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.…
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…
The Best Mobile Music Production Apps in 2022
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…
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…
Do you gain stage tracks before mixing? | FAQ Friday
Mixing Metal Drums with David Gnozzi
What kind of equipment do you need to be a mobile recording studio? | FAQ Friday
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
What acoustic guitars would you recommend for a pop/rock mix? | FAQ Friday
How Audio Test Kitchen Changed Comparing Mics Forever!
This $129 Interface Sets Gain On Its Own?! | Audient EVO 4 Demo
What should you upgrade first: Mic or Preamp? | FAQ Friday
Inside the Song: “Song 2” by Blur with Graham Coxon
Working with Ace Frehley on Origins, Vol. 1: Untold Stories
How do you deal with self-doubt when recording and mixing? | FAQ Friday
Jellyfish’s ‘Spilt Milk’: Inside the Album with Roger Joseph Manning Jr.
The Pros of Earning a Sound Engineering Degree
There are a lot of perspectives and opinions on whether going to college for audio engineering is worth it. One of the biggest arguments against working on a sound engineering degree is that it’s really no substitute for real-world experience…
The Best Way To Learn How To Mix | FAQ Friday
How Much Should You Charge To Mix A Song? | FAQ Friday
Do You Need an Audio Engineering Degree?
Let’s dive straight in. Do you need an audio engineering degree to become an engineer? No. Traditionally, great engineers have learned by doing—starting as an intern in a studio and being mentored by peers to develop their skills. The professional…
How much time should you spend on each part of the creative process? | FAQ Friday
Recording a Full Band with a $99 Mic (Blue Ember)
Recording a Song with the iZotope Spire (Giveaway)
Foo Fighters “Everlong”: Inside the Song
Home Studio Ideas: Essential Equipment & Considerations
For aspiring musicians, engineers, and producers, the home studio space is a prerequisite. It’s where you’ll spend countless hours writing songs, recording, mixing, and tinkering! Today, the home recording set-up doesn’t have to cost a fortune—there are many affordable ways…
Scott Baxendale: Acoustic Conversion Process
Hi! My name is Gordon McNeil! (Musician, Producer, Mixer, Label Owner)
Hi! I’m Gordon McNeil! In 2014, I was touring with the world’s leading Queen Tribute band “One Night Of Queen” fronted by Gary Mullen (winner of TV show Stars In Their Eyes) It was touring pretty much for a full…
Analog Delay vs Digital Delay | FAQ Friday
Using Drum Samples In A Mix | FAQ Friday
Should you use a USB Mic? | FAQ Friday
The biggest factor that influences acoustic guitar sound | FAQ Friday
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…
10 Things No One Tells You About Music Production
When should you stop editing and start mixing? | FAQ Friday
Cloudlifter Mic Activator Demo & Giveaway
Acoustic Guitar Miking Techniques | FAQ Friday
SEE ALSO: Decoding Mid/Side Miking Techniques
Raised in recording studios (Talking with Ryan Hewitt)
While we were in Nashville for NAMM and the Produce Like A Pro Masterclass, I had a chance to stop by the House Of Blues Studios to talk with the incredibly talented Ryan Hewitt. Ryan Hewitt is a Grammy award-winning…
Did modern music ruin feel & vibe? | FAQ Friday
Releasing Singles vs. Albums vs. Eps | FAQ Friday
Headphones & Monitor Calibration | FAQ Friday
We’ve been nominated for an award! – Thank you!
How to Write a Song with 10 Helpful Holistic Hints
When it comes to writing music, there’s surely no substitute for a bit of creativity and the keen desire to make something new. Everyone has a method all their own, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t observable parallels between creative…
If you could work with any artist, who would it be? | FAQ Friday
Thank you 200K Subs Giveaway Week (Audient iD14 & ASP800 – $1148 Value)
200K Subscribers Giveaway (Lewitt DTP Beat Kit Pro 7 – $1099 Value)
Is Investing in Audio School Worth It?
I decided to go to audio school after already studying an unrelated field in college. There are a multitude of reasons why it was a great personal decision for me, but it didn’t come without its downsides either. Firstly, it’s important to…