The definition we started off with emphasized that a great mix starts with a great song. Before we move into any of those mixing details, it helps to understand the bigger goal of your mix. One of the traits of a great mixer is the ability to focus on the small details that make a track pop without losing sight of the big picture. We’ve included a dedicated section to help make your mix gel effectively when you’re mixing vocals with an already-mixed track. Still, the foundations of a great mix apply to both of these situations. Mixing vocals with an existing instrumental can be a tough art, especially if you don’t have the stems to work with. We’ve brought together best practices and interesting mixing techniques into a single guide that will help you combine vocals with an instrumental and deliver that elusive great mix. A great mix is one that brings a great song to its fullest potential through its production. Just about anyone with some entry-level gear can make a mix, but not many people can make a great mix. A mix is the final presentation of a production in an audio file.