It doesn’t matter if we’re in the car, on the treadmill, or at work, music is all around us. For most people, music calms, energizes, and motivates and all they may hear are some catchy lyrics and a cool beat.

But for the audio engineer, music can be so much more.

It can become a training tool for honing our craft. When we listen to a song we get to hear the work of the best engineers in the music industry. When you listen to a song, listen beyond the music. Notice the location of an instrument in the mix, it’s spacing along the stereo spectrum, and the shape of its tone.

One of the best ways to become a better audio engineer is to listen…

Two Ways to Listen

There are two ways to listen to a song, actively and passively. The majority of time people listen to music passively. It is background noise for their daily life. Music changes radically, however, when you begin to listen actively.

One of the best ways to train your ear is to try and emulate the mix of your favorite songs. In any profession, copying the traits of those who are better than you is a great way to learn. When you pay attention to how someone else mixes, it can improve your own mixing skills. So the next time you listen to your favorite song, take a few minutes and think about how each song is put together.

Here is a basic workflow to help you become a more active listener:

The Active Listening Workflow

Start with the beat of the music. What time signature is the music in? Is it 3/4 or 4/4, or maybe even 7/8? Once the beat is established, move on to the placement of the percussion in the mix. Are the drums panned in a wide circle along the stereo spectrum, or are they grouped close together? Are the snare and kick drum centered in the mix or are they panned a little bit?

Next listen for their tone. Does the kick drum have a lot of attack or does it have more of a low end punch? Does the snare EQ help it to set back in the mix or does it bring it front and center?

Next listen for the bass. The bass can often be one of those instruments that you don’t really notice until it is gone. As such, setting your bass levels correctly is one of the foundations of a great mix. How is it placed in the mix compared to everything else? Is it more felt than heard, or is the bass articulated well? Does it stay at one constant volume or does it fluctuate between the different sections of the song?

Now move on to the rhythm instruments. This could be acoustic guitar, rhythm electric, piano, or anything else that seems “in the background.” Notice how it is placed in the mix in relation to the other instruments. Does it stand out above the drums, or is it layered behind them. Maybe it gets louder during the chorus and quieter during the verses. Once again, check the tone of the instrument. Is it bright and distinct or dark and muddy? Often times the mood of the song determines the tone of the instrument.

All right, now listen to the lead instrument. This is could be guitar, piano, or perhaps violin. What is different about the instrument that makes it stand out? How do you know it is the lead instrument? Is it dead center or is it panned off to the side? Another thing to consider is the dynamic range of the instrument. Is it so heavily compressed that all the notes are the same volume, or is there some room for the dynamics of the instrument to breathe?

Finally, pay attention to the vocals. With everything else going on, how are the vocals placed in the mix to maintain intelligibility and clarity? Are they way above the instrumentation or do they seem to be almost equal with the rest of the music? Are the voices loaded with effects or are they kept mostly dry? Is the vocal full of dynamics or is it heavily compressed?

Dissect!

Dissect all of your favorite music. Ask questions while you listen. You will pick up tricks that other engineers have used, and be able to apply them to your own mixes. The next time you hear your favorite song, give active listening a try.

What other questions do you ask when listening to music?