Why Limitations Are Your Friend

Giving yourself limitations can be one of the most important things you do as an audio engineer. That doesn't sound fun though, does it? Who wants to be limited? I know it sounds counter intuitive, but it will revolutionize your mixes and recordings. Limitations help to get you focused, creative, and more skilled with what you have. So how do we use limitations to our advantage and what does this look like in a real life scenario? Today I'm going to share with you a few ways that you can begin using limitations to get better sounding recordings and mixes.

Limit your plugins. 

One of the quickest ways to get overwhelmed in a mix is by having too many plugins. If you've got ten different EQ plugins, it can be hard to decide on which one you want to use. Or you may just end up spending an hour or two trying them out and not really getting anything done. One way you can avoid this is simply by limiting yourself to just a few plugins of each type. This means maybe have two to three EQ's, compressors, etc. As you begin to limit yourself you will become more proficient at using these plugins and getting work done more efficiently. This is important both for you and your clients. 

Limit the number of instruments you record. 

I know it's tempting to think that if we have twenty instruments going that our mixes are going to sound huge. The irony is that this really doesn't work and can have the opposite effect. Some of the most huge sounding recordings I've heard only had five or so instruments. It's really amazing what you can do when you are forced to work within limitations. Learn how to automate and get dynamic with the instruments you do have. I'm certainly not saying there is a set number you have to record, but don't feel like more instruments will equal a bigger mix. Limit your instruments. 

Limit your time. 

Last but not least, you need to limit the amount of time you spend on a song. If you are spending six hours or more on a mix, you probably aren't getting much done. This is why it is so important to be intentional and know what sound it is you are trying to achieve when recording or mixing. I generally don't spend longer than three hours on a mix. For one thing, my ears will start to fatigue and anything I'm doing after that isn't sounding good anyways. Also, the faster you are with your time, the more work you can do and the better you will get as an engineer. Always be sure to give yourself a time limit. 

Next time you are sitting down to record your next record or mix your next song, keep in mind limitations and how you can use them to your advantage. 

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