Feel like your mixes never seem to come out as polished as you envision? Perhaps you’re struggling with muddy sounds or vocals that don’t cut through? For those starting out, learning how to mix music is one of the trickiest parts of production. Especially when you don’t know what to focus on, or what you’re missing.
Thankfully, this guide takes the guesswork out of mixing. Grammy-award winning producer, Mai, breaks down the five essential steps to turn your raw tracks into a cohesive, professional-sounding mix – all using BandLab. Watch the full tutorial on YouTube, or dive straight into the breakdown below.
What exactly is mixing music?
Mixing is all about blending all the individual elements of your track – like drums, vocals, instruments, and effects – to create a cohesive and balanced listening experience. This is done before the mastering process to ensure each sound has its own space in the mix, with nothing overshadowing the rest or getting lost. Think of it as solving a puzzle and finding the right spot for each sound.
And, of course, mixing gives you the chance to add emotional impact, like using distortion at the climax of a guitar solo or adding reverb to make a clap sound bigger. If you’ve ever noticed that some parts of a song seem too loud or too soft, or if the mix feels muddy or unclear, it’s usually a sign that the mixing process needs a bit of work.
How to mix music in 5 steps on BandLab
1. Organize and label your tracks
When learning how to mix music, one of the first things you want to do is organize and label your tracks properly. This simple action will save you a lot of time and confusion down the line, making it easier to find and adjust specific elements of your song.
In Studio, you can easily access your track list by swiping right from the arrangement view. From there, tap on the three dots next to each track and select Rename from the dropdown menu to label your tracks clearly.
You’ll also want to arrange your tracks logically, based on their role in the song. For instance, place your drums at the top of the list since they’re usually the foundation of your track.
2. Set mixing levels
Once your tracks are organized, it’s time to move on to one of the most important steps in how to mix music: setting your levels. This step helps you create balance in your mix, ensuring no element is too loud or too soft.
Start by adjusting your track levels during the densest part of your song (typically the chorus or hook) where the most elements are playing. This is where your mix needs to sound its fullest.
For example, you might want your drums to be the loudest element in the mix, allowing them to cut through and drive the track. On the other hand, melodic elements like strings or piano can be turned down slightly so they don’t overpower the drums or vocals.
As you adjust, always keep an eye on your meters to avoid clipping. Nothing should peak above 0 dB, or you’ll run the risk of distortion, which will muddy up your mix. A well-balanced mix is key to making sure every part of your track shines through clearly.
Pro tip: New to mixing or want to save time? Use AutoMix on BandLab to polish your mix in seconds. This AI tool automatically adjusts your track’s volume and panning. Just go to Mix View (multi-track view) in Studio, tap AutoMix, and select a genre like lofi, R&B, pop, or rock.
3. Pan your tracks
Panning is another essential part of how to mix music, and it’s all about placement. By moving elements around the stereo field, you give your track more room to breathe and create depth.
Consider panning the strings to the left and the piano to the right to create space and separation between them. This gives your mix a wider, more spacious feel, making it more interesting and less cluttered.
When panning, think about how each element works together in the stereo field. With careful panning, you can create a mix that’s rich, clear, and easy on the ears.
4. Fine-tune your tracks with EQ
Next in line is EQ (or equalization). This step helps you clean up any harsh or clashing frequencies so each sound has its own space in the mix.
In Studio, try using Visual EQ to cut out low-end frequencies from instruments that don’t need them. For example, if you’ve got an 808 and a sample with its own bassline, removing some of the lows from the sample gives your 808 room to hit harder.
5. Add compression to your tracks
Compression is a powerful step in learning how to mix music the right way. It helps to even out volume differences in your song, making quiet parts louder and loud parts more controlled. This is especially helpful for vocals, where a consistent level makes all the difference.
To apply compression on your tracks in Studio, head to the Dynamics tab under mixing presets to find compressors. Choose one and adjust settings like attack, release, threshold, and ratio to shape your sound. Remember not to go overboard! Subtlety is key – and over-compressing can result in a track that sounds flat and unnatural.
Once your mix starts shaping up, don’t be afraid to experiment with all the effects in BandLab’s library. Play around with reverb, delay, and chorus to add texture and depth, transforming your track from flat to dynamic. For example, you might add delay to a synth or reverb to a clap to give it space and make it feel bigger.
After mixing, take the time to listen to it on different systems – like your car stereo, headphones, and Bluetooth speaker. This will help you catch any issues that might not be noticeable on your main speakers. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments and go back to tweak certain elements. Once you’re happy, hit export!
With practice, you’ll gain more confidence in how to mix music effectively. The key is to trust your ears, be open to exploring different techniques, and enjoy the creative process. Ready to put these steps into action? Open Studio and start mixing one of your tracks today.
