Mix diagnosis guides

Every guide starts from a symptom and ends with a measurement.

Each guide names the frequency range behind the problem and the EQ move that fixes it. If you would rather not guess which one applies to your track, upload it and the analysis tells you which of these are actually present, with severity grades and the numbers behind each finding.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find out what is wrong with my mix?

Upload the mix to MixDiagnose and it returns a measured report: problem frequencies, severity grades, and the specific EQ frequency, Q and gain values to fix each one.

Is a mixing problem specific to my DAW?

No. Mixing problems live in the audio, not the software. The same frequency buildup behaves the same way in Ableton, FL Studio, Logic Pro or any other DAW, so a fix transfers between them.

Fix a specific problem

Diagnose and correct one named issue.

• How to Fix a Booming Low End — EQ Settings That Work in Any DAW | MixDiagnoseBooming low end sucks up all your headroom and makes the mix sound unbalanced. The sub-bass region carries a lot of energy that you can
• How to Fix a Clipping / True Peak Issues — EQ Settings That Work in Any DAW | MixDiagnoseDigital clipping creates harsh distortion that ruins your mix. Your true peak should never exceed -1 dB to be safe across all streaming platforms. Exact EQ settings and a DAW-by-DAW guide: where the control lives in Ableton, Logic, FL Studio, Pro Tools and more.
• How to Fix a Harsh Highs — EQ Settings That Work in Any DAW | MixDiagnoseHarsh highs make your mix fatiguing to listen to. The 2-5 kHz range is where our ears are most sensitive, and even a small buildup here makes everythi Exact EQ settings and a DAW-by-DAW guide: where the control lives in Ableton, Logic, FL Studio, Pro Tools and more.
• How to Fix a Mix Too Loud / Over-Limited — EQ Settings That Work in Any DAW | MixDiagnoseAn over-limited mix sounds squashed and lifeless. Streaming platforms will turn it DOWN to match their target, so all that loudness work is wasted. Exact EQ settings and a DAW-by-DAW guide: where the control lives in Ableton, Logic, FL Studio, Pro Tools and more.
• How to Fix a Mix Too Quiet — EQ Settings That Work in Any DAW | MixDiagnoseStreaming platforms normalize loudness. If your mix is too quiet, it gets turned up by the platform, which can introduce artifacts. Target -14 LUFS fo Exact EQ settings and a DAW-by-DAW guide: where the control lives in Ableton, Logic, FL Studio, Pro Tools and more.
• How to Fix a Muddy Mix — EQ Settings That Work in Any DAW | MixDiagnoseYour mix sounds muddy when low-mid frequencies build up and mask the clarity of your vocals and instruments. This is the #1 issue we see in mixes uplo Exact EQ settings and a DAW-by-DAW guide: where the control lives in Ableton, Logic, FL Studio, Pro Tools and more.
• How to Fix a Narrow Stereo Image — EQ Settings That Work in Any DAW | MixDiagnoseA narrow stereo image makes your mix sound flat and lifeless. Professional mixes use the full stereo field to create space and separation between inst Exact EQ settings and a DAW-by-DAW guide: where the control lives in Ableton, Logic, FL Studio, Pro Tools and more.
• How to Fix a No Punch on Drums — EQ Settings That Work in Any DAW | MixDiagnoseYour drums lack punch because the transients are being squashed by compression. The crest factor is too low, meaning your dynamics are flattened. Exact EQ settings and a DAW-by-DAW guide: where the control lives in Ableton, Logic, FL Studio, Pro Tools and more.
• How to Fix a Thin Mix — EQ Settings That Work in Any DAW | MixDiagnoseA thin mix lacks weight and body. Your bass and sub-bass frequencies are below where they should be, making the mix sound weak on small speakers. Exact EQ settings and a DAW-by-DAW guide: where the control lives in Ableton, Logic, FL Studio, Pro Tools and more.
• How to Fix a Vocals Buried in the Mix — EQ Settings That Work in Any DAW | MixDiagnoseYour vocals are getting lost because other instruments are masking the 1-4 kHz range where vocal presence lives. Sidechain compression or EQ carving c Exact EQ settings and a DAW-by-DAW guide: where the control lives in Ableton, Logic, FL Studio, Pro Tools and more.

How-to guides

Step-by-step mixing technique.

• How Loud Should My Mix Be Before Mastering?How loud should your mix be before mastering? Learn the right LUFS levels, peak levels, and headroom targets for mixes going to professional mastering.
• How Much Headroom Do You Need Before Mastering?How much headroom does your mix need for mastering? Learn the right peak levels, true peak targets, and why headroom matters for a professional master.
• How to Balance Kick and Bass LevelsKick and bass levels fighting each other? Learn sidechain compression, frequency separation, and level matching to get a tight, punchy low end every time.
• How to Check If Your Mix Is Ready for MasteringIs your mix ready for mastering? Learn the checklist: headroom, loudness, frequency balance, dynamics, and translation. Avoid the most common pre-mastering mistakes.
• How to Fix Harsh Cymbals in a MixHarsh cymbals ruining your mix? Learn how to tame harsh cymbal frequencies, reduce splash, and fix brittle hi-hat and overhead sounds with EQ and dynamic control.
• How to Fix Masking Between Guitars and VocalsGuitars masking your vocals? Learn frequency carving, panning, and level techniques to separate guitars and vocals so each cuts through clearly.
• How to Fix Muddy Low MidsMuddy low mids killing your mix? Learn how to identify and fix the 200-500 Hz range that makes mixes sound boxy, nasal, and unclear.
• How to Get a Wider Mix Without Phase IssuesWant a wider stereo mix without mono compatibility problems? Learn safe stereo widening techniques: panning, M-S, Haas, and reverb without phase cancellation.
• How to Match Reference Track LoudnessLearn how to match your mix loudness to professional reference tracks using LUFS measurement, level matching, and loudness normalization for competitive mixes.
• How to Use a Frequency Analyzer for MixingLearn how to use a frequency analyzer to improve your mixes. See how spectral analysis helps identify masking, mud, harshness, and frequency balance problems.

Why your mix does that

Explanations of a symptom you are hearing.

• Why Do My Vocals Sit Badly in the Mix?Vocals not sitting right in your mix? Learn about masking, dynamics, EQ carving, and level automation to get vocals to sit perfectly every time.
• Why Does My Bass Disappear in My Mix?Bass disappearing in your mix? Learn the real causes — masking, phase cancellation, and monitoring — and how to fix bass that vanishes on small speakers.
• Why Does My Mix Sound Different on Every Speaker?Your mix sounds different on every speaker? Learn about translation, room acoustics, and how to make your mix sound consistent across all playback systems.
• Why Your 808s Don't Translate808s sound huge in the studio but weak everywhere else? Learn how to make 808s translate across all speakers with saturation, layering, and frequency management.
• Why Your Mix Clips on Streaming PlatformsYour mix clips on Spotify and Apple Music? Learn about true peak, inter-sample peaks, codec encoding, and how to prevent clipping on streaming platforms.
• Why Your Mix Loses Punch After UploadYour mix sounds punchy in the studio but flat after uploading to Spotify? Learn about loudness normalization, codec degradation, and how to preserve punch online.
• Why Your Mix Sounds Narrow in MonoMix sounds narrow or different in mono? Learn about mono compatibility, phase issues, and how to ensure your stereo mix translates well to mono playback.

Loudness & mastering readiness

Levels, LUFS and headroom before mastering.

• Mixing for Spotify vs Apple Music LoudnessSpotify vs Apple Music loudness normalization: targets, codecs, and how to mix for both. Learn the LUFS targets and platform differences that affect your mix.

Mixing fundamentals

Core concepts the rest builds on.

• Classical Mix Checker — Verify Your Dynamic Range, Strings, and Hall Balance | MixDiagnoseFree classical mix checker. MixDiagnose verifies your dynamic range, string clarity, hall reverb buildup, low-end weight, and streaming loudness for orchestral and chamber recordings. No signup.
• Common EQ Mistakes in MixingAvoid the most common EQ mistakes that ruin mixes. Learn about over-cutting, wrong Q values, soloing, and other EQ errors that make your mix sound worse.
• Country Mix Analyzer — Check Your Steel, Vocals, and Acoustic Guitars | MixDiagnoseFree country mix analyzer. MixDiagnose checks your vocal clarity, acoustic guitar crispness, pedal steel separation, and loudness for streaming. Upload your country mix — no signup.
• Crest Factor and Why It MattersWhat is crest factor in audio mixing? Learn how crest factor affects loudness, punch, and streaming normalization, and why it matters more than peak levels.
• Dynamic Range in Mixing ExplainedWhat is dynamic range in mixing? Learn the difference between micro and macro dynamics, crest factor, and how dynamic range affects loudness and punch.
• Fixing Boomy Low End in HeadphonesMix sounding boomy in headphones? Learn about headphone bass response, crossover distortion, and how to fix boomy low end when mixing on headphones.
• Fixing Dull Lifeless High End in Your MixMix sounding dull and lifeless? Learn how to fix dull high end with EQ, saturation, exciter plugins, and proper monitoring to restore sparkle and air.
• Fixing Harsh Vocal Sibilance in the MixHarsh sibilance ruining your vocal mix? Learn de-esser settings, dynamic EQ techniques, and how to tame 's' and 'sh' sounds without dulling the vocal.
• Fixing Phase Issues in Bass and KickKick and bass canceling each other? Learn how to identify and fix phase issues between kick drum and bass guitar using alignment, polarity, and EQ.
• Fixing Stereo Width ProblemsMix too narrow or too wide? Learn how to diagnose and fix stereo width problems using mid-side processing, correlation meters, and proper panning.
• Fixing Thin Sounding MixesMix sounding thin and lifeless? Learn how to add warmth, body, and fullness to thin mixes using EQ, saturation, and layering techniques.
• Is Compression Ruining Your Mix Transients?Compression killing your mix's punch? Learn how over-compression destroys transients, how to set attack and release properly, and how to preserve punch.
• Jazz Mix Analysis — Do Your Bass, Horns, and Cymbals Sit Right? | MixDiagnoseFree jazz mix analysis. Upload your track for instant feedback on upright bass definition, horn blend, cymbal harshness, dynamic range, and acoustic room balance. No signup required.
• Lo-Fi Mix Analyzer — Check Your Warmth, Tape Saturation, and Sub Bass | MixDiagnoseFree lo-fi mix analyzer. MixDiagnose checks tape saturation, low-mid mud, stereo width, vinyl crackle levels, sub bass, and streaming loudness for lo-fi hip-hop and chillhop productions. No signup.
• Mix Check for Electronic Music — Mix Analysis Electronic | MixDiagnoseProfessional mix analysis for EDM, house, techno, and electronic producers. Master sub-bass, stereo width, and loudness for clubs and streaming — analyzed in 30 seconds.
• Mix Check for Hip Hop — Mix Analysis Hip Hop | MixDiagnoseProfessional mix analysis for hip hop and trap producers. Get objective feedback on your 808s, vocal clarity, and low-end weight in 30 seconds.
• Mix Check for Metal — Mix Analysis Metal | MixDiagnoseProfessional mix analysis for metal producers. Get double-kick clarity, guitar wall thickness, and maximum aggression — analyzed in 30 seconds.
• Mix Check for Pop — Mix Analysis Pop | MixDiagnoseObjective mix analysis for pop producers. Get vocal prominence, polish, and loudness right — analyzed against chart reference tracks in 30 seconds.
• Mix Check for Rock — Mix Analysis Rock | MixDiagnoseObjective mix analysis for rock and alternative producers. Balance guitars against drums, control mid-range mud, and preserve natural dynamics — analyzed in 30 seconds.
• Mix Sounds Great in Studio But Bad in CarWhy your mix sounds great in the studio but falls apart in the car. Learn about car speaker characteristics, room vs. car acoustics, and translation fixes.
• Mix Too Quiet on Phone Speakers?Why your mix sounds quiet on phone speakers and how to fix it. Learn about mid-range presence, loudness normalization, and translation to small speakers.
• Podcast Loudness Check — Hit Spotify & Apple Targets Without Crushing Your Voice | MixDiagnoseFree podcast loudness checker. Upload your episode and get instant feedback on LUFS compliance, voice clarity, sibilance, room tone, and dynamic range for Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. No signup.
• R&B Mix Check — Are Your Vocals Warm, Intimate, and Loud Enough? | MixDiagnoseFree R&B mix check. Upload your track for instant feedback on vocal warmth, sub-bass clarity, harmonic stacking, sibilance, and streaming loudness. No signup required.
• Reggaeton Mix Analyzer — Lock In Your Dembow, 808s, and Lead Vocals | MixDiagnoseFree reggaeton mix analyzer. MixDiagnose checks your dembow kick weight, 808-to-vocal balance, güira and timbale harshness, low-end headroom, and streaming loudness for reggaeton, Latin trap, and perreo productions. No signup.
• Synthwave Mix Checker — Test Your Saw Bass, Gated Snares, and Neon Pads | MixDiagnoseFree synthwave mix checker. MixDiagnose tests your sawtooth bass clarity, gated reverb snare weight, pad stacking, midrange mud, and streaming loudness for retrowave, outrun, and darksynth productions. No signup.