Mix character
Synths, electronic drums and a lead vocal, with very recognizable sections (verse, pre-chorus, chorus, sometimes post-chorus or drop). Tempo 100–128 BPM. The mix is bright and clean: every element has its own zone, because the density is high and the audience listens a lot on headphones and phones. Sidechain pumping is part of the groove.
Typical balance
| Element | Level relative to the mix |
|---|---|
| Lead vocal | −4/−6 LU |
| Kick | −7/−9 LU |
| Synth bass | −7/−9 LU |
| Clap/snare | −9/−11 LU |
| Synths (pad, arpeggios, plucks) | −9/−12 LU |
| Backing vocals and doubles | −9/−12 LU |
EQ
- Kick: four-on-the-floor or pop, fundamental 50–60 Hz, punch 100 Hz, click 3–5 kHz.
- Synth bass: clean, mono sub below 100 Hz; mid layer (200–800 Hz) that can be saturated and widened above 300 Hz.
- Vocal: HP 100 Hz, presence 3–5 kHz, pronounced air 10–16 kHz, firm de-essing.
- Synths: HP 150–300 Hz, cuts at 2–4 kHz sidechained from the vocal, suppressor for filter resonances.
Dynamics
- Bass and pad sidechained from the kick 4–8 dB, release at 1/8–1/4.
- Vocal: serial compression 8–10 dB, vocal bus with glue 1–3 dB.
- Drum bus: clipper 1–2 dB.
- Mix bus: glue 1–2 dB.
Space
- Wide above 200 Hz: pads, arpeggios, plucks in ping-pong, backing vocals.
- Solid center with kick, bass, clap and vocal.
- Vocal: tempo-synced delay (1/4 or dotted 1/8) and plate on a send, ducked by the vocal so the effects rise in the pauses.
- Chorus doubles and harmonies at the sides.
Layering
- Bass: sub + mid layer.
- Clap: 2–3 samples with aligned attacks.
- Vocal: chorus doubles, low octave at −12 dB, harmonies.
Reference loudness
Master −9/−6 LUFS, true peak −1 dBTP (−2 if louder than −14 LUFS). The chorus is 2–4 LU louder than the verse in short-term.
Reference tracks
Robyn "Dancing On My Own", Lady Gaga "Bad Romance", Dua Lipa "Physical", The Weeknd "Blinding Lights", Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa "One Kiss".
Compare, at matched loudness, the kick/bass ratio, the vocal level in the chorus and the brightness above 10 kHz. In FL Studio, put the reference on a mixer track that bypasses the master.
Common mistakes
- Insufficient sidechain: kick and bass smear together.
- Synths masking the vocal at 2–4 kHz.
- Excessive air without a de-esser.
- Stereo sub: loss of power in mono.
Starting settings
| Parameter | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bass/pad sidechain | 4–8 dB, release 1/8–1/4 | Groove and room for the kick. |
| Mono below | 120–150 Hz | Stable low end. |
| Vocal bus | Glue 1–3 dB, plate + delay on a send with ducking | Forward vocal with depth. |
| Master loudness | −9/−6 LUFS | Commercial level. |
| True peak | −1 dBTP (−2 beyond −14 LUFS) | Headroom for encoding. |
Frequencies to watch
| Range | What to do |
|---|---|
| 50–100 Hz | Kick and bass sub, mono; bass sidechain. |
| 200–800 Hz | Mid layer of the bass: character and audibility. |
| 2–4 kHz | Room for the vocal over the synths. |
| 10–16 kHz | Air of the vocal and synths. |
Example chain
| Step | Tool | Settings | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drums | Layers → bus → clipper | 1–2 dB | Punch. |
| Bass | Sub + mid layer → saturation → sidechain | 4–8 dB | Pumping. |
| Synths | EQ → suppressor → sidechain dynamic EQ → imager | HP 150–300 Hz | Clean width. |
| Vocal | EQ → serial compression → de-esser → air → sends | 8–10 dB | Vocal as the lead. |
| Master | Glue → limiter | −9/−6 LUFS | Level. |
How to check the result
- Master crest factor 6–9 dB.
- Chorus short-term 2–4 LU above the verse.
- Sub and Bass bands Side/Mid at −20 dB or lower; Presence and Air between −8 and −2 dB.
- High-mid band: the vocal stands out over the synths.