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Why Gain Staging Matters: How Hot Levels Make Plugins Distort
Hot levels make plugins distort in subtle ways. Here’s why gain staging still matters – and how to keep your mix sounding clean and musical.
Leiam Sullivan
3 days ago4 min read


Fast Attack and Fast Release: What They Really Mean in Compression
Fast attack and fast release shape punch, movement, and tone. Here’s how different compressors handle timing–and what those speeds really sound like.
Leiam Sullivan
6 days ago3 min read


Channel Link: Finding the Sweet Spot Where Music Starts to Move
Channel Link shapes how a mix breathes. Linked = unity. Lower linking = subtle movement and life. Here’s how it works in audio.
Leiam Sullivan
Nov 293 min read


Introducing the Tempo Division Engine: A Precise BPM-to-Time Calculator for Producers
A simple, precise BPM-to-time calculator with ms, samples, Hz, tap tempo and tiny divisions down to 1/256. Built for real production workflows.
Leiam Sullivan
Nov 251 min read


Decimort 2 & Metric Halo Character: Two Simple Plugins That Add Real Tone and Timbre to Your Mix
Two plugins that quietly transform a mix: Decimort 2 for classic sampler flavour, and Metric Halo Character for subtle analogue tone.
Leiam Sullivan
Nov 202 min read


How to Get Balance in Music Mixing: Build from the Anchor
Balance in mixing isn’t just about levels – it’s about connection. Build from your anchor and let every sound find its space.
Leiam Sullivan
Oct 282 min read


Mixing Music: Balancing Technical Precision with Emotion
Mix with emotion, not just meters. Here’s how balancing precision and instinct brings a mix to life and keeps the music feeling human.
Leiam Sullivan
Oct 233 min read


Stereo Movement in Mixing: PanMan vs Logic Tremolo Compared.
Subtle stereo movement gives sound life. Here’s how PanMan and Logic’s Tremolo can transform static elements in your mix.
Leiam Sullivan
Oct 222 min read


BlogBot Is Live: Ask Questions Directly Inside a post
BlogBot’s live. Ask questions inside the post and get real-time answers from the blog’s production guides.
Leiam Sullivan
Oct 152 min read


Compression Is Density
Compression is more than volume control – it’s density. Learn how to shape punchy, cohesive mixes with depth and clarity.
Leiam Sullivan
Sep 112 min read


Lexicon 224 Reverb – The Verb I’ve Been Searching For
The Lexicon 224 reverb feels like home-the timeless sound I’d been hearing all my life, now finally in my own mixes.
Leiam Sullivan
Aug 172 min read


ARC 3 Review: Over a Decade of Trustworthy Room Correction
ARC 3 has earned its place in my mix setup for over a decade. Still reliable, even now that ARC 4 is on the scene.
Leiam Sullivan
Aug 73 min read


CGII Plugin Review: Is This the Ultimate Master Bus Finisher?
The CGII plugin brings pro-level polish, loudness, and clarity to your master bus. Here’s how I use it—and what to watch for with Density.
Leiam Sullivan
Jul 302 min read


The Art of Mixing by David Gibson: A Trip-Worthy Teaching Tool
A trippy, visual journey into the stereo field. David Gibson’s Art of Mixing still hits decades later—and I used it in class.
Leiam Sullivan
Jul 223 min read


Compression in Mixing: Letting Just Enough Through for Clarity in Busy Mixes
Compression isn’t about loudness—it’s about clarity. Let a sliver of sound cut through and the brain will do the rest.
Leiam Sullivan
Jul 32 min read


When I Thought the Attack Was Too Slow (But It Was the Release All Along)
I thought the attack wasn’t fast enough. Turns out, it was the release all along. Here’s how I heard it—and fixed it.
Leiam Sullivan
Jun 262 min read


Why Pre-’90s Music Sounds So Good (And How To Get That Feel Today)
Why does old music sound so warm? It’s not nostalgia - it’s physics, tape, vinyl, and tubes. Here’s how to bring that feel back.
Leiam Sullivan
Jun 123 min read


Track Delay: The Hidden Key to a Locked Groove
Track delay helps your grooves lock in. It’s not just timing correction — it’s how you put the music into electronic music.
Leiam Sullivan
Jun 73 min read


What Does 6 / 12 / 24 dB per Octave Actually Mean? (Filter Slope Explained for Music Producers)
What does “12 dB per octave” mean? A producer’s guide to filter slopes, high-pass clarity, and the power of understanding octaves.
Leiam Sullivan
May 263 min read


Creating Space Without the Clutter: My First Few Weeks with Soundtoys Spaceblender
Loving the tight space setting on SpaceBlender by Soundtoys—adds pro-level depth without washing out the mix. Subtle but powerful.
Leiam Sullivan
May 202 min read
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