How to Level Your Mix: Gain Staging, Bus Mixes, and Compression on iPad

Getting your mix balanced is one of the most important steps in music production. Before you can master a track, you need to make sure every instrument and vocal sits in the right place — clean, clear, and consistent.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the process of leveling a song using both Logic Pro for iPad and GarageBand, including how to set healthy gain staging, use bus mixes, build effects chains, and hear compression in action.

Why Leveling Matters

Leveling is the foundation of mixing. Without it, no amount of mastering will save your track. Proper leveling ensures that:

• Your mix translates across different speakers and headphones

• No instrument dominates or gets buried

• Your compressors, EQs, and effects all work as intended

Think of leveling as balancing the ingredients before you cook the meal.

Step 1: Gain Staging

Everything starts with healthy gain staging. Set each track so it’s strong enough to avoid noise, but not so hot that it clips. Aim for headroom — you’ll need it later in mixing and mastering.

Step 2: Effects Chains

Your effects chain order can make or break your mix. A simple, effective chain looks like this:

1. EQ – Shape the tone first

2. Compression – Control dynamics

3. Saturation/Distortion (optional) – Add color

4. Reverb/Delay – Create space and depth

Getting this order right keeps your mix clean and professional.

Step 3: Bus Mixes

Instead of managing every single track individually, use bus mixes. For example:

• Route all drum tracks to a drum bus

• Route guitars, keys, or horns to instrument buses

This lets you apply EQ, compression, or effects across a whole group for tighter control and cohesion.

Step 4: Compression Basics

Compression is one of the trickiest tools to master — but also one of the most powerful.

Here’s what to focus on:

• Ratio – How much compression is applied

• Attack – How quickly it kicks in

• Release – How quickly it lets go

Pro tip: listen at low volumes. If you can hear compression shaping the sound even when it’s quiet, you’re on the right track.

Step 5: Final Loudness Checks

Before you hit export, check your overall levels:

• Nothing should be clipping

• The mix should feel balanced at both low and high volumes

• Compare against reference tracks to ensure your loudness translates everywhere

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Logic Pro vs. GarageBand

Both apps let you do solid leveling, but Logic Pro offers deeper control with routing, automation, and plugins. GarageBand is more limited, but it’s still a great training ground to learn the fundamentals.

TL;DR

Leveling isn’t glamorous, but it’s the backbone of a great mix. To recap:

• Start with good gain staging

• Build clean effects chains

• Use bus mixes for control

• Understand compression basics

• Always check loudness before mastering

Whether you’re producing in Logic Pro for iPad or starting out in GarageBand, these steps will help your mixes sound professional and polished.

👉 Want a shortcut? Drop a comment if you’d like my iPad bus template and compressor presets.

And as always: may your gear be light, your latency low, and your dogs quiet while you track vocals. 🐾