Where to start Mixing

I've been asked many times "where do I start mixing?" It's really a preference in the way you work. As for me it depends on what song I am working on. 

Usually when I start I play the song once through and during this first pass I do some EQ, some Compression, Pan, and volume as best as I can in the first pass. I bounce it out and now that has become a reference track for me along with others I keep, one that the artist has sent over and other songs that I listen to during my breaks here and there. 

Another approach you can take is find the strongest part of the song, usually the last chorus, everything should be big and memorable. Make that as big as you can, sounding absolutely beautiful then work backwards so you'll be dimming things down until you get to the most softest point in the song. 

And the last approach that a lot of engineers take is starting off with the drums and mixing from the beginning of the song to the end, mixing vocals last. Some engineers also start with mixing vocals first but that depends on the song itself as well.

hope this helps.

#EveryDetailCounts!