Audio Mixing Tutorials

Harmonics and overtones oftentimes get confused for one another because they share a lot in common and both relate to the frequencies of audio. Let’s try to clarify the subtle difference between harmonics and overtones with this quick comparison. What Are Harmonics As I explained in my overview of what are harmonics in music, harmonics… Read more: The Difference Between Harmonics and Overtones – A Quick Comparison

Mixing in mono is one of those things that a lot of have heard about but might not know why it’s so commonly recommended, or maybe even know what it matters but still don’t do it. Whichever side of the coin you fall on, here is how to mix in mono and just as importantly… Read more: How and Why to Check Your Mix in Mono – 3 Benefits

Sidechaining in mixing terms has a number of uses both practical and aesthetic for a bit of ear candy, depending on how it’s applied. Let’s identify what is sidechaining and more importantly talk how to use sidechaining in mixing like the pros. What is Sidechaining Sidechaining in the context of mixing refers to controlling some… Read more: How to Use Sidechaining in Mixing Like the Pros

I talk a lot about harmonics when I’m talking about EQ or saturation – anything which deals with the frequencies of audio. With that in mind, I thought I’d put together a quick definition as the title suggests of what are harmonics in music. What Are Harmonics As they relate to music, harmonics are higher… Read more: What Are Harmonics in Music – A Quick Definition

One of the simultaneously simplest yet most challenging aspects of mixing is properly setting your levels. In other words, this is setting the volume of every track in your mix relative to every other track. There are a number of things to keep in mind, so let’s talk how to set your mixing levels to… Read more: How to Set Your Mixing Levels – The Perfect Balance

I’ve used this metaphor before, but mixing is like putting together a complicated puzzle. Every track has a perfect spot in the mix which is created by level setting and adjustments via processing. A great sounding mix is one which has all of its tracks arranged in just the right way relative to every other… Read more: How to Use Complementary EQ to Fix Your Mix

In talking about EQ and saturation here on Music Guy Mixing, I reference overtones quite a bit as they relate to the frequencies of the audio we’re processing. With that in mind, I thought it would be fitting to put together a quick definition of what are overtones in music to better explain this concept.… Read more: What Are Overtones in Music – A Quick Definition

The tone of an acoustic guitar can significantly be altered for a brighter or warmer tone via EQ, but just as importantly we can correct issues with our acoustic via EQ. This acoustic EQ guide will cover all scenarios. Acoustic EQ Guide Before we get into the acoustic EQ moves I recommend, I want to… Read more: Acoustic EQ – Every Frequency to Cut or Boost on Acoustic Guitar

While as a general rule we want to keep our snare panned in the center of the mix (see my drum panning guide), adding some size to our snare after the fact can help it sit better in the mix overall and give this top-three essential component of the mix the real estate it deserves.… Read more: 4 Proven Ways to Add Snare Width to Your Mix

One of the most important types of processing in mixing is EQ as this allows you to sculpt the tone of your audio by cutting or boosting certain frequencies. In my many EQ cheat sheets (grab my free ULTIMATE EQ cheat sheet if you haven’t already, by the way), I talk about fundamental frequencies of… Read more: What is a Fundamental Frequency in Music – A Quick Definition

Saturation is a great effect to use alongside EQ to fill out the sound of a lot of instruments in your mix. Today I’m going to focus on how we can use snare saturation to do just that or even add some transient grit to your snare. How to Use Snare Saturation There are a… Read more: How to Use Snare Saturation to Thicken Out Your Snare

I recently did a complete overview on how to mix drums, including detailed EQ cheat sheets and compression cheat sheets for every single piece of the kit. While processing individual pieces in your kit is a huge part of getting your drums as a whole to sound their best, I love adding processing to the… Read more: How to Process Your Drum Bus Like the Pros

Chorus is a modulation based effect which relies on an LFO, or low frequency oscillator, to actively affect two major parameters of your audio track you apply it to, namely its timing and pitch. As I’ve covered in my many chorus tutorials, chorus can be used to add width to a track or tracks, achieve… Read more: The Best Chorus Plugin (Free and Premium)

When we think saturation, we typically think drums and vocals as the main two targets in terms of types of audio which can benefit from this effect. While it certainly doesn’t need it across the board every time, but I actually like to use bass saturation in a couple of specific instances to correct a… Read more: Bass Saturation – How to Use Saturation on Bass

Parallel compression is a great way to add some energy and thickness to your drum kit, so let’s talk parallel compression, including what it is, how and why it works, and the settings I like to use when using parallel compression on drums. What is Parallel Compression Parallel compression refers to taking a duplicate instance… Read more: How to Use Parallel Compression on Drums (With Settings)

Chorus is a useful modulation based effect for creating some interesting shifting aesthetic effects in your mix. More practically, chorus allows you to add more size on your track of choice, making it a very useful effect to use on acoustic guitar. With that in mind, let’s talk about how to use chorus on acoustic… Read more: How to Use Chorus on Acoustic Guitar (The Best Settings)

I put together an ode to Decapitator from Soundtoys, talking about this plugin and even crowning it the best saturator plugin. This is an impressive feat considering this plugin came out over a decade ago and hasn’t had any updates aside from compatibility (see 64 bit vs 32 bit plugins). While its interface is extremely… Read more: The Decapitator Style Button (The Best Use For Each)

The drums as a whole are one of the most important elements as they are collectively the backbone of your mix. They represent the tempo, rhythm, and energy. If the drums aren’t mixed well, an otherwise perfect mix will still greatly suffer. This is why it’s generally a good idea to begin your mix by… Read more: How to Mix Drums – A Complete Guide

Chorus is an effect which uses a low frequency oscillator, or LFO, to modulate the pitch and timing of audio. By evolving these parameters in real time, it gives the impression of unique instances of that audio, creating natural width in a track as opposed to simply duplicating it and creating a carbon copy which… Read more: The Best Chorus Settings to Dial Into Your Track

I recently talked about impulse response on guitar and how you can use it to get better and more realistic sounding guitar. A similar principle can be applied to your reverb to simulate the spaces used on your favorite records, so let’s identify why is impulse response in reverb. What is Impulse Response in Reverb… Read more: What is Impulse Response in Reverb (and How to Use It)