing the core problem. The core problem is your process, your system, your workflow. The core problem is YOU. If you upgrade YOU, you upgrade every other piece of gear in your studio. This has nothing to do with whether you make money from music or not. Amateur golfers spend money on coaching. Regular people hire personal fitness trainers. Training isn't just for the pros. It's for anyone who wants to up their game.

What DAW do you use?

I use Presonus Studio One in all my videos. If you are not a Studio One user, don't worry. I focus on teaching concepts that apply no matter what software you're using. Many of my students use different software from me, and it's never been a problem.

Joe, you haven't won a Grammy, and you haven't mixed anything I've heard on Top 40 radio, so why should I learn from you?

Fair question. As a fairly cynical person myself, this would be my first question as well. Here's my answer:

The fact that you are reading this right now means that I have, at some point in the recent past, provided value for you. When I started Home Studio Corner on YouTube in 2009, my goal was to simply share my experience as a guy making music in a home recording studio. People found it incredibly helpful, so much so that they were longing for me to give them MORE. So I started creating training courses, to teach them my workflow and processes in a more in-depth way than I can do on a single YouTube video.

And they loved them. People bought them. More importantly, they experienced real transformation in their music.

That's why I do this, because I've learned how to make great-sounding music in a home recording studio, and there are people out there who need and want my help.

If it's important to you that your teacher has a Grammy, then I'm not the one to help you. I wish you the best on your journey, but this program isn't for you.

I never claimed to be anything I'm not. I simply discovered that I'm good at this music production thing, and (even better) I'm really good at helping other people do the same thing.

If that's something that excites you, then you're the kind of person I want inside this program.

"Your method is exceptional. No BS, just really helpful and entertaining content. Having done a lot of online courses before, your mixing course method really got me moving forward like no other. You’re a rock star dude!!!" - Nate Stucky, Buderim, Australia

Do you guarantee that I'll get great results from this course?

Yes. I do. Obviously, if you never actually watch the videos, it won't help you. If you don't apply what you learn, it won't help you. But my 1-Year Guarantee applies to you whether you put in the work or not. THAT'S how confident I am in this program. If you actually put in the effort, you'll see incredible results. If not, you won't. Either way, you're covered by the 1-year guarantee.

Joe, this course is expensive!

I'll admit, this course is not cheap. But then again, neither is an audio degree.

Last I checked, you could spend anywhere from $20,000 to $70,000 or MORE on an audio degree. (And remember, I didn't even learn how to mix from my 4-year audio degree.)

A recent study showed that the average home studio musician will spend anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000 on instruments, equipment, and software in their lifetime. Think about how much money you've spent on your home studio already. Computer, instruments, hardware, software… Doesn't it make sense to redirect a small portion of your music budget into investing in YOURSELF? After all, what's the point of all that gear if you can't even get a good mix? Investing in yourself is a way to upgrade every piece of gear you own, because you'll be better able to make it sound incredible.

And yes, I could charge $5 for this course, but you wouldn't value it. I've personally spent well over $20,000 on courses and coaching and training, and it has ALWAYS been worth it. By investing money in myself, I'm more likely to do what it takes to get maximum value out of the investment. And that's what I'm offering to you with this program.

"I have a certificate in music production from Berklee. That education just feels like an 'overview' compared to what I learned from you in this course alone. And I'm still paying for the other thing. LOL!!" - Erin Murphy-Dunn, Dunstable, Massachusetts

"I am so pleased to have been on this journey with you and have learnt so much, thank you. It is the best money I have ever paid for a course. I will be coming back to it for refreshers often." - Ray Twyman, Chatham, Great Britain

Do you have more courses I can buy?

Why yes, yes I do. I currently have three flagship courses, one for each major phase of the music production process, one for recording, one for mixing (this one), and one for mastering.

These each sell for $247, but if you purchase the Simple Music Production System, you'll get all of them at a stiff discount.

Here's a quick description of each of the other courses:

 Home Studio Recording is one of the most fun projects I've ever worked on. I teach you how to become a skilled engineer AND producer (and how to know the difference). To demonstrate these skills, I produce the same song three very different ways, and you get to join me for the entire process. By the end of this course, you'll have everything you need to confidently produce any song you want.

Home Studio Mastering proves that the mastering process doesn't have to be a mystery. In fact, there's a 5-step process you can start using right away to get big, powerful masters, every time. No more guesswork, just consistently great masters.

The Simple Music Production System also includes:

Personalized Feedback on One of Your Mixes - This is your chance to get private, recorded, personalized feedback from me on one of your songs, redeemable any time. My normal rate for this is $250. This is one of the BEST ways to jump-start your creative process, having someone give you specific, actionable feedback on exactly what your song needs.

"This is amazing Joe. I am captivated and encouraged to continue on the journey. Thank you for doing this…Your simple approach to this is so foundational and appreciated." - Jim Davidson, White House, Tennessee

The fact that you've read this far means a few things:

• You love music, and you have a deep desire to create beautiful, excellent, jaw-dropping mixes. (But you haven't been able to make that dream a reality yet.)
• You have a sneaky suspicion that this program is exactly what you need. (You realize that your mixes won't change until YOU change. You know deep down that another plugin bundle won't do the trick. You know this could be the best money you'll ever spend on your music.)
• You're worried about what happens if you buy this program and your mixes don't improve. (That is completely understandable. Here's the good news. If you can follow simple instructions, you can transform your mixes. And if it doesn't work out for you, I'll issue a full refund, and you can go spend that money on something else.)
• You're ready for a change. You're not getting the results you want in your studio.

Imagine walking into your studio, knowing full well that you can crank out an incredible mix whenever. you. want. I can tell you from personal experience, it's an incredible feeling.

If you feel even the slightest hint of excitement that this program could be a game-changer for you, you owe it to yourself to take a chance on it.

Heck, you could put it on your credit card, work through the material, and request a refund before the credit card bill comes due if you want. But that's not what will happen.

Here's what will happen:

You'll discover a renewed sense of passion for music. You'll listen to music more intently. You'll find yourself "sneaking" into your studio to work on music more than you ever have. You'll uncover a confidence you never had, a confidence that dreams up big ideas for big projects. You'll start to realize how possible it is to create a body of work, and you'll immerse yourself in making that next project a reality.

I've seen it happen time and time again. People come alive to music for the first time in a long time. They regain a childlike wonder at what's possible, and they make the best music of their lives, the music they were born to make.

Sounds fun, right?

It is. And it's waiting for you.

"I have now gotten the confidence in my mixes to where my band is telling me my mixes are sounding great, and I am starting to have other bands knock on my door! You're a great teacher and admire all you do. THANKS JOE!!" - Dino Eumenidi, Stafford Springs, Connecticut

Here's What You Do Next:

Just below, you'll find two order buttons, one for the Home Studio Mixing course, and one for the as bundle with 2 other courses. Decide which one you want to purchase and click the "BUY NOW" button. On the following screen, you'll enter your contact and payment information. This will allow you to create your account in our system, if you don't already have a login.

After you enroll, you will be automatically redirected to the login area, where you can start working on the course IMMEDIATELY.

Joe Gilder
Home Studio Corner

P.S. Here are a few comments students left inside the course when they finished…

"Phenomenal course. I know I have grown during this journey and I thank you!" - Cory Waldroup, Nashville, Tennessee

"I can't believe the difference between the first steps and the final mix! Hearing is believing, and I believe I've learned a great deal." - Harold Haskell, Salem, Oregon

"Nice to learn from a real pro." - Brian Hannaway, Charlotte, North Carolina

"After 48 years of gigging and 22 years of home recording, I thought this course would help me out only a bit. How wrong was I? So much more than expected. I'm now looking forward to enjoying my newly found skills." - Graham Mizen, Lincoln, Great Britain

"This was incredibly helpful. To have all this info concentrated like this really, really makes a difference…I just re-mixed a couple of songs from before this course, and man, I was appalled with myself. What was I thinking? Tried a bit of what you showed me here, and just like that - almost like magic - they came together much better. I can't thank you enough, Joe." - Brato Useba, Scotsburn, Nova Scotia

"Sooo much amazing content in here … I’ll be revisiting these videos many times I have no doubt!" - Cory Thomas, Calgary, Canada

"I'm glad I happened to catch a YouTube vid of yours, which got me to open your channel, which got me to invest in your course. I've taken more than one course like this and yours has quite honestly tied a bright, golden bow on top of it all. Well done, Sir… Well done." - Michael Haley, Fort Mill, South Carolina