Mixing & Mastering

Turn rough takes into release-ready tracks. Practical mixing and mastering guides covering EQ, compression, levels, loudness and the workflow that gets your songs sounding finished.Start here: The Best Free VST Plugins · The Best EQ Plugins · The Best Compressor Plugins · The Best Reverb Plugins.

How to Use Parallel Compression

Learn how to use parallel compression to add punch and density without crushing dynamics. The New York trick, ratios, blend…
How to Compress Drums

Learn how to compress drums with clear starting settings for kick, snare and the drum bus — ratio, attack, release…
How to EQ a Snare Drum

Learn how to eq a snare that cuts through the mix — the frequency ranges to boost for crack and…
How to EQ a Kick Drum

Learn how to EQ a kick drum with practical starting points for weight, punch and click, plus the frequency bands…
How to Add Depth to a Mix

Learn how to add depth to a mix using reverb, delay, EQ, panning and volume so your tracks feel three-dimensional…
How to Add Width to a Mix

Learn how to add width to a mix with panning, stereo widening, reverb and mid-side EQ — practical starting points,…
How to Make Vocals Sit in a Mix

Learn how to make vocals sit in a mix with level automation, EQ carving, compression and reverb — clear, upfront…
How to Make a Mix Louder Without Clipping

Learn how to make a mix louder without clipping using gain staging, EQ, saturation, compression and gentle limiting to hit…
How to Fix a Harsh Mix

Learn how to fix a harsh mix: find the frequencies that stab, tame 2–8 kHz with EQ and dynamic EQ,…
How to Fix a Muddy Mix

Learn how to fix a muddy mix with practical EQ, arrangement and gain-staging moves that clear up the crowded low-mids…