And it also depends on personal preferences and the soundstage you hope to achieve. FWIW, we try to create a mix that presents a 4-5 piece band playing live with one listening from the center a few rows back smile This results for us a more open mix for which each “band member” has his/her space. It also results in relatively few tracks - typically 5-6 excluding vocals and drums/percussion . For our Americana/Blues Rock productions this seems to work. I try to envision that stage throughout the mix. I assuredly understand that for many, many genres this is not the approach to take. I’m making zero value judgements re other genres just attempting to give an example of how contextual it is … at least for us.

I deeply admire those who create more dense mixes with many tracks that sound great. And those who create airy mixes using many tracks but still sounding excellent. Those mixes are well above my pay grade.

And in the spirit of full disclosure I’m biased by playing bass in bluegrass bands for decades standing in the center staring at the backsides of the rest of the band!

Bud

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