Real Friends: Doug Weir’s Ableton Mix Approach & Bus Chain

So, you thought all chart-topping metal and rock mixes were exclusively forged in Pro Tools? Think again. Doug Weir, the man with a staggering 25 (and counting!) number ones under his belt, including killer tracks with Real Friends, is here to pull back the curtain on his Ableton-centric workflow. Yeah, you heard that right – Ableton. It’s time to buckle in as we break down how Doug Weir kicks off his mixes, from his unconventional monitoring to his foundational mix bus chain that sets the stage for sonic destruction.

If you're ready to see this workflow in action on the Real Friends track "The Truth About Stress," you can dive into the full session over at Nail The Mix.

Ableton: The Unconventional Choice for Modern Rock?

For many, Ableton Live is the go-to for electronic music production or live performance. But Doug Weir leverages its unique strengths for his hard-hitting mixes. Why stick with Ableton when Pro Tools sessions are the industry standard? Two words: plugin stacking.

Doug loves to chain plugins "to infinity and beyond," something he finds restrictive in Pro Tools with its 10-slot limit. Ableton's robust delay compensation handles these extensive chains like a champ, allowing him to keep adding processors until the sound "hits him right." This freedom from slot anxiety is a cornerstone of his creative process, even if it means converting Pro Tools sessions.

Monitoring for Truth: From Budget to Boutique

A great mix starts with honest monitoring. Doug employs a "chaotic" but highly effective two-stage system.

The "NS-10 Effect" with Yamaha HS50Ms

First up are the humble Yamaha HS50Ms (the newer model being the HS5). These little five-inch speakers, often available for around $400 a pair, are Doug's initial workhorses. He finds their voicing forces him to focus on the truly essential elements of a mix. They compel him to ensure the bass and low-end are shifted high enough to be felt even on small systems. The mid-range representation acts like a "magnifying glass," offering clarity.

Much like the legendary NS-10s, if you can make your mix sound good on these, it’s likely to translate well everywhere. Doug gets about 40% of the way through his mix on these.

Precision and Depth with Neumann KH310s & Room Correction

Next, he switches to Neumann KH310s paired with a sub. These offer incredible imaging, spatial feeling, and depth, especially for judging reverb spaces. Crucially, they feature DSP room correction. Doug candidly states, "I owe my whole mixing career to room correction," having often worked in sub-par rooms. While some might scoff, he finds tools like Sonarworks (which he used previously) and the Neumann's built-in DSP indispensable.

The flatter frequency response of the Neumanns, however, doesn't give him the same critical insight into upper-mid "shrillness" as the Yamahas. This is why the two systems work so well in tandem.

Building the Foundation: Doug Weir's Starting Mix Bus Chain

The first 30 minutes to an hour of a mix are paramount – this is where the big, foundational decisions are made. Doug starts every mix with a specific chain on his master bus.

The Crucial First Hour & Gain Staging Philosophy

Before any plugins, Doug implements a key gain staging move.

• He pulls down the input to his mix bus by 10dB using a utility gain plugin.
• This is because he’s used to running his individual tracks, particularly kick and snare, hot – peaking near or even slightly over 0dBFS on the track faders. Thanks to 32-bit float architecture in Ableton, this internal clipping isn't an issue before hitting plugins that don't like it. This approach also helps him visually, as Ableton lacks waveform zoom, making hotter signals easier to see.

Plugin #1: FabFilter Saturn 2 – Subtle Drive and EQ

The first insert on Doug's mix bus is always FabFilter Saturn 2, loaded with its default preset.

• Gain Staging into Saturn: To avoid driving Saturn too hard (which can result in an overly clippy, dynamically rolled-off sound), he attenuates the signal going into it by another 19dB.
• Drive & Harmonics: The drive is set to a modest 20%.
• EQ Curve: The default preset, as Doug notes from checking it in Plugin Doctor, introduces a gentle "smiley face" EQ curve. It boosts the low end starting around 200Hz, adds a little bell bump around 1.5kHz, and a light shelf for the top end.
• Output Gain: Because this specific drive setting on Saturn adds about 1dB of gain, he compensates by boosting the output of Saturn by 18dB. This carefully managed gain staging ensures the plugin operates in its sweet spot.
  Doug always A/Bs this plugin, and invariably, it stays on.

Plugin #2: Dual Mono SSL Compressors – Adding Width

Next up, for subtle glue and enhanced width, Doug uses two mono instances of an SSL-style bus compressor. This is his workaround for achieving a dual mono (or unlinked stereo) compression setup in Ableton, similar to what you'd do in Pro Tools.

• The Trade-off: This technique can widen the stereo image but requires care, as it can potentially mess with your center image if not handled judiciously.
• Application: He aims for just a "little bit of smack," subtly gluing the mix together.

Plugin #3: Slate Digital Revival – Freebie Fullness

Believe it or not, a free plugin from Slate Digital, the Revival, holds a permanent spot in Doug’s starting chain.

• Function: This plugin adds "thickness" and "shimmer." The thickness helps him hear the kick and bass on smaller speakers, achieving that fat, full sound. The shimmer adds harmonics to the top end, making the mix feel more "done."
• The Verdict: Despite its "beginner" or "cheap garbage plugin" appearance, Doug says every time he turns it off, the mix just makes him sad. So, it stays!

The "Dodgeball" Limiter: Waves L2 Ultramaximizer

Here’s a fascinating trick: the last plugin in his starting chain (and one that doesn't stay for the final mix) is the venerable Waves L2 Ultramaximizer.

• The Philosophy: "If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball." Doug's reasoning is that if he can make his mix sound good while hitting this "terrible, outdated limiter," imagine how much better it will sound when replaced with a modern, high-quality one.
• The Purpose: The L2 keeps him honest with his gain staging. If any element (like a snare or kick) is too aggressive, loud, or unoptimized, the L2 will "completely fold," immediately signaling that the sound needs refinement. It forces him to use harmonics, distortion, and other tools to make sounds feel big without just being excessively peaky, all fitting within the 0dBFS full-scale limit.

Bringing it Back: Makeup Gain

Remember that initial -10dB pull-down at the very start of the mix bus? After the Slate Digital Revival (and before the temporary L2), Doug adds 10dB of makeup gain. This brings the overall level back up before hitting the final limiter.

Why This "Chaotic" Approach Works

Doug Weir's initial mix bus setup might seem unconventional, with its specific gain staging maneuvers and a "terrible" limiter. However, it's a system refined over years and countless hits.

• Solid Foundation: It’s all about building the mix from the ground up with good energy and balance from the very start.
• Honest Feedback: The L2 trick ensures he’s not just pushing faders but truly optimizing each sound to fit.
• Plugin Sweet Spots: The careful gain staging into plugins like Saturn 2 ensures they’re operating optimally.

This detailed look at Doug Weir's starting point for the Real Friends mix provides a ton of actionable insights you can try in your own Ableton (or any DAW!) sessions.

Take Your Mixes to the Next Level

Seeing these techniques laid out is one thing, but watching a pro like Doug Weir apply them in real-time, explaining every decision, is where the real learning happens. At Nail The Mix, you get exactly that. Imagine diving deep into the actual multi-tracks for "The Truth About Stress" by Real Friends and watching Doug Weir build the mix from scratch.

If you’re serious about elevating your productions, exploring how top-tier producers craft their sounds is invaluable. Nail The Mix offers monthly sessions with the world's best, complete with raw session files. It’s your chance to unlock your sound and mix modern metal beyond presets.

Ready to see Doug's complete workflow on this Real Friends track? Check out his full Nail The Mix session here and transform your approach to mixing!