Mixing cannot fix a bad song.
Actually, mixing really doesn't fix anything. It's meant to enhance. If you have ever tried to mix something that was recorded badly, it just doesn't work. There really isn't anything you can do. The same goes for a bad song. If a song just isn't good, no amount of mixing is going to make it good.
This means as musicians we need to be more intentional in the songwriting process. We need to write the best songs we can and not forget to practice and get better as songwriters as well as mixers. If you can write a great song, it will almost always translate into a great mix.
How do you know if your song is good? If you have one, this is where a producer comes in. A producer will help you decide whether your song is good or not. However, in today's day and age, the role of producer, engineer, and songwriter are getting intertwined together. This means you may just need to ask your friends. Play your song for some people you know or record a quick demo of it, and see what they think. It is always helpful to get outside your own head.
It's important to spend a good deal of time on the songwriting process before moving on to recording as well. I'm very bad about writing a song and quickly starting the recording process before I really flesh out the songwriting process. When you write a song, try spending some time rearranging it. Change the key. Play it faster. Rewrite a verse. Just try different things. Spend time on the songwriting process and once you've finalized the song, move on the recording stage.
If you don't spend enough time at the songwriting stage, you'll get to the recording stage and then decide you'd like to change something about the song. Then you are going in circles and wasting time. It's much better to get the songs finalized before we move on to the mixing and recording process.
Remember that a great mix will always come from a great song.
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