My first "Lynn" song...
Nice!  Enjoyed it a lot.
Didn't get to hear the first version, but overall feel of this song really tells the story.
Good stuff!

Arlen, thanks very much for your time and response.  I hope you get to hear more.

Hi Lynn, sounds like you're hitting all the right midrange frequencies because this sounds full and very decent on laptop speakers. What's your secret my friend?

Hi Matt, thanks for your kind words.  No big secret, I use Mixchecker and ARC 2, which both have laptop emulations during the mix process.  I also use my I-Phone to check the mix, along with my Rokit 8's, Alesis Monitor One's, and Auratones, besides my  trusty AKG headphones.  And yet, I still trust my car stereo (2000  Honda Accord) to give me the honest truth.  Go figure.  In spite of all these aids, I trust the ears of people at this forum to help shape the final outcome.

Ok so it sounds like you have plenty of bases covered. It's working for you. Do you eq the stereo bus? And if so, do you find yourself boosting in the 200-500/ 1000 range a tad? Or are you aware of the dangers in scooping too much of that range out of individual tracks when mixing in the first place?  

Matt, I've changed my production methods quite a bit, recently.  All those speaker emulations from the ARC 2 and MixChecker software are quite useful.  However, I came to the conclusion that many people listen on earbuds, headphones, or car stereos these days.  I started trusting my AKG K240DF headphones more and more.  I rarely EQ the stereo mix, instead, doing it at the track level when mixing.  I also learned that too much scooping to reduce "mud" makes the overall mix too thin.  Lately, I do add a small boost to the bass dr. and bass gtr. somewhere around 300-600 hz to keep it fat while judiciously using a high pass filter to keep it from being boomy.  Plus, I'm watching my dynamics by trying to not over compress so that the mix has room to breathe.  Many of these techniques have been pointed out to me by people here on the forum.  Thanks for asking, but I should be asking you about your methods because you seem to get it right.

Well I'm a bit like you...recently I've been noticing that scooping too much on individual tracks, like you say, takes too much body out...and that body is really needed on small range earbuds, speakers and listening environments of that kind. And as you said...that's where people listen. To make matters worse, I was operating under the theory that getting rid of 'mud' around 200-500 is key...and I was doing it not only on individual tracks but on the stereo bus too. So that's a double dose in error. I changed policy after being underwhelmed by the reproduction as heard on laptop speakers, earbuds, phones etc...all highs and lows...but worse than that...lows that are weak and highs that are shrill. I think the error is in there being a lack of midrange...with midrange back in the picture those highs don't seem so 'out there' on their own, and the lows get the help of that lower mid boost.
 
So anyway, I've been going over my last 9 songs or so and mixing the midrange back in. The real test will be on the next song where I track with a view to that mid range and when I start the mix with that well in mind...as opposed to it being an after thought. I think when it's well in mind right from the start the end result will be improved. 
 
It's funny...in theory, I've heard it a thousand times...'the midrange is key'. But actually internalizing it and doing it only comes with practice and getting your hands dirty. Your mix sounds well balanced and it must have very decent midrange content because it sounds good in my Beyerdynamic dt880s, my Yamaha hs8's and my laptop speakers. 
 
Another thing, while I think of it, that I think is overrated is going overboard with eq...searching with a sharp Q for trouble frequencies in your guitar track or vocal track etc. With a sharp Q, sometimes you can chase all kinds of rogue frequencies and cut, cut, cut. But I'm not sure this is a good policy. It's kind of satisfying in a way...because in solo and with that sharp Q it really feels like you're a surgeon doing some good. But I think it might be detrimental. Back in the day...I'm not sure they had such surgical eq. It's ok to get rid of something blatantly troublesome...but it's easy to go a bit crazy and notch the heck out of things. I think it's better to leave things. What are your thoughts on that?

I think you're discovering some of the same things I've been discovering, lately.  I've gone to using the EQ's that are more musical and less surgical.  I'm placing more importance on getting the sound right from the beginning, which is where mastering begins for me. I, too, am going over some of my recent songs and remixing them to replace the "body" that I may have inadvertently taken out.  I appreciate you taking the time for this conversation because it tells me that I'm not alone in my theories.  Keep writing your terrific songs, and I'll be listening.

Q2

Steve, I was going to answer your post when I saw that you had deleted it.  If you have any questions or comments, feel free, otherwise, have a good day.