Checklist de Mezcla 101

101 Mixing Checklist

• Levels and Balance:
  • Use the 1 dB rule to achieve the most balanced levels across multi-tracks. Adjust each track by 1 dB, checking for improved sound. Stop when further adjustment worsens the mix.
  • Ensure balanced levels between the kick and snare drums for equal prominence.
  • Consider whether close mics or overheads contribute more to the drum sound.
  • Evaluate tom tracks: positive or negative impact on the overall drum sound? Do they require gating to remove bleed?
  • Analyze the bass and kick drum relationship: clashing or complementary? Level adjustments help or hurt the situation?
  • Assess mix clarity using selective muting.
  • Distribute instruments across the stereo spectrum through panning.
  • Ensure consistent "stuff" on both sides of the stereo image.
  • Try panning instruments in mono to better isolate them.
  • Group or route tracks to simplify later level adjustments and mix balancing.
  • Verify the master isn't overloading from the start. Reduce track volumes if necessary to improve manageability.
  • Critically listen to each instrument group, noting areas for improvement.

Drums

• Drum Processing:
  • High-pass filter all drums to an appropriate frequency.
  • Enhance kick drum depth by finding the sweet spot within the 50-100 Hz range.
  • Boost the kick drum's 2-4 kHz range to highlight the beater.
  • Reduce unwanted boxiness in the drums by cutting frequencies around 300-400 Hz.
  • Evaluate snare's presence in the mix and adjust accordingly using high-mids around 2-4 kHz or cut in sibilant frequencies.
  • Implement EQ to enhance snare sound if necessary; consider saturation or distortion as alternative solutions.
  • Experiment with different compressor types to optimize each drum's sound quality.
  • Try doubling the kick drum and boosting high-mids to bring out the beater with filtered lows.
  • Use fast attack compressors for drums with transient needs.
  • Time compressor release with the song's rhythm using the gain reduction meter.
  • Control overall drum compression shape adjusting attack and release parameters.
  • Enhance tom sound by boosting highs and lows while cutting boxiness to achieve a punchier sound.
  • Explore parallel compression for drums with strong dynamic range.
  • Amplify total drum punch of a mix using fast attack, slow release, high ratio, and a substantial gain reduction.
  • Add a separate reverb to the snare to provide depth.
  • Use EQ to position the drum reverb in the mix.
  • Determine appropriate reverb for a given style and song.
  • Fine-tune kick drum using EQ and compression to enhance clarity.
  • Adjust snare to maintain presence and clarity.
  • Pan drums for a wider sound.

Bass

• Bass Processing:
  • Check DI'd bass for amplification via amp modeling.
  • Verify phasing between both DI and mic tracks.
  • Find appropriate frequency sweet spots for both bass and kick in the low frequencies.
  • Reduce unwanted bass and kick interference using EQ.
  • Identify proper frequencies in the bass and kick using a spectrum analyzer to enhance clarity.
  • Consider compression ratios for bass players' dynamic playing style.
  • Decide if bass or kick is the primary low-frequency element and adjust EQ accordingly.
  • Use side-chain compression on bass to prevent masking the kick drum.
  • Add presence to bass in the 600-800 Hz range to bring it forward.
  • Utilize parallel distortion/saturation to add subtle grit to bass.
  • Add artificial low-end if the bass lacks low-end frequency response.
  • Improve clarity by making creative use of automation on bass player's fills.
  • Enhance acoustic guitar clarity by enhancing the 5-10 kHz region.
  • Improve acoustic guitar sound by reducing shrill mids around 800 Hz.
  • Evaluate acoustic guitar's perceived small size with potential excessive compression; consider reducing compression.
  • Use complementary EQ on guitar tracks for separation.
  • Correct attack time to prevent the guitar sound from being compressed.
  • Evaluate appropriate guitar compressor types.
  • Check for phase/polarity issues.
  • Separate multiple guitar tracks using panning within the stereo spectrum.
  • Experiment with a 100 ms stereo delay to create extra space.
  • Evaluate appropriate reverb settings in the song's space.
  • Apply high-pass filter to guitar above 100 Hz.
  • Experiment with double-tracked/modulation effects to thicken the guitar sound.
  • Use parallel routing for electric guitar and amp simulator with a panned to opposite side for wider sound.
  • Utilize a short, and a long reverb to enhance acoustic/electric guitar separation.
  • Automate guitar licks for a cleaner sound and prevent clashing with other instrumentation.
  • Consider re-amping the guitar for improved sound quality.
  • Add a cut to the 900 Hz - 3 kHz area of the guitar tracks to enhance vocal presence.
  • Fine-tune slap-delay in guitar mix for added rhythmic dimension.

Piano & Keyboards

• Piano & Keyboard Processing:
  • Use EQ to enhance piano presence in a mix (500 to 1000 Hz).
  • Find optimal high pass filter settings for piano to add low-end weight without sounding thin.
• Use EQ automation within the overall mix for different instruments and vocals.
• Correct low-mids (200Hz-3 kHz) in piano & keyboards to open up space for other elements.
• Ensure that keyboard/piano track is not overly stereo.
• Add creative effects like chorus or modulation for a richer sound without excess reverb.
• Evaluate dynamic range of the piano and apply appropriate compression for performance consistency.
• Use proper reverb and lower volume for background piano in piano/vocal arrangement.
• Combine midi lines for synth pads to enhance depth that is appropriate within a song.

Vocals

• Vocal Processing:
  • Fine-tune vocal weight, presence, and air (low-mids, 5 kHz, and above 10 kHz) as needed.
• Adjust vocal frequencies for a proper tone, (avoid harshness with heavy mid-frequency presence).
  -Address nasal sounds by adjusting frequency around 1 kHz.
• Address vocal clarity issues adding automation or compression if needed.
• Handle issues like phase discrepancies in doubled vocals.
• Apply high-pass filter to vocal if necessary. -Evaluate need for compression for vocal stability. -Choose appropriate compressor types for vocal specific requirements. -Experiment with serial compressors to create steady dynamic range. -Enhance vocal tracks with interesting spaces through effect application. -Adjust vocal reverb to enhance cohesion within particular tracks in a mix.
  • Use parallel processing for vocals to add backgrounds.
  • Correct vocal tone and presence (with backgrounds layers below the vocal, and with the correct level).
  • Separate background vocals with different reverb settings using a different reverb for the lead vocals.
  • Adjust vocal sounds through creative effects.
• Evaluate if vocal requires adjustments to better fit the song through creative sound design.
  • Adjust vocal frequency range (cutting) as needed to avoid clashes with other instruments (avoiding muddiness/clashing among the elements).
  • Address sibilance by adjusting the de-esser appropriately.
• Check for interesting elements in the vocal mix.
  • Use delays or other effects to achieve a wider sound or to add creative detail.
  • Pan doubled vocals to opposite sides for stereo.
• Add effects/filtering of a background vocal layers to enhance clarity and avoid clashing with the main vocal.

Mastering Checklist

• Mastering:
  • Evaluate satisfaction with mix details.
  • Define whether mastering targets a single track or full album.
  • If single track, implement quick mastering using master fader for tweaks in the overall mix.
  • Ensure track delivery/project archiving of all bounces and songs' arrangement.
• Address fade-in and fade-out issues. -Check for sufficient headroom to adjust gain before mastering.
• Utilize existing references to gauge mastering quality against industry standards.
• Identify any excessive compression-related pumping in the mastering process.
• Maintain signal flow integrity among plug-ins using appropriate gain settings per each plug-in's stage and use adequate gain reduction; avoiding inappropriate over-EQ.
• Prevent mix distortion or issues stemming from insufficient compression, using metering tools for peaks, RMS and LUFS; evaluate each instrument for optimum levels.
• Evaluate if master sounds better than the mix (or if it is simply louder).
• Check mastered tracks on diverse systems including those with subwoofers for a complete and accurate review.
• Identify and correct any problematic frequency bumps or dips in the master output,
• Add a limiter to the master if needed.
• Use dither in the final mastering stage. Consider adding specific frequency bumps or drops to fix issues with the overall mix; checking for areas with poor presence and adjusting volume to resolve them.

Explora las mejores prácticas y técnicas para lograr niveles de mezcla equilibrados en múltiples pistas. Este cuestionario te ayudará a evaluar diferentes aspectos de tu mezcla, desde la relación entre el bajo y la batería hasta la distribución de instrumentos en la imagen estéreo. ¡Pon a prueba tus conocimientos sobre mezcla de audio!