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.…

What Is Audio Clipping and Why Is It Important?

We’ve all heard the dreaded term “audio clipping.” It often shows itself as an admonishing red light in our DAW, on our audio interface, or on our speakers. The result of which is, almost always, scrambling for knobs or faders…

3 Steps To Add FUNK Back To Your Bass | Marc Daniel Nelson
Introduction: In the world of music production, exploring different techniques and experimenting with instruments can bring a fresh and exciting dimension to your tracks. One such technique involves doubling parts with a clavinet, a keyboard instrument known for its funky…
The Audio Mixer: Key Features & Functions

At the most basic level, an audio mixer combines multiple signals and routes them to a common output for recording or amplification through a sound reinforcement system. “Signals” are those sounds captured by microphones or received from electric instruments. Also…

Exploring the Musical Genius of Rob Moose: An Interview
In the vast world of music, there are artists who possess an exceptional talent for creating transformative and mesmerizing compositions. One such musician is Rob Moose. With his diverse skill set as a violinist, guitarist, and arranger, Moose has made…
Turning Drum Samples In To Breakbeat Fills
In today's video, we'll dive into the world of breakbeats and learn how to unleash our creativity by chopping them up. Download the Cheatsheet here so you can always return to it! Part 1: Chopping Break Beats To begin our…
Peter Gabriel: Artists Who Changed Music
Peter Gabriel is a living legend who barely needs an introduction. He became well-known as the lead singer of Genesis, and after that went on to have a successful solo career, gaining fame for using new music technology in innovative…
5 Powerful Tips For Mixing Hip-hop Vocals
You want your Rap vocals to sound raw and in-your-face, so the rapper’s flow and delivery can dominate the track. However, if you leave your vocals too dry (without any effects), they’ll stick out like a sore thumb and won’t…
The Trooper – Iron Maiden: Songs That Changed Music
The early eighties saw the rise of Iron Maiden. One of the most successful groups to emerge from the new wave of British heavy metal, by the beginning of 1983 Maiden had already released three classic albums: Iron Maiden, Killers,…
Factory Tour: Making Speakers From Start To Finish with Bowers & Wilkins
Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) is a British company that has been at the forefront of audio technology for more than 50 years. Founded in 1966, B&W has become one of the most respected and recognized names in the audio industry,…
Budget vs Expensive Microphones: A Chat With With Rob Mayzes & Adam Steel at NAMM 2023
In this video, Adam Steele and Rob from mastering.com are at the Cloud Booth discussing the affordable equipment that is available today. They are using the new Cloud lifter X, which is a transformer-based Cloud lifter, and they are impressed…
Let’s talk about Thrash Metal
In this blog post, we’ll dive into the world of thrash metal, a genre that emerged in the 1980s and has since become a cornerstone of heavy metal music. We'll be joined by Kai Stahlenberg, a German musician, and producer,…
Budget vs Expensive Microphones: A Chat With With Rob Mayzes & Adam Steel at NAMM 2023
In this video, Adam Steele and Rob from mastering.com are at the Cloud Booth discussing the affordable equipment that is available today. They are using the new Cloud lifter X, which is a transformer-based Cloud lifter, and they are impressed…
Exploring Tim O’Sullivan LA Studio: Fun guitars & Affordable Consoles
It's my pleasure to share with you a studio tour with producer, Tim O'Sullivan (Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs; Rayland Baxter & Grace Potter)Having been Bearfoot Studio's previous Studio Manager, Tim sought his own personal recording studio when friend, musicians and Beastie Boys…
David Bottrill Interview Part 2: Talking Silverchair, Mudvayne, Muse, Placebo & More
David Botrill is a Grammy award-winning music producer and engineer who has made a significant impact on the music industry over the past few decades. He has worked with some of the most influential and iconic artists of our time,…
Top 3 MIDI Keyboard Controllers with Sanjay C
Following the events of NAMM, the marvellous Mr Sanjay C who many will be familiar with his content came by the studio to share his top 3 MIDI controller keyboards for home use. Check out the full video above but…
The Rob Kinelski Interview: Pushing Pop Music Production Boundaries
Rob Kinelski is a Grammy Award-winning audio engineer and record producer known for his work with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Billie Eilish, Kanye West, and Travis Scott. He is widely regarded as one of…
Mixing Progressive Metal – Animals As Leaders’ Red Miso in Dolby Atmos
Animals as Leaders is a progressive metal band known for their innovative and technical approach to music. In 2021, they released their sixth studio album, “Parrhesia,” which was mixed in Dolby Atmos, a cutting-edge audio format that allows for an…
3 STEPS to get your Bass & Drums Sitting Better Together with Marc Daniel Nelson
In this episode of MakeMineMusic, Marc Daniel Nelson demonstrates a 3 part trick to getting your bass and kick drum to sit together better. Sometimes in mixing these two elements together, there are issues in the low end that cause…
Music Production For TV & Film: Wildflower with Chad Fischer (Garden State, Sex & The City, Lazlo Bane)
Chad Fischer is an American composer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He was born on December 30th, 1967, in Boston, MA. Fischer is known for his unique and eclectic style of music, which ranges from folk and rock to pop and…
Eva Gardner: The Talented Bassist Who Rocked the Music Industry
Eva Gardner is a highly talented bassist, singer, and songwriter who has made a significant impact on the music industry. Born in Los Angeles, California, in 1979, Gardner grew up surrounded by music, as her father, Kim Gardner, was a…
FINAL DAY of NAMM Show 2023 – Solid State Logic, Neumann, Soundflow, Audient & More
Sontronics Microphones Sontronics is a British company that specializes in designing and manufacturing high-quality microphones for a variety of applications, including music recording, broadcasting, and podcasting. Established in 2004, Sontronics has quickly gained a reputation for creating reliable and affordable…
Home Studio on a Budget: Getting Started for Less than $1000

It’s 2019: You can make records in your home studio and spend less than $1000 getting set up! Today’s recording tech has given everybody the opportunity to create high-quality music in their bedroom, even with just the bare essentials. We’ll…

Soundtoys, Oeksound, AudioScape and more – Exploring NAMM Show 2023
ASA-6a By AudioScape Engineering & co Learn from the man behind the mustache, Mr Marc Daniel Nelson in the video link above! Soundtoys Super Plate SuperPlate emulates the tonal character of five classic electromechanical plate reverbs with it's algorithms capturing…
Exploring NAMM 2023 Day One
Soyuz 1973 FET Mic The Soyuz Microphones 1973 FET mic is a modern condenser microphone that pays tribute to the classic Soviet-era microphones of the 1970s. This microphone is handmade in Russia and features a unique design that incorporates a…
“Don’t Stop”: Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours and the Platinum Power of Resilience in the Midst of Heartbreak
In early 1976, the members of Fleetwood Mac were facing some of the most trying moments of their personal lives. And they had a decision to make. Christine McVie later explained: “We had two alternatives – go our own ways…
One of Nasville’s greatest – Bil Vorndick: Artists Who Changed Music
Bil VornDick was one of the great unsung heroes of American music. He never obtained the name-recognition of some of the more high-profile American engineers and producers from New York and Los Angeles, but he was famous and treasured in…
Jeff Wayne Discusses The Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds: An Interview
Jeff Wayne is a musical icon who has been entertaining audiences with his unique blend of rock, classical, and progressive music for over four decades. His most famous work, the musical adaptation of H.G. Wells’ "The War of the Worlds,"…
Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds: Albums That Changed Music
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds is one of the most successful and celebrated concept albums of all time. Released in 1978, the album is a masterpiece, that enjoyed instant commercial success. The album has gone…
Exploring Cellar Door Studios with Warren Huart and Mike Arango
Many will have seen Mike Arango on our channel many times. What some may not know is that Mike was our engineer for many years! Yes, we recorded many great songs and albums together so this visit was an absolute pleasure.Whilst visiting…
Unboxing the Holy Grail Of SPACE with Marc Daniel Nelson
In this episode of MakeMineMusic, Marc Daniel Nelson unboxes a very special vintage piece of gear. The HOLYGRAIL of Space. Follow along as Marc tests this beauty out in the studio. The Lexicon 480L is a digital reverb processor that…
Ramones: Artists Who Changed Music
Written by Thomas Hanslowe The Ramones were one of the most influential bands to emerge from New York City in the 1970s. Hailing from the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens, the Ramones helped to define the sound, style, and attitude…
Exploring Studio A at Sweetwater Studios: Epic Studio Tour
Sweetwater Studio A is a state-of-the-art recording studio located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. With a reputation as one of the best recording studios in the Midwest, Sweetwater Studio A has become a top choice for artists looking to create high-quality…
Sweetwater’s GIANT Guitar Gallery: Behind The Scenes Tour
Following on from our first video in the series, Sweetwater's Guitar Gallery is a mecca for guitar lovers. Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Guitar Gallery is a 44,000-square-foot facility that showcases the latest and greatest in guitars, amps, and…
Guitar & Innovation – The Markus Reuter Interview
Markus Reuter is a German musician who is recognized for his outstanding contribution to the field of progressive and experimental music. With his unique approach to playing the guitar, he has redefined the boundaries of the instrument and created a…
DISNEYLAND For Musicians – A Mind-blowing Tour of Sweetwater’s Headquarters
Sweetwater Headquarters is a hub for all things music, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. As one of the largest retailers of music instruments and equipment in the United States, Sweetwater is a destination for musicians and music enthusiasts alike. The…
The Dirtiest Reverb Ever? – Reviewing Rotten Pool Reverb by AuroraDSP
The Rotten Pool Reverb by Aurora DSP is a new and unique reverb plugin that has taken the audio industry by storm. Co-created by Kristian Kohle of the Kohle Audio Kult and available FREE as part of the membership, it…
Bill Medley of Righteous Brothers: The Life and Legacy of a Music Legend
Bill Medley is a legendary musician who has left an indelible mark on the world of music. Best known as one half of the duo The Righteous Brothers, Medley's distinctive baritone voice and songwriting talents have earned him a place…
On Tour With Alice Cooper – Manager Reveals Insider Stories
David Libert (born January 20, 1943) is an American music executive, musician and author. He was one of the founding members of the musical group, The Happenings. Hailing from Paterson, New Jersey, United States, The Happenings had several hit records including "See You…
Recording & Mixing Metal Drums with David Gnozzi
Have you ever been torn between buying the latest and greatest plugins or investing in a course to take your recording and mixing skills to the next level? If so, I've got great news for you.Welcome to Audio Heaven: David Gnozzi…
The Best Mobile Music Production Apps in 2023

Musicians’ creativity doesn’t come to a halt when they’re on the road. In a perfect world, we’d all have access to the comfort of our home studios 24/7, efficiently churning out music as often as we’d like. But whether you’re…

Mixing vs. Mastering: What Is the Difference?

Mixing and mastering are the two essential processes in polishing and finalizing a recorded song. If you’re making music that you plan to sell, or use to promote yourself (i.e., not a demo), you’ll want to invest some time into…

Do you gain stage tracks before mixing? | FAQ Friday
Today’s featured question is: “Do you gain stage tracks before mixing?" What a great question! Yes! Quite often! Not on stuff that I’ve recorded because I record it at a level that makes sense through my equipment, but definitely when…
Mixing Metal Drums with David Gnozzi
In today's video we have the opportunity to take a sneak peek at our good friend David Gnozzi's marvellous course "Recording, Mixing, and Mastering Metal." In this excerpt David teaches us all about his techniques for mixing metal drums! David…
What kind of equipment do you need to be a mobile recording studio? | FAQ Friday
Hello everyone! We're back with another FAQ Friday! Today's featured question is: What kind of equipment would I need to be a mobile recording studio? The equipment you will need to set up a mobile recording studio will be pretty…
The Best Vocal Mics for Under $500

For most of us putting together a home or project studio, cost dictates the gear we choose. In a perfect world we’d all have a locker full of $3000+ vocal mics, but that’s wildly impractical for the average bedroom engineer’s…

Does tinnitus affect your mixes? | FAQ Friday
Today's featured question is: Does tinnitus affect your mixes? For those of you who don't know what tinnitus is, it is the sensation of hearing ringing, buzzing, hissing, chirping, whistling, or other sounds, caused by prolonged exposure to loud sounds.…
What acoustic guitars would you recommend for a pop/rock mix? | FAQ Friday
Happy FAQ Friday everyone! We have some great questions in today's video! Before we get to those though, we have an exciting new plugin to share with you: The Pulsar Smasher! This plugin is a straightforward extreme compressor modeled after…
How Audio Test Kitchen Changed Comparing Mics Forever!
In today's video, we had the opportunity to sit down with Alex Oana, co-founder of Audio Test Kitchen again! The last time we sat down with Alex, he told us all about how Audio Test Kitchen works, and went through…
This $129 Interface Sets Gain On Its Own?! | Audient EVO 4 Demo
We've talked quite a bit about Audient's brand new EVO 4 over the past few days, and now we are going to be putting it to the test. Today, we will be recording singer/songwriter Katie Ferrara using the EVO 4!…