Mixing a Pop Punk Song from Start to Finish Using Only Sonnox Plug-ins

We set Spinlight Studios a challenge: mix a pop punk song from start to finish using only Sonnox plug-ins.

In this full mixing session, follow the track as it develops from the first session decisions through to the finished mix. Watch the video below, then read on for a look at the stages covered.

For the best way to access all of these plug-ins, choose the Sonnox Core Studio Collection. It's the widest spread of Sonnox plug-ins available, and contains all of the plug-ins used in the session.

Build the foundation

The session begins with preparation, then moves into the foundations of the mix: setting levels and panning. From there, Spinlight Studios takes a top-down approach, works on the mix bus, cleans up the low end and carves out space for the musical elements.

You'll see Oxford Dynamics, Oxford Limiter and Claro working together on the mix bus to set the starting points for the dynamics, tonality and maximum level.

With the foundation in place, the session moves through the drum kit, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitars and lead guitars. It also covers the lead and support vocals, showing how each part is considered as part of the overall mix.

Check out how to use Oxford TransMod to push the transients to the front of the mix to add more punch, as well as using Oxford EQ to sculpt the guitars to ensure each holds their own space in the frequency spectrum.

Check the mix and finish the track

Later in the session, there’s a before-and-after mixing checkpoint, followed by mastering and a final playback. You can follow the process all the way from the original session to the finished result, with Sonnox plug-ins used throughout.

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