# Fix a Muddy Mix

> One instrument is making the mix muddy, boxy or harsh. Name the problem, find the culprit, and cut it without hurting the rest.

Page: https://mixchops.com/eq/fixmix

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

## Find the instrument *that’s wrong.*

The mix plays as separate instruments, and one of them has too much of something: it’s muddy, boomy, boxy, honky, ringy, harsh or brittle. Name the symptom, find the culprit, and cut it on that instrument without hurting the rest.

### How it works

1. Flip between the clean mix and the problem, and name what got added.
2. Pick the instrument it’s coming from. Soloing is allowed, at a cost.
3. Cut the problem on that instrument, with the clean mix there to compare.

### How it’s scored

Up to 25 points for the symptom and 25 for the instrument (12 on a second try, none after that), and up to 50 for the cut. Each instrument you solo costs 4 points. Pass with a 65 average over five mixes.

### Levels

Four levels: obvious problems, the full set, lookalikes (the same symptom on more than one instrument), and subtle ones. Levels 1 and 2 are free. Levels 3 and up are part of [Mix Chops Pro](https://mixchops.com/pro), and every level is open while Mix Chops is in early access.

Step 7 of 7 · [Keep it sharp: Daily session](https://mixchops.com/eq/daily) · [Learn: Mix problems you can hear](https://mixchops.com/learn/mix-problems) · [Learn: Subtractive EQ](https://mixchops.com/learn/subtractive-eq) · [Learn: How to fix a muddy mix](https://mixchops.com/learn/fix-a-muddy-mix) · [All EQ exercises](https://mixchops.com/eq)