The SonicScoop Podcast | Mixing, Mastering, Audio Engineering and Music Production

Don't Release an Album... Do This Instead!

24 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If you don't have an audience already, releasing a full length album can be a confusing and downright depressing experience. There's a better way. Jus...

Do You Need Multiple Versions Of Your Master for Streaming Services, Vinyl and More?

17 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Would you benefit from having alternate versions of your master for streaming services and other platforms? Mastering engineer Justin Colletti gives h...

Why I Stopped Stealing Music (and Plugins) and How It Helped My Career

10 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Colletti talks about why he stopped stealing music and plugins a long time ago, and how it helped him in his career. ...And how doing it can ho...

Dealing with "Problem" Mix Clients Who Have "Demo-itis"

03 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"The client wants my mix to sound just like their demo! What do I do?" Justin Colletti tackles the question of what to do when your mixing clients won...

The 2 Most Important Factors in Studio Success (Happy Thanksgiving... Episode 100!)

26 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Colletti offers his two biggest picks for the factors that will make you successful in the studio... and practically anywhere else.

How to Get More Depth In Your Mixes

19 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Depth. Immersion. Front to back spatial definition. Here's how to get more of it in your tracks.

"Rich Kids in the Music Industry": Is Money Really What Makes Success in Music?

12 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Do you need to come from money to make it in the music world? Some people tell themselves it's a big factor. But how much does it really matter?

How to Fail Your Way to Better Mixes

05 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Fail your way to success! Justin Colletti offers two prime strategies on how to mix better by failing on purpose.

The 2 Biggest Mix Balance Mistakes

29 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Colletti gives his vote for the two most commonly overlooked elements of getting great mix balances, that most new mixers neglect.

The 2 Biggest Reverb Mistakes

22 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Colletti goes over the two biggest mistakes new mixers make when it comes to reverb. Find more at SonicScoop.com

To Succeed in the Studio, Should You Diversify Skills or Niche Down?

15 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

To become successful in music and audio production, should you diversify your skillset, or niche down and specialize in a key area? Justin Colletti g...

Top 3 Mixing Insights from Michael Brauer

07 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Colletti shares his top 3 takeaways from Michael Brauer's masterclass at MixCon 2020.

Top 3 Mix Takeaways from Maria Elisa Ayerbe (4x GRAMMY Nominee)

01 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Colletti is back with another look at the top 3 takeaways from one of our MixCon Masterclass presenters, this time, Maria Elisa Ayerbe, a woman...

Top 3 Mix Strategies from Jacquire King (3x GRAMMY-winner)

24 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Justin Colletti shares the top 3 mixing strategies revealed by 3x GRAMMY-winner Jacquire King in his MixCon 2020 Masterclass

3 Top Mixing Mindsets from Jimmy Douglass' MixCon Masterclass

17 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Colletti shares his 3 favorite takeaways from Jimmy Douglass' MixCon Masterclass. Catch the full presentation here: https://sonicscoop.com/2020...

3 Major Takeaway's from Luca Pretolesi's MixCon Masterclass

10 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Luca Pretolesi just kicked off MixCon 2020 with an awesome masterclass on mixing electronic music.  Justin Colletti shares his top takeaways fro...

How to Use Low Cut Filters

03 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When, where and how should you use low cut (or "high pass") filters? Should you low cut everything that doesn't need lots of bottom end? Should ...

Don't Call Them "Mastering Engineers", Call Them This Instead

27 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"Mastering Engineer" is a misleading term says Justin Colletti. It has little to do with the actual service they provide. What's wrong wit the name, a...

How Many Mics Do You Really Need to Record Drums?

20 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Do you need 16 mics to record drums well? Can you get away with 1, 2 or 4? If you had 8 mics to use, what would you record and what would you leave ou...

Do you Have G.A.S? (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)

13 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

►Get the free mixing workshop: https://sonicscoop.com/MixHabits ►Get the free mastering workshop: https://sonicscoop.com/Mastering101 Admit it...

How Long Should it Take To Mix a Song? And How Long to Master a Track?

06 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

►Get the free mixing workshop: https://sonicscoop.com/MixHabits ►Get the free mastering workshop: https://sonicscoop.com/Mastering101 How long ...

Overcoming Analog Audio Envy

30 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week Justin Colletti answers a listeners question about his analog audio envy, and how to deal with it in a digital audio world. The subtitle of...

The Biggest Reason Most Albums Go Nowhere

23 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Justin Colletti talks about what might just be a contender for the #1 reason most albums fail. In order to have a successful music r...

Advice for Studio Assistants in the 21st Century

16 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The days of huge commercial music studios with dozens of assistants on staff are mostly over. But assistants are still a crucially important part of t...

How To Avoid Audio Snake Oil

09 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Snake oil. It exists in the world of audio. Oh boy does it ever. But so do small changes that can make a real difference. How do you differentiate be...

Multiband Compression Vs. Dynamic EQ

02 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Just what is the difference between multi band compression and dynamic EQ? How do they work, how do they differ, and perhaps most importantly—how sh...

Music Publishing and Artist Management with Ben O'Connell of Songtrust.

25 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What is music publishing, and how can you leverage it to make more money with your music? Ben O'Connell of Songtrust joins Justin Colletti of SonicSc...

Dana Nielsen on Mics, Making the Most of Mixing from Home, Remote Recording & More

18 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Producer/engineer/mixer Dana Nielsen has worked with the likes of Rick Rubin, Rihanna, Neil Young, Adele, Metallica, Bob Dylan, Slayer, Weezer and so ...

How Much Does Talent Really Matter?

11 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What is the role of "talent" in making or breaking your music production career? Can you overcome a lack of talent? Is it possible to cultivate more o...

How do you know if your mixes are good enough?

04 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How do you know when your mixes are good enough? How do you know if YOU are good enough to keep at it, making music? Justin Colletti answers these que...

Is Mixing REALLY That Important?

28 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Is mixing as important as we make it out to be? Maybe not. Justin Colletti explores. Enter to WIN the mic featured In this episode at http://sonicsco...

Should You Compress & EQ Your Mix Bus Or Leave it For Mastering?

21 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Should you compress, EQ, or otherwise process your mix? How much headroom should you leave for mastering? Justin Colletti explores!

Why You Need a SYSTEM for Mixing

14 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The best mixers and mastering engineers on the planet usually have systematic approach to mixing. This doesn't hamper their creativity. It enhances it...

How Loudness Will Lie to You: All About Level-Matching Music

07 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Louder is better. At least it sounds that way. There are good reasons to level match your music for truly objective critical listening decisions. And ...

The Art of Mixing Hip Hop Records, with Koen Heldens [XXXTentacion, Dr. Dre, Timbaland]

30 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Koen Heldens is a mixer for some of the most unconventional and cutting edge hip hop and R&B artists of today. Perhaps best known for his work wi...

Mastering Gone Bad! Why I Don't Trust Cheap Mastering Engineers

23 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Colletti goes on a rant about some of the worst experiences he had in getting his own mixes mastered early on in his career. 

Are YouTube Videos Making Your Audio Skills Worse?

16 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Could short videos on music and audio production be killing your gains in studio skills? Justin Colletti argues that they can. Here's why, what to avo...

Thom Russo on Rick Rubin, Winning 16 GRAMMYs & Latin Music Production.

09 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Thom Russo joins Justin Colletti to talk about his career working with major artists from Johnny Cash, Audioslave and Eric Clapton to Michael Jackson,...

Should You Mix Your Own Recordings? Should You Master Your Own Mixes?

02 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Is it a good idea to mix your own recordings or master your own mixes? Justin Colletti discusses the pros and cons of each of these approaches. He of...

BONUS Livestream Q&A Episode: Successfully Doing Audio in a Downturn

26 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There's a lot of uncertainty out there at the moment. Justin Colletti offers some strategies for making a living in audio and music when times are tou...

The Problem with Going to School for Audio, Music & The Arts

19 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Is it wise to go to school for the audio, music, or the arts? In some ways, no. Here are 5 key issues with music production education, that any gradua...

EQ Mindset: Boosting vs. Cutting

12 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When should you reach for an EQ boost, and when should you cut? Is one approach better than the other? Justin Colletti offers some principles and conc...

Using EQ to Perfect Your Room and Speakers (w Martins Popelis of Sonarworks)

05 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Room and speaker correction have come a long way. Once hit-or-miss tool employed almost exclusively by larger studios, smart solutions for EQ treatmen...

Should You Take Out Debt to Build Up Your Studio?

27 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Whether its conventional business loans, 0% store credit cards, even student loans... People have tried all sorts of ways to finance upgrades tp their...

How to Finish Your Mixes Faster

20 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes it's easy to start new music projects. But actually FINISHING them can be the hardest part. Justin Colletti offers some strategies on how t...

Ask These Questions Early for Better Recordings

13 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Making high quality recordings requires that you ask the right questions as early on in the process as possible. Here's Justin Colletti's guide to ge...

This Is What Separates Successful Musicians & Producers From Everyone Else

06 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Why do some people seem to be able to make a living in music and audio, while so many people who are equally passionate, and even talented, can never ...

The Most Important Pieces of Gear In the Studio

30 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What are the most important pieces of gear in the studio? Justin Colletti offers a way to filter through noise and answer this question. In short: Ge...

The Problem with DIY

23 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

DIY approaches are popular in audio and music production...and for good reason. But the DIY mentality can and often does go wrong, holding us back in ...

What is Mid-Side Processing? When, Why & How to Use It

16 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Colletti talks about how to use an often-misunderstood mode found in an increasing number of plugins and hardware devices: Mid-Side processing....

Is There Such a Thing as "TOO MUCH" Studio Time? Probably.

09 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How long can you spend in the studio before you hit the point of diminishing returns? Justin Colletti recommends asking yourself this question and mo...

How to Finish Your Mix BEFORE Your Start It

02 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There's a powerful concept in the world of productivity: "Finish your day before you start it". This idea can also be applied to mixing or anything el...

How to Pick the RIGHT Studio Monitors

26 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There's no such thing as a pair of studio monitors that are absolutely perfect. So, choosing the right speakers for your studio requires that you know...

Don't Release an Album! Do This Instead.

19 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If you're new to releasing music, there's at least an 80%-90% chance that putting out an album first is not your best bet for developing your music or...

"Honing In" — 1 Key Strategy for Much Better Mix Balances

12 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, get one of the biggest "master tips" that will dramatically improve the way you set your levels in the mix. This strategy of "honing in" d...

SHOULD You Get a Sub for your Studio?

05 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Is getting a sub for your studio worth it? There's a right and a wrong reason to get a sub. Justin Colletti gives you a framework for figuring out if...

Your Record May Suck Unless Do THIS [SSP048]

28 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Get the FREE Music Pre-Production Checklist here: https://sonicscoop.com/checklist/ Pre-production is arguably the most important part of the record m...

Top Tips for MUCH Better Low End [SSP047]

21 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

► Sign up to learn the Top 5 Habits of Truly Great Mixers here: https://sonicscoop.com/MixHabits How do you get the low end to sit right in your rec...

Unpaid Studio Work? When to Work for Free and When Not To [SSP046]

14 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the SonicScoop Podcast, Justin Colletti gives some key principles on how to approach the prospect of "working for free" in the stud...

How to Build ANY Kind of Studio for Just $5,000 [SSP045]

07 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Build your own home studio for under $5,000 here: http://bit.ly/winyourwishlist-sonicscoop Can you build a professional quality studio for just $5,000...

The Very Best Places to Learn Audio & Music Production [SSP044]

31 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Colletti gives you his master list of the very best places to learn audio and music production. And #1 might not be what you expect. Thanks to...

Learn to Actually HEAR Compression

24 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Almost every producer, engineer and musician struggles in being able to hear compression at first—sometimes for many years. Justin Colletti offers ...

EQ Before or After Compression? Plus: Multi-band Compression Principles [SSP042]

17 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Colletti answers a common question: Is it better to put your EQ before or after your compressor? Then, he dives into some tips and principles f...

Money For Your Music: Earning Revenue from Sync Licensing for Film, TV, Games, Commercials & More [SSP041]

10 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Justin Colletti talks to Dave Hnatiuk, a music supervisor who has placed and written music for countless clients, including Viacom ch...

Live Sound vs The Studio — with Marc Urselli [SSP040]

03 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the SonicScoop Podcast, Justin Colletti talks to Marc Urselli about doing audio work in the studio vs the stage. Marc is an enginee...

The Secrets of Mix Bus Compression... Demystified! [SSP039]

26 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Justin Colletti reviews some of the most effective approaches in applying bus compression to a mix. Thanks to Soundtoys, Gear Club an...

Advanced Compression Techniques: Parallel, Sidechain and Serial Compression

19 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Justin Colletti gives an overview of 3 of the most useful advanced compression strategies, and details how to implement them on a variety o...

Breaking Through Music Production Plateaus, ft. Ian Temple of Soundfly

12 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What holds you back in music, production or in mixing? This week, Justin Colletti talks to Ian Temple of Soundfly about some of the most common hangup...

This is What Happens When You Learn an Instrument [SSP036]

05 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Justin Colletti details the positive effects on the brain and general health and well-being that come from learning music. This is wh...

Getting Better, Faster at Music and Audio (Practice vs Talent in the Music Business) [SSP035]

29 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Justin Colletti shares some evidence-tested ways to get much better, much faster, at what you do—whether that's playing an instrument, wr...

Getting Better, Faster at Music and Audio (Practice vs Talent in the Music Business) [SSP035]

29 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Justin Colletti shares some evidence-tested ways to get much better, much faster, at what you do—whether that's playing an instrument, wr...

Are You an Amateur or a Professional Musician? How to Tell. [SSP034]

22 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In the world of audio or music you're either an amateur or a professional. Which are you? Sometimes we're not clear and honest with ourselves about wh...

Reading Meters vs. Reading People: Empathy & Art in Music Production with Nicolas Vernhes [SSP033]

15 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Nicolas Verhnes has worked with an incredible number of critically acclaimed artists including Fiery Furnaces, Cat Power, Bjork, Dirty Projectors, Dee...

Making Major Music Hits: The Importance of Artist Development with Mark Needham [SSP032]

08 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Needham is an 11-time GRAMMY-nominated producer and mixer who has worked with The Killers, Imagine Dragons, P!ink, Fleetwood Mac, Bloc Party, Chr...

The Future of the Loudness Wars, A.I. in Music Production, 360 Sound, and more [SSP031]

02 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the SonicScoop podcast LIVE from MixCon, Justin Colletti is joined by three brilliant panelists for a look at how music production ...

The Most Important Tool In Your Studio Might Just Be Your Reference Mixes.

25 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Aside from your ears, the most important tool you use every day might just be the music you listen to in the studio, and compare your work against. A...

"Your Audio is Amazing and Nobody's Happy!" [SSP029]

18 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

"Your Audio is Amazing and Nobody's Happy!" MP3s and streaming platforms sometimes get a bad rap...But should they?? In this episode, Justin Colletti ...

Adding Color to Your Sounds with Maor Appelbaum [SSP028]

11 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Justin Colletti is joined by Maor Appelbaum, a mastering engineer who as worked with Faith No More, Sepultura, Yes, Matisyahu, Lupe Fiasco,...

Staying Creative While Having a Life, with John Congleton [SSP027]

03 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Colletti is joined by John Congleton, producer/engineer for St. Vincent, Lana Del Rey, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Baroness, Xiu Xiu, Explosions ...

Growing a Bigger Better Studio, with Joel Hamilton [SSP #026]

27 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Influential producer/engineer Joel Hamilton shares his inspiring story, and the secrets to the success of Studio G Brooklyn, which has grown from humb...

Don't Be Afraid of Recording Your Effects! With Nic Hard [SSP #025]

20 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Nic Hard has been fearlessly recording his effects and audio processing for decades, and talks to Justin Colletti about how you can do the same. This ...

What Matters MOST In Any Mix: The 80/20 Rule Of Audio Engineering [SSP #024]

13 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Justin Colletti talks about the 80/20 approach to audio engineering: how to focus on the things that matter most and avoid the comforting l...

Studio Business and the Craft of Mixing with Manny Marroquin [SSP #023]

06 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Justin Colletti talks to Manny Marroquin, one of the biggest mixers of the 21st century about music production and the studio business...

Q&A: Monitoring Levels, Brauer Mix Buses, Landing Audio Jobs and More [SSP #022]

30 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

You asked, we answer! In this episode, Justin Colletti fields questions about monitoring levels while mixing and mastering, the details of Michael Bra...

Audio Engineer Salaries and Jobs: How Much Do They Earn? [SSP #021]

23 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How much do audio engineers make? Justin Colletti dives into the statistics on income in the audio and sound fields to break it down, and examine some...

Overcoming the Fears of Mixing with Michael Brauer [SSP #020]

16 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Legendary music mixer Michael Brauer joins Justin Colletti to talk all about the art of mixing, and how to overcome the fears that have kept so many m...

The Independent Musician's Guide to Investing [SSP #019]

09 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Justin Colletti tackles an unlikely topic for a channel that's all about music and audio production and business: Investing. In this ...

What (Almost) Everybody Gets Wrong About Bit Depth

02 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

16 bit? 24 bit? 32 bit?? How much of a difference does bit depth really make? And are these differences you can hear for yourself? Justin Colletti div...

Growing a (Massive) Music Fanbase on YouTube with Scott Bradlee of Postmodern Jukebox [SSP#017]

25 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Scott Bradlee started with nothing but a keyboard and a camera and grew his Postmodern Jukebox channel into a small musical empire, with nearly 4 mill...

The Realities of Hip Hop & Music Production with Paul Willie Green Womack [SSP #016]

18 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Colletti talks with Paul "Willie Green" Womack about wearing the many different hats a modern producer/engineer must don in the studio. How do ...

Producers, Musicians: Make $1000s More Each Year By Doing your Taxes Properly [SSP #015]

11 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Taxes? Yes, taxes. SonicScoop's Justin Colletti can make even this topic fun, interesting and useful!  If you're in business for yourself as a p...

Do Sample Rates Really Matter? How to Make the Choice (With Science!) [SSP #014]

04 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sampling rates. 44.1k. 48k. 88.2k 96k. 192k?? How do they impact your sound, and how can you make the best choice for your projects? Justin Colletti...

21st Century Music Business with Ariel Borujow [Keys N Krates, Galantis, CID] (SSP #013)

28 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Throw out your textbooks! Ariel Borujow stops by the SonicScoop Podcast to talk all about how the music business really works in the internet age, and...

Better Ways to Produce Music with Ben H. Allen [Deerhunter, Gnarls Barkley, Animal Collective] (SSP#012)

21 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Ben H. Allen joins Justin Colletti to talk about ways of breaking the mold when producing music, and coming up with memorable, trailblazing sounds. B...

Should you Go to School for Audio, Music, or Other Arts? [SSP #011]

14 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Is audio school really worth it? Can you get a "job" out of music school? Is a degree actually going to help you break into a creative field? Justin C...

What Makes a Hit Song? The Stats Behind Music's Biggest Tracks [SSP #010]

07 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's podcast, Justin Colletti is joined by Dean Olivet, a musician and educator who has compiled data on the biggest songs in history to hel...

How to Make (and Keep) More Money in the Music and Studio Business [SSP #009]

28 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Aka "The Independent Musician’s Guide to Not Going Broke" In this episode of the SonicScoop podcast, Justin Colletti talks about mastering your mone...

A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Powerful Drum Sounds in the Mix with Mike Major [#008]

21 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's podcast, veteran mixer Mike Major [At The Drive In, Coheed and Cambria, Tall as Lions] joins Justin Colletti to talk all about enhancin...

Networking and Landing New Clients with Eyal Levi [007]

14 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Prolific rock and metal producer Eyal Levi of Unstoppable Recording Machine joins Justin Colletti to talk all about advancing your career in...

Getting Your Music Mastered? What You Need to Know with Joe Lambert [006]

07 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Are you about to send your music in for mastering? Veteran GRAMMY-nominated mastering engineer Joe Lambert joins Justin Colletti on this week's podcas...