mixing
techniquesMIK-sing
The process of combining multiple recorded tracks into a balanced stereo or surround sound recording.
Mixing is where individual recorded elements are balanced in volume, panned in the stereo field, processed with EQ and effects, and blended into a cohesive whole. A mix engineer shapes the sonic landscape of a recording, deciding what sits in front and what recedes, what sounds wide and what stays centred. Mixing requires both technical skill and artistic judgment. The difference between a rough mix and a professional mix can transform a recording.
Chris Lord-Alge has mixed so many hit records that engineers joke about a Chris Lord-Alge preset button: loud, punchy, and compressed, with everything fighting for attention.