I’ve discovered that I don’t really enjoy the music mixing and mastering process. As an independent songwriter you have to take on all of the roles that would normally be done by different people. Of course I would rather just write music and record it then send it off to someone else to mix the master but at this point given the cost associated with mixing and mastering that isn’t really an option. I do hope to be able to do that sometime in the future so I can focus more on the writing, right now we do the best we can do with the equipment we have. I’m currently working on a new Christmas song called I heard footsteps on the rooftop, and if basically got the structure set but I’m having trouble getting the base so it doesn’t vibrate my entire car during the car test. The writing took only a couple of hours but the mixing and mastering it’s a huge pain in the neck. There’s so many variables this sounds good that sounds good this doesn’t change that change it back it sounded better before add this take that out. By the time I’m done I’ve heard the song so many times that I really never want to hear it again. But as always months go by and to pop the song on it sounds fresh once again. I’m used to how things sound in my car so it’s a true test on how my mix and master sounds to me. If you haven’t seen it you should look up a video by Joe Gilder about a car test it’s hilarious and also very helpful. It’s one of my favorite videos because it makes me laugh so many times I’ve done that. You think everything’s going great sounds good in the headphones and then you got to the car and your music world comes Crashing Down it’s time to start over. The song I heard footsteps on the rooftop is a work in progress and it’s back to the drawing board with the mixing and mastering. Here’s a sample.