Mixdown
Summing many tracks into a stereo mix, fixing balance and space
Related
Mixdown is summing tracks into a stereo or multichannel master: setting each track's level, pan, EQ, dynamics and effects so every element finds its place in spectrum and space. It is craft and taste — deciding what the listener hears first and what stays behind.
The usual order is to fix the low-end skeleton of drums and bass, place the vocal or lead, add harmony and colour, then use automation for movement. Switch between speakers, headphones and a small system; leave headroom on the bus, and confirm sample rate, bit depth and start point before export.
The usual mistake is to think mixdown means export. Export is the last step; the real work is choices. Another is making it as loud as possible — loudness belongs to mastering, while the mix should get the balance right first.
Related → Bus
Sources
- 缩混流程，参 Bobby Owsinski, The Mixing Engineer's Handbook 与 Huber & Runstein, Modern Recording Techniques；本文为原创表述
Used for fact-checking only; all prose is original.