Using AB mode for reference tracks

Every mixer uses reference tracks. The question is whether you're using them well, or whether you're flipping between your mix and a Coldplay record at different loudness levels and slowly convincing yourself your low end is wrong when it isn't.

A/B'ing is supposed to give you a measuring stick. In practice, most of the time it does the opposite. The reference is mastered and your mix isn't, so it sounds bigger and better by default. Your ears adapt within seconds, so the longer you listen to one before flipping the less you can trust the comparison. And if the reference is from a completely different genre or era, the things you notice might have nothing to do with what actually needs fixing on your track. AB mode in Mix Notes is built for quick toggling between two files so you can keep the comparison honest.

Loading two files into AB mode

Switch to AB mode using the ab button in the top-right of the library. You'll see your file list with A/B slot badges next to any assigned files. Tap a file to assign it to the first empty slot (A, then B). Tap again to unassign.

Both files live in the same library as your Mix mode files, so if you've already imported your mix you can assign it to slot A without re-importing. Once both slots have files, the AB player opens with one big ab button in the middle.

Toggling between A and B

Tap the big ab button to flip the active track. Both files are playing underneath, and Mix Notes mutes the inactive one - so when you flip, you're already at the exact same timestamp on the other track, not restarting from zero. That's the core feature. You hear the same bar of music from both files back-to-back, not two different sections of two different songs.

Playback controls (play/pause, rewind, skip, repeat) and the progress bar work on the active track. Spacebar, arrows, and Home all behave the same as in Mix mode.

One thing AB mode does NOT have: per-slot gain or level control. If your reference is significantly louder than your mix, Mix Notes won't level-match for you. Load files that are already at comparable levels, or bounce a level-adjusted version of the reference before importing. The comparison is honest only when both sides are already roughly matched.

What to listen for

Comparing everything at once is how you end up with a page of contradictory notes. Focus on one category per pass:

• Low end balance: does the kick and bass occupy the same amount of space in your mix as in the reference?
• Vocal level: is the lead vocal sitting similarly proud? Reference vocals are usually louder than you think.
• Kick punch: is the transient doing the same job, or is yours soft and buried?
• Stereo width: does the mix feel as wide at the top end? Is the low end mono like the reference?
• Top-end air: is there the same sheen above 10 kHz, or does your mix close up?
• Reverb tail length: are your spaces as long, as dense, as audible in the gaps?

One category per listen.

Capturing what you hear

AB mode is a comparison tool - it doesn't have the annotation buttons. When you hear a gap you want to remember, open the same file in Mix mode and drop a note at that timestamp. The two modes share your library, so switching is instant: tap the ab button in the header to flip back, open your mix, play to the spot, and mark it.

In practice, a typical workflow is one pass in AB mode (find the issues) and one pass in Mix mode (mark them). Trying to do both at once splits your attention and you'll miss things. See how to annotate a mix for the capture flow in Mix mode.

Common mistakes

A few patterns that waste time or actively mislead you.

Comparing at different levels. The single biggest trap. Since Mix Notes doesn't level-match for you, pre-bounce the reference with gain applied until it matches your mix's perceived loudness before you import it. The track you're trying to learn from should be turned down to meet you, not inflating itself to impress you.

A/B'ing too early. If your mix doesn't have its own character yet - you're still setting rough levels, you haven't committed to a vocal sound - don't reference against a finished record. All you'll hear is "mine isn't as good," which is both true and useless. Get your mix to the stage where you'd stand behind it before you start comparing.

Ignoring the vibe difference. An acoustic indie record from 2014 and a modern hyperpop track don't share a production aesthetic. Comparing your lo-fi indie tune against a loud, compressed pop mix will push you towards decisions your actual song doesn't want. Choose references that are near neighbours of what you're actually making.

Too many references. Three is usually plenty. Four is a lot. Ten means you have no idea what you want and you're using the reference stage to avoid decisions you should be making in the mix.

Forgetting to turn the reference off before making changes. Solo your mix when you're actually adjusting faders. The reference is a measuring stick, not a backing track.

What's next

Once you've found the gaps, you're back to mixing. How to annotate a mix has the full capture flow for working through those gaps in Mix mode. Recording voice notes on a mix is useful when words are faster than a label. When you're ready to get outside ears on the result, sharing mixes with clients walks through sending a review link.

Or open the app and load your mix and a reference into AB mode now.