A while back I worked on this atmospheric and sparse folk track for a client. A sparse arrangement means you get to experiment with a lot of space in your mix and some cool effects on the vocals. I always strive to make sure everything can be heard clearly in a mix, but this time it was...
Making your backing vocals stand out without cluttering up the lead vocal is tricky. You want them to add depth and push to the lead melody, but you need to do so without taking the attention away from the powerful lead vocal. Here are 3 useful ways to make your backing vocals blend in better....
You ever feel like your backup vocals get in the way of the lead vocal? You have these beautiful harmonies that work in theory, but in the mix, they just step all over each other in the mix. This week I’ll be spending some time on helping you fix that particular problem. You’ll get tips...
Monday morning, the mix is callin’! Actually, the mix isn’t calling me because I’m relaxing at a ranch in Guadalajara, Mexico with some friends. But that’s no excuse not to help you out with some quick tips you can use in your mixes this week. Whatever the genre, these mixing tips work on every mix,...
“What?!?” you exclaim. “Another #$&$# email about his stupid masterclass about something or another I should try out to fix my mixes!” you scream at your email inbox. Your significant other silently wonders if this is the day you finally get committed. “He’s been on edge lately,” she later admits to her inner circle of...
Parallel processing isn’t just a mixing trick. You can also use it during recording to get a better performance from your vocalist. Here’s a quick trick from the Parallel Processing Masterclass you probably haven’t heard of. “Parallel processing can make your vocals sound huge. Here are a few advanced techniques to try out when you want...
Recently, I found myself video chatting with a group of audio bloggers and podcasters about the glorious safety that is the Kingdom of Canada, compared to our crime-riddled shantytowns down here in Trumpistan. “Canada is so safe. We always forget to lock our doors and it’s fine!” This is a story I’ve heard often, and...
If you’re anything like my 1-on-1 mix coaching students, your mixes are already pretty decent. You understand how to create a rough balance, add some separation between the instruments with EQ, add punch and dynamics with compression and create depth with effects. Even so, with the basics of mixing down, you might feel like your...
You receive quite a lot of audio production tips here on Audio Issues, so you’ve probably got the hang of the technical side of things when it comes to running your home studio. But what about transforming it into a “professional” recording studio? I don’t mean buying a building and building a huge commercial facility....
Tim Ferriss asked Rick Rubin, one of the most successful producers in the world, a question some people might wonder about. What does a producer really do? He said he didn’t know, and that he could only tell Tim what he did and what’s worked for him. I can relate to that because I don’t...