Got this question from a reader:

In some of your emails you briefly mentioning balancing tracks. Of course, I understand that’s the first thing and I’m wondering if you have any articles pertaining to balancing (leveling?) tracks.  Is there something you focus on before you begin EQ and Compression?

Balancing tracks is the fundamental starting point for every mix, in my honest and incredibly correct opinion.

EQ and Compression, although extremely important, don't help at all if your balance is out of whack.

That's why I usually spend more time getting the exact levels of each track right before I even touch any processing.

Just moving the faders around should get you very close to a rough mix.

Sure, you'll obviously have to do some additional mixing but if you get the balance right from the start it makes the rest of your mix easier and more fun to do.

Rebalancing

Of course, balancing the faders isn't a one-and-done thing you do at the start of the mix.

Rebalancing as you add compression, EQ, aux sends and effects is essential to keeping the balance you had before.

All the processors add or subtract gain to your signals so you should take that into consideration as you're adding your plug-ins to the mix.

But as long as you spend an extra 20 minutes on balancing at the start, you might save yourself some time down the line.

Balancing without using any plug-ins is the first module in my Mixing With 5 Plug-ins course, and students tell me all the time how pleasantly surprised by how much better their mixes sound just after working on the balance in the way that I teach them inside the course.

If you're looking to improve your mixes with using the plug-ins you already have in your DAW, check out Mixing With 5 Plug-ins here.