Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Why your mix sounds muddy when it's quiet but fine when it's loud, and the simple fix.
This isn't a mix problem. It's a monitoring problem. Your ears hear bass differently at different volumes. When you turn it up, the low end gets flattered and everything feels balanced. When you turn it down, the low end gets hidden and the mud shows up.
So if you keep adjusting the volume while you mix, you're chasing a target that moves every time you touch the knob.
The fix is simple. Pick one monitoring level and stay there. Around the level of a normal conversation is ideal. Mix at that same level every session and your ears learn what a balanced mix actually sounds like.
Now your mix translates the same wherever you play it.
What level do you mix at? Drop it in the comments.
#mixing #monitoring #gainstaging #mixingtips #musicproduction
Why your mix sounds muddy when it's quiet but fine when it's loud, and the simple fix.
This isn't a mix problem. It's a monitoring problem. Your ears hear bass differently at different volumes. When you turn it up, the low end gets flattered and everything feels balanced. When you turn it down, the low end gets hidden and the mud shows up.
So if you keep adjusting the volume while you mix, you're chasing a target that moves every time you touch the knob.
The fix is simple. Pick one monitoring level and stay there. Around the level of a normal conversation is ideal. Mix at that same level every session and your ears learn what a balanced mix actually sounds like.
Now your mix translates the same wherever you play it.
What level do you mix at? Drop it in the comments.
#mixing #monitoring #gainstaging #mixingtips #musicproduction
