How to Adjust Lows in Cryo Mix
TL;DR: The Lows slider controls how much low-end weight and warmth your audio has. Turn it up for more fullness. Turn it down for a cleaner, lighter sound with less boom and mud.
The Lows control adjusts the bass and low-mid “weight” of your sound - the part that makes audio feel warm, full, and thick, or (if overdone) muddy and boomy.
- Increase Lows to add body, warmth, and fullness
- Decrease Lows to reduce boominess, rumble, and muddiness for a cleaner sound
Advanced note: Lows mainly affects the low and low-mid range where “body” and “muddiness” live - not just the extreme sub-bass.
Quick starting guide
Use these as a quick first move, then A/B:
- Thin / small / weak → slightly increase Lows
- Muddy / cloudy / unclear → slightly decrease Lows
- Kick/bass dominates everything → decrease Lows until vocals/instruments come forward
- Great on headphones but too bassy in the car → slightly decrease Lows for better translation
Tip: Make small changes first, then compare before/after.
When to use Lows in Cryo Mix
Add body and warmth
Use a gentle Lows boost when:
- Vocals sound weak or too “whispery”
- Guitars, keys, synths, or strings feel too thin
- Drums or full mixes lack low-end presence
Reduce muddiness and boominess
Use a Lows cut when:
- Home recordings have room rumble or boom
- Bass, kick, or low synths overpower the mix
- Full mixes sound “foggy” or “cloudy” (especially on small speakers)
Improve translation across speakers
Adjust Lows when:
- Your track sounds balanced on headphones but too heavy in the car
- You want it to translate better to phones, laptops, and Bluetooth speakers
In short: boost Lows for warmth/body, cut Lows for clarity/cleanup.
Pro tips & creative uses
Go subtle, then A/B
- Make small moves and compare before/after.
- If you feel the change more than you clearly hear it, you’re usually in the right zone.
Combine Lows with Highs for overall tone
- Use Lows + Highs together to set the “warm vs bright” character.
- A little more Lows + a little more Highs can sound big and modern without getting muddy.
Tighten the low end before pushing loudness
- Too much low-end can make limiting react harder and reduce clarity.
- If you plan to push loudness, tame excessive Lows first.
Creative effect: lo-fi / small speaker vibe
- Lower Lows (and optionally reduce Highs) for a “phone/radio” tone.
- Great for intros, breakdowns, or background/filtered sections.
Create contrast between sections
- Add a bit more Lows in the chorus to feel bigger and fuller.
- Slightly reduce Lows in the verse for a closer, more intimate vibe.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
1) “My mix sounds muddy and unclear.”
Likely cause: Too much Lows (low-end / low-mid buildup).
Fix:
- Reduce Lows slightly.
- If it’s still muddy, check Mids and any EQ Correction - low-mids are often where mud lives.
2) “My vocals or instruments sound thin and weak.”
Likely cause: Lows is cut too far.
Fix:
- Gently increase Lows until body returns.
- Stop before it becomes boomy or masks the kick/bass.
3) “The bass and kick are shaking the room but the rest feels buried.”
Likely cause: Low end is overpowering everything.
Fix:
- Turn Lows down until mids/highs come forward.
- You want bass/kick to support the track, not dominate it.
4) “Sounds great on headphones but too heavy in the car.”
Likely cause: Headphones can hide excessive low-end buildup.
Fix:
- Slightly reduce Lows, then check on two systems (car + phone/Bluetooth speaker).
- Use Lows as a fast way to improve translation without re-EQing everything.
5) “I keep cranking Lows for power, but it just gets messy.”
Likely cause: More lows can add clutter, not impact.
Fix (choose one):
- Use a moderate Lows boost plus a small Highs boost for “bigger” without mud
- Or reduce Lows slightly and let dynamics/loudness tools provide the punch