Master Your Mix Podcast: EP 312: Steven Lee Tracy: Mixing Fast To Stay Objective

Steven Lee Tracy is the owner, producer, and mixing engineer at Saint Cecilia Studios in Tucson, Arizona. Before he was behind the board, he was on stage: a decade as guitarist and songwriter in Seattle indie-rock band The Myriad, whose single "A Clean Shot" became MTV's most-played video in spring 2008 after the band won MTV2's Dew Circuit Breakout. That artist-first background shapes his mixing today: a self-described "production-style" approach built for records that sound like the artist's favorite albums, not just a polite balance of tracks. At Saint Cecilia, Tracy has worked with acts spanning Seattle indie rock to Tucson's Latin-music scene, including Orkesta Mendoza and the Morrissey tribute act Mexrrissey, alongside sync and commercial work for MTV, Adobe, and Axon. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: - Why your 50th listen is lying to you about what's wrong with the mix - The one thing Steven does in the first 30 seconds of every new song - Why he builds drums, bass, and vocals in the same order every single time - What separates a song that needs help from a song you just need to get out of the way of - The mistake Steven made early on that he'd undo if he could start over - Why lower overhead led to better work, not less of it - What changed the moment he stopped saying “yes” to every opportunity TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Carve Audio: Forge 00:03:06 Meet Steven Lee Tracy & His Journey into Music 00:08:08 Dropping Out of School to Chase Music 00:11:04 Building a Career (And Why Success Isn't Linear) 00:17:12 The Biggest Lesson He'd Tell His Younger Self 00:19:15 Designing a Studio That Inspires Creativity 00:24:22 Why He Built a Smaller, More Sustainable Studio 00:29:22 Steven's Mixing Workflow: First Listen & Fast Decisions 00:35:22 Why He Mixes Two Songs a Day 00:37:00 Preparing Sessions the Right Way Before Mixing 00:42:07 How Steven Knows a Mix Is Finished 00:43:00 Why He Turns Down "Safe" Mixing Projects 00:46:32 The Power of Saying No to the Wrong Clients 00:50:56 Why Great Bands Sound Great Before Mixing 00:53:30 Recording to Tape & Committing to Performances 00:56:34 What Makes a Truly Great Mix? 00:58:23 Where to Find Steven Lee Tracy To learn more about Steven Lee Tracy, visit: https://www.saintceciliastudios.com/ Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio: Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/ Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/ Slapshot Delay: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/ Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25 Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!