Sage Audio Articles

How to Mix with Impulse Responses

When mixing with impulse responses, you’ll need the impulse response file, and a convolution reverb or space designer plugin. The most popular way to mix with impulse responses is to reverberate a signal, but they can also be used for equalization, emulation, and occasionally delay.

Understand Digital Distortion Types

Digital distortion types are typically the result of bit depth and sampling rate limitations - when these are reduced, it results in aliasing, clipping, waveshaping, and more types of familiar distortion. To avoid these, we can increase the sampling rate via oversampling and bit-depth by recording at least 16 bits.

Top 10 Free Mastering Plugins

Masterdesk Classic - BrainworxEQ302 Graphic Equalizer - Red Rock AudioBASSTard - Acustica AudioArctic - Acustica AudioDistortion - KiloheartsPREDD - Analog ObsessionOAQ - Analog ObsessionCorrelometer - VoxengoInitial Clipper - Initial AudioAir Shelf - Bertom Audio

Best Audio Interfaces (2023)

The interfaces on this list are in order from lowest to highest cost, and we've stuck with ones that include 2XLR inputs - that said, if you want to scale up or down, each interface has models with more or fewer XLR connections, but with the same internal functionality and processing.

How to Make Modern Vocals

When creating a modern vocal, the vocal needs to sound detailed and upfront, yet balanced with a clear frequency response. You can accomplish a modern vocal with the correct compression settings, combined with upward processing like inflation and saturation - then add temporal processing like short reverb.

Top 88 Free Mixing Plugins in 2023

Kilohearts Essential BundleDTM Hacker BundlePitchDrift & More - Baby AudioBlendEQ - Analog ObsessionRareSE - Analog ObsessionDReverb - Stone VoicesDirty LA - Bedroom Producers BlogT-Puncher - TechivationEQ302 - Red Rock SoundBYOD - ChowDSP

Creative Vocal Mixing Techniques

When introducing creative vocal techniques, using mid-side processing can be used to isolate temporal processing to the side image - causing a unique sound. Additionally, if combined, processing such as binaural imaging, transient and tone EQ, and others are great for creative vocal mixing techniques.

Top 10 Free Vocal Plugins in 2023

FrankCS - Analog ObsessionCOMPER - Analog ObsessionRO-GOLD - Black Rooster AudioTEQ-421 - VoxengoHZ Multiplier - Higher Hz.Gatelab - Audio ModernLost-Vinyl - Superfly DSPTriple Drive - Sofier SoundVREV-666 - Fuse Audio LabsFresh Air - Slate Digital

Top 10 FREE Sample Packs

Analog Supplies Vol. 1- 4Black Lotus Audio - Tension Synth LoopsBlack Lotus Audio - Dianna Artist PackBlack Octopus - Free Sample CollectionAngelic Vibes - Free Trap Melody PackMode Audio - Ambient Cassette99Sounds - Cinematic TransitionsSampleFire - OverloadAngelic Vibes - Free Trap Drum LoopsWAVBVKERY - Acoustic Drum Samples

Making a Mix Sound 3D

To make a mix sound 3D, use level faders and panning to bring a signal closer or farther away, and to the left and right. Reverb can make a signal sound closer or farther away depending on the settings, and binaural processing is needed to emulate varying elevations.

Mixing for Car Speakers

When mixing for car speakers, the mid frequencies need to be full and complex, and the low frequencies need to be centered, driving, and primarily mono. Use a mid-side EQ to isolate the lows to the mid image, and use saturation or parallel processing to affect the mids.

Mid-Side Masterclass

Whether you’re trying to widen your image or want to introduce a unique form of processing to your mix, mid-side is a crucial element. Mid-side processing can be introduced with the right EQs and can be included in your routing to allow for mid-side saturation, compression, and more.

Mastering Loud but Not Squashed

When making a loud master be sure not to push not into a limiter aggressively - instead, boost a little of 3kHz and dip 250Hz to emphasize important frequencies. Also, when masking a loud master that’s not squashed, pick saturation that amplifies high frequencies, but leaves lows unchanged.

Amazing Experimental Mastering Chain

Setting Up RoutingSaturation on Mid & SideSplit EQ on Mid & SideHigh-Frequency ExciterNeeded Mid De-essingParallel Compression & OverdriveIndependent Left/Right CompressionLeft/Right Identical LimitingEQ on Master OutputFinal Limiting Stage

Timing Effects Like a Pro

You can time your effects like a pro by dividing 60000 by your sessions BPM to get a quarter note in milliseconds. If you want a half-note, multiply this value by 2, or divide by 2 for an eighth note - then enter this value into time-based functions.