Mixing is where a pile of recorded tracks turns into a song that feels finished. This hub collects our most useful mixing tutorials in one place: balancing levels, panning, EQ and compression, reverb and delay, depth and width, and the habits that keep a session moving.
It’s written for home producers, beatmakers and bands mixing their own music, whether you’re on your first project or trying to work out why your mixes still don’t hold up next to the records you love. If you’re new, start with the beginner’s guide to audio mixing, then follow the step-by-step walkthrough in How to Mix Your Own Songs. After that, jump to whichever topic is holding your mix back, from guitars sitting behind a vocal to parallel processing and reference tracks.
Start here: the best Mixing guides
- The Art of Audio Mixing A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
A beginner-friendly overview of the signal chain, levels, panning, EQ, dynamics and effects. - How to Mix Your Own Songs
An 8-step walkthrough from session prep through volume balance, compression and EQ. - Top 10 Cubase Mixing Tips
Practical Cubase mix console tips, from the pre section and filters to inserts and channel settings. - Mastering the Art of Panning in Audio Mixing
How panning and the stereo field work, including the LCR technique for a wide, balanced mix. - Creating Depth and Space in Audio Mixing
How reverb time, the stereo field and phase affect depth, and how to build front-to-back space. - How to Layer Sounds for the Perfect Mix
What makes layering work or fail, with tips such as adding a detuned layer for richer sounds. - Exploring Reverb and Delay in Audio Mixing
How reverb and delay work and how to use them to add depth and ambience. - Using Effects in Audio Mixing: Reverb, Delay, and Beyond
Practical tips for reverb, delay and other effects in a mix. - What are the Best Mixing Techniques for Guitar?
Panning, EQ cleanup, surgical cuts and compression for both clean and distorted guitars. - How to Mix Acoustic Guitar Behind Vocals
Prep, EQ, compression, levels and panning to sit an acoustic guitar behind a lead vocal. - How to Use Parallel Processing Techniques in Audio Mixing
Parallel compression, EQ, saturation and reverb for more impact without losing dynamics. - Mixing with Reference Tracks Using Commercial Hits as a Benchmark
How to choose commercial reference tracks and use them to check balance and tone.
Mix finished and ready for release? Book a Solar Heavy master for the final polish, or browse all tutorials.
All Mixing articles
- Mixdown PreparationMixdown preparation is the process of getting audio tracks ready for final mixing. This involves editing, cleaning up tracks, and adjusting levels…
- How To Mix Acoustic GuitarsTo mix acoustic guitars, start by setting the levels and panning each guitar in the stereo field. Acoustic guitars are highly versatile…
- Panning CheatsheetPanning cheatsheet: Use a slow shutter speed for motion blur, a fast shutter speed to freeze action, a neutral density filter to…
- Top 3 Mixing Mistakes1. The top three mixing mistakes are over-processing, poor EQ choices, and lack of balance. 2. Mixing a song can be a…
- Creating Space In Your MixCreating space in your mix involves strategic EQ and panning adjustments. In a mix, the goal is to make sure each element…
- How Music Mixing WorksMusic mixing involves blending different audio tracks together in the desired manner to produce the final audio output. Music mixing is an…
- Online Mixing LessonsOnline mixing lessons provide precise and comprehensive instruction in audio mixing techniques. If you are an aspiring music producer or sound engineer,…
- How To Balance My MixTo balance your mix, adjust each track's volume and EQ levels to ensure they complement each other in the final mix. Achieving…
- How To Mix With ReverbTo mix with reverb, start by using a send/return channel for the reverb, adjusting the decay time and wet/dry ratio to desired…
- Mixing The Acoustic GuitarMixing an acoustic guitar involves manipulating levels, EQ, compression, and reverb to create a balanced and polished sound. The process of mixing…
- How To Make Your Mix WiderTo make your mix wider, use stereo widening plugins. These plugins will give depth to your mix and make it wider, keeping…
- How To Achieve Loud MixesAchieving loud mixes involves proper gain staging, compression, and EQ, in addition to careful panning. A well-rounded introduction to achieving loud mixes…
- Dont Fix It In The MixDon't fix it in the mix means to fix issues in the recording stage instead of relying on the mixing stage. This…
- Mix Bus How ToTo set up a mix bus, route multiple audio channels into one mix bus track. Then apply effects and processing to the…
- Exploring Mix Bus SecretsExploring Mix Bus Secrets involves learning how to achieve a polished and cohesive audio mix. This guide will give you tips and…
- Tips For Mixing Jazz MusicWhen mixing jazz music, prioritize balance, clarity, and warmth. Create space for each instrument and highlight the unique characteristics of the performers.…
- Mixing Gospel MusicMixing gospel music requires a thorough understanding of Christian lyrics and music production techniques. To create a balanced gospel mix, you must…
- Reggae Mixing And MasteringReggae mixing and mastering is the process of enhancing the audio quality and balancing the levels of instruments and vocals in a…
- Mixing A Song In 5 MinutesIt is not possible to mix a song in 5 minutes, as it requires time and effort to properly balance all the…
- Mix With HeadphonesWhen mixing with headphones, it is important to use high-quality headphones to ensure accuracy and balance in the mix. Using headphones can…
- My Hybrid Mixing SetupFor a Hybrid Mixing Setup, you will need both analog and digital equipment to blend the best of both worlds. To achieve…
- Why Mix On Headphones BadMixing on headphones can lead to inaccurate or imbalanced sound. This is due to the isolated nature of headphones and their inability…
- Mixing Country MusicMixing country music requires expertise in capturing the essence of country sound and balancing all elements of the song. As a popular…
- A B To Your Demo MixTo improve your demo mix, focus on selecting songs with similar tempo and key signatures. This creates a cohesive and flowing mix…
- How To Mix Bass SynthTo mix a bass synth, adjust the levels and EQ for the mid and low frequencies. A well-mixed bass synth complements other…
- What Is Stem MixingStem mixing is a process of audio mixing where a track is divided into individual parts. These parts are mixed independently and…
- Immersive Mid Side MixingImmersive mid side mixing is a mixing technique that involves manipulating the stereo field of a mix to create a wider and…
- Practice MixingPractice mixing is essential for improving your mixing skills. It involves experimenting with various audio levels to achieve a balanced and enjoyable…
- How To Set Up A Good MixTo set up a good mix, begin by selecting quality equipment and positioning it correctly. Then, focus on setting appropriate levels and…
- How To Make My Mix LouderTo make your mix louder, increase the gain levels and use compression to even out the levels. Achieving a loud mix is…
- Can You Mix On HeadphonesYes, you can mix on headphones. However, it is important to note that using headphones for mixing should not be your only…
- How To Mix Hip Hop Ad LibsMixing hip hop ad libs is achieved by taking each ad lib and processing it separately before blending them with the main…
- How To Set Levels In A MixTo set levels in a mix, adjust the volume of each track to achieve a balanced sound. Begin by setting the levels…
- How To Mix The BassTo mix the bass, adjust the EQ settings and compression levels to enhance the clarity and impact of low frequencies. The key…
- Music Mixing BooksMusic mixing books provide detailed information on how to create professional-quality mixes. These books cover the technical aspects of mixing music, including…
- Delay Mixing TipsThe best delay mixing tips include using a tempo-synced delay, adjusting the wet/dry mix, avoiding excessive feedback, and EQing the delay signal.…
- Mixing Or Non Musician JobsMixing jobs don't require a musical background, while non-musician jobs do. Mixing jobs can include audio, video, and film editing. Non-musician jobs…
- Best Free Mixing PluginsThe best free mixing plugins include EQ, Compressor, and Reverb. These plugins help enhance the sound quality of your tracks without costing…
- What Makes A Good MixA good mix is a balanced combination of sounds that enhances the overall listening experience. A well-executed mix should have clarity, depth,…
- Mixing A House BassTo mix a house bass, adjust the EQ and compression, balance the levels and use a spectrum analyzer. A well-mixed house bass…
- Gain Staging 2Gain staging is the process of setting proper levels in an audio signal chain. Doing so prevents distortion and ensures optimal sound…
- Mixing With HeadphonesMixing with headphones requires a specific approach and proper techniques. In order to achieve accurate and balanced sound, it is important to…
- Mixing In Mono Why Why NotMixing in mono is a common technique in music production that involves mixing audio signals to a mono output. This technique is…
- Edm Mixing And MasteringEdm mixing and mastering is the process of fine-tuning and polishing Electronic Dance Music tracks for optimal sound quality and clarity. As…
- Stereo EnhancementStereo enhancement refers to the process of manipulating the audio signal to create a wider and more immersive stereo image. This technique…
- Mixing PianoMixing piano involves blending individual tracks together to create a cohesive sound. Whether it's acoustic or electronic, the piano can be EQ'd,…
- How To Mix Distorted GuitarTo mix distorted guitar, you should first adjust the volume levels and panning to create a balanced sound. Distorted guitars can add…
- Colour Coding A Mix SessionColour coding a mix session organizes instruments and tracks based on a specific color for easy recognition. In audio mixing, color-coding can…