Mixing your song

In this part we are still in production mode. All of our tracks have been recorded and now we have to use our ears to adjust them all. This can be tiring, your ears will soon become oblivious to differences in sound so you have to work as long as you can a take a break and come back to hear what you've done.
Adjust the volume levels first off, we will do this again and again after we make changes to all the tracks one by one.
Starting with the Kick drum, solo your kick drum track and mute all the other parts. This is the most important part. You want the level for the Kick Drum to be a -6db. Also adjust the EQ to reflect the characteristics of the Kick. Usually Cut @ 60hz & below, boost with a tite/sharp Q (shelf) around 80hz@+3to5db as well as 3500hz. Remember that everything in between is MUD.
You want to do the same with your Bass Guitar track also. The next important part to set is the Snare, boost with a sharp Q about +3-5db @ 100-120hz and boost +3-5db @ 6-8khz.

Cool Tip! You can use this frequency chart that I have created to help. Remember that this is just a tool you need to use your ears as well. Frequency Chart .

Make sure that these three things have a volume level around -6db at you output meter.

Set the EQ's for the remainder of your tracks with help from the Frequency Chart and adjust all your processing and compressor, limiter, & noise gate effects. Then adjust your pan and surround settings. The aim here is to identify each and every part and put them in correct perspective to each other in the mix. With these adjustments we can layer our recording to make for a sweet sounding mix.

For adjusting EQ settings remember that all voices and instruments have their own characteristic and resonant frequencies.
By adjusting these you can bring a part to the front or set it back further in the mix. This requires constant adjusting to get it to where you want, but is worth it in the end. The same goes for adjusting your effects. Use long and short reverbs on the parts that need them, especially vocals to help give them their place in the mix. Surround and Panning is also important to each part to help balance out your recording.

Lead vocal, Kick, snare drums & bass guitar - dead center.
Backing vocals piano and rhythm guitar - a little out from center on both Left and Right Channels.
Strings and other keyboard type sounds - use a wide stereo setting hard Left and Right
(you also can place some of these either to the left or right for effect.)
Lead guitar - from center to left or right.

All of this is up to you. You can also, using surround sound, utilize center, back and sub woofer speakers if your app has this ability.
If your recording app has the ability to record automation this can also add to your final mix. When recording with automation you can record fader moves, panning, effects adjustment and more and then mix all this down to your final stereo mix.

After you have done all of this to your liking, and after taking a break and coming back to listen. You are ready to mix down your tracks to one stereo file. If this is going to be the final file, and you will not be using a mastering program then you will want to dither the file down to a 16bit 44.1khz file for burning to a CD. This will be explained in your recording app manual.
If you do plan on using a mastering program leave it at 32bit if your mastering app can handle this file type.