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Access Analog Review: The Joy and Frustration of Remote Analogue Hardware
Access Analog lets you run audio from your DAW through real analogue hardware over the internet. After using it for six months, I’ve found plenty of bugs, booking conflicts and latency—but also a rare opportunity to hear legendary equipment working on my own music.
Leiam Sullivan
Sep 13 min read


Mix Bus Compression: How to Find the Pocket
Mix bus compression isn’t about finding the right settings. It’s about finding the point where the track starts to move as one. Here’s how attack, ratio, threshold, release and sidechain filtering work together to create glue without losing the bounce.
Leiam Sullivan
Aug 184 min read


Why So Many Great Club Kicks End Up Around G
G kept appearing when I analysed the kicks in records whose low end really worked. Not every time, but often enough to investigate. The reason has less to do with a magic note and more to do with where deep bass meets the limits of playback systems.
Leiam Sullivan
Aug 172 min read


The Bass Bump: Why Tape, Pultecs and Filters Make Bass Feel Bigger
Tape machines, Pultec EQs and resonant filters all create the same surprising low-end shape. Discover the bass bump, why it works, and how to use it in your own mixes.
Leiam Sullivan
Jul 84 min read


What Does Reverb Pre-Delay Do? A Simple Explanation for Better Mixes
Confused by reverb pre-delay? Learn how it works, why it improves clarity, and when to use it in your mixes.
Leiam Sullivan
Jun 233 min read


Slap Delay in Electronic Music: What It Does and How to Set It.
Slap delay isn’t about echo. It’s about placement. A short reflection that makes a mix feel finished without being heard.
Leiam Sullivan
Feb 132 min read


EQ Filter Slope Myths: Why Steeper Isn’t Always Better
EQ slope isn’t just about numbers. Here’s what 6, 12, 24 and 48 dB/oct filters really do to your mix.
Leiam Sullivan
Feb 114 min read


Copying in Music Production: Why It Works – and Where It Stops.
Copying can build tracks and careers. Truth is what creates connection. A reflection on imitation, arrangement, and creative maturity.
Leiam Sullivan
Feb 63 min read


What Rhythm Really Is (And Why Electronic Music Depends on It)
Rhythm isn’t counting or grids. It’s the thing that makes music move – and why electronic tracks live or die by feel.
Leiam Sullivan
Feb 33 min read


Bus Routing in Music Production: How to Use Buses (and When Not To)
Bus routing isn’t about rules. It’s about control, cohesion, and intent – and knowing when not to bus is just as important.
Leiam Sullivan
Jan 304 min read


The First Mix vs. the Finished Mix: Knowing When to Leave It Alone
Some tracks capture a moment. Others need time. The real skill is knowing when to stop – and when to keep listening.
Leiam Sullivan
Jan 273 min read


Goldbaby: Why the Quality Still Holds Up
Goldbaby sample packs aren’t about quantity or hype – just well-recorded, consistent sounds that work quickly and age well.
Leiam Sullivan
Jan 262 min read


How to Get Your Sound as a Beginner (Without Drowning in Plugins)
Finding your sound isn’t about more plugins. It’s about learning a few tools properly and building confidence as a beginner.
Leiam Sullivan
Jan 164 min read


The Bell EQ Trick: A More Musical Alternative to High- and Low-Pass Filters
High- and low-pass filters tidy mixes quickly, but wide bell EQs often sound more musical. Sometimes shaping beats removing.
Leiam Sullivan
Dec 20, 20253 min read


Why Reference Tracks Matter in Mixing: How to Use Them for Better Translation
Reference tracks help your mixes translate. Here’s how to choose them, trust them, and use tools like Metric AB to get your mix over the line.
Leiam Sullivan
Dec 10, 20252 min read


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
Dec 4, 20254 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 23, 20253 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 11, 20252 min read


Mix Knob on a Compressor: A Must Know for Better Mixing
Compression can flatten your mix. The mix knob brings it back to life. Here’s why blending dry signal changes everything.
Leiam Sullivan
Jul 29, 20253 min read


8 Mixing Tips for Music Producers That Actually Make a Difference
Eight pieces of mixing advice I've picked up over the years and still think about every time I mix.
Leiam Sullivan
May 9, 20253 min read
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