REALmix Live: Mixing “Veronica” (Notre Dame Folk Choir feat. Emma Frank)
In this REALmix Live mixing session, I’m joined live by J.J. Wright, Dominic Mekky, and Franky Rousseau, the co-writers and co-producers of “Veronica” by The University of Notre Dame Folk Choir, featuring vocalist Emma Frank.
Zoom Replay: December 12, 2025
What is REALmix Live?
REALmix Live is me mixing a real song for a real client, in real time — no pre-mixed session, no shortcuts, no “perfect” starting point.
That means you’re hearing not just my mix decisions, but the artistic intent straight from the people who made the record.
This replay captures the early mix stage of “Veronica”: listening, reacting, shaping, questioning, and sometimes pulling myself back when something starts to move away from the emotional center of the song.
What You’ll Learn in This REALmix Live Session
- How I approach a mix when the song already feels emotionally strong
- Techniques for mixing stereo acoustic guitars so they feel wide but distracting
- How low-end movement can quietly pull focus away from a vocal
- Ways to think about stereo balance and stability without collapsing width
- How submixes become creative control points, not just folders
- Why headphones often reveal problems speakers don’t
- How to decide when to push a move further — and when to pull it back
- What changes when you mix with the artists in the room
- Why feel, context, and intent matter more than plugin settings
Session Overview (from Dana)
“Veronica” is already a beautiful piece, which honestly makes working on it really easy, really fun, and really inspiring. There’s a strong emotional center right out of the gate, so the mix isn’t about “fixing” anything — it’s about staying out of the way while helping the best parts shine.
A lot of what you’ll see here is me listening carefully and making small, intentional moves: shaping stereo acoustic guitars so they feel wide but not distracting, keeping the vocal front and intimate, and constantly checking whether each decision is serving the song or just satisfying my own curiosity. Nothing flashy — just real-time choices, reactions, and occasional course corrections. That’s the REALmix Live way!
Having the writers and producers in the room keeps everything honest. We’re talking about feel, references, and intent as much as plugins or routing, and that context makes the whole process more musical and more human. This is what mixing looks like when the song is leading the way.
Ready to Go Deeper?
If this session sparks questions, ideas, or “wait… why did you do that?” moments, bring them into Mix Protégé.
Inside the community, you’ll find:
- replays of past live sessions
- members-only Q&As and mix feedback forum,
- Courses, workflows, and real-world mixing context
- A supportive community of producers, mixers, and engineers learning together
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