Mixer Basics

The mixer is where you balance, pan, and shape the sound of each track. A good mix makes every element audible and gives your beat space and clarity.

Opening the Mixer

Click the Mixer tab in the bottom panel. You'll see a channel strip for each track in your project, plus a Master channel on the right.

Channel Strip Overview

Each channel strip contains:

• Track Name — At the top, click to rename
• Mute (M) — Silences the track
• Solo (S) — Plays only this track (mutes all others)
• Arm (R) — Arms track for recording
• Pan Knob — Controls left/right positioning
• Volume Fader — Controls loudness
• Level Meter — Shows current audio level

Volume Levels

The volume fader controls how loud a track is in your mix:

• 0 dB — Unity gain, no change to the original level
• Negative values (-3, -6, -12 dB) — Quieter
• Positive values (+3, +6 dB) — Louder (use sparingly)

Setting Good Levels

1. Start with the kick drum
   Solo the kick and set it to around -8 to -6 dB.
2. Add the snare
   Unsolo, bring in the snare. Balance it to sit with the kick.
3. Layer in other elements
   Add bass, then melodic elements. Keep checking the master meter—it should stay below 0 dB.
4. Use your ears
   The meters are guides, but trust what sounds right.

Panning

Panning positions sounds in the stereo field (left to right):

• Center (C) — Equal in both speakers. Best for kick, snare, bass, vocals.
• Left (L) — Sound comes from left speaker
• Right (R) — Sound comes from right speaker

Panning Guidelines

• Keep low frequencies centered — Kick, bass, sub should always be centered for power and clarity.
• Spread high frequencies — Hi-hats, shakers, synths can be panned for width.
• Create balance — If you pan something left, pan something else right to balance.
• Subtle movements work — You don't need hard left/right. 30-50% panning creates space without being distracting.

Mute & Solo

Mute (M)

Click the M button to silence a track. The button turns red when muted. Useful for:

• Comparing your mix with and without an element
• Removing a track temporarily without deleting it
• Creating arrangement variations

Solo (S)

Click the S button to hear only that track. The button turns yellow when soloed. Useful for:

• Focusing on one element to fine-tune it
• Checking for problems in a specific track
• Previewing samples before adding to the mix

The Master Channel

The rightmost channel is the Master. All tracks flow into it before reaching your speakers.

• Master Fader — Controls overall output volume
• Master Meter — Shows the final output level
• Master Effects — Apply effects to the entire mix

Avoiding Clipping

The master meter should never go red (above 0 dB). If it does:

1. Pull down individual track faders (not just the master)
2. Identify the loudest elements and reduce them
3. Use compression on tracks that have big dynamic swings

Mixer Workflow

A typical mixing session:

1. Balance levels first
   Get a rough balance where you can hear everything clearly.
2. Set the panning
   Create stereo width and space between elements.
3. Apply EQ
   Cut frequencies that clash, boost what needs to stand out.
4. Add compression
   Control dynamics on vocals, drums, bass as needed.
5. Add effects
   Reverb, delay, and other effects for polish.
6. Final balance
   Make small adjustments, check on different speakers/headphones.

Keyboard Shortcuts

M	Mute selected track
S	Solo selected track
↑/↓	Adjust fader of selected track
Cmd/Ctrl + M	Show/hide mixer

Next Steps

• Using EQ to shape your sound
• Compression explained
• Adding reverb and delay
• Exporting your final mix