5 min read
A first audio mix checklist for beginner video editors
Before you export your first video, run this checklist. Dialogue, music, levels, noise, and export settings in one place.
A mix checklist is a safety net. It does not replace your ears, but it stops the small mistakes that make a finished video feel amateur. Run through it before every export, and you will catch most problems before the client does.
Dialogue clarity
- Every spoken word is intelligible on small speakers.
- Dialogue is centered and balanced between left and right.
- No clip peaks above -6 dBFS on dialogue.
- Noise reduction is applied but not overdone.
Music and effects balance
- Music ducks under every line of dialogue.
- Sound effects support the image without masking voices.
- Ambience runs continuously under every scene.
- All transitions have a short fade or crossfade.
Technical checks
- Project sample rate is 48 kHz.
- Export bit depth is 24 bit for WAV, 16 bit only if required.
- Final loudness is close to -14 LUFS for YouTube or -16 for broadcast.
- Mix has been checked in mono.
Export safety
- Archive a WAV copy of the final mix.
- Export a stereo version for upload and a stem version if requested.
- Name files with project, date, and version.
- Listen to the final file from start to finish once.