Granular synthesis is the operative force behind many plugins and DAW functions we use all the time. When it was first introduced, it was incredibly CPU heavy and confined to offline processing only. Now we have incredibly quick processing speeds…
8 of the Best Reverb Plugins
Reverb is one of the most commonly used effects in mixing. It’s part of a broader category of processors we sometimes call “time-based effects,” which also includes delay. Before digital, reverb was recorded using actual rooms called echo chambers. A…
Stock Plugins vs. Third Party Plugins | FAQ Friday
We’re back with another episode of FAQ Friday! As always we have a ton of marvellous questions this week! Our featured question this week: “What are your thoughts on and have you mixed a song completely with stock plugins? Do…
Michael Beinhorn: Multi-Platinum Producer, from Herbie Hancock to Soundgarden
Like so many of the fantastic producers, engineers, and musicians we have the opportunity to talk to, Michael Beinhorn‘s career has been absolutely incredible. A lifelong artist, Michael started first as an illustrator, then a musician, before finally becoming an…
Blue Oyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”: Inside the Song with Shelly Yakus
I recently sat down with my dear friend Shelly Yakus to talk about his experience recording one of the most iconic guitar riffs of all time! Shelly has had a phenomenal career. Not only is he a renowned producer and…
What is Spring Reverb?
Spring reverb is an early form of synthetic reverb. Similar in principle to plate, spring reverb uses a coiled up piece of metal instead of a flat sheet. What is Spring Reverb? A spring system has a transducer at one…
Parallel Compression Explained
Parallel compression was developed as a means to an end. The vast majority of compressors are “downward” in action. This means that they work by reducing the peaks in source material. Parallel compression, on the other hand, was designed to…
Stems vs Tracks What’s the Difference? | FAQ Friday
We’re back with another episode of FAQ Friday! As always we have a ton of marvellous questions this week and this is a huge one! Our featured question this week: “What is the difference between stems and tracks?” A lot…
Quiet time – saving your ears for the mix
by Jerry Hammack, author of The Beatles Recording Reference Manuals (www.beatlesrecordingreferencemanuals.com / www.jerryhammack.com) One of the keys to successful mix engineering is keeping your ears fresh for what’s important – in short, the music. There are all kinds of ways…
Foo Fighters “Everlong”: Inside the Song
I recently had a chance to sit down with my good friend Bradley Cook and all I have to say is that it was a rather exciting chat! If you don't know who Bradley Cook is, he is an engineer…
Top 5 Mixing Mistakes
In this episode, we’re going to talk about the five most common mixing mistakes. Those of you that follow me will know some of these already. 1. Not High Passing I talk about this all the time, just because we…
What is Plate Reverb and How is It Used?
If you’ve spent any time playing around with reverb in-the-box, you’ve probably observed the common types that exist. Chamber, hall, and room are easy enough to imagine, but what about plate reverb? We most easily associate “echo” with real-world spaces,…
Which Vocal Compressor is Right for the Mix?
We’ve stressed the importance of mixing vocals time and time again! Because lyrics are what average listeners immediately identify with, making a singer sound great should almost always be a priority. Amongst other tools, the perfect vocal compressor for the…
Upgrading your interface: Does it improve sound quality? | FAQ Friday
We’re back with another episode of FAQ Friday! As always we have a ton of marvellous questions this week! Our featured question this week: "I am currently recording using a 15-year-old M-Audio USB Interface, do you think buying a newer…
Ed Cherney: GRAMMY & TEC Award-Winning Producer/Engineer
Ed Cherney is an incredibly talented producer/engineer---and also one of the funniest and most down-to-earth. 3 GRAMMYs, 5 TEC Awards, and an Emmy aside, Ed takes nothing for granted, knowing his job is a "killer" one. If you hadn't heard…
Audio Gain, Volume, & Gain Staging
Many of us have wondered if there’s a technical difference between audio gain and volume. The answer is “yes,” even though the terms sometimes seem to be used interchangeably. The most important distinction between gain and volume is how, or…
Gain Staging for Modern Recording
A gain stage is any point in the audio signal path where we can adjust the overall level of a track. For instance, this could be with a fader or with the output controls of plugins like compressors and EQs.…
Getting a Track Ready for Mastering | FAQ Friday
We’re back with another episode of FAQ Friday! As always we have a ton of marvellous questions this week! Our featured question this week: "When mixing down a multitrack song recorded at 24-bit/ 96kHz, what is the best method to…
Shelly Yakus: One of the Greatest Engineers of All Time
Shelly Yakus has had a phenomenal career. Not only is he a renowned producer and recording/mixing engineer, but he’s also heavily involved with modern recording tech as co-founder/chief engineer of AfterMaster Audio Labs. Shelly is considered by his peers to…
Waves PRS Plugin Demo with Paul Reed Smith
Hello everybody! Today we have something quite exciting! I love where technology has allowed us to go in regards to making music. As a guitar player and producer, I'm constantly after new guitar tones, and it's never been easier! In…
Produce Like A Pro Remix Contest with Michael Wynne from In the Mix
Hi friends, I’m amazed on a daily basis by the level of talent and creativity you all bring to this community and It’s time to share it with the world! We’re hosting a new mixing contest where you can show…
Mixing Vocals: The Produce Like A Pro Master List
Have you ever had trouble getting a vocal to sit right in the mix? Have you ever felt underwhelmed by the overall tonality of a vocal, whether it’s too thin or perhaps too muffled? Does the vocal feel too wet…
A Beginner’s Guide to Sidechain Compression
Sidechain compression is an intermediate level mixing technique that allows you to set an alternate input signal source from the track on which the compressor is inserted. For instance, if you place a compressor on the bass guitar and “sidechain”…
Protecting your work until you get paid | FAQ Friday
We’re back with another episode of FAQ Friday! As always we have a ton of marvellous questions this week! Our featured question this week: "How do you protect a final mix that you’re sending to a client if you’re sending…