5 Essential Tips for Mixing Your Music to Sound Great
Mixing music is an art form that requires a delicate balance of technical skill, creative intuition, and musicality. For those interested in producing or musicians wanting to improve their mixing skills, these five tips will guide you in creating a standout, professional sound.
1. Start with a Solid Foundation: Balance and Panning
Before diving into complex effects and processing like reverb & delay, ensure that your mix has a solid balance with no plugins. Begin by balancing the levels of your individual tracks and, I’ll say this a lot throughout this blog, use your ears! Make sure that no single element is overpowering the mix unless it’s intended to be a focal point, like a lead vocal or a solo instrument.
Next, consider panning. Panning helps to create a sense of space, depth, and width in your mix. Imagine your mix as a stage and place each instrument where you would expect to see it if you’re in the audience. For instance, keep bass and kick drums centered for strong low-end foundation, while panning guitars, keyboards, and other instruments slightly to the left or right can create a more immersive experience. Start with the dense part of the song, like the final chorus or bridge, for a balanced starting point. Remember, this is not the final mix and you’ll eventually use automation and other effects to bring out the good parts of your track.
2. EQ Wisely: Carving Out Space
Equalization (EQ) is your best friend when it comes to making sure each element in your mix has its own sonic space. Human hearing ranges from 20Hz to 20,000Hz and it’s important to get the tonal and sonic balance correct for things to gel. Use EQ to cut unwanted frequencies and boost the ones that enhance the character of each instrument.
A common technique is to use high-pass filters (AKA low-cut) to remove low-end rumble from non-bass instruments. For example, you might roll off frequencies below 80-100 Hz on guitars and vocals to prevent them from muddying up the low end and stay out of the way for the kick and bass. Conversely, boost frequencies that bring clarity and presence, like adding a touch of high-end boost around 10kHz to a vocal track or 5kHz to a snare drum.
EQ can be tricky to hear, so I recommend using a technical ear training app or website to practice identifying frequencies like webtet.net.
3. Compression: Control and Consistency
Compression controls the dynamic range of your tracks (loud and soft). It helps to even out the levels, making sure that quiet parts are audible while preventing loud parts from clipping, distorting, or being unbalanced.
When using compression, start with a moderate ratio (such as 2:1 or 4:1) and adjust the threshold until the compressor engages and tames the peaks. Pay attention to the attack and release settings: a slower attack allows the initial transients to come through, preserving the punch of drums or pluck of a string, while a faster release helps maintain the energy of the track.
It could take years to hear compression and isn’t so easy for most people to grasp. Another great ear training tool I recommend for learning more about compression is SoundGym. They have ear training exercises and games to help you hone your mixing and producer skills!
4. Reverb and Delay: Creating Depth
Reverb and delay are powerful tools for adding depth and dimension to your mix. Use reverb to place instruments in a perceived space, making your mix sound more natural and less like a collection of isolated tracks. Be careful with this though as adding too much reverb can muddy your mix and pushes instruments further back along the Z-axis. A good trick is to EQ the signal going into the reverb with a high-pass (low-cut) filter to make sure you don’t add low-end mud to your reverb and mix.
When applying reverb, less is often more. Start with a small amount and increase it until you can just hear it. Consider using different reverb settings for different elements; a short, bright reverb might work well on vocals, while a longer, more lush reverb could enhance drums or guitars. Also, different reverbs can make a big difference in clarity and space (plates, chambers, hall, spring).
Delay can also add depth and interest. A short slapback delay on vocals or guitars can add a sense of presence, while longer, rhythmic delays can create complex, evolving soundscapes. Be mindful of the mix level to ensure the delay doesn’t overshadow the original signal. You can even feed a delay into a long hall reverb to smooth out any harsh and apparent use of a delay.
5. Reference and A/B Testing: Consistency Across Listening Devices
Finally, always reference your mix against professional tracks in a similar genre and style. This practice helps you maintain a competitive sound and ensures your mix translates well across different playback systems like you car, earbuds, headphones, and laptop speakers.
Listen to your mix on various devices, such as studio monitors, headphones, car speakers, and even phone speakers. This process, known as A/B testing, helps you identify and correct issues that might not be apparent in your primary listening environment. Make necessary adjustments to ensure your mix sounds balanced and impactful, no matter where it’s heard.
A great online tool to find references for the genre you’re mixing is the “Every Noise at Once” genre map - https://everynoise.com/engenremap.html
In conclusion, mixing music is a complex process that blends technical precision with creative decisions. By focusing on balance and panning, using EQ effectively, applying compression for control, adding depth with reverb and delay, and referencing your work consistently, you can create mixes that sound polished and professional. Keep experimenting, trust your ears, and enjoy the journey of shaping your unique sound!