Professional Audio Mixing - Studio Stories and Techniques with Lu Diaz

Discover the behind-the-scenes world of professional audio mixing through an intimate 16-minute interview with Grammy-winning engineer Lu Diaz, who shares candid studio stories from his work with major artists including Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Pitbull, and DJ Khaled. Learn about the creative and technical challenges of mixing under pressure, from handling unusual artist requests to navigating high-stakes recording sessions where million-dollar projects hang in the balance. Explore practical mixing techniques including Lu's go-to strategies for overcoming creative blocks, rebooting inspiration when a mix isn't working, and transforming mixing mistakes into the best parts of songs. Gain insights into vocal mixing excellence, understanding what separates good vocal mixes from great ones, and discover surprising mix tricks that even experienced engineers might not know. Examine the psychological aspects of studio work, including how to handle difficult conversations with artists, work on projects you don't initially believe in, and maintain creativity during lengthy album projects. Access essential advice for new mixing engineers, including the three plugins Lu would choose if limited to just three tools and the fundamental skills beginners should prioritize first in their learning journey.

Syllabus

- Introduction
- What's the weirdest request you've received from an artist? DJ Khaled, Jay-Z, Beyoncé
- What’s the longest album project you’ve ever worked on?
- What challenges did you face in this project?
- What’s your best memory from that time?
- What’s your go to move when you’re stuck in a mix?
- How do you reboot creativity?
- Have you ever worked on a song you didn’t believe in that became a big success?
- Do you use any mix tricks that would surprise experienced mix engineers?
- What moment reshaped the way you think about sound?
- Ever had a mix mistake turn into the best part of a song?
- What separates a good vocal mix from a great one?
- What’s the hardest conversation you’ve had with an artist?
- If you only had 3 plugins to mix with, what would they be?
- What should people new to mixing learn first?