we asked kyle koekemoer, head of audio at pressure cooker studios, to give us his insights in 'the art of mixing'
Mixing is, at its heart, storytelling through sound. As mixers, our job is to knit the individual scenes of a film into one cohesive, immersive experience for the audience.
Every sound (dialogue, ambience, music) must tell the story and contribute to the emotional arc of the narrative. We shape the sonic landscape, setting the tone and atmosphere that guide the audience through the journey.
Balance is Everything
In mixing, balance is paramount. Dialogue is always king and if the audience can’t hear the story, they can’t connect with it. While music and sound effects enhance emotion and create an immersive environment, they should rarely overshadow dialogue. That said, mixing is an art, not a science. Sometimes breaking the rules is what creates a truly memorable moment.
Depth and Space: Bringing the World to Life
A film or series is like a living organism and so it needs depth and space to feel alive. Simple tools like panning and reverb can transport the audience into the story’s environment, making them feel as though they’re part of the world onscreen. Audiences are perceptive; they instinctively know how a scene should sound. Trust them, and use your craft to make the experience authentic and immersive.
Pacing and Dynamics: Guiding Emotion
Pacing and dynamics have been two of my greatest lessons as a mixer. Early in my career, I fell into the trap of making everything loud, forward, and perfectly audible. But I learned that pulling certain elements back in the mix can draw the audience in closer and create moments of contrast. If everything is loud, nothing feels loud.
Pacing, often thought of as the domain of picture editing, can also be shaped through sound. For example, in Heart of the Hunter, we used subtle ambient elements and sound design to build pacing, creating feelings of panic, claustrophobia, and anxiety. This helped the audience empathise with the characters onscreen and amplified the emotional impact of the story.
Texture: The Details That Matter
Texture is one of my favourite aspects of mixing (just ask Denys!). Sounds shouldn’t feel like flat, meaningless white noise, they need depth, nuance, and meaning. Ambiences should be dynamic, and foley should feel grounded in reality. Adding subtle spot effects between dialogue lines can bring a scene to life. A skilled mixer knows when to add elements and, just as importantly, when to take them away. Mixing is about finding balance, it can’t be everything, all at once.
Know Your Audience and Specs
Before diving into a mix, know who and what you’re mixing for. Specification documents are your bible—living by them will save you countless hours. Understanding delivery requirements ensures you’re set up for success. While many streaming platforms have similar standards, it never hurts to request the specs as soon as a project is greenlit.
Collaboration: The People in the Room
Mixing is rarely a solo endeavour. Collaborating with internal and external teams is essential. Having the confidence and ability to communicate effectively with others is a must. Your technical skill should feel like muscle memory, freeing you to truly listen to the people in the room and interpret their needs into the mix. A great product is born from collaboration and understanding.
Always Be Learning
Stay curious. Stay on top of your game. Always seek new ways to refine your process and develop your unique sonic voice. Clients notice and value mixers who continuously push their craft, and that sets you apart in any project. With tools like AI becoming more prominent, remember that they exist to aid your creativity, not replace it. People will always seek the human touch in art, so use your life experience and creativity to produce something truly meaningful.
The Final Touches: Where Precision Meets Intuition
The final stages of a mix are where technical precision and artistic intuition come together. After days of examining every clip and automation lane, it’s time to step back and experience the piece as a whole. Transitions must be seamless, nothing unintended should jump out, and (most importantly) nothing should distract the audience or pull them out of the story. A great mix feels effortless, allowing the audience to be fully immersed in the narrative without noticing the work behind the sound.
And Finally: Have Fun
At the end of the day, remember why you do this. You love it. So give it your best and enjoy the process. A little passion goes a long way.
