I was mixing a kick drum the other day and experimented with a fancy sub-bass plug-in to add some extra low-end oomph. I had added it earlier in the session but forgot about it, so it sat bypassed on the track until later in the mixing session. It added some extra low-end thickness when I...
How can you compete with those who churn out content nonstop? Whether they’re releasing songs every month, publishing content every day, or recording a podcast every week, it seems like they’re producing at a higher level than us mere mortals. I want to knock on their door and demand the key to their extra-dimensional office...
So… you’ve mastered the art of mixing and producing music, and you can’t wait to take on new clients so you can finally use all your new gear. But one question eludes you: “How much should I charge to mix a song?” It’s an elusive question, and in all honesty, there’s no right answer. It’s...
I woke up at Procrastination Station this morning. I knew “Recording Acoustic Guitar” was on my calendar, which was exciting to think about all week. All the way up until I actually had to get it done. I felt a little under the weather. I wasn’t sure if I had the right mic. Did my...
The person who gets in the way of your music-making is the same person you have to look at in the mirror every day. You. As much as we want to blame external factors, we are the biggest obstacle to finishing our work. Our mindset can be our greatest ally or our worst enemy. The...
I went to the studio on Friday to celebrate ten months of being alcohol-free. It’s amazing how much clarity, control, and confidence you get when you’re not poisoning your brain every day. But I digress; you’re here for the recording and mixing tips. Here are the two biggest lessons I learned from my recent recording...
Here are three reasons you should go to audio school and the number one reason why you shouldn’t. I come across this question in online forums all the time. “Should I go to an audio school?” “Is it worth studying audio engineering or music production?” People love to chime in with their opinions on this...
Read as many music production books as possible, and you’ll know more than most people calling themselves “music producers” online. Having devoted most of my life to pursuing audio engineering knowledge, I’ve read a small shipping container’s worth of audio engineering information over the years. But some stand out from the rest. The following books...
Is email marketing for musicians still a viable strategy for growing your music career? Short answer: yes. Long answer: read this Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing for Musicians and Producers. Death to Email Marketing? Whenever a new digital marketing strategy rolls around, somebody inevitably pronounces that “email marketing is dead!” But email marketing is like...
After EQ, compression is THE most powerful tool for making punchy and powerful mixes. It’s easy enough to use compression to slam your drums, push your vocals out of the speakers, and glue your mix together. But it gets a little trickier when you’re compressing a piano track. Depending on the performance and style of...