Skepta & Chipmunk Engineer MsM Rates 14 Common Mix Tips

Nov 12, 2026 | 5 Views

Should mixing engineers remove their mix bus plugins before mastering?

In this episode of Waves' Mix Trick or Trash, producer and mix engineer Michalis "MsM" Michael (Skepta, Chipmunk, Ed Sheeran) rates 14 of social media's most debated mix tips.

From boosting EQ instead of cutting and mixing in mono to gain staging, volume automation and committing effects while recording, MsM challenges a range of common mixing rules we've all been told to follow. Which tips get a perfect 10 and which deserve a straight zero? Hear his scores, his reasoning and why he believes learning to listen is more important than following someone else's mixing rules.

Video Chapters:

0:00 - Intro
0:30 - High-pass everything and using reference tracks
0:43 - Mixing in mono
0:58 - Sidechain compression
1:15 - Checking your mix in the car
1:26 - Mixing through your master bus chain as early as possible
1:46 - Never boost EQ, only cut
2:01 - If a mix sounds good on AirPods, it'll sound good anywhere
2:15 - Committing effects when recording and parallel compression
2:38 - Always mix at low volumes
3:07 - How important is gain staging?
3:31 - Why volume automation matters
4:02 - Is delay more important than reverb?

Watch Previous Mix Trick or Trash Episodes.

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