What is Proximity Effect? Introduction The microphone proximity effect is often used to create a pleasing sound, but at other times, it’s simply an unwanted result of how the microphone is placed. This effect can enhance the depth of a speaker’s voice, add extra thump to a kick drum, or make ...

Microphone Polar Patterns Explained Introduction Knowing about polar patterns is key to getting the best possible sound from your microphone. A polar pattern is a vital microphone specification that shows how sensitive the mic is to sound coming from different directions. In this guide, ...

11 Most Common Reverb Mistakes Introduction So, what exactly is reverb? Reverberation is all around us, all the time. It’s simply the result of sound waves bouncing off every surface—hard, soft, tall, short, and everything in between. Every sound we hear is shaped by the space it’s heard in. ...

What is Phantom Power? Introduction Phantom power—sounds a bit spooky, right? If you’re new to home recording, this term can seem confusing. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. Phantom power was actually first used in copper wire-based landline telephone systems, starting with the ...

What is SPL? Introduction Many people come across the abbreviation SPL (sound pressure level) in manuals for microphones, headphones, speakers, and other audio equipment—but don’t always know what this specification means. In today’s world of abbreviations, it’s easy to get confused. In ...

Tips for Louder Mixes Introduction Have you ever asked yourself, "My song is so good, but why can't I get it louder?!" Trust us, this is a really common question: How do I make my track louder? You might think it's a mastering problem, but actually, it's a mixing issue. Before mastering ...

What Are Decibels? Introduction To better understand how to measure audio loudness, it’s important to know the basics and the units used for measurement. Every sound—no matter how quiet or loud—is measured in decibels. Let’s take a closer look at how sound is measured and the ways it can be ...

Tips to Improve Mix Translation Introduction Many engineers work hard to produce music to the best of their abilities. Even when they give 100% to their mix, sometimes the results aren’t satisfying when the tracks are played on different sound systems. Since most listeners enjoy music on ...

EQing Your Mix Bus Introduction Great job! If you’re reading this, it means you’ve mastered track mixing and are now ready to finish your song. Many people overlook or barely touch the process of preparing and processing the entire mix bus before the final mastering stage. In this ...

What is Word Clock? For two or more digital audio devices—like effects processors or digital preamps—to work smoothly together as a group, there needs to be a master device that sets what’s called the word clock rate. All the other devices (the slaves) must follow this clock rate. This is ...

How To Mix a Two Track Beat and Vocals Introduction Mixing vocals over a 2-track instrumental is more limited than working with full stems of a song. Even today, when everything is digital and we should have all the stems backed up, sometimes a beat gets lost in our files and we have to ...

How to Thicken a Vocal Introduction There are many factors that can make a vocal sound thin. It could be a poor microphone choice, bad mic placement, or something else in the recording chain. But don’t worry—there are plenty of tricks you can use to thicken up your vocals and make them sound ...