11. Automate & Mix

In this chapter you’re going to learn about automating and mixing down a song. You’ll learn different ways to automate a track’s levels, and also how to automate a plug-in. Once the track is mixed and automated, you’ll create a Master Fader and add compression to the final mix.

It’s a very common practice to put a compressor on the entire mix. This is commonly referred to as “strapping a compressor across the mix bus.” Mix bus compression serves the purpose of making mixes louder while also smoothing out any abrupt changes in level. Keep in mind that when you apply mix bus compression, you are sacrificing dynamic range for loudness. The consensus of the music industry is that the louder the mix, the better. Also, the sound ...

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