What are the most important mixing techniques I need to make my tracks sound professional?

Dec 8, 2025

The foundation of professional mixing starts with three essential techniques: high-pass filtering non-bass elements to create space in your low end, using compression to control dynamics and add punch to your drums, and properly EQing each element so they occupy their own frequency space in the mix. Focus on getting your levels balanced first before reaching for fancy plugins, because a well-balanced mix with stock tools will always sound better than an unbalanced mix with expensive gear. Learn to use reference tracks from professional releases in your genre, and regularly check your mix on different playback systems (headphones, car speakers, phone) to ensure it translates well everywhere.

At Futureproof Music School, our courses cover essential mixing fundamentals across all major genres of electronic music, from trap and dubstep to techno and drum and bass. Kadence (Futureproof's AI music coach) can analyze your mixes in real-time, detecting issues with balance, EQ, and compression while suggesting specific fixes, and our Futureproof Mentors provide personalized feedback during monthly one-on-one sessions to help you develop your mixing ear and achieve that professional sound you're after.

Should I mix with effects on or add them after getting my levels right?

Start by adding your essential effects like EQ and compression during the mixing process, but keep reverbs and delays light until your levels and panning are balanced. This approach lets you hear how your effects interact with the mix from the start while preventing you from making poor level decisions based on wet signals.

How loud should my master fader be before sending my mix to mastering?

Aim for your master fader to peak between -6dB and -3dB, giving your mastering engineer (or yourself) enough headroom to work with. This prevents clipping and distortion while leaving space for the mastering process to add the final loudness and polish your track needs.

When should I use parallel compression versus regular compression on my drums?

Use parallel compression when you want to add punch and energy to your drums while keeping their natural dynamics intact. Regular compression works best when you need to control peaks and create a more consistent, controlled sound, like taming an overly dynamic vocal or bass line.