Advances in digital technology have made it possible to produce records from your computer; gone are the days when you needed a huge analog studio and record label budget!  Now, it is possible for independent music artists around the world to produce major-label quality records without depending on a deal and connections.   With endless plug-ins available from software companies, you can even do more with your computer than in an analog studio.      

What is mixing? Music mixing is the process of combining and optimizing multitrack recordings into a final sound recording. 

Mixing can make or break your track.  Production quality is the first sign of a professional record, and often what determines whether a label, playlist curator, DJ, or even casual listener will listen to more than a few seconds of your song.  A great mix can allow people to melt into the feel and experience of your music; it can take listeners out of their heads and into their hearts. 

Every track is unique and has its own mixing needs.  However, here are some simple best practices to use for your record: 

1. Use EQ to cut out extra frequencies in tracks.  It is unnecessary to capture the full frequency of every instrument.  In fact, low frequencies on guitars, pianos, synths or even vocals can drag down and muddy the entire track.  A reductive EQ on these instrumental tracks can make the low end of the bass and kick pop more. 
2. Put bass and kick in mono.  The original recording of the bass and kick should be as close to mono as possible.  If they are not, there are software plugins that reduce the stereo spread of any frequency band.  A mono bass and kick will ground a record and make it danceable.  
3. Apply stereo spread to higher frequencies.  By contrast, higher frequencies are great to use for ambiance and to create fullness in your tracks.  This can be achieved by panning individual tracks, or by using a plug-in to create stereo spread for the entire mix. 
4. Avoid phasing.  Phasing is when audio sources of the same frequency cancel each other out and reduce the strength of the sound.  This can happen when similar instruments take up the same frequency or stereo space, or when you duplicate the same audio file.  Leave each instrument its own space in the frequency and stereo spectrum, and try not to layer too many tracks with the same frequencies.    
5. Compress the bass by sidechaining the kick.  Sidechaining is when you use the volume of one track to trigger a reduction of volume in another.  Sidechaining works for many genres, not just EDM.  It can make a track pump and gel.  Many digital compressors offer a sidechain setting, where you can select a source (such as a kick drum) to alter the volume of your bass track.  
6. Volume balance is half the battle.  Sometimes when a mix sounds off, all you have to do is change a few volume levels. For many pop, electronic and rock records, it is important that a listener can hear the vocal, bass and kick, because they carry the track.  Sometimes reducing the volume of a synth or guitar will actually improve the groove of the track. 
7. Content below 60 Hz isn’t always necessary and can muddy the mix.  The human ear cannot even hear frequencies below 20 Hz. Experiment with cutting out the very low of your track with a high-pass filter at various frequency cutoffs. 
8. Keep vocals, except for harmonies, in the center of the track.  In a pop or rock song, the vocal is what ties the song together, and what most listeners first latch onto.  Since it is such an important part of the song, it should be in the center of the stereo field.  As long as there is a central lead vocal, you can experiment with panning harmonies to make the vocal sound fuller and more interesting. 
9. Make space for vocals and other instrumental sections to shine.  Each instrument should occupy its own space in terms of frequency and stereo spread.  This way, each can contribute to the song and serve a purpose.   
10. Remember that each song is unique and calls for a different type of mix; there is no exact formula.  Mixing is more than a technical science; you need to use your imagination and intuition to make your mix fit the style and feel of the song.  

As a music producer, I have been using digital technology to create records since 2008.  My self-produced songs have been streamed on FM radio and released by record labels around the world.   

If you have more questions about mixing, or want me to mix your record, please email me at info@annaawe.com or contact me through this form.

Happy music making!

AA