5 Dynamics Processors

Hey, this track practically mixes itself…

When we first start mixing, there’s an expectation, or maybe just a hope, that it’s possible to set each channel fader at one level and simply leave it there. Then, as all the other tracks fall into place, the sounds will play back perfectly mixed from start to finish.

It’s worth a try. After all, if all of the musicians are adjusting to each other, then all of the little ups and downs along the way should still fit together seamlessly. But as you’ve probably discovered, real sounds change, especially in volume level. Some parts of the track are louder while others are softer. Sometimes the level changes dramatically from one note to the next.

Automating every channel fader throughout the whole project is one option, but it can be a long and tedious process. There must be some other way of doing this since not everyone can automate mixes that way. You need some kind of automated fader: something that can adjust the levels up or down when you want it to—not something you have to set manually throughout the track, but something that changes automatically based on a few settings you choose. You need something to automatically adjust the dynamic range of your tracks.