Real cases
A case · you decide
Level and the louder mix
Level — the loudness meter at a teen producer's laptop
A producer A/Bs their mix against a reference track. Theirs sounds weaker, so they push the limiter until it's much louder.
People tend to hear the louder of two versions as better, even when it isn't.
Major streaming services also normalize playback loudness, so a crushed, loud master gets turned down anyway.
What should the producer do before judging the mix?
Level-matched, the producer finds the real gap: the kick drum is buried. They fix the balance and leave the limiter alone.
A case · you decide
Balance and Tone disagree
Balance & Tone — the fader ear, working with the EQ ear
The vocal is buried under two guitars. Balance wants to push the vocal fader. Tone wants to cut some midrange from the guitars.
Both moves bring the vocal forward, and each changes the character of the mix.
This is a taste call. Different engineers would make it differently.
Which move does the producer make?
The producer cuts the guitar mids and nudges the vocal up. A little of both, decided by ear.
A case · you decide
Compare and Level run a fair A/B
Compare & Level — a 16-year-old producer finishing a track for a school showcase
Jun flips between his mix and a professional reference. His mix sounds bigger and better every time. He is ready to export.
Level knows why: his mix is playing a few decibels louder than the reference. People reliably hear the louder of two versions as better.
Compare's rule: an A/B only counts when the mix is the only thing that differs.
What should Jun do before he trusts the comparison?
You cannot hear which mix is better until they are equally loud.