Due to the popularity of Steven Slate’s first fifty mixing tips, we decided to round up some of his latest mixing tips from this past winter (frosted tips?). ReTweet your favorites or share this post if you find them useful.

Transparent Back Vox that seamlessly blend into Lead Vox: Send BGV to verb, cut some mids & highs, blend verb return only into mix — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) February 13, 2014

Massive Kick Trick: Kicks tend to have a dominant sub resonance from 50-100Hz. Sweep a tight bell filter to find it, then reduce & widen! — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) April 17, 2014

InstaBig Snare: Send snare to hall verb, gate the verb tightly so decay cuts off at .4ms, eq up the mids, mix in subtly with dry snare! — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) April 16, 2014

When u try to get ur mix levels balanced, resonances in ur room can confuse ur ears. Checking levels at quieter volumes is crucial. — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) April 11, 2014

Kick drum mic too clicky & thin? Start out by low passing to remove that thin top end junk, then add some mids and lows to fatten. — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) April 8, 2014

MASSIVE Bass: Crank 8db @ 60Hz. Follow w/ 10db of medium speed compression. Finalize by hipassing at 30Hz & dip 80hz to let kick breathe — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) April 24, 2014

Help your low end breathe & be TIGHT: Hi Pass most non-bassy stuff at 100Hz.. there are exceptions, but it’s a good general rule! — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) April 24, 2014

Compression on a vocal is not a substitute for automation. Ride the vocal fader to ensure each part is articulate in the mix! #ProTip — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) April 8, 2014

Vox Mix Tip: EQing INTO the compressor allows you to push the upper mids harder to make it cut through the mix without sounding harsh — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) February 21, 2014

2 favorite bass guitar tricks: Copy, distort, crank mids, mix in subtly. Send to stereo aux, hi pass @ 300Hz, wide chorus, mix in subtly — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) February 13, 2014 ADVERTISEMENT

How To Check Drum Phase: 1. Solo Overheads. 2. Solo each close mic. 3. Hit phase button. 4. Whichever polarity has more lows, WINS. — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) January 7, 2014

Try copying a vocal, adding some subtle distortion, & then SUBTLY blending it back in to the dry vocal. It’ll add fatness and warmth. — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) November 15, 2013

Deep Breathing Vocal Effect: Copy Vox, crank 10khz shelf, Compress 20db, De-ess, mix in subtly or even automate in as needed — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) November 4, 2013

Fat Kick Drum Tip on Electronic or Rock: Use Stereo Pitch Shifter on aux, 10 cents down/up on each side w/ NO DELAY.. mix in very subtly — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) November 4, 2013

MixTip Monday: Take time to IMAGINE the final mix’s sound in your mind.. then TWEAK to get it there. Mix with purpose. — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) September 30, 2013

MixTip Monday: Compressing drum room mics with fast release makes the drums bigger w/ more sustain. Slow release makes them tighter. — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) September 17, 2013

Mixtip Monday: Extend ur snare sustain by multing it, compressing with fast attack & fastest release, 6db gain reduction, mix in subtly — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) September 9, 2013

If you add too much top end to your drums, they will lack body in the mix and sound thin.. Beware of the deadly SOLO button! — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) August 13, 2013

The best way to get midrange balances right (such as vocals to guitars).. is at low listening volumes! Try it! — Steven Slate (@Slateproaudio) August 12, 2013





Dan Comerchero I'm Dan, Founder of The Pro Audio Files and Quiztones ear training apps. Connect with me on Instagram here