Connect an audio interface to your home computer. If you use standard 3.5mm headphones and computer speakers to monitor your mix, you will not hear any of the nuance necessary for precise mixing. An audio interface (a fancy name for an external sound card) allows you to connect professional studio monitors to get the most from your audio playback. Connect the interface to your PC through any available USB port (indicated on the cable and on your computer by an image of a trident).
Connect a pair of monitor speakers and monitor headphones to your interface. Your monitor speakers will connect to your 1/4" "Input" or "Line" jacks ("L" and "R") if they contain 1/4" plugs, or to the red and white jacks, if they contain RCA plugs. Connect your monitor headphones to the 1/4" "Headphones" port on your interface. If your interface does not contain a "Headphones" port, you must use your "Input" ports for headphones.
Open your current audio project on your computer. Whether using a professional mixing program like Cubase, Logic or Pro-Tools, or a more novice program like GarageBand, MAGIX Music Maker or Mixcraft, your monitoring process will remain virtually the same.
Mix your audio tracks while wearing your monitor headphones. For the initial mix, you will want to hear the subtle elements of your sound through the headphones, to gain a perspective that you might miss when observing the mix through your speakers. Listen for any imperfections in the volume, the frequencies (treble, mid-tones and bass) and the overall balance, and make the necessary adjustments using your software options.
Monitor individual tracks to get an even more precise perspective. If using a multi-tracking program (in which parts of a song or recording or divided onto separate "tracks," or horizontal recording layers), you can zoom in on imperfections in each track. Most multi-tracking programs provide a "Solo" option and a "Mute" option on each track, usually indicated by a letter "M" and a letter "S." By clicking the "S," you silence every track except for the one currently selected. By clicking "M," you silence the current track. Use the "S" button to monitor each track individually.
Monitor your mix through your monitor speakers after you finish your initial mixing. This will give you a fresh perspective and allow you to make readjustments based on the differences you hear. For instance, your mix may sound fine through headphones, but too bass-heavy through your speakers, indicating that you should lower your bass sounds.