mixing
21 articles about mixing
How to Use Reference Tracks: The Pro Mixing Secret
Reference tracks are how professionals avoid mix blindness. Learn to use them effectively without losing your own sound.
Delay Settings for Vocals: From Subtle to Dramatic
How to use delay on vocals without creating a muddy mess. Practical settings for slap, tempo-sync, and throw delays.
Volume Automation in Mixing: The Secret to Professional Mixes
Compression isn't enough. Learn how volume automation separates amateur mixes from professional ones.
What is Compression? The Complete Beginner's Guide
A clear, beginner-friendly explanation of audio compression—what it is, how it works, when to use it, and how to get started without ruining your mix.
Best EQ Plugins for Mixing: What Actually Matters
A no-BS, opinionated breakdown of the best EQ plugins for mixing—what types matter, which ones are industry standards, and when free EQs are more than enough.
How Much Reverb on Vocals? Finding the Sweet Spot
The practical guide to adding the right amount of reverb to vocals without drowning them.
Mixing on Headphones vs Monitors: What You Need to Know
The real differences between mixing on headphones and monitors, and how to get good results with either.
Why Your Vocals Don't Sit in the Mix
The real reasons your vocals sound separate from the instrumental and how to make them blend.
De-Essing Vocals: How to Fix Sibilance
How to tame harsh 's' and 'sh' sounds in vocals without making the singer sound like they have a lisp.
Parallel Compression on Drums: The New York Secret
How to use parallel compression to make drums huge without killing the dynamics.
Why Your Mix Sounds Muddy (And How to Fix It)
The real reasons your mixes sound muddy and the specific fixes that actually work.
Sidechain Compression: The Complete Guide
How to use sidechain compression for kick/bass separation, the Daft Punk pump, and cleaner mixes.
Vocal Compression Settings: What Actually Works
Practical vocal compression settings that work. No theory overload—just the numbers that get results.
Gain Staging: Why Your Mix Sounds Like Shit
The fundamental skill that separates amateur mixes from professional ones. It's not sexy, but it matters.
Mixing 808s That Hit Without Destroying Your Mix
How to get 808s that punch through on any system without turning your low end into mud.
Vocal EQ: Stop Copying Settings and Start Listening
Why those 'best vocal EQ settings' you found online don't work, and what to do instead.
Mixing Mistakes I Made (So You Don't Have To)
The dumb stuff I did for years before figuring out what actually matters.
Reverb Types: What Actually Matters
A no-BS guide to reverb types from someone who's built them from scratch.
EQ Types: The Stuff That Actually Matters
Parametric, passive, shelving—what the differences actually are and why you should care.
What 'Analog Warmth' Actually Is
Everyone talks about analog warmth. Almost nobody can explain what it actually means. Here's my attempt, from someone who's spent way too much time trying to model it in code.
Saturation: The Most Misunderstood Tool in Your DAW
Everyone uses saturation. Most people use it wrong. Here's what's actually happening and how to use it intentionally.