Three Steps To A Cohesive Mix

This may come off as hypocritical considering that I run a website dedicated to mixing tips, but I don't like "mixing rules." When I started mixing I fell into the trap of thinking that there were special mixing tricks that were going to revolutionize my mixing. I learned the hard way that there are no secret rules. The only "secret" is hard work and drive.

With that said, I'm going to give you some tips today that will help you create a cohesive mix. To do this, we're going to look at a few rules and break a few rules.

So what do I mean by a cohesive mix? I mean that all of the instruments and tracks within your mix need to sit well together and balance each other out. Let's look at a few ways we can do this.

1. Don't solo your tracks.

Nobody listens to your individual tracks in solo. They listen to the entire mix. It won't do you any good to go EQ a vocal or guitar by itself without listening to it in the context in the mix. Remember that your goal is to create a cohesive mix with balance and continuity. The only time you may want to solo a track is to EQ out a weird frequency or for some editing work. However, in general you should mix your tracks in the context of the mix and not by themselves.

2. Do what sounds right, not what looks right.

It's so easy when mixing in a DAW to rely on our eyes more than our eyes. We will look at an EQ curve and think, "Wow, that EQ curve is way too step," and we won't even bother listening to see whether we like it or not. EQ is a tool, use it as such. Break the rules that say you should never boost EQ by so and so amount. Do what sounds right for the mix. Use mixing techniques and rules only as guidelines and as a starting point, but you are going to have to stray away from that depending on each individual song. That's why you don't want to use the same EQ curve on every vocal track. It may work in one song, but need something totally different for another. Experiment and listen to what sounds right!

3. Use EQ to help frequencies sit together.

EQ isn't just a tool to alter the sound of a track or cut out certain frequencies, it's also a great way to get your tracks sitting together in a mix. Let's say you are mixing the bass guitar and kick drum. One great way to get those two sitting together is to boost one frequency at, let's say 60hz, and cut the other one at the same spot. (The frequency that you cut will depend on your individual song. 60hz is just an example.) This will help each one to come through the mix but allow you to hear them individually. Practice the same technique on electric guitars.

Use these tips as guidelines and as a starting point. As I said at the beginning of the post, these are not cure-all's for your mixes. They will however help you to getting a more cohesive mix.

Mixing - Editing - Mastering