Best Mixing Plug Ins / AI at the moment?

[james090]

I’m looking for a tool that can reference a specific commercial track and then adjust my mixdown to match its EQ, levels, and overall balance. The goal is to improve my mixes by aligning them more closely with professional standards in terms of tonal and level matching.

I don’t need mastering—my mastering is handled by a 3rd party—but rather, a mixing solution that helps me get everything polished before that final stage.

Since I work across a wide variety of genres (70s, 80s, 90s, EDM, Jazz, etc.), I’d ideally like an all-around plugin or AI-based web tool that can handle diverse styles, assisting EQ matching, leveling, vocal balance, and other essential mix tasks, comparing my mix to a reference track within the same style.

I’m aware that Ozone has some features like this, and probably the best?? but I’m wondering if there have been any advancements in AI-driven mixing tools that might be even better for this purpose.

Any recommendations would be much appreciated!

[Martin Walker]

Hi james!

I suspect you'll find it more beneficial long term to use a tool like MetricAB:

https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/prod ... ricab.html



This lets you quickly perform A/B comparisons of your mixes easily against a selection of chosen reference tracks as well as examine their differences across various categories, such as Spectrum (lets you examine and hear differences in EQ), Dynamics, Loudness, Stereo Image and so on.

I've used this now for years, and found it really useful when aiming my mixes to different musical genres. Yes, I have tried EQ-matching tools in the past, and some rough and ready AI-assisted tools, but for me they rarely work successfully because they attempt to force your music to match another track without any knowledge of the different instrumentation used in each one. They could also be in completely different keys, which would greatly affect EQ tweaks!

When you can see the kick, snare, hihats, bass, guitar, vocals and so on in a spectrum analyser, and instantly compare yours with a chosen reference track, you're training your ears, and far more likely as a result to be able to change those individual sounds to achieve the overall result you want, in my opinion anyway

Oh, and ignore the 'retail price' of MetricAB - it may state $279, but almost no-one actually pays that. It's regularly (and currently) on offer at $39, which is what I paid when I bought it.

Hope this helps!

Martin

[The Elf]

Match EQ is a good tool for understanding where you mix is tonally different to a reference, but if your mix is completely out of kilter even that isn't going to be completely reliable.

Recently I used Steinberg's Spectralayers to separate a mix into stems (bass, drums, vocals, others...) in order to match the original levels for a re-make. That could be a useful tool for you. Other software (and even some free web sites) can achieve similar.

But, in all honesty, the best tools are still your ears, time and patience. There's no magic wand that's going to mix for you.

[The Elf]

(Plus there's no 'AI' that's going to manipulate your DAW for you...)

[james090]

Match EQ is a good tool for understanding where you mix is tonally different to a reference, but if your mix is completely out of kilter even that isn't going to be completely reliable.

Recently I used Steinberg's Spectralayers to separate a mix into stems (bass, drums, vocals, others...) in order to match the original levels for a re-make. That could be a useful tool for you. Other software (and even some free web sites) can achieve similar.

But, in all honesty, the best tools are still your ears, time and patience. There's no magic wand that's going to mix for you.

Match EQ - is this in Ozone? Or a standalone plugin?

[The Elf]

Match EQ is a good tool for understanding where you mix is tonally different to a reference, but if your mix is completely out of kilter even that isn't going to be completely reliable.

Recently I used Steinberg's Spectralayers to separate a mix into stems (bass, drums, vocals, others...) in order to match the original levels for a re-make. That could be a useful tool for you. Other software (and even some free web sites) can achieve similar.

But, in all honesty, the best tools are still your ears, time and patience. There's no magic wand that's going to mix for you.

Match EQ - is this in Ozone? Or a standalone plugin?

There's one in Ozone, but there are others.

[Zukan]

There are lots of handy 'guide' tools out there.

As Martin has detailed, Metric AB is very popular. Its power lies in the fact that many different components of a mix can be detailed and isolated. It's also customisable to suit any task.

The match EQ that the Elf mentioned is available in many products. FabFilter's Q2/3 has match EQ, as do TDR's Nova GE, Vostok, and Slick EQs.

Izotope has a ton of useful guide tools: Master Rebalance, Tonal Balance Control and Mix Assistant.

I teach my students how to use all these tools but TBH I am with Elf on this: these are simply tools and guides and when you have had some guidance using these powerful tools it's time to let your eyes and ears take over.

[ManFromGlass]

Having just upgraded my Logic Pro I was told the mastering plugin was really good. I had a quick play with it. To be fair it was a quick test but it totally changed the character and balance I was striving for.
If I spent more time perhaps I could have found the right preset and tweak that, but then that’s what I do when I mix.
I generally rough mix as I create and record so perhaps I’m not the intended user.
That being said I could see Logic’s plug being useful as a creative process if I was looking for a totally different approach to what I heard in my head. Say I wanted to drastically change a B section etc to keep the ear interested during the journey.