11 Post Production Sound Mixing Elements for Improved Film Sound

Film sound is almost as important if not more important than the video itself. Yet, many fail to spend enough time on post production sound mixing. Post production sound mixing is an absolutely vital element in the post production process as it is often the determining factor in whether or not your film audio is balanced, engaging, and captivating. These 11 post production sound mixing elements cannot be overlooked.

1  Volume Levels

Referred to as just “levels,” the volume levels of your film must not be high and low and all over the place. Adjusting the volume levels in post production sound mixing will ensure a balanced track that is pleasant to the listening ear.

2  Equalization 

Sound equalization of various frequencies such as the bass, treble and various other bands of the sound can greatly improve the audio of your film if the adjustments are performed appropriately. A post production sound mixer can equalize your sound.

3  Muting Tracks

Are there certain tracks that should only be listened to at a particular time? Post production sound editing to include muting single tracks or steps so that they are only hear in certain sections represents a key way of improving the audio of a film.

4  Reverberation

Post production adjustments to the sound, including the addition of reverb or echo to match existing sounds can produce various different effects. A professional can help you better understand the process.

5  Limiting

Setting upper and lower limiting levels to the audio represents a way for post production sound mixers to balance the highs and lows of your audio so that there are never moments where the sound is impossible to deal with.

6  Compression

The compression of your audio levels represents a way for your post production sound mixer to reduce the dynamic range of audio levels so that they can save storage space and reduce resources over time.

7  Filtering 

Filtering tracks out, removing frequencies all together or reducing the involvement of certain frequencies as they pass through audio filters represents another way that post production sound mixers can improve film audio.

8  Panning 

Representing the post production sound mixing process that involves controlling the way that sound operates within various additional channels such as when the audio is played in stereo or surround sound, panining is a post production sound mix that helps your sound come alive.

9  Pitch

Is your audio to loud? Controlling the pitch of your audio represents another way that post production sound mixers improve audio for your film. Changing pitch can greatly improve audio quality.

10  Synthesis

Your post production sound mixer can generate various sounds for use in your film at different phases. Synthesis allows for some basic overlapping of sounds in the editing process as sounds are generated.

Sound Mixer 2

11 Expansion

Post production sound mixing that involves the use of expansion to improve dynamic range of your film audio while increasing the levels as needed is equally valuable in this sound mixing process. 

All of these post production sound mixing elements can be utilized by your post production mixer to vastly adjust and improve the audio of your film. Remember, audio is just as important as the video of your film. You must have both in order to succeed with your video content. Call Beverly Boy Productions