Steps In The Mixdown Process

This guide is optimized for bass-heavy electronic music. It's intended for beginners to learn the process of multi-track mixing with Ableton Live.

The end goal is to export a Test Mix that you can compare to professionally-mastered music, and evolve towards a final master of your own.

Label each track so you know what sound is on every channel
Drag them in order from Left to Right – drums to instruments to vocals
Color-code the Tracks so you can easily see each type of sound
Save the Project and Name it with the date
Play through and find the main song sections so you know where to find each sound

Solo the tracks one at a time and ask “what’s the most important part of this sound?”
Look for places to make improvements like removing unnecessary low frequencies, bringing down shrill high frequencies, and taming wild volume spikes
Frequency tools - use EQ’s and Filters to improve Tone
Dynamics tools - use Compressors, Limiters and Gates to shape the Dynamics

Reset the Peak Level meter on each sound
Bring the sound up to the full level within its channel
Read the little green meters in between each plugin to see the input level of the sound
Keep it green not red! (a little yellow is ok)

Bring all channel Faders down to minus infinity (nothing)
Raise the the Kick drum Fader so the channel output level reads -12db
- that’s the main green fader next to the volume slider)
Adjust your monitor volume so it feels loud enough in the room
- 85dbSPL is a good target listening level for mixing
Fade up the Bass to blend with kick
- approx. -18db
Fade up the Drums to make a mix that feels good to you
- spend some time on this and make sure you visit every section of the song
Fade up Instruments to match with the bassline
Widen the stereo field using Pan position on drums & instruments
Bring in the Vocals last - keep them loud and up front in the mix

Read the Peak Level Meter on the Master Channel to see how much headroom is available in the track
Use Compressor and Limiter to add MakeUp Gain and raise the overall level of the track.
Aim for less than 3db of Gain Reduction in your compressor.
Use the “Maximize” function on the Ableton Limiter
Export a test mix

Check your mix by listening to it on multiple sets of speakers – headphones, in the car, at your house, at your friend’s house, in a music club if possible.
Check your mix by playing professional tracks you like, and then playing your own mix. Listen for how the bass feels, how the midrange instruments and vocals feel, and how the high frequency drums and FX feel.

When your mix is as good as you can make it without spending nine million hours, export a new version for mastering
Remove all FX on the Master Channel before mastering – no Compression, Limiter, EQ, etc
Export a .wav file at 48kHz and 24-bit, no Dithering
Develop a relationship with a mastering engineer who understands your style of music
Try Ai mastering such as LANDR.com
Try mastering plugins such as Ozone
After getting your mastered track back, do some more comparative listening to hear it on multiple sound systems and check it against pro tracks that you buy
This process will eventually result in you making world-class original music that sounds so good, you’ll be excited to share it with everyone you can find!

Please get in touch when you need mix coaching, track feedback, answers to your questions, or just some wildly enthusiastic encouragement!

live mix class starting this week