How to Mix Vocals: A Complete Beginner-to-Pro Guide

Vocal mixing is one of the most important parts of music production. A great vocal mix sounds clear, controlled, and emotionally connected to the song—without overpowering the instrumental. Whether you’re mixing pop, rap, EDM, or rock, the fundamentals stay the same.

Below is a step-by-step vocal mixing guide you can apply in any DAW.

1. Clean the Vocal Recording First

Before adding plugins, make sure your vocal track is clean and consistent.

Start by:

• Removing unwanted silence and excessive breaths

• Applying light noise reduction only if necessary

• Using clip gain or manual gain automation to level out loud and quiet phrases

Aim for an average level between -18 dBFS and -12 dBFS. This gives plugins enough headroom to work properly.

2. EQ: Shape the Vocal Tone

Equalization helps the vocal sit clearly in the mix.

Common EQ steps:

• High-pass filter at 80–120 Hz to remove rumble

• Cut muddiness around 200–400 Hz

• Reduce harsh frequencies between 2–5 kHz if needed

• Add air with a gentle boost at 10–15 kHz

Always subtract unwanted frequencies first before boosting.

3. Compression: Control Dynamics

Vocals naturally have a wide dynamic range. Compression keeps them steady and present.

Basic settings to start with:

• Ratio: 3:1 – 4:1

• Attack: Fast to medium

• Release: Medium

• Gain reduction: 3–6 dB

Many engineers use serial compression, applying two compressors with light settings instead of one aggressive compressor.

4. De-Essing: Reduce Sibilance

“S” and “T” sounds can be harsh, especially after compression.

• Set the de-esser between 5–8 kHz

• Apply only enough reduction to smooth the sound

Over-de-essing can make vocals sound dull or lispy, so subtlety is key.

5. Add Color and Presence

Once the vocal is controlled, you can enhance its character.

Popular options include:

• Light saturation for warmth and thickness

• A small presence boost around 3–6 kHz

• Parallel compression to add density without losing dynamics

These steps are optional but can help vocals sound more professional.

6. Reverb: Create Space Without Losing Clarity

Reverb gives the vocal depth, but too much can push it back in the mix.

Best practices:

• Use reverb on an aux/send track

• Choose a short plate or room reverb

• High-pass the reverb at around 200 Hz

• Add pre-delay (20–50 ms) to keep vocals upfront

The vocal should feel part of the track, not buried behind it.

7. Delay: Add Depth and Interest

Delay is a great alternative to heavy reverb.

Common styles include:

• Slapback delay (80–120 ms)

• Tempo-synced delays (1/4 or 1/8 notes)

• Automation on phrase endings only

Used correctly, delay adds excitement without clutter.

8. Automation: The Real Professional Touch

No plugin can replace automation.

• Ride the vocal level word by word

• Push emotional phrases slightly louder

• Pull back sections where the mix feels crowded

This step is often what separates amateur mixes from professional ones.

9. Final Vocal Bus Processing

Route all vocals to a vocal bus and apply light processing:

• Subtle EQ for overall balance

• Gentle compression (1–2 dB gain reduction)

• Very light saturation for cohesion

Keep this stage minimal.

Example Vocal Mixing Chain

Final Thoughts

Mixing vocals is about balance, not perfection. Focus on clarity, consistency, and emotion. Trust your ears, make small moves, and always compare your mix with reference tracks in your genre.

With practice, these steps will become second nature—and your vocals will sit perfectly in the mix every time. 🎶🎤