mixing
The process of combining multiple recorded tracks into a balanced stereo or surround sound recording.
In Depth
Mixing is where individual recorded elements are balanced in volume, panned in the stereo field, processed with EQ and effects, and blended into a cohesive whole. A mix engineer shapes the sonic landscape of a recording, deciding what sits in front and what recedes, what sounds wide and what stays centred. Mixing requires both technical skill and artistic judgment. The difference between a rough mix and a professional mix can transform a recording.
Chris Lord-Alge has mixed so many hit records that engineers joke about a Chris Lord-Alge preset button: loud, punchy, and compressed, with everything fighting for attention.