What’s up everyone? ‘Tool back with another post. These days as a producer, having multiple streams of income is a must. I won’t hold you too long, so let’s get right to it.
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What’s going on everyone? ‘Tool back with another post. Compression is one of the most often misunderstood and overused effects when it comes to mixing. We’ll break down simple steps to make sure your settings are dialed in correctly.
What’s going on everyone? ‘Tool back with another post. What’s a vocal chain someone may ask? What’s the best order? Is there a one size fits all? These questions have been going around for years and they’ll probably never stop. We’ll answer some of those questions as we take a look into my general approach to mixing vocals. Get your pen and pad ready!
What’s going on everyone? ‘Tool back with another post. Too often we have an overloaded mindset of having/wanting to do too much when it comes to mixing. Almost every plugin we own has to be used, which isn’t necessary. Tracks that don’t have to be prevalent are now dominant because the producer sent 16 tracks of paper clip drumming. Most times it’s best to keep it simple. I want to break down my minimalist mixing approach. Let’s get back to the basics.
The newly renamed Reason Studios [formally Propellerheads] is the software company behind Reason. I’ve been using this DAW for production since 2007. There’s been a lot of highs and plenty of lows throughout the years, but I can honestly say the bulk of it has been great. We’ll talk about what I like, don't like and what I feel can be improved to take Reason to another level.
When it comes to plugins, EQ is one of my favorites. It’s a must have for every mix I do. Over the years I have collected more than a few EQ plugins from various companies. Total EQ from Hornet Plugins is now at the top of the list. I’m a huge advocate for Hornet and their latest offering hasn’t disappointed me.
Total EQ ships in the formats we’re all familiar with [Audio Units, VST & AAX] so more than likely it will run in your DAW. COVID-19 still has us quarantined which has lead to coming up with ways to be more organized. With the extra time, my main focus has been labeling files from songs that I've mixed or produced. Now that I have a new standard, I felt I'd share it with you guys.
With the COVID pandemic sweeping the nation, most of us are now working from home. We weren’t ready for this. Our daily routines have been shaken up with not much light at the end of the tunnel. But that’s ok. We’ll still push through. This is a unique scenario that we have to stay positive through and make the best of it. This post won’t be too long. I just want to stress to everyone to stay safe during these trying times and be efficient as possible when creating music. Read below on a few things you can do to stay active musically.
We all know being organized will help us in life. Knowing where something is without even thinking twice can be a major plus. Sometimes when it comes to production, we don’t take organization into consideration. Today I will show you inside my folder structure. After a long battle with myself, I knew I had to do better. I almost lost out on a few placements which prompted me to come up with a better system. I want every producer reading this to know I’m here to help. This folder setup will have you ready for a lot of scenarios that will come your way. You can follow and create the folders as we go or you can download an example zip at the end of this post. Let’s get right into it.
What’s up everybody? Instrumentool here back with another post. One of the few things we can never get back once it’s gone is time. That’s why it’s best to utilize it correctly, especially when it’s limited. That couldn’t ring more true than these days, with technology speeding things up, it seems there’s never enough time to finish anything. If you’re not sure how to be productive when making music, implement a few of the below tips and see how they work for you.
2020 is upon us and the resolutions are piling up. This is the time of year where a lot of people overwhelm themselves with goals that they most times won’t achieve. I’ll give you some tips on how I set goals so I can actually get to checking them off my list.
What's up everybody? 'Tool here back with another post. With the holidays upon us and all the sale hoopla over [at least for the moment] I decided to drop some major knowledge in the last post of 2019. First I do want to thank every single reader, every share, like or dislike. It's been 12 months and we haven't missed a beat.
Today's post is a little touchy for some but it needs to be talked upon. There's people on both sides of the fence and I get either side. I'll tell you my story but first; What’s up, everybody? ‘Tool here back with another post. I want to discuss the rabbit hole a lot of engineers and producers go down acquiring or “needing” new plugins. Most times those shiny new toys are best kept where we found them. Whatever DAW you’re using, it comes packed with stock plugins that will times help you achieve a great mix. Stay tuned and we’ll cover a few ways to know if that next plugin is really for you.
What’s up, everybody? ‘Tool here back with another post. I’m pretty sure the title has you feeling a way and it’s totally understandable. Today we’ll cover ways on how your mix can be improved whether you’re a recording artist, producer or mix engineer.
What’s up, everybody? ‘Tool here back with another post. I often get asked a lot what plugins I use and how I use them from mix to mix. Today is the day I reveal a little bit behind the scenes for those inquiring minds. But before we dive in just know that using these plugins won’t make your mixes better, practice and repetition will. And in no particular order we have:
What’s up, everybody? ‘Tool here back with another post. All of us need to take a break from time to time and being in the music industry is no different. What I want to talk about in this month’s post is how to create content for those planned hiatuses and even the impromptu ones that seem to creep upon us.
The answer to this question is simply NOTHING! Just because they come packaged with your DAW of choice doesn’t make them inferior to the 3rd party ones some folks swear are better, which is always subjective. In today’s post I’ll show you there’s nothing wrong with using stock plugins for your mixes.
What’s up, everybody? ‘Tool here back with another post. I want to tell you guys about how and why I switched from Pro Tools to Studio One [as hard as it was] as my main DAW when it comes to mixing. I promise it won’t be too long.
What’s up, everybody? ‘Tool here back with another post. To all my fellow producers, I want to give you an inside look into my file naming system that could help not only you but the artists and engineers you send files to. Stay tuned and gain some knowledge.
What’s up, everybody? ‘Tool here back with another post. Today’s post is very important and focused on the recording artists out there.
Engineers typically render more than just a full version when they finish mixing a record. They also run a number of variations, which are referred to as "alternate mixes." In this article, I'll tell you what they are and why you should be asking for them, too. Well, that is if you aren’t already like the title says. What’s up everybody? ‘Tool here back with another post. I’m pretty sure the title might have turned some heads sideways, but hey that’s what I’m here for, to be 100% honest with y’all. I’ve been producing and mixing for a while and have seen a lot. What follows is my take on how a lot of rappers are committing career suicide.
What’s up everybody? ‘Tool here back with another post. Today is all about producer hacks, systems to help you guys get the best out of your beats. I’ll show you a few things I do religiously. Feel free to chime in anything not mentioned. It’s always great to hear different strategies.
What’s up everybody? ‘Tool here back with another post mainly for recording artists. A customary code of polite behavior/action better known as etiquette will be the topic. I’ll show you a few things to get the most out of your recording and mix sessions.
What’s up everybody? ‘Tool here with another post geared towards recording artists, labels and brands, etc.
Most of us know the first mix of a song is rarely the polished, finished version everyone hears once it’s released. It can take on many shapes and sizes before it reaches a listener’s eardrums. What’s up everybody? Instrumentool here back with another post. Today we’ll cover the steps I take from start to finish when I mix.
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instrumentoolI have a passion for teaching and writing. Some of my many thoughts are here. Archives
November 2020
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