Mix & Master Blog
Insights, Tutorials, Reviews, oh my!
5 Things Artists Should Know About Record Deals
After years of producing, mixing, and mastering for tons of indie artists in Boston, I got the great chance to work on an album that would turn out to be the first indie album to go #1 on iTunes. Sammy Adams's album blew up overnight! Next thing I knew we were on a...
The difference between mono and stereo tracks
When I first started working in studios the difference between mono and stereo was much clearer. Part of the reason was track count, sometimes you only had 24 to 48 tracks for all your music and vocals. So if a kick drum was only one channel you wanted to make sure...
How to make songs the same volume
When presenting your music you want to make sure it sounds the best it can. One of the main concerns is to make sure that the volume is the same. I highly recommended you get this done by a professional mastering engineer, but if you can't afford it or don't have the...
Setting up a Tempo Based Reverb
One thing you have plenty of options with is reverb. There are Halls, Plates, Springs, Chambers, Rooms, Ambiance and everything in between. It's hard to know where to begin. I like to start with a few different kinds of reverb and then narrow it down to the one's I...
How to Prepare Your Songs for Mastering
Understanding the Basics of Song Mastering What is Song Mastering? Mastering is often likened to the final polish of a gem. It's the last stage in the music production process, where a song is fine-tuned to sound cohesive, polished, and ready for distribution. This...
The Best way to Record Vocals at Home
The two biggest issues that come up when clients send vocal files they recorded at home are distortion and room noise. Hard surfaces create reverb reflections that bounce all over the room and back into the mic. This makes a real unpleasant "reverby room" sound that...
Mastering Tricks Using Ozone 5
Ozone 5 is a great tool for mastering. I don't use every feature on it, but I do use a few. In the video below I go over the one's I use. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_5gri99kP0
How to Convert MIDI to Audio
Today, I'm going to share a comprehensive review of how to convert MIDI to audio in every single DAW. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource, whether you're a beginner just starting out or a seasoned pro trying to remember how to do it. From the popular...
How to Separate a Drum Loop
If you make beats with drum loops, you might be familiar with the limitations you have when it comes to mixing. If the kick or snare is to loud your stuck with it. However, there are a few things you can do to separate the sounds by frequency to make level...
The Two Most Important Things About a Mix
The two most important things about a mix are volume and panning. That is what about 40% of your mix is all about. This is where you get your levels, and give every instrument it's own space. It's easy to get lost with all the new gear that promises "this plugin will...
Creating Drake’s Marvins Room Reverb Effect
I was mixing a song for one of my clients, and thought it would be cool to use the same kind of delayed reverb effect Drake did on Marvin's room. It didn't really work out for the song but I thought it would make for a great tutorial, so check it out....
Parallel Kick Compression
Getting your kick to stand out in a mix can be a tricky subject, but when done properly it can really help out a mix. There are multiple ways you can setup your parallel compression. You can create a send and a return, or duplicate the track. The real trick is to...
How To Use Automation In Pro Tools
How to Master Automation in Pro Tools: A Professional's Guide Hello there! I'm Matty, a seasoned mixing and mastering engineer. Today, I'm excited to dive deep into a topic that's close to my heart and crucial in the world of digital audio production: How to Use...
How to Create a Radio Edit of Your Song
So you got your song all mixed and you can't wait to put it out, but the only problem is you have one swear word( or many) and radio won't play it. Luckily there are many ways you can edit swear words to make the song still sound natural. The best time to do it is...
Setting Up Virtual Instruments in Pro Tools
Never used virtual instruments in pro tools? I made a quick video on how to setup, and use virtual instruments. I also go over how to convert them to audio. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMvNCi9Zspo
Setting up a Pro Tools Mix Template
This week I go over how I set up a Pro Tools session before I start a new mix or song. Being organized is huge when it comes to mixing and mastering, so make sure to check this out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iuai2_Fun3Q
How to Create the Phone Effect
How to Create a Phone Effect in Any DAW Introduction I'm excited to share my expertise on a fascinating topic in audio production – creating a phone effect in any Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Phone effects have been a go-to technique for producers and artists to...
Hip-Hop Vocal Effects
Leaving off where the last post ended on EQ and Compression, I wanted to talk about effects I use for Hip-Hop Vocals. Hip-Hop Vocals are usually pretty dry but in the video I show you how you can use slap delay, harmonizer and light reverb to make them stick out in...
How to Release a Mixtape
So you got your songs mixed and mastered (by a pro I hope) and your ready to release your 1st mixtape. But what do you do now? There are tons of sites you can release it on. datpiff.com, djbooth.net, and livemixtapes are great places to start. Also if you want to...
How To Setup Reverb
When using reverb in Pro Tools or any DAW, there are three main ways you can set it up. You can use as a aux send and return, apply the reverb directly on the track, or process the reverb into the audio file. There are advantages and disadvantages to each one, let's...
How to Fly a Hook
Introduction A powerful hook can be the difference between a song that lingers in the background and one that captivates listeners from the first note. A hook is the catchy, memorable element of a song that grabs the audience's attention and makes them want to hear it...
How to find the Auto-Tune Key
How to Find the Auto-Tune Key for Pitch-Perfect Sound Editing As a professional mixing and mastering engineer, I know the importance of achieving the best possible sound quality in all projects. One tool that can greatly improve the pitch of your audio is Auto-Tune,...