Of the two sound-related categories that got axed, this was the one that remained. While nominally inclusive of the sound editing folks, everyone pays attention to the Cinema Audio Society for direction instead since the nominations this year seem very much in tune with what they would pick and/or nominate.

CINEMA AUDIO SOCIETY AWARDS

Best Sound Mixing – Live Action

Dune (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
No Time to Die
The Power of the Dog
Spider-Man: No Way Home
West Side Story (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)

Wesley Lovell: Dune has two Oscars likely sewn up. This and Visual Effects. As such, if it doesn’t win at the CAS, then it isn’t likely to win at the Oscars either.
Peter J. Patrick: I’m thinking Dune unless they go musical with West Side Story.
Tripp Burton: As with all these guilds, Dune seems ahead in the race. The only thing that might top it here would be West Side Story, as this is a category sometimes favored for musicals.
Thomas LaTourette: Dune seems poised to take this award, though one should never count out a musical. I think Dune will win but would not be surprised if it goes to West Side Story.

Best Sound Mixing – Animated

Encanto (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
Luca
The Mitchells vs. the Machines (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Raya and the Last Dragon
Sing 2

Wesley Lovell: The Mitchells vs. the Machines has a lot of sound effects going on, but Encanto is a musical with tonally high and low moments that should pique the interests of CAS voters, but I wouldn’t count Raya and the Last Dragon out of the race yet either.
Peter J. Patrick: Most likely Encanto, but The Mitchells vs. the Machines could pull another upset.
Tripp Burton: It’s Encanto vs. The Mitchells, and this could be a coinflip.
Thomas LaTourette: The music of Encanto should win over the explosions of The Mitchells vs. the Machines.

Best Sound Mixing – Documentary

Becoming Cousteau
Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
Tina
Val
The Velvet Underground (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)

Wesley Lovell: Three music documentaries could cannibalize support, but Summer of Soul has been winning so much that I’d expect it to be the key player with the CAS.
Peter J. Patrick: Summer of Soul is most likely with The Velvet Underground poised to upset.
Tripp Burton: The technical achievement of Summer of Soul is a runaway winner here, probably.
Thomas LaTourette: There are three musical documentaries nominated and one of them should win. I’ll give the edge to Summer of Soul since it has the most traction for other awards, but The Velvet Underground might win.