Chapter 12 Mix Theory - Posted on 2017-10-12 by Mike-Cole

Mixing and mastering. For a long time I didn’t really know what that meant. But at the end of the day, the point of a professional recording is to get the proper balance of all of the instruments. In many of my early mixes I had a lot of issues with tracks regarding volume as well as tone. Much of that came by not knowing that there is an order of operations when it comes to mixing. Regardless of where you stand on the chicken and egg debate that is whether EQ or compression comes first, there is a proper order to mixing. If you follow the order and remember that your goal in all of this is to get a balance, the only thing left that is necessary for a professional recording is creativity.

A lot goes into this “balance” that has to be achieved with mixing. Whether it comes to panning or using the proper plugins which we will discuss in future chapters, all of this goes towards the final mix.