The Mechanics of Mixing

The editing stage of a project is when you decide what the audience is going to hear. The mixing stage is where you decide how they are going to hear it. The goals of a mix are not only to set the levels of each track but to also sculpt the sound and add character to what’s being heard. Sometimes, a recording that was less than ideal can be saved with proper mixing techniques, and even the best-recorded sounds will suffer if not mixed well. This chapter isn’t focused so much on providing you with workflows to speed up a mix—this stage of production should take time and focus. Instead, we’ll explore all the different tools available to you in terms of mix mechanics. You’ll learn different ways to manipulate audio levels, work with automation and Preview mode to audition different ideas, and how to route audio within a mix context. The next chapter will go over specific tools for shaping the sound and adding character.

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