Sage Audio Articles

How to Prepare Your Mix for Mastering

Before you submit your song for mastering, it's best to make sure the mix submitted is at the proper level and the correct file type. This guide will help paint a clear picture for the do's and don'ts of submitting a mix for mastering.

Library Music Awards to Premiere this Fall

The first ever award show for stock music composition and production will take place this fall. Set to take place in London, the Library Music Awards will look to champion the "best and brightest" makers of stock/production in the music industry, by presenting awards in a dozen categories.

Top Three 61-Key MIDI Controllers

As samples have become more prolific, more affordable and a lot better sounding, the MIDI controller has become one of the most important tools in the modern digital studio. With added features like professional grade knobs, faders and pads. The newest generation of MIDI controllers can also provide a boost to your mixing workflow as well as the fastest way to program samples. Here are three of the best 61-key controllers available right now.

New SoundCloud App Disappoints

SoundCloud released a new version of its iPhone app this month, which eliminated many of its best features for artists. Gone are the abilities to comment, "like," or even easily explore new releases from your favorite streams. Not unexpectedly, many producers and artists have voiced their disappointment with the app, citing a complete disregard for the experience of the musicians.

3 Great Free Mixing Plugins

Several producers and musicians have already discovered that you can save your money and still have a professional-sounding mix. Don't believe us? Check out these three free mixing plugins you can download online right now. They've each been compared by artists to ones that cost hundreds of dollars.

Can Big Studios Survive?

One of Nashville's most iconic recording spaces nearly closed down this past month, and it raises the question about the viability of big studios in the age of digital recording. Among the many obstacles studios face, here are three key challenges that are going to directly affect the business of big studios.

Indies' New Streaming Model

In reaction to the low profitability of mainstream streaming services like Spotify and Pandora, some independent record labels and artists are creating their own subscription streaming models as an alternative for loyal fans and a new model for selling their music. This new model could be the answer to both further engaging loyal fans digitally, and reclaiming lost revenue to big streaming services.

IFPI 2014 Digital Music Report

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry just released their annual Digital Music Report. The free document provides statistics and trends on how the music industry performed last year. Among its findings is the confirmation that subscription streaming services have grown significantly. Here's what else the report had to show.

4 Top Online Distribution Services

Thanks to the numerous distribution channels available online, it's easy to share and sell your music with the world. With the advent of distribution services to help you get your music in iTunes, Spotify, Google Play and others, there are a lot of options for publishing your music online. Here's an overview of the costs and services offered by four of the most popular music distribution services.

Do You Need a Subwoofer?

Not all studios need a subwoofer for mixing. In fact, in some cases, adding a sub to your monitoring setup can make the response less accurate by falsely boosting the bass frequencies. Here a couple of things to look for if you're interested in adding a sub to your studio.

Radio Still Reigns

A recent study about the audio listening habits of Americans revealed that radio is still the most popular audio format by a long shot... and it's gaining a larger audience than ever. Here's how the rest of the audio mediums came out in the study.

Indie Artists Fight Unfair Youtube Policies

YouTube's new streaming service has caused a stir in the independent music community for what many artists and labels say are unfair contracts and unreasonable negotiating tactics. But, many artists aren't taking it sitting down. A case is expected to go before the European Commission soon.

Best DAWs for Mastering

According to a recent survey of Internet searches and social media conversations, the most popular DAW this past quarter wasn't Pro Tools. It was FL Studio, the easy to use beat making software for PC. Here's how other DAWs fared and what it could mean for the music production industry.

Dave Grohl Gets HBO Series

Foo Fighters frontman, Dave Grohl, has been given a deal by HBO to produce a new series about the making of his iconic band's newest album due out this Fall. The series is expected to follow in the footsteps of Grohl's 2013 documentary about one of LA's most legendary studios, Sound City.

Top Music Pros Speak Against Streaming Royalties

Some of the music industry's biggest artists and executives have recently been speaking out against the royalties paid by streaming services. And, a recent court ruling between Pandora and ASCAP may have made things worse by evoking a legal precedent established in 1941.