Audio Mixing vs. Beat Making
Are you a music lover or creator and want to know more about the technical aspects of music production? In today's blog post, we'll be comparing two fundamental elements of audio technology that you should know about: audio mixing and beat making.
What is Audio Mixing?
Audio mixing is the process of blending various audio tracks to produce a final stereo mix. It involves adjusting the levels of instruments and vocals, applying effects like EQ and reverb, and creating space within the mix. Mixing is essential to make sure all elements of the song sound good together and will be a pleasant experience when the listener hears it.
What is Beat Making?
Beat making deals with the creation of musical beats, whether it be for a drum machine, a keyboard, or any musical instrument. It involves creating the rhythm and pattern of the different parts of the song. This is typically done at the beginning of the music production process, and it's then added to with complementing melodies and lyrics.
The Differences
The main difference between audio mixing and beat making is the stage of the music production process they occur in. Beat making is generally done in the earlier stages of music production, and audio mixing comes at the end. Beat making is concerned with creating beats, while audio mixing is about making sure everything sounds good together.
An audio mixer may look at eliminating mud or unwanted noise from certain tracks, whereas a beat maker may be focused on making those beats sound as crisp and dynamic as possible. An audio mixer can add effects like EQ, reverb, and compression depending on what the client wants, to make the final mix sound clean and professional.
The Numbers
According to indeed.com, the average audio mixer salary in the United States is approximately $53,607 per year. On the other hand, the average beat maker may make around $48,280 per year according to ziprecruiter.com.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both audio mixing and beat making are crucial components of music production. Audio mixing involves blending elements together, while beat making deals with the creation of the rhythm and pattern. They play different roles in music production, and any successful musician should be familiar with the key differences between the two.