3 Guitar Amp Micing Techniques
Optimizing Mixes for Streaming
We recently had the opportunity to sit down with the incredibly talented Warren Sokol to talk about mixing/mastering for streaming release. Some of the main topics we covered are LUFS metering, the different codecs streaming services use to encode masters,…
Summing Mixer: Digital or Analog?
Which summing mixer is right for you is dependent on how you like to work. In a small project studio where you’re working in the box, an outboard summing mixer is probably an afterthought. But if you have the budget…
Top 5 Mixing Mistakes
Free Audio Editors: Cutting Tracks on the Cheap!
Regardless of the type of audio you’re working with, there’s a good chance you’ll want software to help you mix, edit, or directly record the source. It doesn’t matter whether you’re producing music, podcasts, or audio to sync with video;…
What Is Dithering | How Is It Used for Music Production?
There’s lots of terminology in digital audio that we’ve heard before, but aren’t quite sure what it is or how it works. If dither, or “dithering,” is one of those terms for you, you’re not the only one! Dither is…
Understanding Granular Synthesis
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…
Home Recording Studio Setup Basics
Everyone’s home recording studio setup varies a little bit. Much of it is dependent on room size, budget, and what you plan to do with it. In a lot of cases, a laptop, audio interface, and a set of headphones…
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”…
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…
5 EQ Mistakes We Make While Mixing
Reverb Mixing Tricks to Elevate Your Mix
Learning how to use reverb is an essential mixing skill. Time-based effects have the ability to add width and dimension to your mix, and give instruments their own sonic space. Reverb is often used to push mix elements further back,…
Reference Tracks: How to Use Them and Mistakes to Avoid
Reference tracks are used as a guideline while mixing. They can be supplied by the artist to demonstrate a desired aesthetic, or chosen by the mix engineer as a standard to go by. Using reference tracks can help us craft…
What is Reverse Reverb? Should I Be Using It?
Reverse reverb, sometimes called reverse echo or reverse regeneration, simply takes the reverb tail of any instrument and reverses it. Creating it is a matter of printing the wet signal of a reversed audio track. Reverse reverb is typically accompanied…
The Best Tips for Producing and Mixing Guitars
A huge part of what we do as producers and engineers is not only make things sound great, but also make sure our musicians are inspired along the way. This is true for virtually all aspects of the music production…
15 Essential Mixing Tips for Better Mixes Today
Mixing music requires technical ability as well as the creativity to make a song interesting to listeners. Mix engineers firstly possess the technical knowledge of audio signal flow, DAW and/or console operation, and how to use signal processors, whether in…
Multiple Tempo, Meter and Key Changes Created This #1 Hit – “Come On Eileen” (Dexys Midnight Runners)
ULTIMATE Kick Drum MIXING on 7 Different Songs
What kind of equipment do you need to be a mobile recording studio? | FAQ Friday
Beginner’s Guide to Wider Stereo Image
If your mixes feel flat and narrow, like everything is stuck between the speakers, then you should put some work into the stereo image! But don’t reach for a widening plugin just yet—there are simple ways to achieve better stereo…
Drum Compression: Top Tips from the Pros
Massive. Punchy. Hard-hitting and larger-than-life. These are all words we use to describe the sounds we want out of our drums! But how do we go about getting that modern mix sound…? Drum compression is one of the key ways to…
Choosing Software Synthesizers for Your Home Studio
If you’re a music producer or songwriter, software synthesizers are your best friend. Not only are they super inexpensive compared to hardware, they sound just as good! Plus, a lot of them come with gigabytes and gigabytes worth of sounds…
How to Use Side Chain Compression
Side chain compression is a technique that lets you to set a different input signal source from the track on which the compressor is inserted. For example, if you place a compressor on the bass guitar and “side chain” or…
Understanding Additive and Subtractive Synthesis
Additive and subtractive synthesis are two of the 4 fundamental ways synthesizers create sounds, next to wavetable and FM. If you plan to get into synths at all, or even just use them occasionally in your work, it’s a good…
Noise Gate Tips for Cleaner Mixes
A noise gate is a great tool for cleaning up tracks with extraneous noise in between the performances. Also known as a downward expander, noise gates keep a signal turned off or at a lower level until it reaches the…
Is Musical Talent Born or Made? FAQ Friday
Putting The Punch Back Into Your Kicks
“You Really Got Me” and the Raw Power of the Kinks
Arturia FX Collection 2 Review: 22 Great Sounding Plug Ins
Ultimate Bass Mixing on 7 Different Songs
How To Be A Credible ‘Old School’ Producer and Engineer – FAQ Friday
The Best DAW for Beginners is Whichever You Choose!
When you’re new to home recording and mixing, one of the biggest questions you probably have is which DAW is the right choice. There really isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to that question. What matters most is choosing the DAW that…
How to Record Electric Guitar [Beginner’s Guide]
There are a ton of variables at play when it comes to at-home guitar recording. The whole process is a combination of many elements, so if you’re struggling with how to record electric guitar with the best results, you’re definitely…
Making Microtonal Music is Easier Than You’d Think
Welcome to this Tutorial Tuesdays article by Michael W. Dean, synth player in BipTunia. Author of $30 Music School. PRO TIP: I’d recommend that while you read this article, you listen to this Microtonal Playlist on Spotify. It has…