MUSIC PRODUCTION & MIXING INSPIRATION – PARALLEL COMPRESSION

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!

are your drum loops working right for your song?

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.

new release – the end by cherry june

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.

THE ALTERNATE UNIVERSE OF SMALL MIRACLES BY DAMON BROCK

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

production walkthrough – country urban dance pop (?)

First time for everything! Had a blast co-writing, arranging, producing, recording and mixing a Country tinged, urban dance pop track for a client whose references included the recent #beyoncé album. 12k streams so far (Spotify) but we still don’t know what genre it is. Never heard or made anything like it! Here’s a short edit of my production walk-through for those with short attention spans (so everyone!). Comment if you know the genre too.
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Track: Hazel Jean. Commissioned to launch fashion brand Hazel Jean

https://hazeljean.com/