A reference mix is a commercial release that has been mixed and mastered in the same style/genre that you are attempting to accomplish. It’s a good way to make sure mixes sound as good in quality as releases that are commercially successful. When you’ve been working on a track for a long period of time, reference tracks can help you re-calibrate your ears. It’s important to choose a reference that is the same genre and has similar instrumentation as your mix. You must know your reference well and it needs to be in a high quality format. Lossless WAV/AIFF format would be best as it is uncompressed.
The first step to mixing with a reference is level matching your tracks, the mix being worked is usually quieter than the reference track. This can make it sound as if your mix has a weaker bass. Matching the levels of the two tracks can help make comparing more fair and gives you a look at how your mix sounds objectively. You need to take into account: Frequencies, how tall your mix needs to be, the panning and stereo width, and any effects and reverb. An analyzer will help you spot where your mix is different to your reference in terms of EQ. Compare how wide each mix is and where each instrument is panned. As well as, if your reference mix uses any reverb, real instruments or artificial synths, and how forward each instrumental is.
As you go along with your mix, go back and forth between your reference and mix to keep track of your progress and how well you’re recreating all the different sounds that you’re hearing within your reference.
Citations
Frampton, T. (2017). Using Reference Tracks Whilst Mixing. [online] Mastering The Mix. Available at: https://www.masteringthemix.com/blogs/learn/using-reference-tracks-whilst-mixing.
Texidor, Lewis. “Reference Mixes – Why Use Them and Why They Are Vital.” Audient, audient.com/tutorial/reference-mixes/.
Benediktsson, Bjorgvin. “How to Use a Reference Mix to Improve Your Own Mixes.” Audio Issues, 4 May 2018, www.audio-issues.com/music-mixing/how-to-use-a-reference-track-to-improve-your-mixing/.