Ian Stewart
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flotownmastering.com
Ian Stewart
@flotownmastering.com
180 followers 88 following 160 posts
Owner/operator at Flotown Mastering, Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music, co-developer of Basslane Pro plugin by Tone Projects, independent contributor for the iZotope blog.

More at www.flotownmastering.com
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flotownmastering.com
New EQ, who dis?
A wooden rack-mounted mastering setup with meters, three pieces of analog audio gear, and an insert switcher. From top to bottom: Dorrough 40A meters, a Buzz Audio SOC-M stereo optical compressor, a Maselec MLA-3 stereo triband compressor, a GML 9500 EQ equalizer, and a DuTCH Audio custom 1 RU insert switcher. Behind the rack is a monitor displaying an aerial landscape image and a speaker on a stand. Some acoustic foam blocks are placed on top of the rack. A Stream Deck device is visible on the lower right. A close-up of the right side of a GML Model 9500 Mastering Equalizer, showing several rotary frequency knobs labeled in kilohertz and a white control panel below with buttons labeled “bypass” and “active gain.” A large black gain knob is marked from -5.5 to +5.5 dB. The logo “DuTCH” is printed in a hand-drawn style on the bottom right. The unit is mounted in a wooden rack with visible black screws.
April 25, 2025 at 5:45 PM
flotownmastering.com
It’s funny how program-specific certain bits of #audiomastering gear can be. I have a Buzz SOC-M I hadn’t used in ages and was starting to consider selling, and then along comes this lovely hybrid soundtrack album and I’ve used it in more than half the tracks. For now, it stays.
April 22, 2025 at 7:20 PM
flotownmastering.com
It has just occurred to me that it must be very muddy for a while after an ice age…
March 5, 2025 at 1:34 PM
flotownmastering.com
I’m not normally one to complain about cold or snow, but starting your day at 6AM with 2.5 hrs of snowblowing (kinda more like iceblowing) in -7° F weather is enough to change a guy’s mind…
A close-up selfie of a bearded man with snow and ice clinging to his facial hair. He is wearing a black beanie, blue ski goggles pushed up onto his forehead, and a heavy winter jacket. His eyes are wide open, and he has an intense expression with gritted teeth.
February 17, 2025 at 1:53 PM
flotownmastering.com
As long as we’re making things up:
A digital map of the Boston area and the surrounding Massachusetts coastline, including Gloucester, Plymouth, and Cape Cod Bay. The Gulf of Maine label has been partially crossed out and replaced with ‘Boston’ in red handwriting, and Cape Cod Bay has been similarly altered to read ‘Bruins.’
February 15, 2025 at 9:04 PM
flotownmastering.com
How well do you really know mid/side processing? Do you understand the role phase and polarity have in stereo placement? Did you realize a hard-panned signal is 50% mid, 50% side?

For [much] more, check out the chat I had with Marc Matthews!

youtu.be/7XjHqKAxqas?...

#audiosky #midside
165: What is Mid-Side EQ? Enhance Your Stereo Image with Ian Stewart | @FlotownMastering
YouTube video by Marc Matthews Producer
youtu.be
February 5, 2025 at 2:25 AM
flotownmastering.com
A good reminder.
First they came for the Communists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Communist Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Socialist Then they came for the trade unionists And I did not speak out Because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for the Jews And I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew Then they came for me And there was no one left To speak out for me - M. Niemöller
February 2, 2025 at 4:02 AM
flotownmastering.com
Inducted the kid into the astronomy club last night. On the coldest night of the year (-12 F/-24.5 C), we went outside, at her urging, to look at the planetary alignment.

#spacesky #astronomysky
A small telescope mounted on a tripod sits in the snow at night, positioned in front of a tan-colored garage with white trim. The scene is dimly lit, with dark trees visible in the background. Hunched over, a child dressed all in black peers into the telescope.
January 22, 2025 at 9:21 PM
flotownmastering.com
Put on my mix hat for the first time in ages this week and am really loving what I’m getting out of Soothe2 as a side chain-able space-maker/unmasker.

What other fun updates to old techniques are people using these days?

#audiosky #mixing
January 7, 2025 at 7:31 PM
flotownmastering.com
+1 to my tally of things I’ve “fixed” by taking them apart, looking thoughtfully at them, testing an impedance or two, and putting them back together.

Also, huzzah for not having to buy a new dishwasher or even any parts.
December 31, 2024 at 5:37 PM
flotownmastering.com
‘‘’Twas the day before Xmas (and Hanukkah), and all through the house not a creature was stirring… except Fizz, who stared into your soul with demon eyes, ready to unleash pandemonium.”

#happyholidays #dogsky #catsky
A cozy Christmas scene with two dogs sleeping on a dark gray couch - one dark-colored and one light-colored dog snuggled under a plush brown blanket. In the background, a decorated Christmas tree with silver ornaments and white lights stands near a window, and three Christmas stockings hang on the wall - one plaid, one patterned, and one black with fur trim. A close-up of a Christmas tree decorated with silver glitter ornaments and festive decorations, including a Grinch ornament wearing a Santa hat and several Rhode Island specific ornaments. A black and white cat with bright eyes peeks out from within the tree branches, and a gift bag with a tree design is visible in the corner.
December 24, 2024 at 5:08 PM
flotownmastering.com
Hey kids, if you really wanna piss your mastering engineer off, here’s a top tip:

After hearing their 4th master based on your 2nd mix tell them you’re sending a 3rd mix, but actually tweak their 4th master and send it back to them relabeled in your usual format.
December 19, 2024 at 9:00 PM
flotownmastering.com
So like is @fabfilter.bsky.social Pro-MB dead? No updates in over 11 years but in the meantime there have been 3 versions of Pro-Q, 2 of Pro-R, and many other updates. @danworrall.bsky.social, should I stop hoping?
December 16, 2024 at 1:53 AM
flotownmastering.com
A very special birthday donut for a very special birthday dog! Happy 11th, Stella!!
A small white dog with perked ears and an eager expression sits on a light wood kitchen floor, looking up at a plate being held in the foreground. The plate is a green ceramic dish holding a homemade dog treat, shaped like a donut with a light-colored glaze. In the background, there are food and water bowls on the floor, two large plastic water jugs, and two partially visible doorways.
December 15, 2024 at 12:36 AM
Reposted by Ian Stewart
ianshepherd.bsky.social
Updated all the #audioproduction Starter Packs with new people I’ve found.

Please check them out and suggest anyone I’ve missed !

More info: www.productionadvice.co.uk/BlueSky/

#musicproduction #audiosky #mixingandmastering #musiciansky
BlueSky for Musicians and Audio Nerds - a Quickstart Guide - Production Advice
Suddenly this week everyone is talking about BlueSky, for some reason.
www.productionadvice.co.uk
December 14, 2024 at 4:28 PM
flotownmastering.com
It’s true. In the Dunning-Kruger graph for mid/side, the peak of Mt. Stupid is exceptionally high, the Valley of Despair rivals the Mariana Trench, and the Slope of Enlightenment is exceptionally long and gradual.
This diagram humorously represents the Dunning-Kruger effect, a cognitive bias where individuals with limited knowledge or experience initially have high confidence (the “Peak of Mt. Stupid”). As they gain more knowledge, confidence drops into the “Valley of Despair,” before gradually climbing the “Slope of Enlightenment” and reaching the “Plateau of Sustainability,” where expertise and wisdom balance confidence (not adjusted for mid/side).
December 10, 2024 at 7:47 PM
flotownmastering.com
Happy Saturday, Bsky. How’s your morning going? So far mine has consisted of shoveling snow, totally not eating $h!t on the icy driveway, a latte, and an origami frog.
A festive ceramic mug adorned with a cheerful penguin wearing a red-and-white striped hat, sitting on a wooden table. In the foreground lies a small origami frog, while the blurred background features a glowing Christmas tree with soft yellow and blue lights, evoking a cozy holiday atmosphere.
December 7, 2024 at 4:35 PM
flotownmastering.com
Ok, I’m playing with @apl-hud.bsky.social Virtuoso and am blown away and actually enjoying #Atmos mixes on Apple Music for the first time.

Hit me with your favorite, best sounding, most #immersive, wildest Atmos mixes, annnnd GO!

#audiosky #spatial
December 5, 2024 at 11:32 PM
flotownmastering.com
My latest article for iZotope is up. If you're after some more advanced ways to get the most out of #Ozone, this one's for you!

www.izotope.com/en/learn/adv...

#audiosky #mastering #plugintips
www.izotope.com
December 4, 2024 at 3:00 PM
flotownmastering.com
What Katie said. And if you’re looking for a good alternative, I made a nifty tool and write-up:

flotownmastering.com/blog/best-mu...

#music #audiosky #streaming
December 3, 2024 at 2:11 PM
flotownmastering.com
What the man said. This is one of my favorite features so far.
mkbhd.com Marques Brownlee @mkbhd.com · Dec 1
Being able to pin a feed to my homepage without following everyone on the list is a genuinely useful and awesome feature. Google+ was ahead of its time with circles (IYKYK) but this is the next best thing for curating multiple feeds.
December 2, 2024 at 11:12 PM
flotownmastering.com
Last day to grab Basslane Pro, or any other plugins in the Tone Projects suite for 40% off!

#audiosky #production #mixing #mastering #plugindeals
A screenshot of the Basslane Pro audio plugin from Tone Projects and Flotown Mastering
December 2, 2024 at 6:25 PM
flotownmastering.com
Ok, one last one before bed (having too much fun here): If you're into audio plugins, try out this feed I just made.

It's very general and broad, but let me know if there's stuff you know of that feels like it should be showing up but isn't.

Hopefully OT posts will be at a minimum.
December 2, 2024 at 3:40 AM
flotownmastering.com
Tree acquired (and approved)!
A man in a rural Christmas tree farm carrying a large, freshly cut evergreen tree on his shoulder. The scene is surrounded by rows of trees and golden-brown grass under a clear, sunny sky with a backdrop of rolling hills. A festive indoor scene featuring a decorated Christmas tree adorned with lights and ornaments, topped with a glowing star. A small, light-colored dog stands in front of the tree on a wooden floor, next to several dog toys, giving a cozy holiday atmosphere.
December 2, 2024 at 1:05 AM
flotownmastering.com
Audio #production, #mixing, and #mastering tip:

Rather than thinking of #mid/side as a way to manipulate the center and edges of the stereo field (it’s not), think of it as X-specific width control. EQ? Frequency-specific width control. Compression? Level-specific width control. 🫡
December 1, 2024 at 7:17 PM