Every producer knows the feeling: you've been mixing for hours, tweaking EQ, adjusting compression, checking on different speakers... and you still don't know if it's done.
This guide gives you 12 concrete, measurable checkpoints so you never have to guess again.
The biggest mistake in mixing isn't bad EQ or too much compression — it's not knowing when to stop. Over-mixing kills more tracks than under-mixing ever did.
01. Frequency Balance: No Range Dominates
The #1 issue I see in mixes analyzed on MixDiagnose is frequency imbalance. A single range — usually 200-400 Hz or 2-5 kHz — dominates everything else.
How to check: Load a spectrum analyzer. No single octave should be more than 6-8 dB louder than its neighbors.
Checklist:
- [ ] No buildup in 200-400 Hz (mud zone)
- [ ] No harshness in 2-5 kHz (ear-piercing zone)
- [ ] Sub-bass (20-60 Hz) is controlled, not booming
- [ ] Air frequencies (10-20 kHz) add openness without sibilance
02. LUFS: You're In the Right Range
Every streaming platform has a loudness target:
| Platform | Target LUFS | If you exceed it |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify | -14 LUFS | Turned down + limiter |
| Apple Music | -16 LUFS | Turned down |
| YouTube | -14 LUFS | Turned down |
| CD/Master | -9 to -7 LUFS | No normalization |
For a pre-master mix: aim for -18 to -14 LUFS integrated. If your mix is already at -8 LUFS, you've essentially mastered it — and left no headroom.
⚠️ If your mix is louder than -10 LUFS integrated, you're squashing dynamics. The mastering engineer can't add punch that isn't there.
03. True Peak: Below -1 dBTP
True peak measures the actual peak level including inter-sample peaks. Going above -1 dBTP means you're already clipping on some playback systems.
Target: -1 to -3 dBTP on the mix.
04. Dynamics: Crest Factor Above 6 dB
Crest factor is the difference between peak and average level. It's the single best number for "how alive does this mix feel?"
| Crest Factor | Assessment | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| ≥12 dB | Excellent | Wide dynamic range, very punchy |
| 9-12 dB | Good | Healthy dynamics |
| 6-9 dB | Moderate | Starting to sound compressed |
| 4-6 dB | Poor | Squashed — over-compressed |
| <4 dB | Dead | Brickwalled — no dynamics left |
Fix: If below 6 dB, remove or reduce bus compression. Let individual tracks carry the compression.
05. Stereo Width: Mono-Compatible
Your mix should sound good in mono. Phone speakers, Bluetooth speakers, club systems — all sum to mono.
Checklist:
- [ ] Mix sounds acceptable in mono
- [ ] Low frequencies (below 120 Hz) are mono
- [ ] Lead vocal is centered
- [ ] Stereo width enhances, doesn't destroy
06. No Clipping on Individual Tracks
Check every track for clipping. A single clipped snare or vocal take can introduce harshness that no EQ will fix.
Fix: Pull every track down so peaks sit around -6 to -12 dBFS.
07. Low End Is Tight, Not Boomy
Too much energy in 20-120 Hz makes the mix muddy on speakers and overwhelming on headphones.
Fix: High-pass filter everything that doesn't need low end — vocals at 80-100 Hz, guitars at 80 Hz. Only kick, bass, and sub-bass should occupy 20-120 Hz.
08. Vocal Sits On Top Of The Mix
The vocal should be clearly intelligible at all times.
Test: Close your eyes. Can you understand every word? If not, the vocal is buried or frequencies in 1-3 kHz are being masked.
09. Translates Across Systems
The classic test, still the best:
- [ ] Studio monitors
- [ ] Headphones (different pair)
- [ ] Phone speaker
- [ ] Car speakers
- [ ] AirPods / earbuds
If it sounds great on monitors but thin on phone speakers → low-end problem. Great on headphones but muddy on monitors → midrange buildup.
10. No Harshness or Sibilance
Harshness lives in 2-5 kHz. Sibilance lives in 5-8 kHz. Both make listeners turn down the volume.
Fix: De-ess vocals. Cut 1-2 dB at 3 kHz on harsh instruments.
11. Depth and Space Are Intentional
Every element should have a deliberate position. Use reverb and delay to create depth — closer elements have less reverb, distant elements have more.
12. The 24-Hour Rule
The final checkpoint isn't technical — it's psychological. Step away for 24 hours. Come back with fresh ears.
Your ears adapt to a mix within 30 minutes. After that, you're not hearing the mix — you're hearing your memory of it.
The TL;DR
| Checkpoint | Target | Red Flag |
|---|---|---|
| LUFS | -18 to -14 | Louder than -10 |
| True Peak | -1 to -3 dBTP | Above -1 dBTP |
| Crest Factor | ≥6 dB | Below 4 dB |
| Freq Balance | No range +6 dB | Mud at 200-400 Hz |
| Stereo (mono) | Acceptable | Phase cancellation |
| Track clipping | Peaks ≤ -6 dBFS | Any track at 0 dBFS |
If all 12 check out — your mix is ready for mastering. Not before.
Want to check all 12 automatically? Upload your track to MixDiagnose and get an instant Mix Score (0-100) with specific issues flagged by severity. Free, no signup required.
Fix your mix before you master it.
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