DaVinci Resolve (Fairlight), Premiere Pro (Audio Track Mixer), Final Cut Pro
Audio mix
Clean, balance, and master the soundtrack so it sounds good on any speaker.
Do a cleanup pass
Remove clicks, hum, room tone gaps, and unwanted noise on each track before balancing anything. Clean source audio makes the mix dramatically easier.
Set dialogue as the anchor
Balance all dialogue tracks to a consistent level first - it is the element audiences notice most. Normalize dialogue, then build the rest of the mix around it.
Balance music and effects
Bring music and effects in underneath dialogue, using levels and basic EQ so they support rather than fight the voice. Add SFX where a scene needs texture.
Use proper gain staging
Leave healthy headroom - aim for peaks around -6 dBFS or lower so nothing clips and the final loudness has room to be raised. Watch your faders and meters.
Automate levels where they change
Write level automation for fades, ducking music under dialogue, and scene transitions. A mix with flat levels sounds lifeless; automation adds the dynamics.
Deliver to target loudness
Master to the loudness of your delivery platform (typically around -14 LUFS for web, stricter for broadcast). Check on phone and laptop speakers, not just studio monitors.