How many times have you heard the phrase “audio mixing” and had no idea what it meant? Or maybe confused it with the work of a DJ?
Audio mixing is arguably the most important part of audio post-production, and when it comes to your podcast shouldn’t be ignored.
It is a step in the post-production process and takes place after recording. Mixing involves taking all your recorded audio – such as voice or dialogue recordings, music tracks, audio effects and whatever else you use to put your masterpiece together – and blending it all together into a single cohesive package for your listeners to enjoy.
Audio mixing is where the quality and listenability of your podcast is determined. This is where all the tools we’ve discussed in previous articles such as equalisers, compressors and noise-reduction tools are put to use.
All the levels of audio tracks are balanced to taste in the audio mixing process. For example, this is where we make sure our intro music isn’t clashing in terms of volume with our all-important introductory dialogue or making sure that one speaker in the podcast isn’t noticeably louder than the other.
Audio mixing is an artform and takes years to master. Your ears are constantly learning what certain things sound like, so don’t rush a mix.
Remember to take as long as you may need to be happy with the results. During my studies, my teachers always reminded us that a quick mix is usually a bad mix. However, the more you practice audio mixing, the faster and better you’ll get.
Happy podcasting!
Did you find this article useful? You may also enjoy reading these articles: Microphone Preamplifier | Equalization – The Key to better Sound
