If you’ve been making music from home for any amount of time, chances are your plugin folder is overflowing with “must-have” plugins that you barely use. Sound familiar? You’re not alone.
The endless pursuit of new plugins, better tools, and the latest gear can actually be hurting your creativity and productivity. Today, I want to reframe how we think about plugins, share insights from legendary mix engineer Michael Brauer, and give you a better approach to mixing that keeps you focused on the music—not the tech.
The Problem with Plugin Hoarding
For the past few years, I’ve outsourced my mixing to other engineers while I focused on production. It was a great way to keep things moving, but as my output increased, hiring a mixer became too expensive to justify for every song. So, I decided to jump back into mixing and refine my process.
But the moment I started studying mixing techniques, the plugin problem hit me hard. Every tutorial featured different third-party plugins, each one looking like a magic bullet for better mixes. I got sucked into the cycle:
🔄 Watching plugin demos
🔄 Downloading trials
🔄 Researching reviews
🔄 Buying new plugins
🔄 …and never actually mixing!
Instead of making music, I was buried in endless plugin options, trying to find the “perfect” tools instead of focusing on what actually matters—creating music that connects with people.
The Reframe: Treat Mixing Like Driving a Car
Legendary mix engineer Michael Brauer (Coldplay, John Mayer) shared a powerful reframing of mixing that completely changed my mindset:
🚗 Think of your mix setup like a car. When you drive, you’re not thinking about the engine, transmission, or mechanics—you just get in and go.
Brauer sets up his mix template so that when he sits down to mix, he’s not tinkering with tools—he’s making music. He’s not distracted by plugin choices. He’s focused on the feel and movement of the song.
And that’s where many of us go wrong.
Instead of driving the car, we’re still under the hood, obsessing over every part of the engine. We get lost in endless plugin options, hoping they’ll “fix” something, when what we really need is to just mix the damn song.
The Solution: Build Your Car Once, Then Drive
The key to breaking free from the plugin rabbit hole is to create a structured mix setup—your “car”—so you can focus on the music, not the tools.
Steps to Simplify Your Mixing Workflow:
1️⃣ Define Your Essential Tools:
- Choose a channel strip for basic EQ and compression.
- Pick a bus compressor and some saturation for glue.
- Use one or two reverbs and delays to keep things simple.
2️⃣ Build a Mix Template:
- Set up your go-to routing, buses, and processing chains in advance.
- Load the same core plugins into your template so you don’t have to think about it later.
3️⃣ Commit to Your System:
- Instead of constantly testing new plugins, force yourself to mix with what you have.
- If you’re getting good results, resist the temptation to change your tools.
Why This Works:
✅ You spend less time tinkering and more time creating.
✅ You develop muscle memory for your tools, making mixing faster and more intuitive.
✅ You stop chasing the “perfect” plugin and start trusting your ears.
Final Thoughts: Stop Fixating on Plugins, Start Making Music
The truth is, great music isn’t about having the most plugins—it’s about making strong creative decisions. When you remove the distraction of endless plugin choices, you can finally focus on the song, the emotion, and the impact.
So ask yourself: Are my plugins serving my music, or am I serving my plugins?
If you’re stuck in the plugin trap, try simplifying your setup, building a mix template, and focusing on what actually matters—finishing and releasing music.
🎙️ Want to improve your vocal production before mixing? I’m launching a live workshop on vocal editing and prep for mixing—because great mixes start with great recordings. Join the waitlist here!
