Mixing Demystified

Take your recordings from "demo" to "professional" with this comprehensive mixing curriculum.

Are your students recording great performances that still sound flat, muddy, or unbalanced? Mixing Demystified is the bridge between a raw recording and a polished, radio-ready track. Designed specifically for the high school music environment, this resource breaks down the complex art of audio mixing into manageable, easy-to-understand steps.

While the accompanying video tutorials use Reaper (a free-to-try, lightweight DAW perfect for schools), the concepts taught—such as EQ, compression, and spatial effects—are universal and apply to any Digital Audio Workstation, including Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Ableton Live, or Soundtrap.

Designed for New Zealand Music Technology

This resource has been specifically tailored to meet the needs of New Zealand music teachers and students. It provides a robust framework for NCEA assessment and future-proofing your department for upcoming curriculum changes.

• NCEA Unit Standard 27703v7 (Level 2): The package comes complete with assessment tasks and assessment schedules for Unit Standard 27703 (version 7): Demonstrate and apply knowledge of sound design for an entertainment and event context.

• New Music Technology Subject: The content is designed to be generic and adaptable, making it an ideal foundational text for the Ministry of Education's upcoming Music Technology subject.

What’s Included in the Guide?

This resource includes a 42-page Student Guide, a Teacher's Workbook with answer keys, and access to integrated video tutorials for every chapter. Students will learn to:

• Start the Mix Correctly: Organisation, folder groups, balancing faders, and panning for a wide stereo image.

• Master EQ: Understand the frequency spectrum, use high-pass filters to clean up "mud," and use subtractive EQ to create clarity.

• Demystify Compression: Finally understand Threshold, Ratio, Attack, and Release to create punchy, consistent tracks.

• Create Space: Use Reverb and Delay on Aux tracks to give instruments depth and "glue" the mix together.

• Advanced Techniques: Learn professional workflows like "Top Down Mixing," phase flipping, and volume automation to bring life to static mixes.

• Live Sound Application: A dedicated chapter on translating these studio skills to digital live mixing desks.

For Teachers

• Teacher’s Workbook Included: A separate PDF containing the answers to the "Make It Stick" revision questions found at the end of each chapter.

• Video Tutorials: The guide includes direct links to video walkthroughs, allowing students to learn at their own pace or flip the classroom.

Software Requirements:

The guide references Reaper for demonstrations (highly recommended for schools due to its low cost and small footprint), but the techniques are transferable to any DAW.

Download includes:

• Mixing Demystified - Student Guide (PDF)

• Mixing Demystified - Teacher's Workbook (PDF)

• Access to accompanying multi-track audio files for practice