1. Equalization

Mixing is the penultimate step in music production, followed only by mastering. All the performances have been captured—the mix engineer doesn’t get to ask for another take or a different instrument. Still, the mix engineer has the daunting task of ensuring that everything fits together in a cohesive sonic landscape.

The mix engineer employs a variety of powerful tools to sculpt both individual sounds and groups of sounds. These tools can alter the timbre, dynamics, temporal character, balance, and relative position of the musical parts. We’ll explore each of these tools in turn, and we’ll start with equalization.