Mix Artist Studio Newsletter February 2025
Dear Artists and Music Creators,
2025 takes off with fresh opportunities for government-funded grants - offering up to $30,000 to help finance your recording projects. Before we get to the grants, I want to share something even more valuable - something that will elevate every music project you take on.
I recently watched an inspiring aviation documentary where a pilot explained a phenomenon called Get-there-itis. It can happen when a pilot becomes so fixated on landing as planned that they lose the flexibility to adapt to changing conditions. This mindset can lead to cutting corners and taking unnecessary risks - such as forcing a landing when initiating a go-around would be the safest choice.
Creatives deal with a similar phenomenon, called Demo-itis. A classic example? Movie directors working with music composers. In the early editing stages, directors often use temporary music as placeholders. If they hear that temp music over and over, they can become so attached that when the real composer delivers a much better film score, they struggle to accept it.
As studio operator and mix engineer, I am at risk of falling into the same trap. A rough mix printed at the end of a recording session usually sounds pretty good, and after repeated listens, the final mix - despite being objectively clearer, more balanced, and better overall - just doesn’t “feel right” anymore.
And of course, I work with clients suffering from Demo-itis, too. An early symptom might be a client telling me they’ve been tweaking their mix for weeks or months, but they can't get it past 90% and ask me to take it to 100% for them. Well, if one cannot get past 90%, mistakes were made around the 50% mark which now manifest as roadblocks. To fix that, I'd have to dig deep and debug someone else's mix, and that's much more complex and time-consuming than starting the mix from scratch. But even if I started from scratch and delivered a 99-100% mix, a client suffering from Demo-itis has gotten so used to their own 90% mix that they are uncomfortable hearing their song differently - even if "different" sounds objectively better. Demo-itis is caused by overexposure to an early mix, rewiring your brain to prefer it - even if the final mix is objectively better.
Being stuck in Demo-itis is like sitting on the runway with engines revving but never lifting off. Burning all your fuel, but not getting anywhere.
The problem is, someone suffering from Demo-itis is rarely aware of their condition.
Why Does Demo-itis Happen?
Liking a song (or not) is never the outcome of a rational, analytical thinking process. Instead, our subconscious gut feeling makes that decision before our conscious mind even gets involved: you tab your foot and bob your head to a song you like - even if your conscious mind is occupied in an engaging conversation or by driving in heavy traffic. And for our subconscious to like a sound, 3 conditions must be met:
our subconscious must recognise patterns in the sound
the sound invokes a familiar feeling
we must be exposed to the sound pattern repeatedly
This explains why catchy hooks stick in our heads, why ads are attention-grabbing and repeated endlessly, that's why certain songs climb the charts after being played again and again by radio stations or in streaming playlists, and that's why we romanticise the inferior sound of vintage gear used in the classic recordings of gone-by decades - we've listened to the music recorded with it since we were kids.
What We Can Learn From Pilots
"Spatial disorientation" is a super-dangerous phenomenon where a pilot develops an inaccurate perception of pitch, altitude, or motion because the inner ear, responsible for balance, is misled by flight forces.
To counteract this, pilots split roles: one flies while the other monitors instruments. They rely on gauges and the artificial horizon over bodily sensations. They follow structured flight plans, and use checklists for unexpected events. Pilots are trained to detect spatial disorientation, and drilled to execute escape manoeuvres from muscle memory to regain control and avoid dangerous situations.
How I Overcome Demo-itis
So, what escape manoeuvres do we engineers use? Just like any other human, I have good days and also bad days occasionally. What helps me in all situations is a full awareness of how my perception can be blurred under certain conditions, and then controlling those conditions deliberately.
Here are a few tricks I use when mixing:
The best remedy? Take a break. By the time I finish a mix, I’ve heard it hundreds of times. I step away for a day or two to distance myself mentally, and when I return, I hear the mix objectively with fresh ears.
I test in different environments to see if my mix holds its integrity on imperfect speakers such as laptop speakers, Bluetooth speakers and even on my phone.
I distract my conscious mind by looping the mix, and then I walk to another room and focus on something else, such as soldering or maintenance tasks. If nothing grabs my attention, the mix is probably done. If something suddenly stands out, I know there’s still work to do.
How can Musicians Avoid Demo-itis?
Fortunately, Demo-itis is treatable. The best remedy is self-awareness and observing yourself objectively. Here’s how to keep Demo-itis in check:
Don’t over-listen. Take breaks between sessions.
Finish your work within a reasonable timeframe. Don’t drag out a project for months - you’ll lose perspective and enthusiasm.
NEVER put a limiter on an unfinished mix. It’s like a pilot forcing a landing before they’re ready - a recipe for crash-landing.
(Limiters are a huge topic by themselves, there's heaps more to unpack. Let me know if you want me to cover limiters in another newsletter.)
If you suspect you suffer from Demo-itis, and you need your ears examined, I recommend consulting a professional for an expert second opinion. I am happy to listen and chat with you about your project - reach out via my website mixartist.com.au to schedule a consultation session.
Recording Grants up to $30k Available Now
Now that we've addressed the unnecessary Demo-itis baggage, let's taxi full-throttle to your music projects. Government recording grants of up to $30k are now up for grabs but you need to act soon - clearance for takeoff expires March 10th!
Demo-itis won’t crash your plane, but it can stall your progress. If you need fresh ears, I’m here to help - sometimes, a second opinion is all it takes to break the spell.
And if you need help with your grant application, I'm happy to help as well.
Get in touch and let's chat about your music project!
Warm Regards,
[House Engineer & Studio Manager]
Mix Artist Studio
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