Tips & Tricks
5 more audio effects you’re probably not using enough
We've all heard of the more commonly used audio effects, compression, chorus, reverb, delay... You get the idea, but what about the ones you repeatedly skip over when scrolling through your list of plugins? The ones you don't see a million YouTube tutorials on because they're just not as cool or fun. Does that mean they aren't as useful?
Read more →Everything you need to know about reverb
Audio engineers and music producers are often after a very direct sound. This is the reason microphones are typically placed very close to the source. This captures the source with a lot of detail but also takes out most of the natural ambiance of the room. Most producers usually prefer to use emulated spaces that are exaggerated. The ability to use multiple types of reverb with different tonalities helps give the production depth, contrast, and keep things interesting.
Read more →9 things you should do to win over your clients
One of the most common questions I hear young engineers and producers asking is, "how do I get clients?" They should really be asking how they keep the ones they already have. It's way easier to keep a client than it is to gain a new one!
Read more →5 more things they don’t teach you in audio school
You need to have characteristics and skills that go beyond just turning knobs and making things sound good. Now I’m sure some schools with music production programs will touch on some of the things that I am going to mention, but touching on the subject and emphasizing it, are not the same thing.
Read more →20 quick and easy tips that will improve your productions (part 3)
On a vocal try using one compressor with a fast attack to control the peaks and a second with a slower attack for tone and character. Try closing your eyes and listening to your mix every once and awhile. We mix with our ears not our eyes!
Read more →20 quick and easy tips that will improve your productions (part 2)
Try automating the master fader 1 or 2 decibels in the chorus to add excitement. Decide what takes you like and make comps right away. Don't leave important decisions for later!
Read more →20 quick and easy tips that will improve your productions
I recently started a new series called "Quick tips" on the Audio Hertz Instagram account and decided it would be a good idea to compile them all together and put them up as a single post. Here are my first 20 quick and easy tips that are guaranteed to improve your productions.
Read more →6 audio effects you’re not using enough
If I could only have one effect or plugin, it would be a good saturator. You can use saturation to do just about everything from compressing to distorting to just adding color or harmonics to enhance the overall tone.
Read more →How to mix faster with the pink noise mixing trick
You’ve probably used your favorite commercially produced song to check mixes and reference overall levels, but have you ever tried using pink noise? With this trick, you’ll use pink noise as a reference to check your tracks and make sure the overall balances are relatively even.
Read more →5 more mixing mistakes that I used to make… and how to avoid them
Kick drum? Compress it! Guitar amp? Distort it! Vocals? Reverb it! Ok, the majority of the time, I will compress the kick drum, distort a guitar, or put reverb on a vocal, but I need to be sure I have a good reason for doing so. In the past, I’ve found myself jumping to an EQ or a compressor without first deciding the problem I was trying to solve.
Read more →How to calibrate your studio monitors
Monitoring is arguably the most important part of mixing. Without being able to hear the music properly, you won't be able to mix it. Your monitors, room treatment, and your positioning are all critical factors in ensuring you’re able to deliver mixes that translate to different speakers.
Read more →8 things you can do to help preserve your hearing
Loud noises are everywhere. The construction site across the street, the local bar on a Friday night... I’ve even been to painfully loud restaurants. I’m probably stating the obvious for most readers, but for those that don’t have ear protection or carry protection with them, I highly recommend it.
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