Gary Hiebner

Taking this course made me realize something simple but powerful: mixing is a lot like cooking. You can follow a recipe step by step, but if you don’t understand why each step exists, you’ll struggle the moment something changes. The real skill comes from understanding the purpose behind every decision, not just repeating a process. In cooking, heat, timing, and ingredients interact in different ways depending on the context. Mixing works the same way — every track, every session, every artist brings a different scenario. Without a deeper understanding, you're just applying moves blindly. One thing I felt was missing in the course was the importance of having a clear sound reference. It’s not just about going through a process and hoping it sounds “good enough” by standard. It’s about shaping your decisions toward a defined sonic goal. A great mix shouldn’t come from habit or routine — it should come from intention. In the end, the course gives you tools, but it’s up to you to go beyond the steps and truly understand the craft.
- Review by Carlos Felipe Vargas Daza on Mixing & Mastering with Presonus Studio One