How to Check a Music Mix Using the MySpace Player

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For many years recording engineers and enthusiasts have elected to reference their mixes on a vast and often bizarre array of playback systems. When a mix engineer completes a mix in their studio environment it may cause the artist confusion and ambivalence. Just because the engineer feels comfortable with the sonic results of his work the environment is considered foreign to the artist. The most common test still seems to be taking the mix to the car for the ultimate test. It seems no matter who you talk to-if it sounds great in the car then it must be great. As music has evolved to the point at which, it's distribution seems more geared towards digital consumption, it is no doubt more accessible on "friend" sites like Myspace. I will guide you step by step through my pragmatic approach to accurately reference your mix for real-world applications. Looks like the Myspace player is slowly becoming the new car stereo.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

A mix of your music
A computer
Myspace music site

Step1

Take the new marvelous mix and convert it to an mp3 of the lowest bit rate.

The lower better the bit rate the better. We're basically succumbing to the lowest common denominator.

Step2

Upload the mp3 into the Myspace player (everybody has one now, right?), which is basically a sonic decimator anyway.

Step3

Now play the song from the player with the output being generated from the computer's horrific mono speaker (Mac Mini is great for this)

If it translates well on such a diminutive playback system then you may have yourself a stellar mix.

Tips & Warnings

I have known people to create some rather unique methods of referencing their recorded material. I recall one artist who was inclined to drive to the nearest retail audio/video superstore and play their music on every system available.
It is encouraged that you allow yourself the opportunity to reference your music mixes on an array of playback systems. What happens within a mix engineers studio does not always mirror the effects it will have outside of his room.