As a producer or mix engineer, can you describe your workflow and it's benefits?

Answer 1

This could be lengthy, but I like to be concise.

1. Listen to the song all the way through
2. pull in reference track
3. Gain stage
4. create a static mix
5. decide what instruments drive the song
6. decide if anything needs to be completely cut out.
7. time to mix
8. compare to reference song
9. repeat until finished