# Ride the Lead

> A song's lead is uneven: a phrase sinks or jumps out. Find it by ear and set each phrase's level on an automation lane until the lead sits even.

Page: https://mixchops.com/balance/ride

The exercise runs at [https://mixchops.com/balance/ride](https://mixchops.com/balance/ride) in any modern browser, with headphones or decent speakers.

## Even out the lead, *phrase by phrase.*

A static balance gets a song most of the way. Then the lead, the vocal or whatever carries the tune, gets ridden so every line sits right: a phrase that sinks under the band comes up, one that jumps out comes down. Here a few phrases of the lead have been knocked up or down. Find them and set their level on the automation lane until the lead sits even.

### How it works

1. Press Play and listen to the lead against the drums. Which phrase sinks, and which jumps out? Flip to Bypass to hear the song as mixed.
2. Press that phrase on the lane and drag it up or down, or use the arrow keys: left and right choose a phrase, up and down set its level. Loop this phrase to hear one on its own in the song.
3. When every line sits even, check. Ride it live is there too: ride the fader through one pass and your ride fills the phrases.

### How it’s scored

How even the lead ends up, counted where it plays: 100 for every phrase back where it belongs, 0 for no better than leaving it. The level the lead sits at overall doesn’t count, only how even it is. Pass with a 60 average over five challenges.

### Levels

Five levels: two phrases with one out; four phrases with one out; four with two out; eight with three out; then eight with no Bypass, by ear alone. The lead is the vocal when a song has one, otherwise the part carrying the tune. It’s part of [Mix Chops Pro](https://mixchops.com/pro), every level.

[Before this: Build the Mix](https://mixchops.com/balance/build) · [All balance exercises](https://mixchops.com/balance) · [Learn: How to build a static mix](https://mixchops.com/learn/build-a-static-mix)