What Makes a Great Sound Mix?
Sound is one of those things that’s only noticed when it’s bad. When it’s great, it blends seamlessly into the story, shaping emotions, building atmosphere, and guiding the audience through the experience.
But what actually makes a mix stand out?
It’s not just about balancing levels or making everything loud enough.
A great mix is carefully crafted, with each element working together to serve the story.
I’ve spent years mixing everything from high-end dramas to fast-paced reality shows, and while every project is different, a few things always make the difference between an average mix and a great one.
Dialogue Editing
In most cases, if the audience can’t hear what’s being said, the whole story falls apart. Dialogue sits at the heart of most films, TV shows and even online content, getting it right is more than just pushing up the fader. It needs space to breathe. That means clearing out unnecessary background noise without making it sound lifeless, shaping the voice so it cuts through the mix naturally, and making sure it sits comfortably with the music and effects.
I’ve worked on many projects where dialogue was recorded in less-than-ideal conditions. One particular documentary had interviews captured on busy city streets, with traffic rumbling and people talking in the background. Instead of scrubbing the sound so clean that it lost all character, I worked carefully to pull the voices forward while keeping enough background texture to make it feel authentic. This allows for clear, natural dialogue that still felt part of the world around it.
Sound Design
A film or show without sound design is like a painting without depth.
It’s flat.
Sound creates a sense of space, whether it’s the hum of a neon light in a quiet room, the distant murmur of a crowd in a busy market, or the subtle rustling of leaves that makes an outdoor scene feel alive.
Good sound design isn’t just about filling gaps. It’s about choosing what to highlight and what to leave out. Crafting unique textures for machines, designing the sound of weapons or creatures that don't exist, and layering subtle atmospheric details to make every scene immersive.
Always try create an environment that pulls the audience in.
Music Should Support, Not Overpower
Music is one of the most powerful tools in filmmaking, but it has to be handled with care. When it’s mixed well, it lifts a scene without the audience even realizing it. When it’s mixed badly, it can drown out dialogue, fight with sound effects, or feel too obvious.
For example - on a fast-paced reality show where the music was high-energy and relentless. The challenge was making sure it kept the momentum going without overpowering the dialogue. Instead of just turning it down, I worked with the natural flow of the scenes, shaping the music around key moments, letting it breathe when needed, and making sure it complemented rather than competed. In the end, I had a sequence that felt energetic, with the music helping set the pace and tell the story, while not missing out on anything said.
A Good Mix Has Dynamics
A mix that’s too flat loses its emotional impact, and a mix that’s too compressed becomes exhausting to listen to. A great mix has contrast. The quiet moments feel intimate, and the loud moments hit with real power.
I remember working on a crime drama where tension was everything. There was a moment where the scene went almost completely silent before a sudden, sharp sound broke through. If the whole mix had been loud, that moment wouldn’t have had the same impact. By letting the soundscape breathe, we gave the scene real weight, making the audience lean in just before hitting them with the unexpected.
It’s About the Story, Not the Sound
At the end of the day, a great mix isn’t about technical perfection. It’s about storytelling. Every decision - whether it’s how loud the dialogue is, how immersive the background feels, or how the music sits - should serve the bigger picture. If the audience walks away talking about the story rather than the sound, that’s when I know I’ve done my job right.
If you're working on a project and want to make sure the mix does justice to the story, let’s have a chat. The right mix can make all the difference.
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