How to mix vocals

A great vocal mix is the difference between a track that grabs a listener and one that gets skipped. Below is the checklist we use in Easy-DAW, in the order the moves actually happen.

1. Get the recording right first

No plugin can un-clip a distorted take or add a room that never existed. Track vocals with peaks around −12 dBFS, mouth about two closed fists from the mic, and a soft blanket or reflection filter behind the singer to kill the room.

2. Gain stage before you touch a plugin

Bring the raw vocal to a musical level against the rest of the mix using nothing but the track fader. If you find yourself pushing plugins hard, the level is wrong.

3. Subtractive EQ

Sweep a narrow bell around 200–400 Hz and cut where the vocal turns boxy. Roll off below 80 Hz on almost every voice. Only reach for a boost once the mix already sounds honest without one.

4. Compression that supports the performance

Aim for 2–4 dB of gain reduction on the loudest words. Attack around 10–15 ms preserves consonant snap; release around 100–150 ms breathes with the phrase. If the compressor is grabbing constantly, lower the threshold — don't raise the ratio.

5. De-essing

Insert a de-esser after the compressor and sweep the trigger frequency until every S and CH controls without dulling the vowel. 3–6 dB of reduction on peaks is plenty.

6. Reverb and delay

Send the vocal to a short plate (0.9–1.4s) and a ⅛-note delay bus. Pre-delay of 20–40 ms on the reverb keeps the dry vocal upfront. Use less than you think you need.

7. Volume automation

The last 10 % of a vocal mix is automation, not plugins. Ride quiet syllables up 1–2 dB; pull loud ones down. Every professional vocal mix has automation on almost every word.

How Easy-DAW helps

Every step above lives in the Easy-DAW native mixer. The AI Mix Coach will suggest surgical moves — a low-mid cut, a slower attack, a shorter reverb — the moment they'd help. You Preview each suggestion, keep what sounds right, and dismiss the rest.