5 Essential Mixing Techniques for a Professional-Sounding Master

As a music producer, DJ, or audio engineer, achieving a professional-sounding master is crucial for making your music stand out in the industry. A well-mixed track can elevate your sound, create a unique sonic identity, and engage your audience. In this article, we'll explore five essential mixing techniques to help you achieve a professional-sounding master.

Understanding the Basics of Mixing

Before diving into the techniques, it's essential to understand the basics of mixing. Mixing is the process of combining multiple sounds and balancing them into one or more audio channels. This process involves crucial editing steps such as EQ shaping, stereo panning, applying reverb, and adjusting gain levels to create a distinctive soundscape.

According to PremiumBeat, "Audio mixing is the process of combining multiple sounds and balancing them into one or more audio channels. This process involves crucial editing steps such as EQ shaping, stereo panning, applying reverb, and adjusting gain levels to create a distinctive soundscape." [1]

Technique 1: EQ Shaping

EQ shaping is a fundamental technique in mixing. An Equalizer (EQ) can be used to cut away unnecessary frequencies, such as low-end rumble or harsh high frequencies. If your audio is lacking body and warmth, EQ can help by boosting those frequencies. Applying a High Pass and Low Pass filter can also help tame the extremely low-end and high-end regions, reducing unwanted noise.

For example, if you're mixing a hip-hop track, you may want to boost the low-end frequencies to give the track more weight and energy. On the other hand, if you're mixing a electronic dance music (EDM) track, you may want to cut the low-end frequencies to create a more balanced sound.

Technique 2: Reverb and Depth

Reverb brings a sense of space to audio, adding life to your sound. Digital reverb can be used to give recorded sounds a spatial identity that closely matches the given location. In your chosen NLE or DAW, there will be a stock reverb plug-in that includes essential types of reverb such as room, hall, and chamber. You can adjust the parameters to achieve your desired sound.

According to DJ.Studio, "Reverb brings a sense of space to audio, adding life to your sound. Digital reverb can be used to give recorded sounds a spatial identity that closely matches the given location." [2]

Technique 3: Gain Levels and Balance

Gain levels are crucial in achieving a balanced mix. Adjusting gain levels can take time, but makes a considerable impact. Filmmaking audio is made up of diegetic sounds (dialogue, ambience, foley) and non-diegetic sounds (the film score). Generally, the dialogue needs to be comprehensible amongst the other sounds, unless a creative decision calls for other types of audio to overpower the dialogue.

The general rule is that the master channel should never go above 0dB, the red zone, as this causes distortion. The overall combined audio should sit between -10dB and -12dB, providing more dynamic range for louder sounds to stand out. It's recommended for dialogue levels to sit around -15dB to -12dB, sound effects to sit from -20dB to -8dB, and music to be set between -22dB to -15dB.

Technique 4: Stereo Field and Automation

Stereo field and automation are essential techniques in creating an immersive experience for the viewer. By panning sounds around the stereo field, in correlation to what's happening on screen, it creates a much more immersive experience. Automation can be used to make sounds move around the stereo space, and can be applied to most audio effects.

For example, if you have a car driving from left to right, you can dial in the panning automation so it does this over time. Automation can also be used to adjust volume or panning, and can be applied to other audio effects such as reverb and EQ.

Technique 5: Mastering EQ Techniques

Mastering EQ techniques is essential for any DJ looking to take their skills to the next level. EQs, or equalizers, are controls on your mixer that allow you to adjust the different frequencies in your mix. By mastering EQ techniques, you can gain more control over your transitions, customize the sound, and prevent the output from sounding saturated and "muddy."

According to Splice, "Mastering EQ techniques is essential for any DJ looking to take their skills to the next level. EQs, or equalizers, are controls on your mixer that allow you to adjust the different frequencies in your mix." [3]

Conclusion

Achieving a professional-sounding master requires patience, practice, and a deep understanding of mixing techniques. By applying these five essential mixing techniques, you can elevate your sound, create a unique sonic identity, and engage your audience. Remember to start small, allow yourself to grow and understand the sonic activity in filmmaking, and don't be afraid to try new things and push the boundaries of what's possible.

At Qwillery, we're committed to providing you with the latest insights and techniques to help you achieve your creative goals. Whether you're a music producer, DJ, or audio engineer, we hope this article has provided you with valuable information to take your skills to the next level.

References:

[1] PremiumBeat. (n.d.). Mixing Professional-Sounding Audio. Retrieved from https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/mixing-professional-sounding-audio/

[2] DJ.Studio. (n.d.). DJ EQ Techniques: The Ultimate Guide. Retrieved from https://dj.studio/blog/dj-eqmixing

[3] Splice. (n.d.). How to Prepare Your Mix for Mastering. Retrieved from https://splice.com/blog/how-to-prepare-your-mix-for-mastering/