New Music Gear Monday: Two Notes Torpedo Captor X+ Load Box

Software and hardware amplifier simulators are so good these days that you might think that amplifiers are a thing of the past. If you have a favorite amp with a favorite sound, you still want to use it without blowing the walls down, you already know the appeal of a reactive load box. Two Notes […]

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Maybe A Click Track Isn’t The Best Idea

I can remember when I first started to work in the studio how much musicians resisted using a click track. “It’s unnatural. Speeding up and slowing down gives the music a better feel,” was what you heard all the time. The thing is, they were not wrong . . . but the world has gone […]

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Mixing’s Biggest Problem With Richard Chycki On My Latest Podcast

On this week’s podcast episode, I talk with Richard Chycki, the multi-platinum mixer and engineer behind work with Rush, Dream Theater, Aerosmith, Mick Jagger, Alice Cooper, and Pink. We had a insightful discussion about decision making in recording, immersive audio workflow, and why Atmos still needs clearer standards for mixers who want their work to […]

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New Music Gear Monday: Plugin Station Audio Plugin Manager App

If you’re like most producers and engineers, you’ve accumulated a lot of plugins over the years. That probably numbers in the dozens, maybe hundreds, from all different manufacturers, each with their own installers, license managers, and update systems. Keeping track of what’s installed, what’s up to date, and what’s compatible with your current OS can […]

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6 Relatively New Microphones That Have Become Classics

While many believe that microphone technology hasn’t really improved in at least 30 years, a host of new mics have taken the technology to the next step. Some have even become classics in their own right and can be found as standard equipment in mic lockers the world over. In this excerpt from the 5th […]

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Vocal Secrets With Craig Anderton On My Latest Podcast

On this week’s podcast episode, I talk with author, musician, and lecturer Craig Anderton for Part 2 of our conversation, this time about vocal production, mixing strategy, performance dynamics, and the deeper decisions that separate polished recordings from generic ones. From gain envelopes and vocal detail work to inside out mixing, minimal plugin philosophy, and […]

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New Music Gear Monday: Sonible pure:level Dynamic Leveling Plugin

One of the most tedious tasks in any mix is dealing with level inconsistencies in a vocal or dialogue track. A singer gets excited and the level spikes, then backs off during a softer phrase, and suddenly you’re riding the fader constantly instead of actually mixing. Compression can help, but it changes the dynamics in […]

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An Update On Native Instruments Insolvency

I’m sure you’ve heard me rant on about private equity funds that acquire companies only to sell them off for parts just to ensure their investors make a profit. These PE companies generally don’t care much about the users of the acquired company’s products, which is a shame since it usually means that a good […]

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How Music Industry Changes You Might Not Be Aware Of Can Affect You On My Latest Podcast

On this week’s episode, I break down the latest music industry news and production trends, connecting the dots between business shifts, platform power, legacy gear, and loudness myths to give you a better understanding of where the industry is heading. If you want a sharper view of the modern music business without hype, this episode […]

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New Music Gear Monday: Shure MVX2U Gen 2 Digital Audio Interface

We live in a world where we can record just about anything, any time and in any place, thanks to our phones, tablets, and laptops. The problems come when we want to up the quality by adding a more professional microphone than what’s built into these devices. Yes, there are many small and portable audio […]

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The Results Of A Musician’s Mental Health Survey Were Not Good

It’s not easy being in the music business. It never was and it probably never will ever be. We’ve all experienced a mental health incident during our careers, but it wasn’t until the last few years that people have felt comfortable talking about it. Ditto Music conducted an artist survey on creative burnout and mental […]

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The Unique Human Fingerprint AI Can’t Match With Craig Anderton On My Latest Podcast

On this week’s podcast episode, Is AI really coming for your gig, or are most musicians worried about the wrong things entirely? In this episode of my Inner Circle Podcast, author, musician, and lecturer Craig Anderton breaks down what AI actually means for working artists, producers, and songwriters . . . . . . and […]

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New Music Gear Monday: Audioissues Threepeat Triple Delay Plugin

Like many mixers, I like to start my mix with three delays already set up: short, medium and long. I find this combination provides exactly what I need for almost any situation very quickly, from adding a little depth, to some glue, to a longer “throw” effect. If the setup is baked into a template […]

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Why Commercial Studios Are Still Necessary With Sam Rudy Of Pro Studio Time On My Latest Podcast

On this week’s podcast episode, what role do commercial recording studios really play in today’s home studio world? I sit down with Sam Rudy, founder of Pro Studio Time, to explore whether studios are still necessary for modern music production, or simply a creative luxury. From writing camps and residential studios to AI disruption and […]

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New Music Gear Monday: Xvive AT-2 Audio Tester Pro

The one thing we all hate is the inevitable troubleshooting that comes with having a studio. Sooner or later something won’t be working the way you expected, and trying to find out where the problem lies really sucks the creativity from a session. One little device that can make that process go a lot more […]

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