As producers, we love our toys. Because let's face it — EQs, compressors, saturation plug-ins, and other similar tools are a lot of fun. But, before you let loose with your favorite sonic sweeteners, you need to take a few steps back and check your mix's balance. The concept of balancing channels isn't very glamorous, but it’s an essential skill — one you need to master if you want to consistently achieve pro-level mixes.

So, what does balancing channels mean? Balancing channels simply means that each element of your mix is set to an appropriate volume in relation to the other elements. It's astonishing how many producers skip this essential step when they're mixing. Instead of crafting a solid-sounding rough mix, they dive straight into their plug-in collection and start tweaking. This is a huge mistake. Failing to lay the proper groundwork for your mix is like building a house without a proper foundation. A poorly built house will inevitably cave in — and so will a poorly built mix. Let’s listen to my song ‘If It’s Love’ with a messed-up balance.

The bass is super-low which is going to make the mix sound weak in the car or in the club. The kick is way too loud, that’s going to deafen the lister. The music is overpowering which distracts from the vocals. The vocals are barely audible, so it doesn’t pull the listener in. When the balance is messed up like this, even a successful record can sound amateur. Let’s make some adjustments and fix it.

So, this is what it should sound like, so much better. It takes time and practice to get good at doing this, and it’s not easy for an artist who only works on their own material. Not only does Balancing Channels with Toolroom give you unlimited practice, you also get instant guidance along the way to help you dial in that perfect sound.

There are 12 great Toolroom tracks to work on. The starting balance is randomly set each time you load a challenge - it’s your task to adjust the faders to get a well-balanced mix. Your unique balance will be scored based on how the artist approached the track. If you get stuck, you can jump between your mix and the artist's mix and try to match it. If more help is needed, you’ll get guidance on how you can improve the balance.

When you learn in this way, it’s like the artist is in the room with you, as your personal mix mentor, showing you where you could improve. Remember, when you train, you can replay each song’s level with a unique mix setup every time. Practice as much as you need, and until those high scores are giving you confidence in your ability to balance those channels like a pro.

Get started to sharpen this skill. Your music will thank you.