Chris Shaw

Where do you work?

Mostly from my home studio, where I do most, if not all, of my mixing.

For how long have you been using SoundFlow?

I've been using SoundFlow for four years.

Pretty much everything I've worked on since 2020, including:

Bob Dylan - Fragments - The Bootleg Series, Vol. 17
Beauty Pill - Beauty Pill Describes Things As They Are (ATMOS Mixes)
Half Moon Run - Salt
Bob Dylan - Rough and Rowdy Ways

Can you describe how SoundFlow has improved the way you work?

SoundFlow has drastically reduced session prep and mix printing times by at least 60%.

There's hardly any part of the mix process that hasn't been dramatically affected by SoundFlow:

Assigning track presets
Moving tracks
Copying track inserts and sends
Creating and crossfading clips
Adding plugins to a track
Splitting stereo tracks into mono
Converting split stereo tracks to single stereo tracks
Assigning VCAs
Restoring mutes
Controlling plugins
Creating and sending MP3 references
Opening and cycling through plugins on a selected track

If something takes more than one mouse click or keyboard press, I've automated it with SoundFlow. I find new uses for it every day.

Can you describe how much time you save with SoundFlow?

In session prep alone, I save anywhere between 30 to 45 minutes per song. Over the course of mixing a 12-track record, that's about 8 hours — a whole mix day in total. Adding in the multiple 30 seconds saved here and there with other mixing shortcuts, I probably save an additional hour or two per project. I just completed a massive box set retrospective for an artist with 134 mixes. SoundFlow easily shaved a few days of mix tedium from it.

Tell us about a feature in SoundFlow that excites you.

There are too many to count, but Andrew Scheps's Bounce Factory has had the most impact on my workflow.

Automating the mix bouncing process has freed up so much time that I can actually live a somewhat "normal" life.

For me, SoundFlow is the most significant piece of software since the DAW itself. Being able to interact with ProTools in a way that feels natural and intuitive while also eliminating tedious mousing, clicking, and keyboard interaction keeps my mind focused on crafting a great mix. The time saved is invaluable.