Mix & Master Blog
Insights, Tutorials, Reviews, oh my!
3 things to do before Sending your Songs to get mixed
Introduction: So Your Songs Are Ready for the World You’ve written the lyrics, recorded the parts, and lived with the demo long enough to know it’s finally ready. Whether your song is headed for Spotify, Apple Music, the radio, or just the aux cord at your next...
Top 3 EQ Plugins of 2016 (Updated for 2018!)
We live in a time that there are so many plugins to choose from. It’s somewhat overwhelming. However, even with the huge list of plugins I have ( I can’t help myself from buying them) I usually come back to the same 2 or 3. Some I use for surgical purposes and others...
Top 10 Mixing and Mastering Blogs
We’re lucky to live in a time when top-tier music production knowledge is just a click away. When I was getting started, the only way to truly learn how to mix and master was by going to school, interning at a studio (which, in my opinion, is still the best way), or...
How To Take Reverb Off Audio Files
Introduction: Why You Might Need to Remove Reverb in the First Place Reverb can be a beautiful thing. When used intentionally, it adds space, dimension, and a sense of realism to a recording. But when it’s baked into a file—whether from a poorly treated room,...
The Path to Signing a Record Deal
I've had the pleasure of working with quite a few artists who were independent but went on to sign a major label deal. I thought it might be interesting to go over how a few of them went from a indie artist to a signed act. I think what you'll find is there is no...
Using Different Kinds of Reverbs in a Mix
Reverb is a fascinating subject. Yet so many of us seem to not understand when and how to use it. For the most part I use 3 different kinds of reverbs. Plate,s Halls,and Rooms. They each have their own purpose and work well for different instruments. So lets go over...
3 Ways to make your Home Studio Sound Professional
3 Ways to Make Your Home Studio Sound Professional (That Don’t Involve Buying New Gear) Many people believe that buying expensive gear and plugins will give them the tools to create the album of their dreams. We see advertisements everywhere promising that the...
How to Record Vocals at Home
It is so easy to record vocals at home these days. All you really need is a mic, a computer and your ready to go. The only problem is you don't have a engineer that can set the mic and levels up properly. Many projects that are sent to me are recorded poorly. The most...
Soundtoys Tutorial
I gotta say I love Soundtoys plugins. I use them every day when I'm mixing and mastering. The Decapitator is amazing for adding everything from a little weight to full-on distortion. The Echoboy is a complete legend and is heard on countless hit records...
How To Make A Chorus Sound Bigger
One of the questions I get asked the most by clients is how to make a chorus sound bigger. Many people believe there's a special effect that will suddenly make their chorus sound huge and epic! Unfortunately that is not the case. While reverb, delay and other effects...
How To Make Virtual Synths Sound Warmer
Virtual synths are great. You get tons of sounds, amazing amounts of flexibility, and you can carry them all around in a laptop. Gone are the days of shlepping around stacks of keyboards and spending hours syncing them up with MIDI. Unfortunately the only complaint is...
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
What Is a Mono Track? When we talk about a mono track, we’re talking about a single audio channel — just one stream of audio that gets sent equally to both the left and right speakers. No fancy stereo spread, no panning tricks — just a centered, focused sound....
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
Understanding the Role of Reverb in a Mix Reverb does more than just make things sound “big.” It shapes the emotional landscape of a track. Whether you’re working on a stripped-back acoustic ballad or a tightly produced trap record, reverb can either glue the...
How to Prepare Your Songs for Mastering
Understanding the Basics of Song Mastering What is Song Mastering? Mastering, in my experience working with both major label and independent artists, is often the final polish that takes a song from “great” to “ready for release.” It's the last stage in the...
The Best way to Record Vocals at Home
Start with the Room, Not the Mic If there’s one thing I’ve learned after mixing thousands of vocals—many of them recorded at home—it’s that the room will make or break your vocal sound. And unfortunately, this is also the part most people ignore. We all love...
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
How to Separate a Drum Loop (The Smart Way) When you’re knee-deep in production and stumble on the perfect drum loop—but wish the kick wasn’t buried under a pile of hi-hats—you’re not alone. I’ve been there. Whether you’re making beats in your bedroom or...
The Two Most Important Things to Make Your Mix Sound Professional
Introduction After over 15 years of mixing records for artists across genres—from major label pop to gritty independent hip-hop—I can tell you this: the flashiest plugins won’t save a mix that doesn’t feel right. And if you’re wondering how to make your mix...
Creating Drake’s Marvins Room Reverb Effect
Introduction: Why This Effect Still Hits Hard There’s something hauntingly timeless about the vocal reverb on Marvin’s Room. Drake’s delivery is already intimate, but the way that vocal trails off—echoing in the distance, almost like a memory—elevates the...
How to use Parallel Compression on Kicks
If you’ve ever felt like your kick sounds good solo but disappears once everything else comes in — you’re not alone. Early in my career, especially working on EDM and pop sessions, I ran into that problem all the time. I’d get a killer kick sample, tweak the EQ, maybe...
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 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 As a professional mixing and mastering engineer, I’ve used the classic “phone effect” on countless records—whether it’s to add a lo-fi vibe to a vocal, create a transition moment in a track, or give a hook that...
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 Setup Reverb
How to Setup Reverb If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by all the reverb options in your DAW, you’re not alone. Whether you’re producing in Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton, or Studio One, reverb can be set up in a few different ways—and each method serves a different creative...
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,...
