Session 1 · CREATE: Transform
Mix it
- 10 minMini-lesson: mixing is balancing the layers so everything can be heard. Volume (level), which layer sits in front, and space between sounds. A good mix lets the hook shine.
- 20 minMix check (see activities): solo each layer, then set levels so the beat and bass are solid, chords are softer, and the hook is clear. Check on headphones and a speaker.
- 15 minCritique circle: swap tracks with another pair. Listen twice and give feedback with 'I notice… I wonder… What if…'. Producers listen first, then choose one change.
- 5 minEar break. Write the change you will make and why.
Session 2 · CREATE: Transform
Refine and name it
- 5 minRecap the feedback you chose to act on.
- 25 minMake the change, then A/B test (see activities): play the old and new versions to a listener who does not know which is which. Which one carries the mood better?
- 10 minTitle your track and write the producer's sheet: chord loop, the job of each layer, one mixing decision, your samples and where they came from, one influence.
- 10 minRehearse a 30-second spoken introduction for the listening lounge: what the track is about and what to listen for.
Getting started
Fix one thing only: the loudest layer that hides the hook. Turn it down and listen again.
Stretch
Automate one change: raise the tempo or add a filter-like effect in the build, or cut every layer except one for a moment before the drop.
Checkpoint
Each track has been changed in response to feedback, the mix has been checked on two playback systems, and the producer's sheet is complete.
Activities for this week
- Mix check and A/B test: Can every layer be heard, and did your changes make the track better?
Useful this week
- Sound ↗ The science of sound waves, pitch and hearing, for understanding what a mix is made of.