Will AI sound mixing replace human engineers and producers?

AI sound mixing is making a big splash in live entertainment, changing the way we experience concerts and even sports events.

From syncing up lights with music to tweaking sound levels on the fly, AI is becoming a go-to tool for creating memorable live events.

Thanks to algorithms, engineers can streamline tasks that used to take a lot of manual effort. This shift makes things easier for the pros behind the scenes while giving audiences a better overall experience.

As these technologies keep improving, there’s a lot of buzz about what this means for the future of sound engineering and the people who work in the field.

Let’s take a look at some of these changes.

Current use of AI mixing in live sound engineering

With its ability to process tons of data instantly, AI is helping sound engineers keep everything sounding great during live events. It adjusts sound quality in real time, taking into account factors like feedback in a live performance.

AI transforms performances in concert halls

Earlier this year, composer and vocalist Jen Wang performed at the Monk Space in Los Angeles with a digital rendition of her own voice, synthesized by artificial intelligence. She used a neural audio synthesis algorithm called R.A.V.E. to blend her live voice with a digital version in real time.

Sports arenas are also getting in on the action

IndyCar has started using a tool called IRIS Clarity, an AI-powered software designed to boost broadcast audio.

This technology is trained on thousands of hours of noise and human voices. It can isolate and clarify communication between drivers and their pit crews, cutting through the background noise that usually dominates a racetrack.

The goal is to bring viewers closer to the action, making it easier to follow the race as it unfolds.

After a successful trial during the Indy 500, this technology marks a major step in how AI can enhance live sports broadcasts.

AI in lighting and special effects

AI is also transforming what we see.

Thanks to AI's ability to sync visuals with music and sound in real time, lighting design has become much more dynamic and responsive in some of today’s most cutting-edge performances.

Grimes at Coachella

One standout example comes from Grimes’ groundbreaking 2024 Coachella performance.

Xite Labs brought Grimes’ visual AI concept to life with a combination of AI-driven motion capture and extended reality (XR) to create a digital twin of Grimes. The digital twin performed live alongside her, manipulated in real time by a neural network called Move AI.

The result? A mind-bending performance that seamlessly blended the real with the virtual.

Harry Potter Theatre in Hamburg

AI also played a role in the lighting design of the Harry Potter Theatre in Hamburg.

The challenge was to create a dense cloud of over 3,000 light bulbs, suspended on 7.5 kilometers of cable, within a historic building with strict limitations. The design team used AI-powered parametric design tools to manage this complexity.

These tools allowed them to experiment with different shapes and arrangements for a visually poetic installation that wouldn’t have been possible without the help of algorithms.

Key technologies and tools used

The advancements we’re seeing in live sound and lighting wouldn’t be possible without several cutting-edge tools.

Let’s break down some of the most important technologies in the industry right now.

Salsa Sound: AI-driven audio mixers

Starting with audio, Salsa Sound’s AI audio mixers are designed specifically for live broadcasts.

These mixers analyze live audio feeds and make real-time adjustments to keep the sound balanced and clear, no matter how dynamic the environment.

This is particularly useful in sports broadcasts, where the audio can shift dramatically from one moment to the next.

By taking over these adjustments, AI mixing allows engineers to focus on the creative side of mixing, knowing that the technical aspects are in good hands.

iZotope Neutron: AI-powered audio assistant

For those working in the studio, iZotope’s Neutron acts like a virtual mixing engineer.

Neutron’s AI-powered audio assistant listens to tracks, analyzes them, and offers suggestions on how to improve the mix.

This speeds up the mixing process while helping users achieve professional-quality results without needing to manually fine-tune every detail.

MaestroDMX: Autonomous lighting design

On the lighting side, MaestroDMX is showing us what the future could look like.

This AI lighting design system listens to the music and makes real-time decisions about how to light the stage, much like a professional lighting designer would.

It’s designed to be user-friendly, offering advanced lighting capabilities without requiring deep technical knowledge.

A.I. Lightshow: The Force 1.0

Finally, there’s A.I. Lightshow’s The Force 1.0, a DMX lighting controller that generates light shows synced to live audio.

The best part? It doesn’t require any programming. This makes it accessible to a wider range of users for impressive light shows with minimal effort.

Impact on sound engineers and producers

There's a big question that keeps coming up: will AI mixing replace human sound engineers and producers?

It’s something worth thinking about, especially with technology advancing so quickly. But the answer isn’t as clear-cut as you might expect.

As London engineer Streaky puts it in conversation with The Verge, choosing AI music mixing over a human engineer is a bit like buying an off-the-rack suit instead of getting one tailored.

For some, the quicker, cheaper option is fine. But if you care about the details and quality, you’re still going to want that custom-made suit.

Or in this case, the expertise of a human sound engineer.

No matter how advanced AI sound mixing gets, there’s something special about the human touch in sound engineering. Human engineers bring creativity and intuition that algorithms just can’t match.

Final thoughts

Looking ahead, it’s likely that sound engineers and AI will work more closely together.

AI music mixing can handle the technical stuff, but when it comes to creativity and artistry, there’s no substitute for human expertise.

As AI tools become more advanced, they’ll take on more repetitive tasks, freeing up engineers to focus on creativity and bring their ideas to life.

So, while the role of sound engineers might change, it won’t disappear entirely.