As a mastering engineer, I’ve worked on hundreds of projects using both stereo and stem mastering approaches. Recently, I decided to run an experiment: I took a track I’d already mixed and mastered for the band Red Moon and remastered…
Why Top 40 Hits Crush Spotify’s -14 LUFS Rule – 4 Tips for Loud, Competitive Masters If you’re just getting into music production, you’ve probably heard this advice floating around: “Spotify wants your masters at -14 LUFS, so that’s…
iZotope FXEQ Review – A Creative Game-Changer for Mixing and Mastering Every now and then, a plugin drops that makes you stop what you’re doing, lean in, and say, “OK… that’s new.” iZotope’s FXEQ is one of those. This…
“Can I really trust someone online to mix or master my music?” That’s the question a lot of artists are asking right now—and I get it. Between AI mastering bots, $15 Fiverr gigs, and social media engineers promising “industry quality,”…
Typical Price Ranges in 2026 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…
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…
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: 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…
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…
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…
