mixing

Mixing Is Arranging.

Mixing is arranging. Nowadays most mixing problems stem from lack of decisions. If your song sounds muddy, it probably is. Too much information fighting for the same frequencies. Good arranging is like good writing. You aim to convey your message in the fewest possible number of words. Clarify your idea. Use fewer words. Fewer notes. Fewer instruments. When facing this problem, try muting parts one by one. Appreciate the difference, then decide. Complex and busy arrangements do have their place. But it takes a lot of experience to make them work seamlessly. ﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋ Alma Mater Today I’m featuring this… Read More »Mixing Is Arranging.

Mastering Your Own Mixes? Think Again

Mastering your own mixes makes zero sense. There, I said it. I see so many young cats these days doing everything themselves. Everything. On the one hand, I’m proud of them for not being afraid. On the other, I resent them for not realising their mistake. Mastering your own tracks is the biggest de-service you can do them. There is a reason why we have mastering engineers. There’s also a reason why mastering studios cost a fortune to build. These days, though, none of that seems to matter anymore. Anyone with a laptop and a (cracked) license for Ozone will… Read More »Mastering Your Own Mixes? Think Again

Summer Break: Does Your Music Sound Amateurish?

Here we are, The Summer Break Series, Volume 5. August is always a busy month for me. As the cities spill onto the beaches, studio rates go down. It’s the best time of the year to work on the indie-est of projects. I always try to take some time off as well, go see my family in France, and make some music for myself. That adds up pretty fast to a busy summer. This year is no different. Even busier than the previous one, actually. Not complaining: busy is good. Makes me feel alive. But I digress. Today I want… Read More »Summer Break: Does Your Music Sound Amateurish?

The Les Paul: The Worst Guitar Gibson Has Ever Made?

Oooh, I can hear you lads from here. Through the screen and from hundreds of kilometres away. The gasps and the screams. What is he saying? How dare he insult the finest piece of guitar history ever designed by the Kalamazoo syndicate?! The guitar that inspired so many and became the emblem of rock’n’roll? A shape so iconic it became a logo? A shape so legendary that it never went out of style? It’s true: the Les Paul and its shape are very much alive. It still is one of the most copied designs on the market. Gibson itself releases… Read More »The Les Paul: The Worst Guitar Gibson Has Ever Made?

Redefining Music Production: What Does The Big Word Even Mean Today?

What is music production? Or its more colloquial variant, what the fuck do you even do? And why should I hire you, mate? Even people in our industry seem confused by the term. Especially artists. They pop the question a lot. It ranks pretty high on Google. Which is why I’m writing today, obviously. Be a lamb and say a prayer to the SEO gods for me, please. It seems like, if you have a laptop, an audio interface and a pair of headphones, you qualify as a music producer. That’s pretty much it. If you have an USB microphone,… Read More »Redefining Music Production: What Does The Big Word Even Mean Today?