Manny Marroquin on What It REALLY Takes to Become a Mix Engineer

Sep 07, 2025 | 12,261 Views

Grammy-winning mix engineer Manny Marroquin talks about climbing the ranks in the music industry, his mixing psychology and his Waves Signature Series plugins.

Manny Marroquin shares the mindset and experiences that helped him go from being a studio runner to becoming one of the most trusted and respected mix engineers in the music industry. He shares what shaped his professional attitude, the importance of staying grounded and how mental clarity can be just as important as technical skill.

This isn’t about mix hacks or gear talk. It’s a real conversation about creativity, pressure, self-awareness and why he still loves being in the studio after all these years. Manny also shares the story behind his Waves Signature Series plugins and why they’ve become essential in his mixing process.

Video Chapters:

0:32 - Meet Manny Marroquin
1:21 - Manny’s early career: from Studio Runner to Pro Engineer
2:07 - The power of humble beginnings
3:28 - Mixing psychology & mental health
6:00 - Feel vs sound: The two reasons to turn a knob
9:29 – Manny's standout career moments
13:49 - Behind the Manny Marroquin Waves plugins
18:41 - Console & hybrid mixing workflow
20:04 - Why Mix Engineers are so important

Check out the Manny Marroquin Signature Series - Available with a free 7-day free trial and as part of Waves Creative Access Ultimate.

[{"nodeGUID":"d671e90d-d700-4894-9268-92aea17c6369","nodeID":215,"documentName":"Manny Marroquin Reverb","documentID":215,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/manny-marroquin-reverb","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/manny-marroquin-reverb.png","msrp":99.000000000,"skuPrice":34.990000000,"discount":65,"mainOrder":10061,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":492,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"MMRVSG","note":"","documentPageDescription":"The Manny Marroquin Reverb plugin includes six different reverbs, with three different room sizes for each with EQ and compression plus phaser and distortion.","tagline":"Re-creates Manny\u2019s complete reverb signal chain","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Signature Series","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":2,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"","freeForWCA":false,"couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":149,"rating":4.6845636,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"c790ace8-b7f7-455c-88e5-6473f0860eec","nodeID":217,"documentName":"Manny Marroquin Triple D","documentID":217,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/manny-marroquin-triple-d","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/manny-marroquin-triple-d.png","msrp":99.000000000,"skuPrice":34.990000000,"discount":65,"mainOrder":10065,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":494,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"MMDE3SG","note":"","documentPageDescription":"The Manny Marroquin Triple D plugin: DeBoxy to remove \u2018boxy\u2019sound from the low mids, DeHarsher to eliminate harshness in the mids/high mids and DeEsser for high \u2018sss\u2019 and \u2018shh\u2019 sounds.","tagline":"Minimize boxy, sibilant, and harsh vocal sounds","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Signature Series","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":2,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"","freeForWCA":false,"couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":156,"rating":4.576923,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"adf5e550-d963-44f9-ac8f-4f91b8fc218d","nodeID":212,"documentName":"Manny Marroquin Delay","documentID":212,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/manny-marroquin-delay","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/manny-marroquin-delay.png","msrp":99.000000000,"skuPrice":34.990000000,"discount":65,"mainOrder":10076,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":489,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"MMDLYSG","note":"","documentPageDescription":"The Manny Marroquin Delay plugin includes reverb, distortion, a doubler/harmonizer plus a phaser, for when you want to add some movement or really go wild.","tagline":"Delay-based multi-effect with 4 parallel processors","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Signature Series","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":1,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"","freeForWCA":false,"couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":110,"rating":4.7272725,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"06ce8989-9657-40ac-b95a-379c8aed38ed","nodeID":214,"documentName":"Manny Marroquin EQ","documentID":214,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/manny-marroquin-eq","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/manny-marroquin-eq.png","msrp":99.000000000,"skuPrice":34.990000000,"discount":65,"mainOrder":10132,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":491,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"MMEQSG","note":"","documentPageDescription":"The Manny Marroquin EQ plugin captures the best of the SSL 9080 XL K, Quad 8, Motown, Neve 1073, API 550B and Avalon 2055 and puts them all together in one plugin.","tagline":"6-band EQ with vintage models and modern workflow","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Signature Series","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":1,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"","freeForWCA":false,"couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":115,"rating":4.7217393,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"2b5756bf-1a4e-437e-8fb2-7bfc8d19b498","nodeID":213,"documentName":"Manny Marroquin Distortion","documentID":213,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/manny-marroquin-distortion","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/manny-marroquin-distortion.png","msrp":99.000000000,"skuPrice":34.990000000,"discount":65,"mainOrder":10157,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":490,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"MMDSTSG","note":"","documentPageDescription":"The Manny Marroquin Distortion plugin: Whether you like it \u2018crunchy-style\u2019 or \u2018down-and-dirty,\u2019 a little bit of distortion on vocals, Rhodes, Wurlis, etc. can really add a lot of attitude and edge. ","tagline":"Parallel distortion with compression and 4-band EQ","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Saturation \u0026 Distortion Plugins","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":1,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"","freeForWCA":false,"couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":54,"rating":4.7222223,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""},{"nodeGUID":"64c88a70-50a4-4edf-9127-c4c557245b4d","nodeID":216,"documentName":"Manny Marroquin Tone Shaper","documentID":216,"documentUrlPath":"/plugins/manny-marroquin-tone-shaper","thumb":"https://media.wavescdn.com/images/products/plugins/600/manny-marroquin-tone-shaper.png","msrp":99.000000000,"skuPrice":34.990000000,"discount":65,"mainOrder":10200,"includedInSBS":0,"skuid":493,"skuName":"","skuParentSKUID":0,"skuEnabled":true,"skuNumber":"MMTSSG","note":"","documentPageDescription":"The Manny Marroquin Tone Shaper plugin is a parallel compressor with 4 bands plus EQ and \u2018secret ingredients\u2019 to change the tonality of a track to match your mix.","tagline":"Easily change the tonality of a track to match the full mix","departmentID":2,"gsfCategory":"Harmonics","fixedPosition":false,"expectedShipping":"","productID":0,"upgrades":false,"demoType":0,"isInventory":false,"manualPDF":"","sbsIncludedIn":1,"addToCartStatus":0,"isWishlist":true,"soldMsg":"","freeForWCA":false,"couponCode":"","couponCampaignID":0,"couponPrice":0.00,"couponStripeHTML":"","numberOfLessons":0,"courseDurationHours":0.00,"numberOfPlugins":0,"upgradeTargetID":0,"parentSKUNumber":"","categoryDisplayName":"","isProductOptions":false,"variantsMinimalPrice":0.000000000,"isVariantsPriceSame":false,"isPreorder":false,"optionOrder":0,"optionName":"","reviewsTotal":57,"rating":4.614035,"saleEndDate":"0001-01-01T00:00:00","badgeClass":"","badgeText":""}]

Loading....