How Much Do Mixing and Mastering Services Cost?
Typical Price Ranges in 2025 One of the most common questions I get from new clients is: “How much does it cost to get a song mixed and mastered?”And the honest answer is—it depends. Now before you…
Matty Harris
What Is Gain in Audio? (And Why It’s the Key to Great Sound)
When I first started mixing, I used to think gain was just another word for volume. I’d turn up a knob, things would get louder, and I’d think, “Cool, that’s gain.” But what I didn’t understand is that gain isn’t…
Mixing a Song with the Waves Free Plugin Pack
Setting Up the Session with the Waves Free Plugin Pack A few days ago, I got an email from Waves saying they were releasing a new Waves Free Plugin Pack—nine plugins available to download at no cost. I’ve used…
How to Release Music on Spotify
How to Release Music on Spotify: A Real-World Guide for Independent Artists Releasing your music on Spotify isn’t just about uploading a file and hoping for the best. It’s a process—a launch, really—that combines creative intent with technical precision and…
Kiive Audio Kstrip Review
Introduction: Classic Console DNA, Modern Plugin Mindset In today’s saturated plugin market, standing out requires more than just emulating vintage gear; it demands innovation that aligns with contemporary mixing workflows. Kiive Audio’s K-Strip achieves this by integrating elements from three…
Best Music Distribution in 2026: The Good, The Bad & The UGLY!
Introduction Choosing the best music distribution service is critical to your success as an artist. Not all music distributors are created equal—some may take a significant portion of your earnings, others could negatively impact your audio quality, and only…
Pro Tools vs Studio One
Pro Tools vs Studio One: My Journey and Comparison (and Back Again) I started using Pro Tools nearly 20 years ago—back when it was the only DAW capable of delivering a truly professional digital audio recording. That’s why it became…
Is Auto-Tune Broken?
Introduction Auto-Tune has long been a go-to tool for vocal production, used by engineers and artists worldwide to achieve the signature pitch-corrected sound. However, over the past few months, I’ve encountered significant reliability issues that make it nearly unusable in…
How to Master a Song Using Only Waves Plugins
Introduction When it comes to mastering, the goal is simple: take a good mix and make it louder, clearer, and more polished—all while preserving the song’s dynamics and musicality. Many producers think mastering requires expensive, high-end hardware or a collection…
How to Use Clipping in Mastering for Loudness
Introduction Have you ever listened to a professionally mastered track and wondered how it sounds so loud and polished without sacrificing the punch and dynamics? The secret lies in a technique called clipping. While clipping may seem like a method…