You’ve got a rhythm guitar tracked, doubled, and panned hard left and right, and the verses sound great. The chorus arrives, and the guitars suddenly feel small. The vocal pokes out, the drums punch through, and the wall of guitar you imagined sounds more like a fence. You pull a compressor in, set 4:1, drag … Read more
As a producer or mixing engineer, there’s nothing quite like the sound of a perfectly tuned tom drum.The satisfying thud and resonance can make or break a track, and as any seasoned musician knows, it is crucial to achieve that perfect tom drum mix.With so many variables to consider, from drum size and material to … Read more
Your drums sound fine soloed, then you drop them in the mix, and the kick is boomy, the snare is boxy, and the cymbals are slicing your ears off. You know EQ fixes it, but you are sweeping around blind on every track, burning an hour on a kit that should take ten minutes to … Read more
The complete guide to the 1176 compressor — covering its history, the blackface vs blue-stripe difference, gain staging, and exactly how to use it on vocals, bass, snare, guitars, and more.
Everything you need to know about mono and stereo — what they are, when to record in each, how to mix using both, and how to make sure your mixes translate everywhere.
Mixing bass guitar is an important part of audio engineering, as it provides the foundation of the song. A well-mixed bass guitar can enhance the overall sound and impact of a track, but it can be a challenging task for many producers and engineers. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips and techniques … Read more
Bass compression is an essential skill for enhancing the low end of your mix. When applied correctly, it tightens the bass, making it sound focused and controlled. This guide covers the best bass compression settings for live bass, synth bass, and slap bass — with a full cheat sheet.
As one of the most beloved and versatile instruments in the world, the piano is often at the heart of countless musical compositions. Whether you’re working on a classical symphony, a pop ballad, or a jazz improvisation, a well-mixed piano can be the key to unlocking the emotion and impact of your music. In today’s … Read more
You’ve spent 20 minutes on the same piano track. Threshold down a bit, attack up, ratio nudged from 2:1 to 4:1, and the recording still sounds either flat and lifeless or harsh and pumping every time the player hits a chord. Piano fights compression harder than almost any other source, and most “starting point” presets … Read more
Get amazing-sounding quality mixes.Not sure where to begin when it comes to equalizing a piano? This guide outlines the best practices you can implement today to identify problematic frequencies and enhance your piano without guesswork. How to EQ Piano The piano is a beautiful instrument that can produce a wide range of sounds and emotions. … Read more