Mix & Master Blog
Insights, Tutorials, Reviews, oh my!
Apple Digital Masters: Do Independent Artists Really Need Them?
Apple Digital Masters, formerly known as "Mastered for iTunes," represents Apple's premium audio quality standard for music distributed through Apple Music and the iTunes Store. An 'Apple Digital Master' is a high-quality audio master specifically created to meet...
Izotope Ozone 12 Review
Izotope Ozone 12 Review: Stem Processing Comes to Mastering One of my all-time favourite plugins has just received a significant update. Ozone 12 might look familiar at first glance, but underneath the slightly refreshed interface lies some genuinely revolutionary...
Stereo Mastering vs Stem Mastering: Which One Actually Sounds Better?
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 it using stems to see if I could...
How Long Does It Take to Master a Song?
After nearly two decades of mixing and mastering tracks for Billboard-charting artists like Travis Barker, Kelly Clarkson, and A$AP Rocky, I've learned that the question "How long will it take to master my song?" doesn't have a simple answer. Every artist who reaches...
Why Top 40 Hits Crush Spotify’s -14 LUFS Rule – 4 Tips for Loud, Competitive Masters
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 where you should master your...
iZotope FXEQ Review – A Creative Game-Changer for Mixing and Mastering
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 isn’t just another vintage compressor...
Is Online Mixing and Mastering Worth It in 2025?
“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,” it’s hard to know what’s legit...
The Power of Professional Mixing and Mastering: Turning Demos Into Hits
Why Mixing and Mastering Can Make or Break Your Song It always starts with an idea. A rough demo. A voice note. A beat that sparks something. That’s exactly how Venom by Rhea Raj began—raw, emotional, and full of potential. But turning that initial spark into a...
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 roll your eyes, hear me out. There’s no...
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 about how loud you hear something—it’s about how loud...
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 Waves plugins for years, so I figured why not see...
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 marketing...
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...
Best Music Distribution in 2025: 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 a few...
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 the industry standard—because for...
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...
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 of...
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 that could ruin the...
Transform Your Drum Mixes with the Orion Plugin by Jaycen Joshua
Orion Plugin Review: Jaycen Joshua's Complete Drum Bus Solution As a professional mixing and mastering engineer with 20 years in the industry, I was thrilled when Jaycen Joshua and Cradle Audio released their second collaboration - the Orion plugin. After using this...
Master Your Mix with Neutron 5’s New Modules and Features
Introduction In the ever-evolving world of music production, staying ahead of the curve often means equipping yourself with the latest and most innovative tools. Whether you're a seasoned mixing engineer or an aspiring producer, the right plugins can drastically...
The 5 Best Plugins of 2024 (And How I Actually Use Them)
Introduction: When it comes to music production, the right plugins can make a world of difference. As a mix and mastering engineer, I’ve tested countless plugins over the years, but not all of them end up becoming part of my everyday workflow. In 2024, a few standout...
FabFilter Pro-Q4: Everything You Need to Know
FabFilter’s Pro-Q series has been my go-to EQ for years. When Pro-Q4 dropped, I didn’t even read the feature list—I just bought it. That’s the kind of trust I have in this company. But after digging in, there are actually some cool updates that are worth knowing...
Waves IDX Review
Introduction Black Friday has become synonymous with Waves releasing exciting new plugins for free, and this year is no exception. Meet the Waves IDX Intelligent Dynamics Compressor, a sleek tool designed to enhance your mix with precision dynamics control. For a...
Unveiling the Console 1 MK3 Fader
Introduction The moment we've all been waiting for is finally here—the Console 1 MK3 Fader has arrived, and it’s set to revolutionize your mixing workflow. In this blog post, I'll be walking you through all the features of this powerful new tool and showing you how it...
Why Every Aspiring Artist Needs Music Production Courses
Unleashing Your Artistic Potential Artistry is a journey of self-discovery, a path we embark upon to explore the depths of our creativity. It’s an expression of our innermost thoughts, emotions, and experiences. As an aspiring artist, you have a unique voice...
When to Use Fast Attack Compression
I recently got a great question: "When should I use a fast compressor attack time?" It’s one of those things that might seem simple, but knowing when to dial in a fast attack can make a huge difference in your mixes. So I figured, why not break it all down for you?...
Best UAD Plugins for Beginners
Introduction When you're just getting started with music production, figuring out which plugins to invest in can feel like a daunting task. If you’re using Universal Audio (UAD) gear, you’ve probably noticed there are tons of plugins available, each promising to take...
Understanding Stereo Imaging in Music Production
Introduction What is Stereo Imaging? Stereo imaging is a crucial aspect of music production that deals with the spatial placement of sounds within a stereo field. In simpler terms, it refers to the way audio elements are positioned and perceived in the left, right,...
Mastering FabFilter Pro-Q3: Top 5 Techniques for Pro-Level Mixing
Introduction As a mixing and mastering engineer, I've spent countless hours fine-tuning my workflow and experimenting with various tools to achieve the perfect sound. One plugin that has consistently impressed me with its versatility and precision is FabFilter's...
Choosing the Best Mastering Studio for Your Music
What is Mastering? Definition of Mastering: Mastering is the final step in the audio production process, where the mixed audio is polished and prepared for distribution. This involves enhancing the overall sound quality, ensuring consistency across all tracks, and...
