Even with pop filters in front of a microphone, plosives (pops) can still be an issue with some vocalists. However, there is a relatively simple fix that can quickly reduce or eliminate those loud pops from your vocal tracks.  Use a high-pass filter, or low shelving EQ, to roll off the low end of the […]

I'm curious as to how often you might (and I know it probably depends wildly) cut high frequencies as a matter of course. For example, I usually cut quite a bit of low frequencies on most tracks just to keep the muddiness to a minimum in the overall mix. Do you also do the same […]

Question: how do professionally recorded and/or mastered audio recordings get that "sheen" or that "glass-like quality" ? Is that something done in the mastering stage, or is it something done during the mixdown stage? Is it something done with a compressor? If so, how is it done? There really is no single answer to this […]

Is there any use for a multiband harmonic exciter? A harmonic exciter, I thought and correct me if I'm wrong, adds a high frequency "touch" to a sound. Couldn't an EQ do the same thing? What would be the advantage of multiband harmonic exciter? Harmonic exciters are different than EQ. EQ simply boosts or cuts […]

I'm attempting to mix a song and am trying to create a sense of depth. The delays are working well as are the reverbs. However, my question is more concerned with EQ'ing for a sense of depth. Instruments that are "right in your face" are the brightest, and as you move back (depth) in the […]

Question: I have a 2 channel BBE Sonic Maximizer (the rack mounted version). Theoretically, it claims to "realign the frequency or frequencies" that get "bent out of shape" when being reproduced out of a speaker. When recording with a DAW, is there any reason to use it? Can it improve the formation of a digital […]

This is my first post on this forum. Somehow I lost my original post after I previewed it. I read the article "3D and the Art of Mixing," I think it was called, where it discussed fitting frequencies together to keep mixes from getting messy, heavy, conflicting, etc.... My question: if two instruments both have […]

When you are mixing, do you use a low cut filter on the final mix and if so where? For example, on a mix will you set the low cut at 50Hz, or even higher?  If so, then how do you make the bass low end audible? Also, how do bands like The Roots get […]

I use Cubase SX 3.  I have a question regarding where one would use an effect like Ozone in the stereo bus chain.  Should it be used pre-fader or post-fader.  In Cubase there are eight slots on the stereo output bus.  Six of the eight are pre-fader and the last two are post-fader. Also, now […]

Here is a reply of mine to a person who asked about sound sculpting during a mix. Regarding sound sculpting, let me tell you about a very common mistake that beginners make during mixing (and sometimes tracking): An all too common practice during mixing is to solo up each sound all by itself and then […]