Getting a balanced mix might sound simple… until you actually try it. Between the EQs, compressors, reverbs, and endless plugin options, it’s easy to lose perspective and end up with a muddy or harsh mess. The good news? With a clear system, you can make mixing far easier — no matter your experience level.
In this post, you’ll learn five proven steps to achieve a clean, balanced mix that sounds professional in any genre. These are the techniques I wish I’d learned 25 years ago — they would’ve saved me years of frustration…
Step 1: Build a Solid Foundation with a Reference Track
Most producers make the same mistake when mixing: they start tweaking EQs, compressors, and reverbs before they’ve even set the foundation. That’s like decorating a house before laying the concrete — it’s going to fall apart.
Before you touch any plugins, you need a clear vision of what your finished mix should sound like. That’s where reference tracks come in.
A reference track is a professionally mixed and mastered song in your genre that you can use to guide your balance. If you don’t know what “balanced” sounds like, how can you know when you’ve achieved it?
Here’s how to choose and set up your reference track:
- Pick a track in the same genre, with a similar vibe and energy.
- Import it into your DAW (Ableton, FL Studio, Logic, etc.).
- Reduce its volume by 12dB to help account for mastering loudness — this avoids clipping and gives a fair comparison.
- Keep it on a separate channel so you can quickly switch between your mix and the reference.
Pro Tip: Switch your mix to mono while setting your initial balances. This helps your ears focus on frequency relationships instead of stereo width — which doesn’t matter yet.
Step 2: Set Your Kick Drum Level
The kick drum is the foundation of most modern mixes. Start by setting your kick to peak at around -12dB on your master channel. This leaves plenty of headroom for the rest of your instruments and prevents clipping later.
Many beginners make the mistake of setting the kick too loud — even limiting it — to make it sound “punchy” in solo. But that only kills your headroom and throws your mix off balance before you’ve even started.
Once your kick sits comfortably around -12dB, leave it there. It’s your anchor for the rest of the mix.
Step 3: Balance the Bass with the Kick
Next, bring in your bass line. This is where things can get tricky because not all bass sounds are created equal — you might have a live bass guitar, a subby 808, or a growling synth bass. The key is to get the low end balanced so your kick and bass work together instead of competing.
Here’s a simple way to do it:
- Add a spectrum analyzer to both your master channel and your reference track.
- Apply a low-pass filter (around 100Hz) to both tracks. This lets you focus only on the sub and low bass region.
- Play your kick and bass together and adjust the bass volume until it matches the low-end energy of the reference track.
- When it feels right, remove the filters and check the overall blend again.
In most genres, your sub bass will average around -20dB (not peak, but RMS) when balanced against a kick peaking at -12dB. That’s a solid starting point.
At this stage, your kick and bass should be working together beautifully. Don’t move forward until they do — this is your track’s foundation.
Step 4: Add and Balance the Drums
Once your low end is solid, it’s time to bring in your snare and hats. These elements add rhythm, groove, and movement to your track.
- Bring up your snare until it gives the mix a satisfying “snap” — the point where your head starts bobbing. No louder than that.
- Add your hi-hats and percussion gradually. Compare them with your reference track, ideally during a section where only drums are playing (like the intro).
Keep adjusting until the kick, bass, and snare are locked together. Once these core elements are tight, your mix will already sound 80% complete.
Step 5: Bring in Leads, Vocals, and then Reverb
Now that your rhythm section is balanced, start introducing your lead synths or vocals — whichever is most important for your track. The goal is to make them sit well without overpowering the mix.
Before you do, use EQ to remove unnecessary low frequencies from every element except the kick and bass. This frees up space in the low end and prevents muddiness.
General EQ guidelines:
- Cut lows from synths, pads, and vocals as high as you can without making them sound thin.
- For male vocals, keep everything above 75–80Hz.
- If you have tom drums or other low percussion, let them keep their low end too.
Once your leads and vocals are balanced, it’s time to add a touch of room reverb to bring your mix to life. Create a return track for your reverb, then send small amounts from your drums — especially claps, hats, and percussion loops — while keeping your kick dry.
Toggle the reverb on and off to hear the difference. A little goes a long way!
Step 6: The Final Balance
By now, your mix should sound cohesive, clean, and balanced. All that’s left is to bring in the remaining elements (FX, background layers, extra melodies) in order of importance, making sure they don’t compete with your core foundation — the kick, bass, and snare.
Be careful here. This is the danger zone where it’s easy to ruin a great mix by over-processing or overloading frequencies. Keep referencing your reference track, stay in mono when needed, and make small, deliberate moves.
Final Thoughts
Balancing your mix doesn’t have to be complicated. If you follow these five steps — starting with a solid reference, setting your kick and bass levels correctly, and layering drums, leads, and effects in order of importance — you’ll be miles ahead of most producers.
Keep it simple, trust the process, and your mixes will start sounding cleaner, punchier, and more professional — no expensive plugins required.
Next: Avoid These 8 Common Mixing Mistakes
You’re well on your way to creating a balanced, professional mix — but even one wrong move can throw everything off. That’s why I’ve broken down the 8 most common mixing mistakes producers make (and how to avoid them). Knowing these can literally save your next mix.
👉 Check out the 8 Mixing Mistakes to Avoid Here
Want to Take Your Music to the Next Level?
If you’re serious about improving your music production skills and getting your tracks sounding label-ready, check out the EDM Tips Accelerator Program.
It’s our high-level coaching program designed to help producers like you finish professional-quality tracks faster — with personal feedback, expert guidance, and a proven system used by students who are now releasing on top labels and touring the world, accruing hundreds of millions of streams with their music.
👉 Learn more about the Accelerator here and see how you can level up your music production this year.
