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Mixing Checklist

Mix Assessment Checklist

OVERALL MIX BALANCE

Level Balance

  • Vocal sits properly (clear and prominent without being too loud)
  • Drums have appropriate presence (not buried, not dominating)
  • Bass is felt and heard (audible on small speakers too)
  • Guitars support without overpowering
  • All instruments audible - nothing completely buried

Frequency Balance

  • Low end is full but not muddy
  • Midrange is clear, not cluttered or honky
  • High end is present but not harsh or brittle
  • No frequency range feels empty or overloaded

Stereo Image

  • Mix feels appropriately wide (not too narrow, not unnaturally wide)
  • Mono compatibility check (nothing disappears when summed to mono)
  • Stereo field feels balanced (not lopsided)

VOCALS

Level & Clarity

  • Every word is intelligible
  • Vocal sits in front of the mix but feels connected to the music
  • Consistent level throughout (no words jumping out or getting buried)
  • Vocal processing supports the performance (not distracting)

Tone

  • Vocal tone is natural/appropriate for the song
  • Not too bright/harsh or too dull/muffled
  • Breath sounds controlled (present but not distracting)
  • No harshness in sibilants (s, t, ch sounds)

Effects

  • Reverb/delay sits properly (supports but doesn't drown vocal)
  • Doubles/harmonies sit at appropriate level
  • Auto-tune/pitch correction not obvious (unless intentional)

DRUMS

Kick

  • Kick drum has appropriate punch and weight
  • Low end is solid but not boomy
  • Attack/click is present if needed
  • Works well with bass (not fighting for space)

Snare

  • Snare cuts through the mix
  • Tone is full (not thin or boxy)
  • Not overly ringy or resonant
  • Appropriate level relative to kick

Hi-hats

  • Present and clear but not overpowering
  • Not too harsh or brittle
  • Rhythm pattern is clear

Cymbals (crashes, rides)

  • Natural sounding (not overly processed)
  • Present but not painful or piercing
  • Crashes have appropriate decay (not cut off unnaturally)
  • Ride cymbal audible when it's featured

Toms

  • Clear and punchy when they appear
  • Tones are even across different toms
  • Not too ringy or resonant

Overall Drum Balance

  • Drum kit feels like a cohesive unit
  • Nothing sticks out awkwardly
  • Drum ambience/room sound appropriate
  • Overheads provide cohesion without washing out detail

BASS

  • Bass is clearly audible (not just felt)
  • Works well with kick drum (complementary, not competing)
  • Consistent level throughout
  • Note definition is clear (not muddy)
  • Present on small speakers/earbuds (not just big systems)
  • Distortion/effects (if any) enhance rather than obscure

GUITARS

Electric Guitars

  • Cut through mix without dominating
  • Tone is appropriate (not too dark/muddy or too bright/harsh)
  • Rhythm guitars provide support without cluttering
  • Lead guitars sit properly (forward when featured)
  • Stereo placement works (panned appropriately)
  • Distortion is controlled (not fizzy or harsh)

Acoustic Guitars

  • Natural tone preserved
  • Not too boomy in low end
  • Pick/string detail appropriate
  • Sits in its own space

OTHER INSTRUMENTS (as applicable)

Keys/Synths

  • Support the mix without taking over
  • Occupy their own frequency space
  • Effects/modulation not distracting

Strings/Orchestral

  • Balanced within their section
  • Appropriate presence/distance

Percussion

  • Adds texture without cluttering
  • Clear but not overpowering

DYNAMICS & PROCESSING

Compression

  • Mix breathes naturally (not over-compressed)
  • Dynamics are preserved where needed
  • No obvious pumping/breathing artifacts
  • Vocal compression is smooth

EQ

  • No obvious frequency buildups or holes
  • Each instrument occupies its own space
  • No harshness or muddiness

Effects

  • Reverbs/delays enhance without washing out the mix
  • Effects are appropriate for the song style
  • No obvious digital artifacts or glitches

TECHNICAL CHECKS

Artifacts & Issues

  • No clicks, pops, or digital glitches
  • No phase issues (cancellation when checking in mono)
  • No obvious edits or transitions that sound unnatural
  • No distortion or clipping
  • Background noise controlled (if applicable)

Timing & Editing

  • All performances feel tight
  • Edits are smooth and unnoticeable
  • No timing issues between instruments

REFERENCE CHECKS

Multiple Systems

  • Sounds good on studio monitors
  • Sounds good in car
  • Sounds good on earbuds/headphones
  • Sounds good on laptop/phone speaker
  • Translates well at low and high volumes

A/B Comparison

  • Compare to your reference tracks (commercial releases in similar style)
  • Your mix competes in terms of clarity and punch
  • Similar overall loudness/impact (pre-mastering)

EMOTIONAL/ARTISTIC CHECK

  • Mix serves the song (emotional impact preserved)
  • Important moments hit properly (chorus lifts, breakdowns, builds)
  • Arrangement clarity - can follow all parts
  • Nothing distracts from the performance
  • Mix matches your vision for the song

REVISION NOTES FORMAT

When you find issues, note them specifically:

Format:

  • Timestamp: "At 1:23..."
  • Element: "Snare drum..."
  • Issue: "...feels buried under guitars"
  • Suggestion: "...needs to come up ~2dB"

Example: "At 2:45, the lead guitar solo gets lost behind the rhythm guitars. Can we bring it forward and maybe reduce rhythm guitar level during this section?"

LISTENING STRATEGY

Listen multiple times focusing on different elements:

  1. First pass: Overall impression and vocal
  2. Second pass: Drums only
  3. Third pass: Bass and low end
  4. Fourth pass: Guitars and mid-range
  5. Fifth pass: Effects and ambience
  6. Final pass: Technical issues

Important: Take breaks between listens - ear fatigue is real and you'll miss things if you listen too long continuously.