Mixing

At its core, a compressor is not actually such a complicated device.

When everything is stereo, nothing is stereo.

When the TV is on too loud and you turn it down, you are acting like a compressor.

Your reverb has a job to do.

Let’s talk about why you’re having a hard time hearing compression.

As soon as you send a signal anywhere, your stereo output, your headphones, you’re using a bus.

Level and volume are used interchangeably but measure different things. The technical distinction every producer should know.

When you place reverb on a channel, does it sound different than when you put it on a bus?

"Pre-delay is about more than just the time between the original sound and the onset of reverb, as you may have heard." Most people assume that reverb time is the factor that tells you how large a space you’re simulating, but actually there’s a lot more going on.

You have what’s known as an echo threshold.

A440. Here’s what we’re talking about. What it means is when I play this note, this string vibrates at 440 times a second. An octave up, 880. An octave down,…

Today we’re gonna build something.

Let’s clear up some of the noise around mixing in headphones and why maybe it’s not a great idea if you’re just starting …

Okay, let’s talk about compressor ratio and let’s imagine that instead of pitch, this is level.

The next time you reach for the attack or release on a compressor, instead of thinking of them as a time, think of it as the gas and the brakes.

Should I be concerned that the top part of this waveform is bigger than the bottom?

I think it’s important to set benchmarks for yourself.

Don’t be intimidated by a compressor, you deal with stuff like this all the time.

If your compressor has a knee, it’s offering you something of a compromise.

Here are two really fast workflow features that’ll help you with labeling things and making markers in Logic Pro.

Stereosaurus, monoreverb.

"Heh, Nathan." I initially responded to a mastering session and have never been replied to.

When you use a classic speed up or slow down effect to change the pitch of a sound, you’re preserving the relationship between the sound’s fundamental frequency and its resonance in a way that is unnatural and sometimes beautiful.

You know how compressors make stuff quieter?

After the onset of the original sound, the anatomy of a reverb occurs in three distinct stages.

The power of a compressor really comes into its own as we start to adjust the attack and release time.

If you’ve ever tried to explain a compressor to someone who’s new to music production, there comes a moment where they look at you with a really puzzled expression, and it’s probably because they’ve heard the word used in two ways.

Cat gut? No. Despite what you may have heard, instruments are not strung with cat gut. Neither are tennis rackets. They never have been. Sheep gut? Sure, but not cat.…

Jack Nietzsche used to say, "Reverb is like garlic." You can never have too much.

Stereo is a dangerous word because most of you started producing music assuming you knew what it meant and most of you didn’t.

Think of an artist that you admire, and in the comment below, share what you think is their worst work.

"How do I know how much compression to use?" Just use your ears.

Hey teachers, when you ask your class any questions, it’s a little bit like saying, "Does everyone understand?" If you don’t hear anything, it doesn’t mean it’s time to move on.

Taking a break isn’t just critical for your body and your mind, but also your spirit.

Distortion comes in lots of flavors, but one thing they all share is that distortion adds high frequency content to your program material.

Welcome to your first day of mastering 101 at Beat Kitchen and I want you to look at the person on your left and look at the person on your right.

One of the hardest things about learning to mix, especially when you’re starting out, is you’ll have no way of knowing when you’re done.

This little unsung hero is part of my workflow in Logic and it’s called Create Track.

What came first? The musician or the instrument? It sounds a lot like the chicken and the egg question, which actually I think has been settled. From an evolutionary standpoint,…

You want to get better at mixing?

The flutter echo is created when you have two parallel surfaces.

For most of you, the whole hardware software debate is overblown.

So you’ve seen a few Beat Kitchen videos and you want to learn more about the whole program thing.

Unison, temperament, stretch.

I’m excited to announce that Beat Kitchen is launching our scholarship program with a pay what you can tuition option.

Who’s here for networking?

So the challenge is to make something every day and not worry how it comes out.