One part of this mix is out of place, and there’s no before to compare. Find it and pick it, then set its fader back.
Find what’s sticking out by ear.
Come back to a mix the next morning and something’s wrong before you know what. This is that moment. One part of a song is out of place and there’s no before to compare: find which part, then set its fader where it belongs. Every version plays at the same loudness, so only the balance counts.
How it works
- Press Play and listen. What’s in front of everything else, or missing?
- Press the target under that part. Wrong first time, you get one more pick.
- Set its fader until it sits right, then check. Bypass opens once you’ve checked.
How it’s scored
40 points for finding the part first go (20 on your second pick), and up to 60 for how close its fader puts the mix back. Soloing a part costs 4 points, once a part. Muting is free, as often as you like: take each part out in turn and put it back. Sometimes muting a part is how you learn it was too loud. Pass with a 65 average over five challenges.
Levels
Five levels. In the first three a part is sticking out, from obvious to a few dB; in the last two it might have sunk instead. Levels 1 and 2 never move the bass, which barely plays on laptop speakers. It’s part of Mix Chops Pro, every level.
Warm up: Louder or SofterNext: Restore the BalanceAll balance exercisesLearn: How to build a static mix