The Internet is a great source for valuable information about virtually anything.
The problem starts when you stumble upon statements that seem logical, when in fact they are not entirely true.
They can mislead you and set you back from making music and getting better at your craft.
Today I want to talk about 6 myths that you may have heard before, and set them straight.
All of these myths were either true in the past, or started from a true statement and took a sharp turn.
That's why they might seem logical or true to a lot of people.
Let's start with the first myth.
Myth #1: "You Can't Get A Good Mix With Stock Plugins"
This is probably one of biggest myths out there.
It's spread all over the Internet, misleading so many audio enthusiasts.
It's simply not true.
The truth is that every major DAW today ships with high quality stock plugins.
They can do everything you need to get a great sounding mix, you're not missing anything.
You already have all the tools you need.
Don't get me wrong, if you want to buy yourself a nice plugin bundle, there's no problem with that at all.
But make sure you do that for the right reason.
If you're not happy with how your mixes sound, buying plugins is not the solution.
Getting better at mixing is the solution.
So many people refuse to accept that, because it puts the fault on them, but it's the truth.
Your plugins are not holding you back from getting great mixes.
And new plugins won't take your mixes to the next level.
You CAN get a GREAT mix with stock plugins, you don't HAVE to use 3rd party plugins.
Myth #2: "You Can't Get A Good Mix Without Pro Tools"
Pro Tools is a great DAW, and it's the "industry standard".
But it doesn't mean it's better than the rest of the major DAW's on the market.
All it means, is that most commercial studios work with Pro Tools.
The DAW you choose is a personal preference.
Different DAWs has different layouts, workflows, shortcuts, and other technical tools.
Believe me, they're all good, it's just a matter of personal preference.
You should work with the DAW that fits you the best, making your workflow easier and more intuitive, and more efficient.
Don't think that you are any worse just because you're not using the same software other people use.
Myth #3: "The Stock Preamps In Your Audio Interface Are Bad, You Have To Buy External Preamps"
This myth is so common on Internet forums, it convinced so many people into buying gear they don't need.
The answer is very simple.
The preamps in your audio interface are absolutely fine, there's nothing wrong with them.
They are clean, clear, transparent, and have a lot of headroom.
The same goes for your converters as well.
An external preamp might add some "character" or saturation to your recordings.
But it's not going to make your recordings better.
Even if you have a super fancy preamp, you still have to put in the work and effort to get a great recording.
You still have to get the best performance, find the best spot in your room, and find the best mic position for the sound you're looking for.
No preamp is going to do that for you.
Myth #4: "You Can't Get A Good Mix In A Home Studio"
This myth has been proven wrong so many times, I can't see why some people still believe it.
There are so many amazing records made in home studios, and they're the living proof.
In today's age, high quality gear is so compact and cheap, virtually anyone can save up some money and set up a great home studio.
By the way, if you have a home studio, you might want to check these 7 ways to improve your home studio.
Some people think that a home studio equals amateur records.
But you won't believe how many professional recording and mixing engineers are working in their home studio and delivering amazing results.
The sound is in your hands, in your skill set and experience, not in the studio or the gear you're using.
And that's an important thing to remember.
Myth #5: "You Can't Get A Good Mix Using Only Headphones"
While I'm not saying that headphones are the ideal monitoring system, or that headphones are better than proper studio monitors, I am saying that they can be used to produce great mixes.
Yes, it might be harder, since headphones have their drawbacks.
But it's challenging, not impossible.
Not too long ago we talked about the pros and cons of mixing on headphones.
Believe it or not, but some mixing engineers are working exclusively on headphones, or even using headphones to mix on the road.
The results they're getting are just as good.
So if studio headphones (or even simple earbuds) is all you can afford right now, don't be discouraged, you can still make great mixes.
Myth #6: "Different DAWs Sound Different"
I've seen endless debates of people swearing by their favorite DAW, claiming that it sounds better than others.
That's absurd.
All of the major modern DAWs are using the same technology and calculations, and don't have any sound difference between them.
Like I said earlier, DAWs are a matter of different workflows and personal taste, not different sounds.
So don't waste your time trying to decide which DAW sounds better, spend it on making music.
What's The Repeating Pattern In All Of These Myths?
If you're not happy with the sound of your recordings or mixes, it's not because of your gear, it's because of you.
Many people are afraid to believe that they are the bottleneck, not their gear.
If you don't acknowledge that your gear is not holding you back, you'll just keep chasing new gear, without actually getting better at what you do.
You have to put in the work and improve your skills, that's the only way to get better mixes and recordings.
You have to stop blaming the gear, and start getting better at your craft.
The only way to get better is to improve yourself.
If you're looking to spend money on new plugins or gear, think well before you do, maybe a better choice would be to spend in on training and courses, to improve what really matters, your skills.
Did you hear any of these audio myths before?
Did you believe any of them?
Did this article change your mind?
Let us know in the comments below!