Mixing overview

When you mix a project, you balance the different parts and blend them into a cohesive whole. You can also add effects to alter the sound, use routing and grouping to control the signal flow, and use automation to create dynamic changes in your project over time. You do this in the Mixer, which opens below the Tracks area or as a separate window.

Although there are no rules for mixing—except those learned from experience and a good ear—mixing typically involves the following steps. You may find yourself moving back and forth between steps as you work on the mix.

• Set channel strip volume levels to balance different instruments.

• Set channel strip pan, or balance, positions to place instruments in the stereo field.

• Add and adjust effects and instruments to change the sound characteristics of a track or the overall project.

• Control signal flow to create subgroups, route a signal to multiple destinations, or process sounds individually.

• Create changes over time using automation curves on an individual track or the master track.

In the process of mixing, you will find different ways to accelerate and simplify your workflow, by muting and soloing channel strips, working with channel strip settings and Mixer groups, and customizing the Mixer.

You can also choose between different Mixer views when Show Advanced Tools is selected in the Advanced preferences pane, displaying only those channel strips that you actually need for the mixing task at hand.

You can also perform some basic mixing tasks in the Tracks area.