Quick start
Your mix in four steps
mixfellow gives you a second opinion on your mix: it compares a selected section with a reference song and shows which changes to try next. You decide and edit in your DAW. mixfellow does not change the audio automatically.
Before you start: set up mixfellow
Place one mixfellow instance as the last insert on your master bus and choose Master Hub. For tips on individual areas, you can also place mixfellow as the last insert on group buses, for example Kick, Drums, Bass, Music, or Vocals. Choose the matching group role in each instance. These group sensors are optional: without them you get recommendations for the full mix; with them mixfellow can assign tips more precisely to a group.
1. Load a reference
Drag a reference song into Drop audio here or click Choose reference. Pick a song whose sound and energy match your goal. If the file only lives in the cloud, download it fully to your computer first.
2. Check the reference section
mixfellow automatically selects a 30-second section of the reference. Listen and move the selection if needed. In your DAW, find a musically comparable part of your mix: chorus vs chorus or drop vs drop, with similar arrangement and energy. Comparing a quiet verse to a full chorus often leads to misleading recommendations. The parts do not need the same timecode; what matters is that similar musical material is happening.
3. Measure your mix
Click Analyze mix, then press Play in your DAW. Let the comparable section run for at least 30 seconds without interruption. mixfellow does not start playback itself. You can cancel and restart the analysis if needed.
If some but not all group sensors are connected, mixfellow asks whether all sensors needed for this section are active. Groups that do not appear in the section do not need a sensor. Choose Yes, analyze when the relevant groups are covered; otherwise No, add sensors and add the missing instances in your DAW. Without group sensors you can analyze the full mix directly.
4. Apply the results
Results show up to five prioritized suggestions. If mixfellow finds fewer clear issues, you see fewer. Click a suggestion to expand the full recommendation with target area, possible source, and a starting value for the change. A shown likely source is a hint: verify it by ear before editing a group.
Start with the most important suggestion, change only one thing first, and listen again. Try a fitting level correction before reaching for EQ or dynamics. Suggested values are starting points for your ears, not mandatory targets. With New analysis you measure your revised mix again; reference and section stay selected.
Useful features while mixing
- A/B Reference / A/B Mix: Switch directly between your mix and the reference while the DAW is playing. Levels are matched automatically so louder does not simply sound better.
- Spectrum & levels: Compare frequency distribution and check Peak, RMS, and the stereo scope. The display helps you orient; always decide changes with your ears too.
- Groups: The dots below show which sensors are connected. Green means active, red means not connected or disabled. Click an active group pill to open its details; you can also switch between groups there. The dot alone does not explain the cause of a problem.
- My plugins: Choose your DAW, optionally scan installed effects, and mark favorites that should appear by name in recommendations. Plugin setup is optional and later available via the gear icon; DAW-internal effects can appear without a third-party scan.
Settings: Via the gear icon you change language and window size and open My plugins. The ? at the top right shows short help. Reset removes reference and measurement results; New analysis measures again with the existing reference.