Use the Mix Head plugin on the mix bus for digital tape saturation
Problem: mix lacks warmth and cohesion
The Mix Head plugin acts as a digital tape saturation processor, smoothing out the edges of the mix and adding warmth. It's used on the mix bus after analog gear like the DW Fern and SSL Bus Plus. The plugin is set to 30…
Use the Mix Head plugin as a digital tape saturation processor on the mix bus
Problem: mix lacks cohesion and warmth
The Mix Head plugin is used as a digital tape saturation processor on the mix bus, providing a smooth and warm sound. It's used after analog gear like the DW Fern and SSL Bus Plus, and it's set to 30 IPS for a hi-fi…
Use the Mix Head plugin with a little input gain and drive for subtle saturation
Problem: mix lacks subtle saturation
The Mix Head plugin is used with a little input gain and drive to add subtle saturation to the mix. This helps enhance the overall sound without introducing harshness. The plugin is set to 30 IPS for a hi-fi sound, and…
Use a 30 IPS tape speed setting on the Mix Head for a hi-fi sound
Problem: mix lacks clarity and warmth
Setting the Mix Head plugin to 30 IPS tape speed provides a hi-fi, smooth sound that enhances the overall mix. This setting is preferred over 15 IPS, which adds more bottom end but lacks the clarity of 30 IPS. The 30 IPS…
Use the Pole Tech EQ on the mix bus for subtle frequency shaping
Problem: mix lacks subtle frequency balance
The Pole Tech EQ is used on the mix bus for subtle frequency shaping, even when no major adjustments are made. It adds a subtle 60Hz bump to enhance the low end without overdoing it. The plugin is preferred over the…
Insert the Pole Tech EQ on the mix bus even without making major adjustments
Problem: mix lacks subtle enhancement
The Pole Tech EQ is inserted on the mix bus even when no major adjustments are made, as it subtly enhances the mix. It's preferred over the vintage hardware version due to its consistency in stereo. This technique is…
Use the Pole Tech EQ for its 2B effect on the mix bus
Problem: mix lacks subtle 2B effect
The Pole Tech EQ is used on the mix bus for its 2B effect, which enhances the overall sound of the mix. It's preferred over the vintage hardware version because it's more consistent in stereo. This technique is used in…
Clipping is similar to saturation but uses a threshold instead of drive
Problem: confusing clipping and saturation
Clipping and saturation both introduce distortion, but clipping uses a threshold to limit signals above a certain level, whereas saturation increases the drive of the entire signal. This distinction is important for…
Use saturation to add character to percussion
Problem: percussion lacks character and warmth
Applying a small amount of saturation to the percussion group can add warmth and character. This is a subtle but effective way to enhance the overall texture of the percussion without making it sound overly processed or…
Use soft clipping before the limiter for subtle saturation
Problem: lack of warmth or punch in the mix
Soft clipping adds a gentle form of distortion that can warm up a track without harshness. It's often used before a limiter to shape the signal and add character. This technique is especially useful in genres like trance…
Add tape saturation after the echo for a vintage feel
Problem: lack of warmth or vintage character
Adding tape saturation after the echo can give the sound a warm, vintage character that mimics the sound of recording to tape. This technique is especially useful for synths or leads that need more warmth and depth. The…
Avoid over-saturation that interferes with emotional perception
Problem: over-saturated or cluttered mix
While saturation can add character, overdoing it can make the track feel cluttered and take away from the emotional impact. The speaker warns against this and suggests using saturation in moderation, especially in the…
Use OTT to add harmonic content and character
Problem: flat or lifeless sections
OTT (Overdrive Tool) can be used to add harmonic content and character to a sound. It introduces subtle distortion and saturation, which can enhance the presence and warmth of a melody or lead. This is particularly…
Use saturation to glue bass layers together
Problem: disconnected bass layers, lack of cohesion
Applying a saturation plugin like Fab Filter Saturn to the bass bus helps unify multiple bass layers into a cohesive sound. This technique adds harmonic content and subtle distortion, making the bass feel like a single…
Avoid oversaturating all guitar tracks to maintain clarity and crunch
Problem: guitar mix becomes too noisy or unclear
Over-saturation on all guitar tracks can lead to a loss of clarity and a buildup of noise. It's important to leave some tracks clean or with minimal saturation to maintain a balance between crunch and clarity. This is…
Use saturation to increase arousal
Problem: track lacks intensity or warmth
Applying saturation can increase the sense of arousal by adding harmonic content and warmth to a track. This is especially effective for genres like rock or electronic music where a more aggressive and intense sound is…
Use odd harmonics for a pleasant sound
Problem: track feels too dark or jarring
Odd harmonics tend to sound more pleasant and bright compared to even harmonics, which can sound jarring or darker. This is useful for creating a more positive and uplifting emotional tone in a track. Odd harmonics are…
Use saturation to introduce new harmonics in the high end
Problem: lack of high-end detail, dull sound
Saturation can be used to add new harmonics and overtones in the high end, especially when the source material lacks high-frequency content. This is particularly useful for elements like synths or vocals that need more…
Use the mix bus to apply global EQ and saturation changes
Problem: inconsistent tone across the mix
Applying EQ and saturation on the mix bus allows for global adjustments that affect the entire track. This is a powerful technique for shaping the overall tone and emotional impact of the mix. It's especially useful when…
Apply a capacitor (saturation) to the entire mix for warmth and aggression
Problem: mix lacks warmth and aggression
Adding a capacitor or saturation plugin to the entire mix can introduce harmonic distortion and warmth, which is particularly effective in rock music. This technique softens the sound in a way that mimics analog gear,…
Use saturation on the entire mix to push it forward and flatten the sound
Problem: mix lacks presence or aggression
Applying saturation across the entire mix can make the track feel more in your face and aggressive. This technique pulls all elements forward, creating a more unified and intense sound. It also has the side effect of…
Saturation can unintentionally increase loudness
Problem: mix lacks loudness or impact
When saturation is applied heavily across the mix, it can lead to an increase in perceived loudness. This is not always intentional and can be a side effect of the saturation process. This technique is more common in…
Use subtle saturation for tonal enhancement
Problem: lack of warmth or depth
A small amount of saturation can be used to enhance the tonal character of a track without making it sound overly aggressive. This is especially useful in calm, introspective tracks where a warm and subtle tonal shift…
Lengthen and warm up the plucked bass for more impact
Problem: plucked bass lacks presence and warmth
After creating the plucked bass sound, it's important to adjust the length and warmth of the sound to make it more impactful. Lengthening the decay and adding warmth through saturation or EQ can help the bass fill the…
Use an Ampex tape machine plugin for warmth and color
Problem: lack of warmth or character in the mix
An Ampex tape machine plugin can add warmth and character to your track before any other processing. It simulates the sound of analog tape, which can give your mix a more organic feel. This is especially useful for…
Use downsampling and distortion for texture
Problem: synth lacks texture or character
Applying downsampling and distortion can add a gritty, textured character to the synth. This technique is often used in melodic techno and house to give the sound a more organic and analog feel. The distortion adds…
Apply vintage tape saturation to drums for warmth
Problem: drums sound flat or lifeless
Using a vintage tape saturation plugin on drums adds warmth and character to the sound, which is a signature of lo-fi production. This technique mimics the analog sound of old tape machines and can help glue the drums…
Use external distortion plugins for more flexibility than Serum's built-in options
Problem: limited distortion options in Serum
Serum's built-in distortion options can be limiting, so using external distortion plugins like Saturator or Overdrive in Ableton provides more flexibility and control. This allows for more creative and nuanced distortion…
Use saturation to add aggression and upper mid-range energy
Problem: lack of aggression and presence in the mix
The Foo Fighters' track 'Court in the Echo' uses heavy saturation on the guitars and vocals to create a loud, aggressive, and punchy upper mid-range sound. This saturation adds harmonic distortion, which enhances the…
Use saturation as a creative tool for texture and aggression
Problem: lack of aggression and texture in the mix
Saturation can be used creatively to add texture and aggression to a mix, especially in genres like rock and metal. This is evident in the Foo Fighters track, where saturation contributes to the in-your-face feel without…
Use saturation to increase loudness without heavy limiting
Problem: loudness achieved through limiting causes distortion
Saturation can be used on the entire mix to increase loudness and add harmonic content, reducing the need for aggressive limiting. This approach allows the track to reach high loudness levels (e.g., -4 to -5 LUFS) while…
Loudness can be a byproduct of saturation and compression
Problem: loudness pursued for its own sake leads to poor sound quality
Loudness does not always have to be the primary goal of a mix. In the Foo Fighters track, loudness is a byproduct of heavy saturation and compression, which contribute to the aggressive and in-your-face feel. This…
Analog saturation can add pleasing character to a mix, unlike digital clipping
Problem: digital clipping and harshness in mastering
The Foo Fighters track has a warm, pleasing analog saturation character, while other tracks sound like they're clipping digitally. This highlights the importance of using analog-style saturation during mastering to add…
Use reference diff mode with sidechain to visualize saturation effect
Problem: over-saturation, unclear harmonic impact
Activating reference diff mode in a saturation plugin (like Vanguard) while sidechaining the same track before and after saturation allows you to see the harmonic changes in real-time. This helps identify when saturation…
Apply parallel saturation on master bus with tight settings
Problem: disconnected elements, lack of cohesion
Using a saturation plugin on the master bus with a 'tight' and 'subtle' setting adds cohesion without muddying the mix. The technique works by slightly increasing the harmonic content of the entire track, making elements…
Apply saturation to multiple instruments for harmonic cohesion
Problem: disconnected instrument timbres
Using a saturation plugin on the kick, bass, and lead with similar settings (e.g., 3-6dB drive) creates a shared harmonic character. This makes the elements feel like they belong to the same 'family' of sounds. The…
Use a free clipper for crispy drum sounds
Problem: lifeless or dull drum sounds
Applying a clipper to the drum bus adds harmonic distortion that makes transients 'crisp' and punchy. The speaker uses a free clipper plugin to achieve this effect, demonstrating how subtle clipping can enhance the…
Use saturation for harmonic enhancement in mastering
Problem: lifeless, flat mix
Apply FabFilter Saturn II with 3-4 bands: 70Hz (drive 6-8dB), 200Hz (drive 4-6dB), and 3-4kHz (drive 2-4dB). Use dynamics module to reduce transients slightly. This adds warmth and character without muddying the mix.…
Avoid over-saturating the mix
Problem: muddy, unclear mix
Excessive saturation can cause muddiness and loss of clarity. Use saturation sparingly, focusing on specific frequency ranges rather than applying it globally. Always A/B with the original to ensure it's enhancing rather…
Apply saturation with gain staging for controlled character
Problem: over-saturation and clipping
The speaker uses a saturator to add warmth but immediately reduces the output to maintain headroom. This practice, called gain staging, prevents clipping and ensures the saturation effect remains subtle and musical…
Use saturation on the mix bus for subtle harmonic richness
Problem: flat or lifeless mix
Adding small amounts of saturation (odd/even harmonics) on the mix bus can enhance the overall warmth and depth of the track. This is different from heavy distortion used in production; during mixing, it’s about adding…
Use saturation to add character and emotional depth
Problem: lack of character or emotional impact in tracks
Saturation plugins like Capitator can subtly add grit, grain, and harmonic richness to tracks. This is especially common in modern music production where a 'crushed' or 'gritty' tone is desired for emotional impact. It…
Saturation can open up frequency ranges and enhance depth
Problem: muddy or flat-sounding mixes
Saturation isn't just about grit—it can also enhance clarity by subtly boosting high-end harmonics and adding body to low-end frequencies. This creates a more 'sweetened' sound with greater perceived depth, especially…
Use clipping as a saturation-based limiter alternative
Problem: harsh limiting artifacts on transients
Clipping plugins use harmonic saturation to prevent signals from exceeding a set threshold (e.g., -10dB), unlike traditional limiters that rapidly reduce volume. This creates a warmer, more analog-like distortion while…
Use a drum bus with saturation and compression
Problem: drums lack cohesion, need more punch
The producer processes all the drum elements together using a drum bus in Ableton, applying saturation and light compression to glue the drums together and add character. This is a common technique in melodic techno and…
Boost 40-60Hz on kick for more low end
Problem: kick lacks low end, feels weak
Adding harmonic saturation or boosting this range increases the kick's weight without overloading the VU meter. This addresses a lack of low-end energy while maintaining headroom. The boost should be subtle to avoid…
Use tape saturation to fill out hollow kicks
Problem: kick feels empty or lifeless
If a kick feels too hollow (e.g., due to over-cutting or poor sample quality), adding tape saturation can restore body and warmth. This technique mimics analog tape's harmonic distortion, filling in missing low-end and…
Use tape saturation to control kick sustain and attack
Problem: kick has excessive sustain or harsh attack
Tape saturation can subtly round the kick's attack and reduce sustain without harshness. The speaker demonstrates this by driving the kick into a tape plugin, which adds warmth and controls brightness more naturally than…