One harsh “s” can pull a listener right out of an otherwise beautiful vocal. You have EQ’d it, compressed it, added air, and now the sibilance is sharper than ever, hissing on every chorus. A good de-esser fixes that in seconds, but a bad one leaves the singer sounding like they have a lisp. The … Read more
You print the vocal, drop a reverb on the send, and reach for a preset called something like “Lush Vocal Hall.” It sounds gorgeous in solo. Then you unmute the track, and the vocal slides three feet behind the snare, the words turn into mush, and the whole mix goes foggy. So you pull the … Read more
Have you ever found yourself struggling to clean up harsh resonances or unwanted frequencies in your audio recordings?Perhaps you’ve spent hours tweaking EQ settings, only to find that you’ve made things worse instead of better.Audio processing can be a tricky business, and it often takes a combination of knowledge, skill, and the right tools to … Read more
Waves collaborated with the renowned mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge (CLA) to emulate three classic compressors, which are modeled after some of his favorites from the past. In this post, we will compare the CLA-2A, CLA-3A, and CLA-76, and when to reach for each one. Side-by-Side Comparison CLA-2A (Opto Compressor) The CLA-2A is based on the … Read more
The Pultec EQ is legendary in the world of audio production. Its enduring reputation is built on its unique sound, versatility, and the musical quality it adds to recordings. When I think of classic tools that have stood the test of time, the Pultec EQ sits right at the top of the list. Whether you’re enhancing vocals, tightening … Read more
Every aspiring audio engineer needs to build a bookshelf. Just like how a story without pictures is a sad one, the same can be said about audio engineering. What you need to get started is not just the software but also the techniques and inspiration from others who have done it before you. Even if … Read more
Your mix is balanced and clean, but it still sounds like a folder of separate tracks instead of one finished record. You know a bus compressor is the tool that fixes this. The problem is that every forum thread, every YouTube video, and every plugin sale points you at a different one, and they range … Read more
One of the blog readers asked if I have a go-to distortion plugin for mixing bass.So, in today’s post, I want to share a list of some of my favorite bass distortion plugins.Using distortion on a bass sound will help it to cut through the mix.Distortion adds rich harmonics that will help the bass to … Read more
Getting rap vocals to sit perfectly in a mix will mostly require compression.This is why I’ve put together a list of the best compressor plugins for mixing rap, trap and hip-hop vocals to help you choose the right compressor all the time.It is crucial to choose the best tool for the job if you want … Read more
You read that saturation is the secret weapon of modern drum mixes. You open a forum thread. Six different people recommend six different plugins, and every one is “the best.” You demo three of them. They all sound vaguely warm. You cannot tell which one is right for your kick, your snare, or your drum … Read more