Blog notes from the studio.
Guides on beat licences, mixing, mastering and production, written from the way I work.
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The loudness war: why I deliver my beats at around −6 dBFS peak
Why my beats sound quieter on purpose: the loudness war, Spotify's −14 LUFS normalisation and the headroom you need to mix your vocal without crushing the beat.
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The stereo field: stereo, mono and how to open a mix without breaking it
Stereo vs mono, panning, width and mid/side, phase cancellation and why kick, bass and 808 stay mono. How I use a wide stereo image without losing mono.
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How to choose a beat licence: a guide for artists
Non-exclusive, exclusive, MP3, WAV, trackouts… What each term means, which questions to ask yourself before buying, and where to check the exact terms.
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What to prepare before ordering a master
Headroom, no limiter on the master bus, 24-bit WAV, references and clear notes: the checklist so your mix arrives ready and the master gets the best out of it.
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Mixing vs mastering: the differences and when you need each
They're almost always mentioned together, but they're two different processes. What each one does, why mastering can't fix a bad mix, and how to tell what your track needs.
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Psychoacoustics applied to production: we mix for a brain
How we perceive sound and how to use it when producing: louder seems better, masking, localisation, the precedence effect and the bass the brain reconstructs.
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Sound design for producers: what it is and when you need it
What sound design is, how sounds are made by recording, synthesising and layering, how much I use it in my beats, and where to find effects with clear licences.
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Less is more: process only what your mix needs
Before inserting a plugin, ask yourself why. Problem by problem, the minimum tool to solve it, and why investing in knowledge beats buying yet more plugins.
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Compressor types: which to use and when (VCA, opto, FET and Vari-Mu)
VCA, optical, FET, Vari-Mu and one-knob: how each type of compressor works, the character it adds, and when I use it on vocals, drums, 808s and mix buses.
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WAV, FLAC or MP3: which format to get when you buy a beat
WAV, FLAC and MP3 compared, lossy vs lossless audio, and which format to get for writing, recording or mixing: a quick guide before you buy your next beat.
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EQ for beginners: how to stop your sounds stepping on each other
Fundamental frequency, harmonics, sweeping with a parametric EQ, and high-pass, low-pass, shelf, notch and dynamic EQ: the foundation for a clear, balanced mix.
