THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT MIXES OF THE SAME SONG ON LISTENER EXPERIENCE: AN EXAMINATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOUND ENGINEERING
The mixing stage in music production is a critical process that directly influences how a musical piece is perceived by the listener. This study examines how the technical differences emerging from three mixes of the same song, each prepared by a different sound engineer, are reflected in the listener experience. In this context, each mix was technically analyzed using criteria such as LUFS, LRA, TP and frequency spectrum; subsequently, the mixes were presented to three listener groups with varying levels of academic background in music technology and music knowledgei and perceptual evaluations were collected. The study is based on a mixed methods research design. While the quantitative data consist of the technical analyses of the mixes, the qualitative data were obtained through a semi structured interview form. During data analysis, listener responses were categorized into three main focuses, attention to technical elements, evaluation of musical coherence, and personal preference, depending on their level of music education. The findings indicate that Mix 3, characterized by overall frequency balance and a bright tonal character resulting from pronounced high frequency energy, was strongly preferred by two of the three groups, suggesting that technical and aesthetic components play a decisive role in shaping listener experience. The results also show that listeners without formal undergraduate level music education exhibited a slight tendency to prefer Mix 1. Overall, the study demonstrates that the technical and aesthetic decisions made by sound engineers throughout the mixing process can create meaningful differences in listener perception.
Keywords
Music Technology, Sound Engineering, Music Production, Mix, Listener Experience
@article{2025,title={THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT MIXES OF THE SAME SONG ON LISTENER EXPERIENCE: AN EXAMINATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOUND ENGINEERING},abstractNode={
The mixing stage in music production is a critical process that directly influences how a musical piece is perceived by the listener. This study examines how the technical differences emerging from three mixes of the same song, each prepared by a different sound engineer, are reflected in the listener experience. In this context, each mix was technically analyzed using criteria such as LUFS, LRA, TP and frequency spectrum; subsequently, the mixes were presented to three listener groups with varying levels of academic background in music technology and music knowledgei and perceptual evaluations were collected. The study is based on a mixed methods research design. While the quantitative data consist of the technical analyses of the mixes, the qualitative data were obtained through a semi structured interview form. During data analysis, listener responses were categorized into three main focuses, attention to technical elements, evaluation of musical coherence, and personal preference, depending on their level of music education. The findings indicate that Mix 3, characterized by overall frequency balance and a bright tonal character resulting from pronounced high frequency energy, was strongly preferred by two of the three groups, suggesting that technical and aesthetic components play a decisive role in shaping listener experience. The results also show that listeners without formal undergraduate level music education exhibited a slight tendency to prefer Mix 1. Overall, the study demonstrates that the technical and aesthetic decisions made by sound engineers throughout the mixing process can create meaningful differences in listener perception.
},author={Mehmet Hulusi YURDANUR-Hasan DELEN },year={2025},journal={Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar ve Ulusal Eğitim Dergisi}}
Mehmet Hulusi YURDANUR-Hasan DELEN . 2025 . THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT MIXES OF THE SAME SONG ON LISTENER EXPERIENCE: AN EXAMINATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOUND ENGINEERING . Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar ve Ulusal Eğitim Dergisi.DOI:10.29228/isorej.88619
Mehmet Hulusi YURDANUR-Hasan DELEN .(2025).THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT MIXES OF THE SAME SONG ON LISTENER EXPERIENCE: AN EXAMINATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOUND ENGINEERING.Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar ve Ulusal Eğitim Dergisi
Mehmet Hulusi YURDANUR-Hasan DELEN ,"THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT MIXES OF THE SAME SONG ON LISTENER EXPERIENCE: AN EXAMINATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOUND ENGINEERING" , Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar ve Ulusal Eğitim Dergisi (2025)
Mehmet Hulusi YURDANUR-Hasan DELEN . 2025 . THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT MIXES OF THE SAME SONG ON LISTENER EXPERIENCE: AN EXAMINATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOUND ENGINEERING . Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar ve Ulusal Eğitim Dergisi . 2025. DOI:10.29228/isorej.88619
Mehmet Hulusi YURDANUR-Hasan DELEN .THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT MIXES OF THE SAME SONG ON LISTENER EXPERIENCE: AN EXAMINATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOUND ENGINEERING. Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar ve Ulusal Eğitim Dergisi (2025)
Mehmet Hulusi YURDANUR-Hasan DELEN .THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT MIXES OF THE SAME SONG ON LISTENER EXPERIENCE: AN EXAMINATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOUND ENGINEERING. Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar ve Ulusal Eğitim Dergisi (2025)
Format:
Mehmet Hulusi YURDANUR-Hasan DELEN . (2025) .THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT MIXES OF THE SAME SONG ON LISTENER EXPERIENCE: AN EXAMINATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOUND ENGINEERING Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar ve Ulusal Eğitim Dergisi
Mehmet Hulusi YURDANUR-Hasan DELEN . THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT MIXES OF THE SAME SONG ON LISTENER EXPERIENCE: AN EXAMINATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOUND ENGINEERING . Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar ve Ulusal Eğitim Dergisi . 2025 doi:10.29228/isorej.88619
Mehmet Hulusi YURDANUR-Hasan DELEN ."THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT MIXES OF THE SAME SONG ON LISTENER EXPERIENCE: AN EXAMINATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOUND ENGINEERING",Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar ve Ulusal Eğitim Dergisi(2025)
