LEAVE SOME ROOM

“Put the multiband down for a sec, it probably doesn’t need to be there. A lot of the loudness you’re trying to achieve can be fixed through complementary boosting and cutting of frequencies between sounds that are a occupying similar space. For instance, if you want your kick to hit harder but have a subby bassline in the way, boost between 50-90Hz on the kick, and cut the same frequency range in the bass. The same thing can be applied to mid-/high-range stuff but in larger frequency ranges. Letting these transients shine on their own without compression will allow for a smoother master.”

You want to sample that?!

“I have nothing against sampling, but sometimes I feel we all need a challenge, and should learn how to play the parts ourselves. Doing this usually results in a great original idea or sound. Use your ears and theory or that lovely audio-to-MIDI effect, and replay that melody, chord or percussion part with your own sounds.”

Don’t get too attached

“Save multiple versions of things, remix and resample yourself. Your second, third or fourth stab at an idea can be better. I love to be intuitive and keep things that I made in the moment, but looking at it from another angle doesn’t necessarily mean you’re overthinking it. It’s OK that the bassline you were hyped on last night is no longer that interesting, flip it, re-do it, or delete it and start again. Being too precious or stubborn about an idea can stop the flow, especially when collaborating!”