Hi, I'm MixMind.
I'm listening on your master bus — ask me anything, or open ⚙ to upload a file for full-song analysis.
Try: "Is the bass too loud?" · "What's the Spotify mastering target?"
What I hear: 200–400 Hz is running +5.5 dB over the rest of the mix, and the vocal band at 2–4 kHz sits 4 dB below the guitars. Classic low-mid pile-up, not a vocal level problem.
1 — Clear the space first (guitar bus)
· FabFilter Pro-Q 3 → bell at 290 Hz, −3.5 dB, Q 1.2
· Same instance → dynamic bell at 3 kHz, −2.5 dB, sidechained to the vocal bus (ducks only when the vocal sings)
2 — Then push the vocal, don't just turn it up
· Waves CLA-76 → ratio 4:1, attack 3, release 4, ≈4 dB GR for a steady front edge
· Pro-Q 3 → high shelf 6 kHz, +2 dB, and a 90 Hz high-pass at 12 dB/oct
· Valhalla VintageVerb → plate, 1.4 s, pre-delay 40 ms, 12% wet, low cut 300 Hz so the tail stays out of the mud
3 — Re-balance the bottom
· Waves SSL G-Channel on the bass → LF shelf +1.5 dB at 80 Hz, LMF −2 dB at 250 Hz
· Kick and bass: sidechain the bass with Pro-C 2, 4:1, 20 ms release, 2 dB GR
Check: after these moves crest should stay above 12 dB and stereo ρ near 0.85. Play me the chorus again and I'll tell you if the 290 Hz cut went too far.