Mixing a Song From Start to Finish

This course is set up so that you can follow along in your own studio while mixing the same song as the instructor. There is a zip file included with this lecture containing the tracked out audio files for you to use. This video provides the step by step process to import the files and get started.

Once the files are imported into your music software, it's a good idea to organize everything to accommodate your workflow.

Effects are our tools of the trade when it comes to mixing. Learn the most important effects to master as a mix engineer.

Equalizers might be the most powerful tool in a mix engineer's arsenal. This effect is probably used more than any other effect. So this lecture dives in to how equalizers function.

Noise gates can be very helpful for clearing out extraneous noise from a track. When trying to achieve clarity in a mix, often times the focus should be on removing sounds. Understanding how a noise gate functions is the first step to using them properly.

One of the most misunderstood effects used when mixing is compression. It can be difficult to hear, but is very important when mixing. The first step to using compressors and limiters properly is knowing how they function.

Use this short quiz as a review for the concepts covered in the "Basic Effects" section of the course.

Not all effects should be added directly to the track. Some are routed to a different channel (aux) in order to blend the effect with the unaffected signal. Using this "parallel" routing also allows you to send more than one track to the same effect.

Reverb can add a sense of depth and realism to a sound, or give it an ethereal tone. When used well, reverb can have a significant impact on the overall emotion of a song. This lecture will help you master the main controls found on reverb effects.

Delay is basically a rhythmic echo blended with a track. Yet this simple effect can create some intense results. In this video you will learn how to go about setting a delay effect.

Modulation effects, such as chorus and flanger, are other parallel routed effects that use delay to create a different result. This video digs in to how these effects work, and how to apply them.

Use this short quiz as a review on the concepts covered in the "Parallel Effects" section of the course.

You have to start somewhere, and the static mix is the first step for mixing a song.

Often times, mixing a song requires editing the audio files in some way. This section is dedicated to some of the common edits done on vocals.

There is a lot of software out there used for pitch correction. This lecture takes a look at the Melodyne plug-in.

There is a lot of software out there used for pitch correction. This lecture takes a look at the Auto-Tune plug-in.

There is a lot of software out there used for pitch correction. This lecture takes a look at the Waves Tune plug-in.

This section applies the basic and parallel effects to drums and percussion. This is the first of three videos showing mixing techniques for drums.

This section applies the basic and parallel effects to drums and percussion. This is the second of three videos showing mixing techniques for drums.

This section applies the basic and parallel effects to drums and percussion. This is the last of three videos showing mixing techniques for drums.

Getting the low end of a mix to sound clean and powerful can be difficult. This lecture looks at some techniques for making the bass more powerful and balancing it with the kick drum.

One of the most common instruments found in modern music, guitars require a subtle touch most of the time. They can often get in the way of vocals (and other instruments) when mixing. This video shows some techniques for applying the basic and parallel effects for creating a good tone on electric guitars.

Listening to your mix on as many different speakers and headphones as possible is always beneficial. It offers different perspectives on how the mix actually sounds. This lecture talks about that and a few other tips for creating a professional sounding song.

Mixing a song requires lots of little tweaks to your settings as you work. Coming back to the studio after listening to your work on different playback systems requires some changes to be made. This video talks about what to listen for and how to implement the changes that your mix needs.

Vocals are probably the most important element when mixing. They are the focus of the music, and the hook is the focus of the song. So, the vocals in the hook are the most important element to get right in the mix.

How can you get the background vocals to stand out while not getting in the way of the lead vocals? There are many techniques for this, and this video illustrates one approach.

This lecture focuses on how to use EQ, noise gates, and compression on vocals.

This lecture focuses on how to use reverb, delay, and other parallel effects on vocals.

In this video you will learn how to mix using a subgroup on an aux input.

Continuing on with mixing the background vocals of the verses, this lecture addresses using EQ to remove resonant frequencies. Additionally, chorus and reverb are utilized in parallel routing.

Subgroups are a handy approach to dealing with numerous vocal tracks. This video shows another approach to submixing on aux inputs, as well as some basic automaton of effects.

More application of mixing with subgroups, equalizers, limiters, stereo imaging, and reverb.

Rap vocals require a little bit different approach in the mix than singing vocals. They usually have a more aggressive tone, with more compression and less reverb. This lecture addresses using compression, EQ, de-essing, limiting and pitch-shift effects on rap vocals.

Finishing up with the lead rap vocals, this video looks at applying reverb and delay effects. And beyond that, automation is applied to these effects.

Background vocals should stand out from the lead vocals, but not distract from the lead. You can use some different settings on your basic effects like EQ and compression to give them a different sonic quality. Then add a different reverb and/or delay setting to help them stand out from the lead at a lower volume.

Automation is an important and powerful tool for mixing. It helps to create movement, dynamics, and changes in texture as a song progresses. In this lecture you will see how to apply more automation in a mix.

Again, listening to your mix on as many different speakers and headphones as possible is always beneficial. It offers different perspectives on how the mix actually sounds. At this point it is time to reference the mix on some different playback systems again. The mix version bounced from this video is available for download for you to reference.

One more final tweak before completing the mix.

"To master or not to master? That is the question."

Synopsis of the concepts revealed in this course.