Fundamentals — What is EQ?
EQ (Equalization) lets you adjust the volume of specific frequency ranges within a sound. Think of it like a graphic equaliser on a stereo — but with surgical precision. You use it to remove problems and enhance strengths in every track.
Cutting
Reducing a frequency range that causes problems — mud, harshness, boxiness, or conflict between instruments. Cuts are usually more powerful than boosts. Most of your EQ work should be cutting.
Negative dB valuesBoosting
Increasing a frequency range to enhance character — adding presence, attack, air, or warmth. Always cut problems first, then boost sparingly. Over-boosting causes harshness and pumping.
Positive dB valuesHigh-Pass Filter (HP)
Removes everything BELOW a set frequency. One of the most important tools — almost every instrument (except bass) benefits from a high-pass filter to remove inaudible low-end mud and rumble.
In Pro-Q 4: Bell → High-passQ / Bandwidth
Controls how wide or narrow the EQ adjustment is. High Q = narrow, surgical cut. Low Q = wide, musical boost. Rule: cut narrow, boost wide. In Pro-Q 4, drag the Q handles on each band.
0.5 wide — 3.0 narrowThe Frequency Spectrum — 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Pro-Q 4 Filter Types — Quick Reference
High-Pass (HP)
Removes everything below the cutoff. Set the frequency and drag up. Great for cleaning low-end rumble from any track that isn't bass.
Low-Pass (LP)
Removes everything above the cutoff. Rarely used in modern production but great for making elements feel far away or filtered.
Bell
The most common filter type. Boosts or cuts a specific frequency with a "bell" curve. Adjust Q for width. Use for precise cuts and musical boosts.
Low Shelf
Boosts or cuts everything below a set frequency evenly. Great for adding or removing low-end weight across a range (vs. one specific frequency).
High Shelf
Boosts or cuts everything above a set frequency. The "air" boost is almost always a high shelf. Gentle, musical, and hard to overdo.
Notch
An extremely narrow, deep cut. Used to remove specific resonances or hum (e.g. 60 Hz electrical hum). Use high Q and only when you hear a problem.
Drums EQ — Kick, Snare, Hats, Cymbals, Percussion
Drums form the rhythmic foundation. The goal is clarity and punch — each drum element should occupy its own frequency space without stepping on the others.
Kick Drum
DRUMS| Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does (Beginner Tip) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass | 30–40 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Removes inaudible sub-rumble. Sub bass belongs to the 808/bass instrument, not the kick. |
| Bell | 200–350 Hz | -4 to -6 dB / Q 2.0 | ✂ CUT | Removes the "cardboard box" boominess. The single most common kick drum problem. This cut alone can transform a muddy kick. |
| Bell | 400–700 Hz | -3 dB / Q 1.5 | ✂ CUT | Removes nasal, boxy mud that fights vocals and snare. If it sounds "hollow," cut here. |
| Low Shelf | 50–80 Hz | +2 to +3 dB | ▲ BOOST | The "chest thump" — the physical feeling of a kick at a concert. Boost gently. Too much = muddy. |
| Bell | 2–5 kHz | +2 to +3 dB / Q 1.0 | ▲ BOOST | The "click" / attack. Makes the kick audible on earbuds and phone speakers where low frequencies disappear. Essential for streaming. |
Snare / Rim
DRUMS| Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass | 80–100 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Snare has no useful energy this low. Remove it to stop competing with kick and bass. |
| Bell | 150–300 Hz | -3 to -5 dB / Q 2.0 | ✂ CUT | Removes the boxy, wooden body sound. One of the most impactful snare cuts. |
| Bell | 2–5 kHz | +2 to +4 dB / Q 1.0 | ▲ BOOST | The "crack." Makes the snare cut through any mix on any playback system. This is the most important snare boost. |
| High Shelf | 8–12 kHz | +1 to +2 dB | ▲ BOOST | Air and snap. Makes the snare feel open and alive rather than flat and dead. |
Clap / Handclap
DRUMS| Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass | 150–200 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Claps live entirely in mid/high frequencies. Everything below 150 Hz is unwanted mud. |
| Bell | 1–2 kHz | -2 to -3 dB / Q 1.5 | ✂ CUT | Removes the plasticky, digital harshness common in clap samples. Makes them feel more human. |
| High Shelf | 10–14 kHz | +2 dB | ▲ BOOST | Adds realism and air — makes claps feel like real hands clapping in a room. |
Hi-Hats — Closed / Open / Pedal
DRUMS| Variant | Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | High-Pass | 400–600 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Be very aggressive here. Hats are pure high-frequency texture. Anything below 400 Hz is mud. |
| Closed | Bell | 2–4 kHz | -2 to -3 dB / Q 1.5 | ✂ CUT | Removes harshness. Hats should shimmer, not pierce your ears. |
| Closed | High Shelf | 10–16 kHz | +1 to +2 dB | ▲ BOOST | Shimmer, openness, and air. The "sparkle" of a good closed hi-hat. |
| Open | High-Pass | 300–400 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Open hats have more body, so the HP is slightly lower — but still remove everything below 300 Hz. |
| Open | Bell | 3–5 kHz | -2 dB / Q 1.5 | ✂ CUT | Open hats can be harshly resonant here. A small cut makes a big difference in listening comfort. |
Cymbals — Crash / Ride / Overhead
DRUMS| Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass | 200–300 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Overheads pick up EVERYTHING. HP very aggressively — you only want air and shimmer from overheads. |
| Bell | 400–800 Hz | -3 to -4 dB / Q 1.5 | ✂ CUT | Removes "washy" mid buildup that makes overheads feel muddy and cluttered. |
| High Shelf | 10–14 kHz | +1 to +2 dB | ▲ BOOST | Cymbal brightness and sparkle. Keep it subtle — a little goes a long way. |
Percussion — Shakers / Bongos / Congas / Tambourine
DRUMS| Variant | Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High (shaker, tamb.) | High-Pass | 300–500 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | High percussion is texture only. Keep it strictly in the upper register. |
| Low (congas, bongos) | High-Pass | 80–120 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Low percussion still needs a HP filter to avoid competing with bass and kick. |
| Any | Bell | 2–4 kHz | -2 dB / Q 1.5 | ✂ CUT | If samples sound sharp or brittle, a small cut here softens without losing character. |
Bass & 808 EQ — The Low-End Foundation
The low-end relationship between your bass/808 and kick drum is the most critical thing to get right in a modern mix. They must share the frequency spectrum without fighting each other.
⚠ The Kick/Bass Relationship: Bass and kick cannot both be dominant at the same frequencies. The golden rule: bass owns 50–80 Hz, kick owns 80–150 Hz. Use EQ to carve space for each. If your mix sounds boomy and cluttered, this is almost always why.
808 / Sub Bass / Synth Bass / Electric Bass
BASS| Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass | 20–30 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Inaudible frequencies below 30 Hz waste headroom and limiter energy. Always cut this on every bass. |
| Bell | 100–200 Hz | -3 to -5 dB / Q 2.0 | ✂ CUT | ⚠ CRITICAL — The kick/bass conflict zone. Cut on the bass in the range where the kick lives. Or notch the kick in the range where bass lives. Only one can be dominant. |
| Bell | 300–600 Hz | -3 to -4 dB / Q 1.5 | ✂ CUT | Mid-bass mud. The most common cause of a cluttered, boxy low-end. Cutting this alone transforms many mixes. |
| Low Shelf | 50–80 Hz | +1 to +2 dB | ▲ BOOST | Sub weight and sustain. Only boost what's already there — don't manufacture sub that the sample doesn't have. |
| Bell | 800–2000 Hz | +1 to +2 dB / Q 1.0 | ▲ BOOST | Optional: adds the "note" of the bass so it remains audible on earbuds and phone speakers where sub disappears. |
Synths, Pads & Keys — Rhodes, Plucks, Pads, Lead Synths
Lead Synth / Lead Instrument
SYNTH| Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass | 80–150 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Lead synths rarely need sub energy — let the bass own that space. Prevents clash. |
| Bell | 200–500 Hz | -3 to -4 dB / Q 1.5 | ✂ CUT | Remove low-mid mud. Leads should feel forward and clear, not thick and heavy. |
| Bell | 1–4 kHz | +1 to +2 dB / Q 1.0 | ▲ BOOST | Presence and forwardness. Makes the lead sit "above" the mix rather than behind it. |
| High Shelf | 8–12 kHz | +1 dB | ▲ BOOST | Air and definition on the top end. A gentle air boost adds sparkle without harshness. |
Pads / Chord Synths / Atmosphere
SYNTH| Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass | 150–250 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Pads are texture and harmony — not bass. Keep them entirely out of the low-end. |
| Bell | 200–500 Hz | -4 to -6 dB / Q 2.0 | ✂ CUT | Heavy cut. Pads create mud fast here because they sustain for so long. This cut keeps the mix breathable. |
| Bell | 3–6 kHz | +1 to +2 dB / Q 1.0 | ▲ BOOST | Definition and shimmer. Without this, pads disappear behind other elements. |
| High Shelf | 8–12 kHz | +1 dB | ▲ BOOST | Pads should feel like space, not weight. This air boost gives them their ethereal, wide quality. |
Plucks / Arps / Stabs
SYNTH| Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass | 150–200 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Plucks and arps are rhythmic, not bass. Remove the low-end so each hit stays tight and punchy. |
| Bell | 200–400 Hz | -4 to -5 dB / Q 2.0 | ✂ CUT | Heavy cut is normal for plucks. Keeps each hit defined rather than smearing into the next one. |
| Bell | 3–6 kHz | +2 dB / Q 1.0 | ▲ BOOST | The characteristic "ping" of a pluck. This is what makes them feel snappy and rhythmically defined. |
Piano / Keys / Rhodes / Wurlitzer / Ocarina
KEYS| Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass | 80–120 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Remove low-end from keys unless they're playing a bass role. Otherwise they clash with 808 constantly. |
| Bell | 200–400 Hz | -3 to -4 dB / Q 2.0 | ✂ CUT | Keys are notorious for low-mid mud. Cut generously. You won't miss what you remove here. |
| Bell | 2–5 kHz | +1 to +2 dB / Q 1.0 | ▲ BOOST | Attack and note clarity. Brings out the hammer-hitting-string quality of piano and tine of Rhodes. |
| High Shelf | 8–12 kHz | +1 to +2 dB | ▲ BOOST | Brightness and shimmer. Makes keys feel expensive and well-recorded. |
Strings, Flutes & Wind — Violins, Cellos, Flutes, Bells
Strings / Violins / Cellos / Orchestral Ensemble
STRINGS| Variant | Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violins / Violas (high) | High-Pass | 120–200 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Violins have no useful content below 150 Hz. Removing it stops them clashing with bass instruments. |
| Cellos (low) | High-Pass | 60–80 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Even low strings need a HP to avoid competing with your 808 and bass in the low-end. |
| All strings | Bell | 250–500 Hz | -3 to -5 dB / Q 1.5 | ✂ CUT | The string mud zone. A heavy cut here opens the entire mix — this single cut often transforms orchestral tracks completely. |
| All strings | Bell | 2–4 kHz | +1 to +2 dB / Q 1.0 | ▲ BOOST | Bow attack and string "bite." Makes strings feel live and expressive, not sampled and flat. |
| All strings | High Shelf | 8–12 kHz | +1 dB | ▲ BOOST | Shimmer and air. Gives the impression of a large, well-recorded orchestra. |
Flute / Ocarina / Bells / Mallets / Glockenspiel
WIND / BELLS| Variant | Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flute / Ocarina | High-Pass | 200–300 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Wind instruments have no musical content below 200–300 Hz. Removing it cleans up the mix. |
| Flute / Ocarina | Bell | 400–800 Hz | -2 to -3 dB / Q 1.5 | ✂ CUT | Removes the hollow, "tubey" resonance common in wind instruments. |
| Flute / Ocarina | Bell | 2–4 kHz | +1 to +2 dB / Q 1.0 | ▲ BOOST | Brings out the breathy, airy quality of wind instruments. Makes them feel expressive and human. |
| Bells / Mallets | High-Pass | 300–500 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Bell instruments are pure high-frequency — remove everything below aggressively. |
| Bells / Mallets | Bell | 3–5 kHz | -2 to -3 dB / Q 1.5 | ✂ CUT | Bell instruments can have harsh metallic resonances here. Cutting makes them warm rather than piercing. |
| Bells / Mallets | High Shelf | 10–14 kHz | +1 to +2 dB | ▲ BOOST | Enhances the natural sparkle and chime quality that makes bell sounds magical. |
Brass / Horns — Trumpet / Sax / Trombone
BRASS| Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass | 80–150 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Brass rarely needs sub energy. Let bass own everything below 150 Hz. |
| Bell | 300–600 Hz | -3 dB / Q 1.5 | ✂ CUT | The honky, nasal quality of brass recordings. Cutting tames it while keeping the character. |
| Bell | 1–3 kHz | +1 to +2 dB / Q 1.0 | ▲ BOOST | The characteristic "blare" and presence of brass. Makes them cut through a busy mix. |
Guitars — Electric, Acoustic, Clean, Distorted
Electric Guitar
GUITAR| Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass | 80–100 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Unless it's playing a bass role, cut the low-end. It clashes with bass and kick in a dense mix. |
| Bell | 200–400 Hz | -3 to -4 dB / Q 2.0 | ✂ CUT | The classic "boxy guitar" problem. Almost every recorded guitar needs this cut. Cut generously. |
| Bell | 2–5 kHz | +2 dB / Q 1.0 | ▲ BOOST | Pick attack and presence. Makes riffs feel punchy and defined in the mix. |
Acoustic Guitar
GUITAR| Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass | 100–120 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Acoustic body resonance below this clashes with bass, especially in strummed patterns. |
| Bell | 200–500 Hz | -2 to -3 dB / Q 1.5 | ✂ CUT | Acoustic mid-mud — especially in strummed chords. This cut reveals the clarity of each note. |
| Bell | 5–8 kHz | +1 to +2 dB / Q 1.0 | ▲ BOOST | String definition and pick sparkle. Makes acoustic guitars feel airy and detailed. |
Vocals — Every Use Case
Vocals are the most important element in almost any genre. The lead vocal should be the clearest, most intelligible thing in the mix. Always start with cuts before boosts.
Lead Vocal — Rap / Trap / Hip-Hop
VOCAL| Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass | 80–100 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Removes mic handling noise, room rumble, and breath sounds. Start with this on every vocal, every time. |
| Bell | 200–400 Hz | -3 to -4 dB / Q 2.0 | ✂ CUT | Vocal low-mid mud. Rap vocals often sound boxy or chesty without this cut. Essential for clarity. |
| Bell | 1–3 kHz | -1 to -2 dB / Q 1.0 | ✂ CUT | Optional — if the vocal sounds harsh or nasal, a subtle cut here adds warmth without losing intelligibility. |
| Bell | 3–5 kHz | +1 to +3 dB / Q 1.0 | ▲ BOOST | Presence and intelligibility. Where consonants and syllables live. Every word becomes clearly audible. |
| High Shelf | 10–14 kHz | +1 to +2 dB | ▲ BOOST | The "air" boost. Makes vocals sound expensive and professionally recorded. A subtle boost transforms budget recordings. |
Lead Vocal — R&B / Soul / Pop (Sung)
VOCAL| Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass | 80–100 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Same as rap — always start with a HP to remove mic noise and room rumble. No sung vocal needs energy here. |
| Bell | 200–400 Hz | -3 to -4 dB / Q 2.0 | ✂ CUT | Sung vocals can sound "chesty" and boxy without this cut. Removing it opens up the midrange beautifully. |
| Bell | 1–3 kHz | -1 to -2 dB / Q 1.0 | ✂ CUT | R&B vocals benefit from this cut for smoothness. Too much presence sounds harsh for this genre's intimate feel. |
| Bell | 3–5 kHz | +1 to +2 dB / Q 1.0 | ▲ BOOST | Clarity and presence. Ensures the vocal cuts through without sounding harsh. Key for R&B melodies. |
| High Shelf | 10–14 kHz | +1 to +2 dB | ▲ BOOST | The "breath" quality that makes sung vocals feel intimate and alive. Essential for R&B and soul. |
Lead Vocal — Melodic / AutoTune / Sing-Rap
VOCAL| Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass | 100–120 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Melodic trap vocals benefit from a slightly higher HP — heavily processed vocals need a cleaner foundation. |
| Bell | 250–500 Hz | -4 to -5 dB / Q 2.0 | ✂ CUT | AutoTuned vocals accumulate extra mud here. A heavier cut than normal keeps them clean and forward. |
| Bell | 800–1500 Hz | -1 to -2 dB / Q 1.5 | ✂ CUT | AutoTune can create unnatural resonances here. A subtle cut removes them without affecting vocal character. |
| Bell | 3–6 kHz | +1 to +3 dB / Q 1.0 | ▲ BOOST | Melodic vocals need to stay forward in dense productions. This ensures they sit above the mix. |
| High Shelf | 12–16 kHz | +1 to +2 dB | ▲ BOOST | High-end air is especially important on processed vocals — it makes AutoTune feel intentional rather than digital. |
Backing Vocals / Harmonies
VOCAL| Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass | 120–150 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | BVs should sit behind the lead. Use a higher HP cutoff than you did on the lead vocal to push them back. |
| Bell | 200–500 Hz | -4 to -5 dB / Q 2.0 | ✂ CUT | Heavy mud cut — BVs should be felt, not competing with the lead for space. |
| Bell | 3–5 kHz | -2 to -3 dB / Q 1.0 | ✂ CUT | ⚠ Key trick: cut the SAME frequency you boosted on the lead. This creates natural separation — the lead "pokes through" BVs automatically. |
| High Shelf | 10–14 kHz | +1 to +2 dB | ▲ BOOST | Even though BVs sit behind the lead, they should feel airy and wide — this boost achieves that without weight. |
Ad-Libs / Vocal Chops
VOCAL| Filter Type | Frequency | Gain / Q | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Pass | 150–200 Hz | — | ✂ CUT | Ad-libs are pure texture. They live in the upper register only. Remove everything below aggressively. |
| Low Shelf | Below 400 Hz | -3 to -4 dB | ✂ CUT | Thinning out ad-libs ensures they never compete with the lead. They should add excitement, not weight. |
FabFilter Pro-Q 4 — dynamic EQ, EQ nodes & Make Spectral
Pro-Q 4 is the EQ this whole guide assumes. Three features turn it from a graphic EQ into the most surgical mix tool you own — learn these and one plugin does the work of a rack.
Dynamic EQ
A normal band cuts or boosts all the time. A dynamic band only moves when that frequency crosses a threshold — so a 3 kHz harshness cut clamps down only on the loud, harsh moments and leaves the rest untouched. Click a band, open its dynamics handle, then set the range (how many dB it moves) and threshold. Use it for de-essing, taming a resonant snare ring, or controlling one boomy bass note without dulling the whole track.
Engages only when neededThe EQ node workflow
Every band is a node on the curve. Double-click the display to drop one, drag to set frequency + gain, scroll to change Q. To find a problem fast, use EQ Sketch / Spectrum Grab: hover the live analyzer and Pro-Q 4 snaps the node onto the exact resonant peak — so you cut where the problem actually is, not where you guessed. Hold and drag across the spectrum to sketch a whole curve in one gesture.
Double-click · drag · scroll for QMake Spectral
Right-click any band and choose "Make Spectral" to convert it into a Spectral Dynamic band — frequency-following processing that targets the exact harmonic content in that range instead of a fixed bell. It ducks only the offending overtones as they appear and ignores everything else, so it's far more transparent than a static cut. Reach for it on harsh vocal consonants, ice-pick cymbals, and busy busses where a normal cut would dull the good with the bad.
Right-click band → Make SpectralRule of thumb: a static band for tone-shaping you always want, a dynamic band when the problem comes and goes, and spectral when even a dynamic cut sounds heavy-handed. A pro vocal chain often uses all three at once.
Pro Tips — Habits of Professional Mixers
These are the principles that separate beginner mixes from professional ones. Master these habits and your mixes will improve dramatically — regardless of the tools you use.
Cut before you boost
Removing problem frequencies first means you need less boosting. Most professional engineers cut far more than they boost. A mix built on cuts sounds transparent; one built on boosts sounds bloated.
High-pass almost everything
99% of instruments don't need energy below their musical range. HP filters on every track (except bass) is one of the most powerful mix improvements you can make — it's free headroom.
EQ in context, not in solo
A track that sounds perfect when soloed may need completely different EQ when playing with everything else. Always EQ while listening to the full mix — solo is only for identifying problems.
Cut narrow, boost wide
When cutting a problem frequency, use a narrow Q (1.5–3.0) for surgical precision. When boosting, use a wide Q (0.5–1.0) for a natural, musical result. This principle applies in every situation.
The mono test for panning
After panning, hit the mono button on your master bus. If something disappears or sounds thin, it's panned too wide or has a phase problem. Everything should remain audible in mono.
The 200–500 Hz mud zone
Almost every instrument produces unwanted buildup between 200–500 Hz. When your mix sounds muddy, mute tracks one at a time until the mud disappears — then cut that range on the culprit.
Reference tracks are essential
Load a professional track in your DAW and A/B your mix against it. Notice how quiet the music sits under the vocal, how centred the kick and bass are, and how wide the pads are. Copy those proportions.
Use Pro-Q 4's solo band feature
In FabFilter Pro-Q 4, hold Alt and click a band to hear only that frequency range. This lets you hear exactly what you're cutting or boosting before committing. Use it to find problem resonances.
Target -18 dBFS per track
Before touching a single fader, bring all clips to about -18 dBFS average. This is the digital equivalent of 0 VU — the standard starting point that gives you headroom to mix without clipping.
Master bus peaks at -3 to -6 dBFS
Your master bus should peak at -3 to -6 dBFS before the limiter. If it hits 0 dBFS before limiting, turn down your buses. This gives the limiter headroom to work musically rather than destructively.
Bass and kick must share the low-end
These two cannot dominate at the same frequencies simultaneously. Decide who owns each range. Use a sidechain compressor or a notch EQ to carve space for each. This is the most critical relationship in modern music.
Check headphones AND speakers
Panning sounds completely different on headphones vs. monitors. Headphones exaggerate stereo width. Check your mix on both — earbuds, headphones, monitors, phone speaker. A great mix translates across all of them.