The mixing engineer is today’s equivalent to an orchestral conductor, taking elements of musical mosaics, polishing each one while keeping in mind the whole.  A recording can really come to life during the mixing process. It’s where magic can come into a piece of music.  

Music can travel great distances from one version of itself to another.  A piece can even jump genres based on the mix. The full mix might be a funk piece, but an alternate mix consisting of just the synth pads might be considered an ambient piece.     Alternate mixes create more tools for video or audio arts that allow them to craft a piece of any length. It can also afford an editor the ability to create a musical dynamic arc that can follow the images or set the pace for them.   

One of the most important elements of a successful mix is building in time for perspective – taking a break of even a short time and coming back fresh allows for a clear sense of perspective, and quicker decision-making about the big picture of the mix.    

Checking the translation of a mix is learning how well your mix sounds in different environments – your car, laptop, phone.  Accenting the threads between them can ensure the best translation possible.