Mixing / mastering / audio plugins
Practical guides for the moments when another plugin is easy to add and the right decision is harder to hear.
AI-assisted guides. How we make them.
Subscribe with RSSDiagnose the sound that needs attention, choose a focused treatment, and check the result in the full mix.
3 min read
Find whether low-mid congestion comes from arrangement, level, tails or tone before cutting the same frequencies on every track.
Read guide: Why your mix sounds muddy, and what to check first3 min read
Compare lifting existing treble with adding harmonic texture, and choose a brightening move that stays comfortable in the mix.
Read guide: EQ vs exciter: two different ways to add brightness3 min read
Choose between a level-dependent EQ band and a consonant-focused detector using the sound and timing of the problem.
Read guide: Dynamic EQ vs de-esser: which should you use?3 min read
Tell sharp consonants from hard vowels and processing artifacts, then use a treatment that targets the actual problem.
Read guide: Vocal sibilance vs harshness: diagnose before de-essingTrace level through the session and compare processors fairly before deciding what belongs in the chain.
3 min read
Compare EQ, compression and enhancement at similar perceived loudness so the useful change survives bypass.
Read guide: How to level-match plugins before choosing a sound3 min read
Trace level through your session, distinguish plugin drive from fader balance, and stop fixing overload at the wrong point.
Read guide: Gain staging before plugins: a practical session checkUse Silk for a specific finishing move, with engine versions, dependencies and listening checks explained.
3 min read
Use a drum-submix comparison to decide whether Silk adds useful openness, exposes a source problem, or leaves the original balance as the better choice.
Read guide: Add air without harshness: a Silk listening workflowWith your permission, Google Analytics measures site use and Meta measures advertising performance. Both are optional. Privacy policy
