Balance ear training. Set the faders by ear.
A song split into its parts, one fader each. Hear which part moved, then put the balance back. Every version plays at the same loudness, so louder is never the giveaway: only the balance counts.
2 exercises8 levelsLevels 1 and 2 free
Hear the balance, not the volume.
A mix starts as a set of faders. Before EQ or compression, the balance between the parts decides most of how a mix sounds. These exercises train you to hear it: which part has moved, which way, and how far to bring it back.
What’s the right balance?
Here, the song’s original mix: every part at its own level. That’s Bypass. The exercises move faders away from it, and you hear what moved and put it back.
Why is everything matched for loudness?
Because louder tends to sound better, and turning up one part also makes the whole mix louder. Every version plays at the same loudness, so the only thing left to hear is the balance between the parts.
What’s free?
Levels 1 and 2 of each exercise, with no account and no card. The rest are part of Mix Chops Pro, and every level is open while Mix Chops is in early access.
What is Ask Dan?
An AI mentor built on Dan Murtagh’s teaching. Signed in, it tells you why you missed one and debriefs each level, the way Dan balances a mix. A free account gets ten replies a day.
Do I need headphones?
Headphones or decent speakers. The bass barely plays on laptop and phone speakers, so on the first levels it only ever goes up, never down.