You print the vocal, drop a reverb on the send, and reach for a preset called something like “Lush Vocal Hall.” It sounds gorgeous in solo. Then you unmute the track, and the vocal slides three feet behind the snare, the words turn into mush, and the whole mix goes foggy. So you pull the … Read more
Your instrumental sounds huge. The synths spread across the whole stereo field, and the guitars sit out at the edges. Then the vocal drops in and sits in a tight little dot in the middle, sounding small by comparison. So you reach for a stereo widener, crank it, and now the vocal sounds phasey and … Read more
A practical guide to building a mixing practice routine that produces real improvement. Covers what material to practice on, how to structure sessions, which genres to start with, and how to use reference tracks to measure your progress.
Your kick drum has a great click and a sharp attack, but it disappears the moment the bass and the rest of the mix come in. So you compress it harder to make it bigger, and the punchy transient that made it sound good in the first place gets crushed flat. You are stuck choosing … Read more
You layered the guitars, panned them wide, and the mix still sounds small. The parts are all there, but they do not fill the speakers the way the records you love do. So you turn them up, and now they are loud and small. You add reverb, and now they are washy and small. Volume … Read more
You’ve A/B’d five versions of the same master and every single one sounds smaller, duller, or more pumpy than the mix did before you touched it. The compressor is doing something. You can see 4 dB of gain reduction. The kick has lost punch. You pull the threshold back. Now nothing is happening. You push … Read more
You have a vocal that turns into an ice pick on every loud note. Or a fizzy electric guitar, or cymbals that stab through the mix and never sit right. So you reach for a static EQ cut, but it dulls the whole track, because the harshness only shows up on certain notes. Notch it … Read more
Audio engineering can be a complex and intimidating process, but with the right guidance and practice, anyone can learn how to mix like a pro. I’ve gathered 17 of the best audio mixing tips for beginners that will help you navigate the world of audio with confidence. You could be working with vocals, drums, or … Read more
You want that classic, expensive vocal sound: the bright, silky space you hear on records from Abbey Road to modern pop. So you reach for a room or hall reverb, and instead the vocal turns muddy or distant. The magic ingredient on all those records has a name, and it is not a room at … Read more
You bring the hats up. They are too loud. You pull them back. Now you can barely hear them. You add 3 dB at 8 kHz to get the shimmer back. Now they are harsh. You cut 2 dB at 5 kHz. Now they are dull. The hats refuse to sit right, and you have … Read more