I hear many times before use a reference track but a lot of times myself personally I don’t want my project I’m mixing to sound like someone else’s mix. I heard both so called, “pros” and “cons” but wanted to see what the community had to say. Is it good to use a reference track if so when and how to?
I think reference tracks can be helpful, if nothing else, to reset your ears. You are mixing a different song so you have to know what you are comparing. You aren’t trying to typically match a snare tone or vocal tone, but you may need to know how bright is too bright or how the low end is moving, which reference tracks can help with. You SHOULD want to mix like the best mixers in the world, but with your own taste. Then maybe you’ll be one of the best someday!