3rd Edition

Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio

By Mike Senior Copyright 2026
482 Pages 129 B/W Illustrations
by Focal Press

482 Pages 129 B/W Illustrations
by Focal Press

482 Pages 129 B/W Illustrations
by Focal Press

Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio is the best-selling primer for small-studio enthusiasts who want chart-ready sonics in a hurry, and this extensively updated third edition now contains sections on DSP phase-linearization, loudness normalization, oversampling, mixing from stems, frequency shifting, and analog summing. Discover how to achieve release-quality mixes even in the smallest... Read more

Part I: Hearing and Listening  1. Using Nearfield Monitors  2. Supplementary Monitoring  3. Low-End Damage Limitation  4. From Subjective Impressions to Objective Results  Part II: Mix Preparation  5. Essential Groundwork  6. Timing and Tuning Adjustments  7. Comping and Arrangement  Part III: Balance  8. Building the Raw Balance  9. Compressing for a Reason  10. Beyond Compression  11. Equalizing for a Reason  12. Beyond EQ  13. Frequency-Selective Dynamics  14. The Power of Side Chains  15. Toward Fluent Balancing  Part IV: Sweetening to Taste  16. Mixing with Reverb  17. Mixing with Delays  18. Stereo Enhancements  19. Master-Buss Processing and Referencing  20. Automation and Endgame  21. Conclusion

Biography

Mike Senior is a professional engineer who has worked with Wet Wet Wet, The Charlatans, Reef, Therapy, and Nigel Kennedy. He specializes in adapting the techniques of top producers for those working in small studios and on a tight budget. He has transformed more than 65 amateur productions for Sound On Sound magazine’s popular “Mix Rescue” column, proving time and again that you can achieve commercial-grade results with affordable gear—once you know how!