One of the things I loved the most about Reason is the videos propellerheads puts on their youtube channel. And traditionally a few tremendous users like matt from learnreason.com Through watching almost every video on these two channels alone (and 20 years of trial and error) I feel that the following 5 tips are the most useful to every mix I do.
1. Set up a template that includes a one button switch connected to the master section to get MONO. Mixing in mono (or at least checking your mix in mono routinely) is something I underestimated and didn't fully exlore til a pensados place episode with Mix by Ali talking about Kenrick Albums.
2. Use elements of gainstaging throughout the tracking/creation process so that the mix is basically finished without moving faders (this, though obvious to me know, I found out was done with the gain knob at the top of the mixer
3. If you are using the master bus compressor, use a simple eq to side chain out the lower frequencies (in the video I believe they use a paid rack extention but I just use the built in eq in the rack then send it to the sidechain key like in the video. Where exactly you stop at depends on the song but I've found best results filtering only my 700hz and higher frequencies with the master bus and leaving the bass elements (kick/synths/bass etc) uncompressed in this phase.
4. Theres only so much audio space in a finished stereo audio file, so you really have to decide the hierarchy of tracks. If you have 5 tracks 1 of them is the king and 4 of them ladder down somewhat in relation. I used to often try to force too many secondary sounds to be of equal volume. The statement "reduced by Rick Rubin" speaks volumes to me now. I try to record less parts to begin with and only keep the most important.
5. This should be number 1 but the most important mix technique Ive found to make a massive difference started with the propellerheads video about "hi pass/lo pass". I jumped on board huge but what I discovered is that the slope at which the hp/lp filter works on reason ssl mixer is set. Now I'll use the regular eq and do a similar hi pass low pass arc but without being lazy and instead custom drawing the slope to the sounds needs. Often times I'll add a touch of hi pass low pass on top of this eq if I want even more lattitude.
This is probably not a lot of new material for many folks in here but I know that I was fumbling around with these concepts for a while and they helped me a lot. Cheers,
Maxxfield.