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What makes a good mix.

Four things, in plain words. They are what a mix engineer listens for, and what the free score measures.

The four parts of a mix

Balance → Depth

The frequency map

20 Hz → 20 kHz · select a band

Low mid · 300–800 Hz: Where mud builds up, around 300 Hz. Boxy at 400–700 Hz.

Sub

20–60 Hz: Felt more than heard. Kick and sub live here. Too much eats headroom.

Bass

60–160 Hz: Weight and warmth. A track sounds fat or thin around 120 Hz.

Upper bass

160–300 Hz: Body. Too much sounds boomy.

Low mid

300–800 Hz: Where mud builds up, around 300 Hz. Boxy at 400–700 Hz.

Mid

800 Hz–2.5 kHz: Honky near 1 kHz, tinny near 2 kHz.

Upper mid

2.5–5 kHz: Presence. Vocals cut through near 3 kHz. Too much is harsh and tiring.

High

5–10 kHz: Sibilance: S and T sounds.

Air

10–20 kHz: Air and sparkle at the very top.

Rule of thumbCut first, boost second. Cuts fix problems. Boosts change the character of the sound.

How a mix is approached

4 passes

Listen

The bounce shows the balance the artist wants. The reference tracks show the sound.

Clean

Rumble below the bass removed, mud near 300 Hz cleared, harsh peaks at 2–6 kHz tamed.

Balance and glue

Levels set, compression, the bass sidechained to the kick, the low end kept in mono.

Space and check

Reverb and delay in time with the track, then checked on phones, earbuds and in mono.

Delay times for your tempo

ms = 60,000 ÷ BPM

Delays and reverb pre-delay sound tighter when they line up with the beat.

Tempo (BPM)

4291/4 · ms

2141/8 · ms

3211/8 dotted

1071/16 · ms

Frequency ranges adapted from synthdawg Charts, Edition 3a.

What makes a good mix.

The four parts of a mix

Balance

Space

Punch

Depth