How to Make Room For Your Leads in a Busy Mix (Pro Mixing Tip!)

This FL Studio 20 mixing tutorial will show you an advanced mixing trick that will help you get fat and powerful leads. This will help your melodies stand out in the mix. Mixing leads can be quite difficult, especially in a busy mix like in a trance track for example. You want your leads to really stand out and kind of pop out of the mix and be strong, fat, and powerful, and in order to do that there are several tricks you can use. This is one of them. This is an advanced sidechaining technique that's great when you have a busy mix, or if you have a top melody for example, and you need to make space for your melodies to cut through the mix.
This mixing technique is often used by professionals and is what separates beginners from professionals when it comes to mixing and mastering. The trick to getting a professional-sounding mix is the little details and mixing tricks like what's shown in this tutorial.
If you want to know how to mix and master in FL studio, then this video is for you. The leads are one of the most important elements in your mix, so you want to make sure that these are mixed properly so that they sound as powerful as possible.
This tutorial will show you how to get fat-sounding trance leads, but the same technique can be applied to any genre.
When you have more than two melodies going at the same time it can often become exceedingly difficult to mix, and the entire mix can end up sounding muddy, or muffled.
This technique will help you control the various elements, allowing you to focus on one main melody to cut through the mix. This technique can also be used on other elements in a mix in order to let a melody come through better.
Original track name: FireWalk - For The Last Time
Released on: Emergent Skies
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KZbin: • FireWalk - For the Las...
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📧 Other inquiries?
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[@FireWalkMusic]

Listen to the full track here: Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/2T2L4nkLmDQo4VSAPyQbZC?si=96cV5yDnQ2qrUExLBLFu9g Beatport: www.beatport.com/track/for-the-last-time-original-mix/10829687 KZbin: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6ibqIKueJmJa7M Get the LFO Tool plugin here: www.pluginboutique.com/product/2-Effects/33-Modulator/824-Xfer-LFO-Tool-Modulator-Effect?a_aid=5d496680b59cd Want professional feedback on your music? Mixing or mastering? Check out my gigs on Fiverr: www.fiverr.com/firewalk

[@Mixingmachine774]

MR. Firewalk can you make a tutorial about Arousor plug in ?and can you Show your face.we wanna see your face MR. Firewalk.You Are Master of the masters.

[@rikkistarrett307]

Wahay! He's back with another great tutorial. Thanks for this FireWalk.

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome :)

[@Dj.ACiD.]

Great track from a master of fl studio so happy you released a track great job man

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks, much appreciated! :)

[@Delta9634-e2k]

today I learned something very important from you! I realized that I can not only duck the low frequencies for the kick but also all other elements in relation to each other, like a pluck on a lead. Makes sense. Thanks!

[@FireWalkMusic]

Hi, glad to hear that you found it helpful 😀

[@nestro2411]

Your tutorials brought my production quality through the roof! You're the best man!

[@FireWalkMusic]

Glad to hear that you found the videos helpful! :)

[@danny675851]

Awesome! Love the explaining.... giving me some good ideas

[@IVCMusic]

im honestly amazed about the knowledge you have and also what you share with us... incredible. thank you, btw. really nice track there!

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks! Much appreciated. Glad you find the content useful! 😊

[@TheRantingsofaMadman]

Exactly the missing element on a mix I'm currently working on, thanks.

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome 😊

[@Casperdj71]

Thanks ! You are the man i love you tutorials. Straight to the point key techniques!

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks, glad you find the videos useful! :)

[@sashanovotny7277]

Love this tip! Your content is always thoroughly enjoyable & will have made many a producer, better!

[@FireWalkMusic]

Hi, thanks! Glad to hear it 😃

[@danielmayda680]

golden tip ! thank you

[@outsidemayor2098]

Hella useful tip, thank you firewalk 💥🤛

[@outsidemayor2098]

I’ve been using this method loads since I’ve watched your video, Thanks again !

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome! Glad you found it helpful 😀

[@dinmema100]

Thank you so much. I love all your tutorials

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks, glad to hear that you enjoy the videos! 😀

[@SeansYTEntertainment]

Great vid, excellent track! Many thanks!!

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks, glad you liked it :)

[@lvymusic]

Amazing track! goosebumps!

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks! Glad you liked it. You can find the full track here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6ibqIKueJmJa7M

[@Moon_Pyramid]

great video and this tip will be put to good use by me ! thanks bud !

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks, glad you found it useful :)

[@emiel333]

This is really good stuff, buddy. The track sounds awesome. The side chain trick is new for me so thanks for sharing.

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks, glad you found it helpful! :)

[@onairrecordings]

Your the man, great content as always!!

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks, glad you liked it :)

[@HieuPham-pw6og]

I love this video , its so awesome

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks! :)

[@creativetrance1]

Thanks! I knew this, but for some reason I totally forgot this great technique. Keep it up man!

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome 😊

[@Leoguerrero86]

ONE WORD : BRILLIANT !

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks, glad you liked it! :)

[@gojalee]

Thanks to Firewalk team and welcome back

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome! :)

[@deveyous6614]

nothing more anxiety provoking than a project file with a billion tracks haha. great video! I also use Trackspacer as it can be used to duck only part of the spectrum rather than the whole thing. Also although I haven't used it personally you can use Fab Q3 dynamic EQ as the side chain.

[@FireWalkMusic]

Indeed! Thanks for the tip. I recently just got my hands on the Fabfilter Pro Q3 myself. Great plugin, I've been using the Q2 until recently. :)

[@unkmus]

This vid is a wow. It forces u to train your brain and ear about this tiny things that impact giganticly on the final result of the project. This is more than a simple how to, it puts, at least me, in a philosophical deep thinkng (I can't explain). Thanks emmensely.

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks, glad you found it useful! :)

[@ie3410]

never thought of sidechaining this way. thank you!

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome, glad you found it useful :)

[@deejayjimakos]

Great tip. I do this technique for the vocals to stand up more end to push in background the instruments

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks :)

[@freemusic8777]

Omg Deadpool ..I love you man 😘😘😘😘

[@deejayjimakos]

@@freemusic8777 😁

[@sekretFL]

Very good tutorial. My information support.

[@daaamn001]

Thx again! I will try it out!!!! So guys, go and SIDE CHAING 😉

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome 😀

[@freemusic8777]

Thanks for everything you do for Us 😘😘😘😍

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome! 😀

[@SAZIZMUSIC]

Congrates on 50k subscribers maestro ... You are a legend ❤

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks! 😁

[@yoxiyoxi]

Thank You! Amazing tutorial! ... as always ;o)))

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome. Glad you liked it :)

[@BTRAXX]

Great tip!!!

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks, glad you found it helpful 😀

[@TetoArusu]

Even if it’s an advanced content, your explanation is so good that it’s really easy to understand! 👌

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks! That's what I'm always trying to do, so I'm glad to see that it worked. :)

[@Protegit]

Nice one man, will definitely use it.

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks. Glad you liked it :)

[@nestro2411]

Handy tip which I didn't know and really struggled to get my lead out of the mix. You're awesome!

[@FireWalkMusic]

Glad you found it useful! :)

[@RyanK-fg2wb]

Hey man, welcome to the Abora family! Great track and good info :)!

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks! Much appreciated :)

[@HouseJunk1e]

amazing.

[@FireWalkMusic]

Glad you liked it :)

[@harlam7830]

Very good method,fore friendship lead and pluck.thanks

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome. Glad you liked it :)

[@Badboy-ei1ct]

please do rap vocal mixing and mastering tutorials

[@rosietteaudiolabel5376]

#Supreme tutorial. By the way Firewalk. Your tracks really sound impressive.

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks! Much appreciated :)

[@h.hristov]

Thanks for the video and nice track man! I've seen other people also use a different sound to the original as a sidechain trigger. Why not use the original pluck sound though? Does it not work just as well?

[@FireWalkMusic]

It's basically just to ensure that you get a fast transient signal fed into the compressor. In this case you just want to let the transients through, which is just a very tiny amount of time at the very start of the sound. Any more than that and it will become noticeable and won't sound good. The original pluck melody has a much longer tail (longer duration) and the various notes are also different length. Even though the sidechain pattern is the exact same notes in terms of lenght, they just trigger the hat every time, so it will be the same short trigger regardless for every note. It's a good idea to find a trigger that correspond to whatever you try to do. For example, if you're sidechaining a sub bass to the kick, then you might want to use the exact same kick as a ghost kick (trigger) so that you ensure that there's no overlap. It all depends on what you're going for, but in this scenario a short trigger is the best thing, so a hat is ideal. :) This ensures that the compressor starts quickly and stops quickly.

[@dbeliyahu1587]

Soon be 100k subs, simply the best teacher ever 👌

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks! Much appreciated :)

[@music_creator_capable]

Good!

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks :)

[@madhanbenjamin9469]

You said at last if you like the vedio give it a thumbs up... But when I open the vedio thumbs up first and watch...

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks! Much appreciated! :)

[@c1966m]

Very neat tip, using the hat as a trigger, I'll remember that, thanks as always for sharing :-}

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome 😊

[@gerhardat7244]

Great tutorial as usual! But just one thing - you can also trigger the LFO-tool (MIDI Note Retrig enabled) with some complex beats when you use 'MIDI Out' (as trigger) in FL Studio.

[@FireWalkMusic]

Great tip! :)

[@carlok6949]

Love the track! can you have 2 sidechains on your lead? one for the lead and one fruity limiter that ducks when the support melody plays?

[@FireWalkMusic]

Sure, if that works for you then go for it. There are really no rules in music production. As long as it sounds good! :)

[@benschotte]

Just WOW :)

[@FireWalkMusic]

Glad you liked it 🙂

[@benschotte]

To be honest .I just start to watch your videos and my life becomes much more easy :) I was thinking to change DAW to Ableton or Studio 5 but I'm using FL since version 4. But as young boy never had chance to know it better due to lack of english language and no access to internet. Now after all these years I'm very happy finally to know potencial of this DAW. Now my mixes start to brief because i know what gain staging is and how every plugin change signal and how to control it and now I have depth and clarality. You told every aspects of thigs which molested me for all these years . Thanks again. BTW u have great voice which do not fit your face look :)

[@FireWalkMusic]

​ @DjAquaz Thanks! Glad to hear that, and that you found the videos helpful! :)

[@marlinjack9025]

hello, great tutorial.. what about the Trackspacer Waves Plugin.. do you think this plugin could replace this oldschool method??

[@FireWalkMusic]

It's a good plugin that can be used to help create more space in a mix for things to come through. It's more geared towards frequencies though, while this is basically just lowering volume to make one sound come through on top of another. It's not exactly the same thing. You might be able to use it successfully though. :)

[@viv1847]

Wowza, that track is incredible! Is there by any chance a tutorial already for getting a bass like that?

[@FireWalkMusic]

Glad you liked it. You can listen to the full track here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6ibqIKueJmJa7M I also have a trance bass tutorial here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5mWk2qffKp9r6c

[@IanTmusic]

Can u make a tuturial how to make trance rolling bassline on fl mobile pls?

[@trecian777]

Wow another great video that is useful! #ProducerPlug

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks, glad you liked it! :)

[@Habs826]

Why do you need a sc trigger? Cant you just use the pluck channel for the sc trigger? Thanks for the answer and I love your video.

[@FireWalkMusic]

Hey, you could, but the result would be very different. The pluck has a rather long tail, and the notes are also different lenght. This would mean that the signal feeding into the compressor would be different depending on the note and the pitch and such. Some times it would be very quick, and other times it would hold the volume down for a prolonged amount of time. This would sound quite strange and would mess up the underlying saw melody. We just want to lower the volume and bring it back up very quickly every time the pluck plays, so that the very first transients can cut through. This has to happen so fast that people don't notice what''s happening. In order to do that, you need a short trigger which activates the compressor, and then shuts it off quickly. A short hat is an ideal trigger for that. Even though the midi pattern is exactly the same (some notes are longer), the length of the notes doesn't matter in the trigger, because all it does is activating the hat, which remains the same every time. This ensures that we get the same quick ducking every time the pluck plays. :)

[@drazenzoko542]

Tnx

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome :)

[@Ottotroph]

Trance♥️

[@FireWalkMusic]

Indeed :)

[@alexdranemusic]

very nice tutorial (as always). on a sidenote i would like to mention, that the so called "drop" in trance genres is rather called the "climax". keep up the good work!

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks! Noted. Here in Norway we still just call it the chorus :)

[@Kossagubben]

Oh yeah

[@FireWalkMusic]

😀

[@Suchitttt]

When using LFO tool with high pass there is click sound between 100 to 200 hz how to fix it or should I using other side chain technique

[@FireWalkMusic]

Try adjusting the points so that it's not so abrupt. If that doesn't work then you might have to try using the EQ sidechain technique for example, which allows you to do the same thing, except that you have much more control: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qonEe2aFZcd9hLc

[@rossmelis5147]

Hi Firewalk, in my track the hat is still audible in the mix because the you have routed the SC mixer which has the hat on, to the leads mixer, which is then routed to the master. Basically, I can still here the hat in my track. Hope you can help? Love your tutorials!!!!

[@FireWalkMusic]

The hat needs to be disconnected from the master as shown in the video. :)

[@AzureSymbiote]

What are your thoughts on doings this via the Fabfilter Pro Q3's dynamic EQ sidechain.

[@FireWalkMusic]

That shouldn't be a problem. It depends on the situation. In this case, the top melody is a rather short pluck, so just some volume ducking does the trick nicely. However, in other situations it might work better reducing just part of the spectrum. For example when using flutes, pianos or other very resonant elements that concentrates most of it's energy in a very limited region. In that case, it could make sense to just sidechain that particular area using an EQ. I have a tutorial showing how to do this using the stock EQ in FL Studio in combination with peak controller here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qonEe2aFZcd9hLc But you can use whatever plugin you like of course. The thing about mixing is that every situation is unique and will usually require a slightly different "tweak" :)

[@AzureSymbiote]

@@FireWalkMusic Thank you very much.

[@semblancesmilerecords9429]

Hey mate! Awesome channel! I don't get it to work as it should. How do you mute the trigger? If I mute the trigger it doesn't work. If I turn on the trigger it works but I can still hear the trigger.

[@FireWalkMusic]

Hi, make sure that you unhook the trigger from the master channel as shown in the video. Don't mute it. If you mute it you effectively disables it. You want it to be enabled, but you want to disconnect it's output from the master. :)

[@semblancesmilerecords9429]

Thank you so much!! How could I miss it!

[@FireWalkMusic]

@@semblancesmilerecords9429 You're welcome :)

[@adarsh8649]

After Hug Long Time Thank You🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@FireWalkMusic]

You're welcome :) (I needed a vacation! 😛 )

[@AnymMusic]

"Quite large". Yeah man I think that's a BIG understatement

[@FireWalkMusic]

I often cringe when people say Trance is one of the easiest genres to produce. It's possible to make smaller projects than this of course, but I often like to have those massive orchestral breakdowns, and that accounts almost for a full track on it's own in terms of layers and tracks, and that's why my projects tend to get so large :)

[@RyanK-fg2wb]

@@FireWalkMusic People who say making trance is easy don't know what they are talking about... Mixing trance is a nightmare, trying to get every element into the mix can take up half of the production time. That's not even going into sound design to try and stand out against the rest of the generic stuff.

[@AnymMusic]

@@RyanK-fg2wb in theory you can make it very easy. quick 123 arpegio, some Nexus presets, rolling bass, boomy kick, tadaaaa. that is if you want to have it as generic as humanly possible

[@RyanK-fg2wb]

@@AnymMusic You will not get a track signed like that, I promise you that haha!

[@OldSkoolBeats]

Can I please ask why using the hat works better than sidechaining with the actual pluck?

[@FireWalkMusic]

Hi, because you want a fast trigger. The pluck has a long tail so that won't work. The hat is very short so that's much better suited for this purpose.

[@OldSkoolBeats]

@@FireWalkMusic great. Thank you for explaining.

[@omkarmhatre7614]

Bro plz can you give sylenth 1 v3 full version plz . I really need this . But i cant afford this . Can you plz give this plugins full version

[@FireWalkMusic]

Sorry, I can't give away the software. I bought it myself and I need to use the licence myself. You'll can get it here: www.lennardigital.com/store/

[@lau5622]

why this track was not signed by Armada😭

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks for the support! :)

[@jakezepeda1267]

Wow this might be just the thing i need to take my music from "completely awful" to just "pretty bad"

[@FireWalkMusic]

Don't give up, eventually you'll become quite good at it! :)

[@kojik4271]

shouldnt you use a fruity peak controller to sidechain so you can sidechain a specific frequency rather than all frequencies or the mix as a whole, more control. You may know this already but you may have a good reason that i dont know.

[@FireWalkMusic]

That's a commonly used technique when you have elements with a lot of low end for example, and you want to get rid of that low end to let the kick and the bass through, without having that sidechained sound. However, in cases like this you typically want to lower the entire volume of the sounds in order to make as much room as possible, because the frequencies here occupy all parts of the spectrum, and they're also quite similar. :)

[@classictrancemixes794]

where are those vocals from?

[@FireWalkMusic]

I had them recorded for this track :)

[@classictrancemixes794]

couldn't you just used a multiband compressor to achieve the same results?

[@sivavenkatamanikantaputta7682]

How to sidechain chords and melodies

[@FireWalkMusic]

More sidechaining videos are planned. However, In the mean time, check out my other videos about sidechaining. I have quite a few.

[@sivavenkatamanikantaputta7682]

@@FireWalkMusic thanks for replying add one video how to sidechain chords to melody when they both are played in same channel

[@SpaceNigs]

daamn look at all those tracks its almost as if you can hear them

[@FireWalkMusic]

😂

[@hatesounds702]

[@FireWalkMusic]

Glad you liked it :)

[@hatesounds702]

@@FireWalkMusic always dude i learn so much from your channel

[@soteria.]

Hei. Vennligdt fortell meg hva som trengs her!.. Mastering = Hard 🙂

[@FireWalkMusic]

Mastring er noe som ikke er så enkelt i begynnelsen, man må nesten bare prøve og feile intil man får det til. Som regel ender man opp med å gjøre ting verre i begynnelsen, men dersom man ikke prøver så kommer man heller ingen vei. Når det er sagt så trenger ikke en god mix nødvendigvis så mye etterprossesering. Dersom mixen er bra nok så kan det være nok med en EQ og en limiter. Som regel så vil man imidlertid ende opp med litt multi band kompresjon, litt saturasjon (warm tape effect osv), litt stereo bredding osv også, alt ettersom hva som trengs. :)

[@soteria.]

@@FireWalkMusic Takk for et raskt og informerende svar. Da skal jeg fokusere på det. Gleder meg til neste video. God helg!

[@FireWalkMusic]

Bare hyggelig. God helg! :)

[@jackhye7785]

Would be cool to do a collab :) You might have heard of my productions as im also releasing stuff on Abora sometimes

[@FireWalkMusic]

Hi, cool! Actually I haven't released anything in a long time now. My KZbin channel and my mixing and mastering gigs takes up far too much time. Hopefully I'll get some more time to work on my own stuff eventually. Are you from Norway / Sweden / Denmark by any chance? Your name sounds Scandinavian? I'm from Norway myself. :)

[@jackhye7785]

@@FireWalkMusic Denmark mate :) I’m under the name Dreamy for the most part

[@FireWalkMusic]

@@jackhye7785 Ah, Danmark. Jeg skal ta en titt :)

[@products-explorer]

nice song, visit M.T.J.Music and read about section (cooperation).

[@prodjayweb3766]

Holy God that is a big project 🤣🤣🤣

[@FireWalkMusic]

Indeed 😛

[@dirkshape1017]

The Song is awesome but i dont know what you are talking about :P

[@FireWalkMusic]

Thanks. It's about making room for the top melody basically :)

[@dirkshape1017]

@@FireWalkMusic i know but my Knowledge ist not so far that i can impelment this technique very well FL Studio an making Music is very Complex.

[@Mixingmachine774]

MR. Firework we wanna see your face in the videos . Can you show your face ?