Mixing Engineer

混音工程师 (Mixing Engineer) is the person responsible for combining the multiple tracks created during the recording and production phases into the final channel configuration. Mixing determines the levels of each part, their left-right or surround sound imaging, frequency balance, dynamic range, sense of space, and temporal variation, and produces stereo, multichannel, or object-based versions for mastering.

This work can be performed on a mixing console, a digital audio workstation, or a mixing system, using equalization, compression, automation, reverb, delay, saturation, and editing tools. Mixing is not simply the sum of individual tracks; it establishes auditory hierarchy through selection and processing, and may involve muting, replacing, or reorganizing portions of the material. The role of a Mixing Engineer differs from that of a Recording Engineer and a Mastering Engineer. Recording engineers are responsible for capturing sound sources and managing the recording process; mixing engineers balance multitrack recordings; and mastering engineers standardize volume, frequency response, track order, and release formats based on the completed mix. A single person may handle multiple stages within a project, but credit should still be given separately for each.

A single track can have different mixes, such as an album mix, single mix, radio mix, 5.1 surround mix, and Atmos mix. Multichannel versions may require revisiting the original multitrack recordings rather than simply expanding a stereo mix; different mixes may also use different edits and effects, so they may need to be identified as separate versions.

The producer makes creative decisions regarding the direction of the mix, and the artist and record label may also be involved in the approval process; however, the person who actually performs the mixing is typically credited as “mixed by.” Credits such as assistant mixer, mix editor, and Atmos mixer indicate more specific roles and should not all be lumped together under a single role.