This is the first video of the Mezclando Mariachi (Mixing Mariachi) series, where I show how I work on the mix of a mariachi song in Logic Pro. The video is in Spanish. Watch it here, and keep reading to understand what matters when mixing this genre.
Why mariachi is different to mix
A mariachi puts together instruments that compete for the same space: violins, trumpets, vihuela, guitar and guitarrón, plus the vocal. A good mix is not just raising and lowering levels: it decides which instrument carries each moment of the song and lets the others breathe.
What to watch in a mariachi mix
- The low end: the guitarrón holds the base and has to coexist with the rest without muddying the mix.
- The rhythm: vihuela and guitar set the pulse and should feel present without covering the vocal.
- The trumpets: they carry a lot of energy and are placed to shine without tiring the ear.
- The violins: they add width and emotion, and are placed in the stereo field to give the section body.
- The vocal: it is the lead, so everything else adjusts around it.
A mix starts at the recording
The cleaner the takes arrive, the faster and better the mix goes. That is why I deliver each instrument separately, as 48 kHz / 24-bit WAV, so you or your mixing engineer have full control.
If your song needs a mariachi on real instruments, see the mariachi recording. If you do not have an arrangement yet, look at the mariachi arrangement. And to keep following the process, my YouTube channel has more studio sessions.