TonalBrain Mix Quick Guide

TonalBrain Mix Quick Guide · 2 of 8

Your first mix

To get your first mix, put TonalBrain Mix on your main tracks, click ANALYSIS, play the busiest part of your song, then click GET SUGGESTIONS.

Prepare

  1. 1Put TonalBrain Mix on each important track: for example kick, snare, bass, lead vocal and the main instruments. You can use up to 24 tracks. The more tracks, the better the result.Result: Each track shows as a tab at the left of the plugin window.
  2. 2Open one plugin window and close the others. You can edit all tracks from one window.
  3. 3Make sure that each track has an instrument name, for example “Kick” or “Lead Vocal”. Click the track-name field at the top to select an instrument from the list. A name like “Audio 12” does not tell the plugin what to mix.
  4. 4Type the genre of your song in the genre field, for example “pop”.

Tip

If a name or the genre is missing, the plugin asks for it when you start. You can also answer there.

Capture and get suggestions

  1. 1Click ANALYSIS.Result: The plugin shows WAITING FOR PLAYBACK.
  2. 2Play the busiest part of your song in your DAW, usually the chorus or the drop.Result: The plugin records 10 seconds of all tracks, then shows “1 section captured. Ready to mix.”
  3. 3Optional: click + and play a different part, for example the verse. See Mix the whole song.
  4. 4Click GET SUGGESTIONS.Result: After approximately one minute, the plugin sets EQ, compression and effects on all tracks and shows “AI parameters applied!”.
  5. 5Play your song. Click BYP ALL to hear your mix with and without TonalBrain Mix.

Note

During the 10 seconds of a capture, the plugin switches its processing off so that it hears your original tracks. Do not stop playback during a capture.

Note

If the plugin shows “Sidechain routing needed”, see Sidechain setup.

The plugin window

The TonalBrain Mix plugin window with numbered callouts
The TonalBrain Mix window. Your version can look slightly different.
  1. 1Track name. Click to select an instrument.
  2. 2Your credits and the days left on your pass.
  3. 3BYP ALL: hear all tracks without TonalBrain Mix.
  4. 4Track tabs. Click a tab to show that track.
  5. 5ANALYSIS: capture and get suggestions.
  6. 6Presets. See Presets, edits and intensity.
  7. 7EQ. Drag a point to change it.
  8. 8EQ INTENSITY: less or more EQ.
  9. 9Compressor and its INTENSITY.
  10. 10Effects chain. Click + to add an effect.
  11. 11Output fader and pan of the track.

The effects

Each track gets an EQ and a compressor. The plugin adds these effects only to the tracks that need them:

EffectWhat it does
TAPEWarmth and glue of analog tape.
STEREOMakes a stereo track wider. The low end stays in the centre.
DE ESSReduces harsh “s” sounds.
SC COMPMakes a track go down when a different track plays, for example the bass on each kick.
OPT COMPSmooth, slow levelling, for example on a vocal or a bass.
EXCITEAdds air and presence to the high frequencies.

You can change every setting. To remove an effect, right-click it in the chain and click Remove. To change the order, drag it left or right. Double-click a knob to reset it.

Still stuck? Contact us.