Category mixing

How to use Parallel Compression on Kicks

1176 Parallel Kick Compression

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.…

How To Use Pro Tools Automation

How To Use Automation In Pro Tools

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 the Phone Effect

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…

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…