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While the signal chains that I use for tracks in a mix are ever changing and things are moved around, added, or changed out as needed throughout the mixing process, I do start from a common spot most of the time. This basic signal chain allows me to get...

One of the things that I spend a lot of time on before I hit the record button on any project is getting sounds right on the way in.  Mixing starts here.  I know that it’s a really basic concept, but in this world of massive plug-in libraries, advanced...

As every mix engineer knows, it’s important to listen to a mix on different systems to get a different perspective on it.  At multiple points in a mix, I bounce it and take it out to the car and listen to it.  Many of you likely do the same...

When working with artists during pre-production or recording rehearsals, I will often use a handheld, digital recorder with built in stereo mics for capture.  Because of sheer convenience when on location, it’s really easy to pull out the digital recorder and hit record.  Often times though, the resulting stereo...

In my first blog post, I talked about a “less is more” approach as it relates to setting input levels in digital recording. Ultimately, though, “less is more” applies to a lot of different areas of my recording and mixing routine, especially when it comes to equalization. I make...

In part 1 of our look at templates, I shared how I use session templates for recording sessions.  In part 2, I share how I use separate templates for mixing and songwriting. Mix Templates As you probably noticed in my last post, I referred to the template used for...

Most DAW software offers some sort of template functionality.  These session templates can be major time savers because you can store all of the channels, buses, inputs, outputs, and plug-ins that you use routinely in a session template and create new sessions including all of those assignments in an...

You know how it goes. You’ve recorded a song digitally. After spending hours mixing, adjusting, listening, taking it out the car, re-adjusting, re-listening, your digital recording just doesn’t sound as good as a comparable professionally recorded song. Your recording sounds “more harsh” or doesn’t have the “air” or “space”...