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,…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
By Matty Harris | Updated 2025 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. When people ask me…
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.…
Pro Tools automation is something I touch on literally every mix. Even the simple ones. Even when I’m not thinking about it, I’m still riding levels, tweaking sends, automating something. If a mix feels polished and alive—like it’s breathing with the…
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…
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…
