Advanced Mixing With Plugins: Pro Production Techniques

Next level skills with EQ, compression, saturation & FX to achieve pro-quality mixes.

What you'll learn

Producers familiar with basic mixing who want to refine their skills and achieve professional, plugin-based mixes.

Audio professionals seeking advanced plugin techniques to enhance their mixes and achieve pro-level results.

Independent musicians mixing their own tracks who want to create polished, industry-standard mixes using plugins.

Producers in EDM, hip-hop, or pop seeking advanced mixing techniques to improve their plugin-based mixes and create high-quality tracks.

Requirements

Basic Mixing Knowledge: Understanding of core mixing concepts like EQ, compression, and reverb.

ntermediate DAW Proficiency: Familiarity with using a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) like Cubase, Ableton Live, Pro Tools, or Logic.

Basic Plugin Usage: Experience with using audio plugins such as EQ, compression, reverb, and delays.

DAW (Digital Audio Workstation): Any DAW (Cubase, Ableton, Pro Tools, FL Studio, Logic, etc.).

Mixing Plugins: Any mixing plugins, though having access to iZotope's Production Suite is recommended.

Headphones or Monitors: High-quality headphones or studio monitors for accurate listening.

Computer or Laptop: A computer capable of running your DAW and plugins smoothly.

Description

Are you ready to take your mixes to a professional, industry-standard level? Whether you're a music producer, mixing engineer, or independent artist, this course will teach you advanced mixing techniques using plugins to achieve polished, high-quality sound—no expensive studio gear required.Mixing is one of the most critical aspects of music production. A great mix can make or break a song, and with the right techniques, you can transform raw recordings into radio-ready, streaming-friendly tracks. In this course, we go beyond the basics and dive deep into professional mixing workflows used by top engineers. You'll learn how to shape your sound using EQ, compression, saturation, reverb, automation, M/S processing and other powerful techniques—all demonstrated in Cubase with the iZotope Production Suite, but applicable to any DAW or plugin set.What You’ll Learn:Advanced EQ Techniques – Learn how to identify and remove problematic frequencies, enhance clarity, and balance instruments in a mix. Discover how to use surgical EQ, dynamic EQ, and mid/side processing to craft a professional sound and balance your frequency response.Compression & Multiband Dynamics – Understand how to add punch, glue, and warmth to your mixes. Learn the differences between various compressors (VCA, FET, Optical, Tube) and when to use each one. Master multiband compression (in fact, multiband processing in general!)  to tame unruly frequencies and add punch, impact and consistency.Saturation & Harmonic Excitement – Digital recordings can sometimes feel sterile. Learn how to use tape saturation, harmonic distortion, and analog-modeled plugins to bring life, loudness, and energy to your mix.Reverb & Delay Techniques – Discover how to create depth and space in your mix using algorithmic reverbs, slapback delays, and creative spatial effects. Learn how to use pre-delay, EQ shaping, and reverb tails to craft a 3D mix that breathes.Automation & Mix Movement – Static mixes sound lifeless. Learn how to use automation for volume as well as effects to create exciting, evolving mixes that captivate listeners and support the music's intentions!Parallel Processing & Bus Mixing – Learn the power of parallel compression and parallel saturation to add weight and presence to your mix without sacrificing clarity.Mastering Preparation – Ensure your mix translates well across different playback systems by optimizing levels, dynamics, and stereo width. Learn how to prepare your tracks for streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube using True Peak and various loudness measurements to prevent distortion while meeting industry standard loudness targets.This course is perfect for intermediate and advanced music producers and engineers who want to refine their mixing skills, update their skillsets and achieve radio-ready results using modern plugin workflows.Why Take This Course?Hands-On Learning – Watch real-time demonstrations on professional multitrack sessions so you can see the techniques in action.Active Student Engagement – each main section contains a quiz and hands-on challenges designed to reinforce key concepts and give you practical, real-world mixing experience as you progress through the course.Multiple Styles & Genres – Demonstrations prepare students to tackle a wide range of styles ranging from Orchestral to EDM and Singer-Songwriter to Pop. Industry-Standard Plugins – Learn with iZotope’s Production Suite, but apply the techniques to any plugin set—Waves, FabFilter, UAD, and more.Mix Any Genre – Whether you work with rock, pop, EDM, hip-hop, orchestral, or jazz, these techniques will elevate your mixes.Pro-Level Mixing, Simplified – No fluff, no unnecessary jargon—just practical, game-changing techniques that will instantly improve your sound.By the end of this course, you’ll have the skills and confidence to mix professional tracks using plugins—without needing expensive hardware or a million-dollar studio.Who This Course Is For:Music producers who want to achieve a more polished, professional soundMixing engineers looking to refine or develop their plugin-based workflowsArtists & songwriters who want to mix their own music at a high levelAudio enthusiasts eager to learn advanced mixing techniques with modern toolsWhat You Need to Get Started:A DAW (Cubase, Ableton Live, Pro Tools, FL Studio, Logic, or any other)A set of mixing plugins (iZotope, Waves, FabFilter, or stock plugins)Basic knowledge of mixing fundamentals (this is an advanced-level course)This course is designed for fast, effective learning. Lessons are most often presented through demonstration and packed with actionable insights you can immediately apply to your mixes.  Demos are in Cubase, but any DAW can be used to apply the principles and lessons taught.Ready to take your mixing to the next level? Enroll now and start mixing like a pro today!

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 The Nature of Sound

Lecture 2 Setting Up Your Workspace

Lecture 3 Essential Mixing Plugins

Section 2: Foundations of Advanced Mixing

Lecture 4 The Role of Plugins in Mixing

Lecture 5 Gain Staging & Headroom

Lecture 6 Understanding Mix Bus Processing

Section 3: EQ Mastery – Sculpting the Perfect Mix

Lecture 7 Advanced EQ Strategies

Lecture 8 Mid/Side EQ Techniques

Lecture 9 Fixing Muddy Mixes with EQ

Lecture 10 Creative EQ for Character

Section 4: Compression Techniques for a Pro Sound

Lecture 11 Parallel Compression Insights

Lecture 12 Multiband Compression in Action

Lecture 13 Sidechain Compression Beyond EDM

Lecture 14 Optical vs. VCA vs. FET Compressors

Lecture 15 Crest Factor & PLR - What and Why?

Section 5: Spatial Processing – Depth & Width

Lecture 16 Types of Reverb

Lecture 17 Advanced Reverb Techniques

Lecture 18 3-D Delay for Dimension

Lecture 19 Stereo Imaging Hacks

Lecture 20 Achieving a "Vintage" Sound

Section 6: Saturation, Distortion & Harmonic Enhancement

Lecture 21 Saturation vs. Distortion

Lecture 22 Tape & Tube Saturation Tricks

Lecture 23 Exciters & Harmonic Enhancers

Lecture 24 Creative Distortion for Impact

Lecture 25 Saturation Examples for Rock and Pop

Lecture 26 Saturation Examples for Orchestral and Cinematic Music

Lecture 27 Saturation Examples for EDM and Electronic Music

Lecture 28 Saturation Examples for Indie Acoustic

Section 7: Automation & Advanced FX Processing

Lecture 29 Mix Automation for Realism

Lecture 30 Advanced Vocal Processing

Lecture 31 Creative Use of Modulation FX

Lecture 32 Transient Shaping Hacks

Section 8: Polishing Your Mix with "Dimensional" Mix Bus Processing

Lecture 33 Measuring Frequency, Dynamics and Width

Lecture 34 Match EQ Techniques

Lecture 35 LUFS Normalization

Lecture 36 M/S Stereo Width Techniques

Lecture 37 Managing Punch and Impact

Lecture 38 Mix Bus Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Section 9: Pro Workflow Insights

Lecture 39 Plugins Pros Swear By

Lecture 40 Speed Mixing - How to Mix in Record Time

Lecture 41 How to Build a Pro-Level Mixing Template for Speed and Consistency

Lecture 42 Developing a Reference Library

Section 10: Conclusion

Lecture 43 Wrap-Up

his course is designed for those with basic mixing knowledge, but we will dive deep into advanced techniques, so come with an eagerness to learn and grow!