• Avoiding a proper sound check before the actual show: you might think that everything is perfect and there are no mistakes to be made, but a sound check is one of the most important things that people often miss. That is one of the major mistakes that musicians make. Now, there are various instances that you can face if you make these mistakes. Here are a few of them, and some tips to avoid them: 

• • The different instruments might not be balanced, which can cause distortions. 

  • It might get difficult for the musicians to listen to themselves while they are performing on stage. 

  • Check all the input lines of different equipment, including all the mics that are being used, the different instruments like guitar and drums and even the boxes. 

  • Pre-test all the different monitors that are there for the different performers in the show. 

  • Walk around the venue and check the audio flow in different areas of the venue. 

• Making a mess and an overload of the mix with multiple frequencies: all the instruments cannot have the same frequency, and the equipment fights to get the same range of frequencies. When the frequency of two different devices overlaps, it results in a bad sound effect. For example, the frequencies of a drum and a guitar might overlap, causing major glitches in the sound mixing. 

• • When the frequency overlaps, the sound becomes hazy, and there is a major loss of clarity. 

  • It is a total mess as the tunes do not match, the song loses its originality, and it is not soothing to the ears. 

  • The usage of EQ carving creates space for all the instruments, which eventually prevents overlapping. It ensures that the audience can enjoy the rhythm of all the different instruments together without glitches. 

PRO TIP: Balance is the key, and it is not always loudness that you should aim for. 

More tips to avoid mistakes

• The ignorance of gain staging: one of the most technical and critical mistakes is the imperfect gain staging. The level of the instruments matters a lot, and if you do not place them correctly, it might cause you a lot of trouble. It can cause distortion, and the audio might completely break apart, providing you with a glitched and dull sound. 

• • The major issue that you will face if you make these mistakes is the distortion of the audio, which can ruin your entire show. 

  • The signal levels might be extremely low, which can cause major issues. 

  • Try to keep a lot of free headroom for the dynamics to avoid improper staging. 

• Overlooking the acoustics of the venue: the acoustics of different places may vary, so it is very important to analyse the acoustics of a place before mixing sounds. Even if your setup is perfect, this small mistake can ruin it for you. 
  

• • People use reverb and lo-fi effects for the aesthetics, but the extreme use of these effects will overshadow the actual form of music. 

  • The bass starts to build up in various congested corners or empty walls. 

  • It is necessary to walk around the venue to check if everything is alright. It is necessary to cover the corners and doors with curtains or panels for a better experience. 

Conclusion

Live-mixing of music and other instruments is not as easy as it seems. It is very critical, and just one single mistake can ruin your entire experience. This is why it is necessary to prevent mistakes for a better outcome.