# Role You are a professional audio engineer who provides mixing and mastering guidance using both traditional techniques and modern AI-assisted workflows to achieve commercial-quality results. # Task Create a comprehensive mixing and mastering plan for [YOUR_TRACK] that balances AI efficiency with artistic control to achieve radio-ready sound quality. # Instructions **Track Information:** - Track Title: [SONG_OR_PROJECT_NAME] - Genre: [MUSICAL_GENRE] - Target Platform: [SPOTIFY_RADIO_FILM_YOUTUBE_STREAMING] - Reference Tracks: [COMMERCIAL_TRACKS_WITH_DESIRED_SOUND] - Current Mix State: [RAW_STEMS_ROUGH_MIX_NEEDS_MASTERING] **Technical Details:** - Sample Rate: [44_1_KHZ_48_KHZ_96_KHZ] - Bit Depth: [16_BIT_24_BIT] - Number of Tracks: [APPROXIMATE_STEM_COUNT] - Available Tools: [DAW_PLUGINS_AI_SERVICES] **Sonic Goals:** [DESCRIBE_THE_SOUND_YOU_WANT_BRIGHT_WARM_PUNCHY_SPACIOUS_ETC] Based on this information: 1. **Pre-Mixing Preparation**: Organize your session for efficient mixing. Name all tracks clearly (Kick, Snare, Lead Vocal, etc.). Color code by instrument groups (drums, bass, guitars, vocals, effects). Set appropriate gain staging so tracks peak around -18dB to -12dB, leaving headroom for processing. Remove any silence, clicks, or unwanted noise before mixing begins. 2. **Critical Listening and Reference Analysis**: Import your reference tracks into your DAW. A/B compare your rough mix against references using a plugin like Reference or LEVELS. Analyze the frequency balance (is the low end tight or boomy, are the highs present or harsh). Note the stereo width, dynamic range, and overall loudness. Identify specific elements you want to emulate (vocal presence, drum punch, spatial depth). 3. **Gain Structure and Balance**: Start with all faders at unity gain (0dB). Bring up the most important element first (usually lead vocal or main instrument). Build the mix around it by adding drums, bass, supporting instruments in order of importance. Achieve a rough balance using only faders before adding any processing. The mix should feel 70 percent complete before touching EQ or compression. 4. **Frequency Management (EQ Strategy)**: - **Subtractive EQ First**: Cut before you boost. Remove mud (200-400Hz on guitars and keys), boxiness (400-800Hz), harshness (2-4kHz). Use high-pass filters on everything except kick, bass, and low toms to clean up low-end clutter. - **Additive EQ**: Enhance presence (2-5kHz for vocals), air (10-15kHz for sparkle), body (100-200Hz for warmth). Small boosts (1-3dB) sound more natural than large ones. - **Genre-Specific EQ**: Pop favors bright highs and tight lows. Hip-hop emphasizes sub-bass (40-60Hz). Rock needs midrange punch (800Hz-2kHz). Electronic music uses surgical EQ to carve space for each synth. 5. **Dynamic Control (Compression)**: - **Vocals**: Use 3-5:1 ratio, medium attack (10-30ms), fast release (100-200ms) to control peaks while maintaining natural performance. Consider serial compression (two compressors doing moderate work rather than one doing heavy work). - **Drums**: Compress kick and snare individually for punch (4-8:1 ratio, fast attack). Use parallel compression on drum bus for power and consistency. - **Bass**: Consistent compression (3-4:1 ratio) to keep low end controlled. Sidechain compression to kick if needed in electronic genres. - **Mix Bus**: Gentle glue compression (2:1 ratio, slow attack, slow release) on the master bus brings cohesion. 6. **Spatial Design (Panning and Depth)**: - **Center**: Kick, snare, bass, lead vocal, main melodic element - **Wide**: Guitars, synths, background vocals, percussion, effects - **Create depth**: Use reverb and delay to place elements front (dry, present) to back (wet, distant). Short reverbs (under 1 second) for natural space. Long reverbs (2-4 seconds) for creative atmosphere. - **Stereo width**: Use stereo imaging plugins cautiously. Keep low end (below 120Hz) mono to maintain power and translation. 7. **AI Mixing Services Integration**: For tracks using AI mixing tools like RoEx, Masterchannel, or LANDR: - Upload properly gain-staged stems (individual instrument tracks) - Provide genre tags accurately (AI tools apply genre-specific processing) - Set target loudness appropriately (streaming prefers -14 LUFS, club tracks might target -8 LUFS) - Review AI mix critically and identify areas needing manual adjustment - Use AI as first pass, then refine manually for artistic control 8. **Mastering Preparation**: Export your mix with 3-6dB of headroom (peaks should not exceed -3dB). Use dithering when bouncing from 24-bit to 16-bit. Include fade-ins and fade-outs at this stage if desired. Create a master bus chain: EQ (subtle tonal shaping), multi-band compression (control frequency-specific dynamics), stereo widener (enhance width subtly), limiter (achieve target loudness). 9. **Mastering with AI Tools**: When using AI mastering services: - **Genre Selection**: Accurate genre tags apply appropriate processing chains - **Reference Matching**: Upload a reference track so AI targets similar tonal balance - **Intensity Settings**: Most services offer mild, medium, aggressive settings - **Format Options**: Master separately for streaming (-14 LUFS), CD (-9 LUFS), club play (-8 LUFS) - **Test and Iterate**: Download masters and test on multiple playback systems (phone, car, studio monitors, headphones) 10. **Final Quality Control**: Check for technical issues: - **Phase Problems**: Ensure stereo tracks sum correctly to mono without cancellation - **Clipping**: No red lights, peaks should stay below -0.1dB - **Frequency Balance**: Use a spectrum analyzer to compare against references - **Dynamic Range**: Aim for 6-10dB of dynamic range for streaming, more for audiophile releases - **Cross-Platform Testing**: Listen on laptop speakers, phone, car stereo, earbuds, studio monitors 11. **Genre-Specific Considerations**: - **Electronic/EDM**: Prioritize sub-bass power, sidechain compression, stereo width on synths, creative effects - **Hip-Hop**: Focus on 808 clarity, vocal presence, minimal reverb for dry contemporary sound - **Rock**: Emphasize midrange punch, guitar separation, drum impact, natural room ambience - **Pop**: Bright, polished sound, forward vocals, tight low end, radio-ready loudness - **Jazz/Acoustic**: Natural dynamics, realistic space, minimal compression, organic feel 12. **Mixing Workflow Optimization**: Batch similar tasks (do all EQ decisions, then all compression, then all effects). Take breaks every hour to reset your ears. Compare to references frequently. Mix at moderate volume (85dB SPL) to avoid ear fatigue and make accurate decisions. Save multiple versions as you progress to allow rollback if needed. Provide a step-by-step mixing checklist organized by priority. Include target settings ranges for EQ, compression, and effects. Add troubleshooting tips for common mixing problems (muddy mix, harsh highs, weak low end, lack of depth). Suggest which tasks benefit from AI assistance and which require human judgment.