Mixing at K-20 has saved me loads of time in getting things 'just right'.
Interesting thing is I've never fully calibrated my system but I do have a meter and knew 80-85 db was a sweet spot for mixing but never had my volume pot set for "0"=83, "-6"=77, ect, ect. I also spotted some inconsistencies with the final balance from mix to mix,and at time struggled because I never had it as a system like Bob suggests. Sometimes I would do a final mix down that would be around K-14, K-12, an okay glance at volumes around K-20. The key word here is I'd be around and have my volumes be all over the place and didn't fully comprehend the finality of it all with a properly calibrated monitoring setup.
I tested my mixes at K20, balance with the mono switch engaged, and disengaged it when I get the balance volume rides correct. When I disengage the mono switch the entire mix blooms into stereo. Sounds focused, clear, and balanced in mono, but in stereo it just blooms out of the speakers especially when balanced in mono @ K20.
Sometimes I might have to make a small adjustment or two after disengaging the mono switch, but engage it at the end to simply double check.
Needless to say that the mixes now sound superb. I've been told I have very good compositional, musical, and sound ideas, but the mixes would never translate that energy, or musical experience I've been trying to convey all these years. It would only be sound that happened to be playing music, and not musical sound. It all came down to having the ability to properly hear everything, having my room treated, good monitoring, and this method was the last thing I needed to add to the whole setup. Properly calibrated monitoring...
I have to say my mixes have improved many times, and going with a system of where I know I'll make the best decisions every single time it lets me focus more on the musical aspects of not only mixing, but when I am in compositional phase too.
GOD Bless you Mr. Katz.
