Tag: music production

MUSIC PRODUCTION & MIXING INSPIRATION – PARALLEL COMPRESSION

Posted on by Stevebake

Have you added parallel compression to your production skills yet? Well you’d better catch up! Us Pro’s have been doing it forever and you’re missing a trick!

ou want more energy & vibe in your tracks right? Here’s six minutes of me wanging on about how parallel compression will do this. Ableton Live heads will wanna watch the whole thing but if you’re here for the concept then the first few mins will open that door. I think my pal Ed Chivers showed me the chain selector blending technique – works a treat!

Music PRODUCTION iNSPIRATION – DREAM POP, ETHEREAL VOCAL MIXING TIPS

Posted on by Stevebake

Music Production Inspiration for ethereal dream pop vocals. Thanks to Beth Sarah for asking me to mix this lush song and congrats for getting it selected by BBC Introducing for a spin! I like to think the mix helped 🙂 – Independent Artists: are you uploading your songs to BBC Introducing? If not why not?

are your drum loops working right for your song?

Posted on by Stevebake

A lot of artists and singer-songwriters are using loops to create their songs. This is a creative, easy, and fun way to get ideas going. However, often these loops need help to work together. They must create a coherent and consistent mix and production. This ensures they don’t distract listeners or feel wrong. In this example, the two separate drum loops used had very different kick sounds. So, I added a sample from my library, originally from my OP1, to the softer drum loop. This was done to make it feel more similar. Sometimes being a mix engineer means doing more than just balancing exactly the tracks I’m sent. This is where I draw on my Production and Musical skills and knowledge but also my strong ear that notices these things.

“you’ve really worked your magic on this one haven’t you – i love the outcome!”

Posted on by Stevebake

A little before and after mixing video for Beth Sarah’s song Collide.

Beth had done a great job of recording Collide on her home setup but she really wanted this dreamy, lush folky song about being in love to sound more rich, deep and textured and have more of a spacious & immersive feel. It took me a day to mix as well as adding soft synth bass, chimes and some subtle, extra strings. What do you think? Hopefully that it sounds better 

new release – the end by cherry june

Posted on by Stevebake

Mixing & additional production by me

Really enjoyed working on The End by Cherry June which came out on 27th June. A poignant, melancholy & dreamy indie folk song inspired by Phoebe Bridgers & Lucy Dacus. Written & recorded by Cherry June. Additional production, mixing & mastering by me. Bass, drums & synths by me. Guitars, vocals & synths by Cherry June.

BEFORE & AFTER MIXING FOR CHERRY JUNE – THE END

Posted on by Stevebake

Give me one day and I’ll transform your demo into the finished beauty it should be. Thanks to Cherry June for trusting me with her nostalgic, dreamy, melancholy indie rock song that she recorded herself at home using Ableton Live. The demo had good foundations & the reference tracks I was given were so on the money! I’m a big Phoebe Bridgers fan and I loved helping this song inhabit a similar sonic space. ‘The End’ is out soon! Get in touch if you need some songs mixed, ready for release…

THE ALTERNATE UNIVERSE OF SMALL MIRACLES BY DAMON BROCK

Posted on by Stevebake

Damon Brock, Small Miracles. Recorded, arranged, produced and mixed by me. The brief and vision for this was for the source sounds to all be ‘real’ instruments but to use effects, editing and processing to add layers of other-worldly atmospheres. To create a sense of space within an alternate, warped reality. At it’s root, the song has a fairly traditional melody and harmony and Damon didn’t want this EP to veer too far from a ‘band’ sound (I did get a bit carried away on this one tbh). The track count is pretty low & the overall sound feels like a blend of the familiar with the unfamiliar. . Vocals & acoustic guitar by Damon Brock Electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass, keys, drums & percussion by Steve Baker