thesimpletom
@thesimpletom.bsky.social
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🟧 The Blueprint for Mixing ❗️
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⬜️ bio.site/thesimpletom
🟧 The Blueprint for Mixing ❗️
🟨 bonus, free access to the goodies vault
⬜️ bio.site/thesimpletom
September 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM
🟥🟧🟨⬜ To squash or not to squash the mix?
Instead of seeing this from a technical perspective (numbers, loudness), I’d look at it from a creative one.
Technically, squashing a full mix will reduce transients.
1/10
#musicproduction
Instead of seeing this from a technical perspective (numbers, loudness), I’d look at it from a creative one.
Technically, squashing a full mix will reduce transients.
1/10
#musicproduction
July 22, 2025 at 10:30 AM
🟥🟧🟨⬜ To squash or not to squash the mix?
Instead of seeing this from a technical perspective (numbers, loudness), I’d look at it from a creative one.
Technically, squashing a full mix will reduce transients.
1/10
#musicproduction
Instead of seeing this from a technical perspective (numbers, loudness), I’d look at it from a creative one.
Technically, squashing a full mix will reduce transients.
1/10
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ True Peak limiting is an attempt to solve an analog problem with a digital solution. Inter-Sample Peaks are analog peaks, not digital.
No matter how much of any audio chain is digital, what goes from the amp to the speakers will always be analog.
1/12
#musicproduction
No matter how much of any audio chain is digital, what goes from the amp to the speakers will always be analog.
1/12
#musicproduction
July 20, 2025 at 7:00 AM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ True Peak limiting is an attempt to solve an analog problem with a digital solution. Inter-Sample Peaks are analog peaks, not digital.
No matter how much of any audio chain is digital, what goes from the amp to the speakers will always be analog.
1/12
#musicproduction
No matter how much of any audio chain is digital, what goes from the amp to the speakers will always be analog.
1/12
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜️Mastering with Ozone 11 Maximizer: The IRC 3 - Pumping mode
I won’t adventure into saying this mode is “the best”. But I will say it’s the cleanest. In the video, the red harmonics are IRC 3 - Pumping, while the blue harmonics are the the other modes.
1/5
#musicproduction
I won’t adventure into saying this mode is “the best”. But I will say it’s the cleanest. In the video, the red harmonics are IRC 3 - Pumping, while the blue harmonics are the the other modes.
1/5
#musicproduction
July 18, 2025 at 9:30 AM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️Mastering with Ozone 11 Maximizer: The IRC 3 - Pumping mode
I won’t adventure into saying this mode is “the best”. But I will say it’s the cleanest. In the video, the red harmonics are IRC 3 - Pumping, while the blue harmonics are the the other modes.
1/5
#musicproduction
I won’t adventure into saying this mode is “the best”. But I will say it’s the cleanest. In the video, the red harmonics are IRC 3 - Pumping, while the blue harmonics are the the other modes.
1/5
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜️Ozone 11 Exciter for mastering - Retro and Tape
When mastering, at least for me, the main purpose for the saturation is to control peaks, not necessarily to add extra color to the overall tonal balance of the mix.
1/8
#musicproduction
When mastering, at least for me, the main purpose for the saturation is to control peaks, not necessarily to add extra color to the overall tonal balance of the mix.
1/8
#musicproduction
July 16, 2025 at 9:30 AM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️Ozone 11 Exciter for mastering - Retro and Tape
When mastering, at least for me, the main purpose for the saturation is to control peaks, not necessarily to add extra color to the overall tonal balance of the mix.
1/8
#musicproduction
When mastering, at least for me, the main purpose for the saturation is to control peaks, not necessarily to add extra color to the overall tonal balance of the mix.
1/8
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ Lesser-known iZotope Ozone EQ features
→ Infinite spectrum display
You can average the spectrum display across an entire song section and observe if there are spectral buildups in some areas.
1/8
#musicproduction
→ Infinite spectrum display
You can average the spectrum display across an entire song section and observe if there are spectral buildups in some areas.
1/8
#musicproduction
July 14, 2025 at 6:30 AM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ Lesser-known iZotope Ozone EQ features
→ Infinite spectrum display
You can average the spectrum display across an entire song section and observe if there are spectral buildups in some areas.
1/8
#musicproduction
→ Infinite spectrum display
You can average the spectrum display across an entire song section and observe if there are spectral buildups in some areas.
1/8
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜OTT alternative: Sixth Sample CRAMIT free version.
In addition to the already known upward and downward compression, this one can do a bit (or more) of clipping,
1/2
#musicproduction
In addition to the already known upward and downward compression, this one can do a bit (or more) of clipping,
1/2
#musicproduction
June 23, 2025 at 4:30 AM
🟥🟧🟨⬜OTT alternative: Sixth Sample CRAMIT free version.
In addition to the already known upward and downward compression, this one can do a bit (or more) of clipping,
1/2
#musicproduction
In addition to the already known upward and downward compression, this one can do a bit (or more) of clipping,
1/2
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ My top 10 overhyped / overcomplicated / underwhelming plugins.
No. 5 → Brainworx bx_hybrid: a Pro-Q that’s more complicated and under-featured at the same time.
#musicproduction
No. 5 → Brainworx bx_hybrid: a Pro-Q that’s more complicated and under-featured at the same time.
#musicproduction
June 7, 2025 at 8:22 PM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ My top 10 overhyped / overcomplicated / underwhelming plugins.
No. 5 → Brainworx bx_hybrid: a Pro-Q that’s more complicated and under-featured at the same time.
#musicproduction
No. 5 → Brainworx bx_hybrid: a Pro-Q that’s more complicated and under-featured at the same time.
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ My top 10 overhyped / overcomplicated / underwhelming plugins.
No. 4 → Acustica Space Control: more knobs than Ozone Imager for a lesser sound. It colors the sound so much, it can’t be added later in the mix. Also the linear phase mode is a pre-ringing fest.
#musicproduction
No. 4 → Acustica Space Control: more knobs than Ozone Imager for a lesser sound. It colors the sound so much, it can’t be added later in the mix. Also the linear phase mode is a pre-ringing fest.
#musicproduction
June 6, 2025 at 12:01 PM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ My top 10 overhyped / overcomplicated / underwhelming plugins.
No. 4 → Acustica Space Control: more knobs than Ozone Imager for a lesser sound. It colors the sound so much, it can’t be added later in the mix. Also the linear phase mode is a pre-ringing fest.
#musicproduction
No. 4 → Acustica Space Control: more knobs than Ozone Imager for a lesser sound. It colors the sound so much, it can’t be added later in the mix. Also the linear phase mode is a pre-ringing fest.
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ My top 10 overhyped / overcomplicated / underwhelming plugins.
"Passive EQs"
No. 3 → Manley EQ. Since we are in digital, “passive EQ” means nothing. It’s just a regular digital EQ with the added inconvenience of the hardware workflow
1/2
#musicproduction
"Passive EQs"
No. 3 → Manley EQ. Since we are in digital, “passive EQ” means nothing. It’s just a regular digital EQ with the added inconvenience of the hardware workflow
1/2
#musicproduction
June 5, 2025 at 10:00 PM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ My top 10 overhyped / overcomplicated / underwhelming plugins.
"Passive EQs"
No. 3 → Manley EQ. Since we are in digital, “passive EQ” means nothing. It’s just a regular digital EQ with the added inconvenience of the hardware workflow
1/2
#musicproduction
"Passive EQs"
No. 3 → Manley EQ. Since we are in digital, “passive EQ” means nothing. It’s just a regular digital EQ with the added inconvenience of the hardware workflow
1/2
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ My top 10 overhyped / overcomplicated / underwhelming plugins.
→ Shadow Hills. It’s famous. But ultimately it’s just two compressors and some saturation (light odd and even harmonics). Nothing sonically special or unachievable with other more straight-forward options.
#musicproduction
→ Shadow Hills. It’s famous. But ultimately it’s just two compressors and some saturation (light odd and even harmonics). Nothing sonically special or unachievable with other more straight-forward options.
#musicproduction
June 5, 2025 at 12:07 AM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ My top 10 overhyped / overcomplicated / underwhelming plugins.
→ Shadow Hills. It’s famous. But ultimately it’s just two compressors and some saturation (light odd and even harmonics). Nothing sonically special or unachievable with other more straight-forward options.
#musicproduction
→ Shadow Hills. It’s famous. But ultimately it’s just two compressors and some saturation (light odd and even harmonics). Nothing sonically special or unachievable with other more straight-forward options.
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ My top 10 overhyped / overcomplicated / underwhelming plugins.
1/10: Vertigo series. This wasted space at the left and right makes for a cluttered interface. Switches positions are not easy to spot either. Sonically can be easily replaced.
#musicproduction
1/10: Vertigo series. This wasted space at the left and right makes for a cluttered interface. Switches positions are not easy to spot either. Sonically can be easily replaced.
#musicproduction
June 1, 2025 at 1:35 PM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ My top 10 overhyped / overcomplicated / underwhelming plugins.
1/10: Vertigo series. This wasted space at the left and right makes for a cluttered interface. Switches positions are not easy to spot either. Sonically can be easily replaced.
#musicproduction
1/10: Vertigo series. This wasted space at the left and right makes for a cluttered interface. Switches positions are not easy to spot either. Sonically can be easily replaced.
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜️Master bus plug-ins grouping by role, for a better workflow.
As the full mix reaches the stereo bus, I like to have a clear layout of the processes at this stage. For me, it goes like this:
→ 1. Mixbus plug-ins: saturation, bus compressor, OTT
1/6
#musicproduction
As the full mix reaches the stereo bus, I like to have a clear layout of the processes at this stage. For me, it goes like this:
→ 1. Mixbus plug-ins: saturation, bus compressor, OTT
1/6
#musicproduction
May 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️Master bus plug-ins grouping by role, for a better workflow.
As the full mix reaches the stereo bus, I like to have a clear layout of the processes at this stage. For me, it goes like this:
→ 1. Mixbus plug-ins: saturation, bus compressor, OTT
1/6
#musicproduction
As the full mix reaches the stereo bus, I like to have a clear layout of the processes at this stage. For me, it goes like this:
→ 1. Mixbus plug-ins: saturation, bus compressor, OTT
1/6
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ Kick & bass levels strategy, and mixbus compression and limiting
There 3 ways to mix a song: with no mixbus plugins, with a bus compressor and a limiter, and with a full mastering mixbus chain.
1/6
#musicproduction
There 3 ways to mix a song: with no mixbus plugins, with a bus compressor and a limiter, and with a full mastering mixbus chain.
1/6
#musicproduction
May 24, 2025 at 8:00 AM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ Kick & bass levels strategy, and mixbus compression and limiting
There 3 ways to mix a song: with no mixbus plugins, with a bus compressor and a limiter, and with a full mastering mixbus chain.
1/6
#musicproduction
There 3 ways to mix a song: with no mixbus plugins, with a bus compressor and a limiter, and with a full mastering mixbus chain.
1/6
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜️Analyzer of the day: Schulz Audio Oszillos Mega Scope (paid)
A featured oscilloscope with sync, multiple waveform display modes, it can display all the instances in the project in a single window (parallel waveforms or stacked).
#musicproduction
A featured oscilloscope with sync, multiple waveform display modes, it can display all the instances in the project in a single window (parallel waveforms or stacked).
#musicproduction
May 23, 2025 at 2:00 AM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️Analyzer of the day: Schulz Audio Oszillos Mega Scope (paid)
A featured oscilloscope with sync, multiple waveform display modes, it can display all the instances in the project in a single window (parallel waveforms or stacked).
#musicproduction
A featured oscilloscope with sync, multiple waveform display modes, it can display all the instances in the project in a single window (parallel waveforms or stacked).
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ Floating point, fixed point and digital audio path from DAW to the analog output. And an A-hole.
Digital to Analog Conversion
If we look at 16-bit depth (or any non-floating point bit depth for that matter), we can agree that the maximum that can be
1/14
#musicproduction
Digital to Analog Conversion
If we look at 16-bit depth (or any non-floating point bit depth for that matter), we can agree that the maximum that can be
1/14
#musicproduction
May 21, 2025 at 1:00 AM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ Floating point, fixed point and digital audio path from DAW to the analog output. And an A-hole.
Digital to Analog Conversion
If we look at 16-bit depth (or any non-floating point bit depth for that matter), we can agree that the maximum that can be
1/14
#musicproduction
Digital to Analog Conversion
If we look at 16-bit depth (or any non-floating point bit depth for that matter), we can agree that the maximum that can be
1/14
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ The null test - what is it, why it’s useful, how to perform it, and how to interpret the results. And a hot take 🔥
→ What is null testing ←
Null testing is used to compare two signals by summing one with a polarity-inverted version of the other.
1/14
#ProducerThreads
→ What is null testing ←
Null testing is used to compare two signals by summing one with a polarity-inverted version of the other.
1/14
#ProducerThreads
May 18, 2025 at 10:01 PM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ The null test - what is it, why it’s useful, how to perform it, and how to interpret the results. And a hot take 🔥
→ What is null testing ←
Null testing is used to compare two signals by summing one with a polarity-inverted version of the other.
1/14
#ProducerThreads
→ What is null testing ←
Null testing is used to compare two signals by summing one with a polarity-inverted version of the other.
1/14
#ProducerThreads
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ VirtualJV - Roland JV-880 emulator (free)
Back in the 90s when Roland released these multi-layer synth/samplers, several of their expansion cartridges were discontinued early because they used copyrighted sounds and loops.
1/3
#musicproduction
Back in the 90s when Roland released these multi-layer synth/samplers, several of their expansion cartridges were discontinued early because they used copyrighted sounds and loops.
1/3
#musicproduction
May 15, 2025 at 5:30 AM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ VirtualJV - Roland JV-880 emulator (free)
Back in the 90s when Roland released these multi-layer synth/samplers, several of their expansion cartridges were discontinued early because they used copyrighted sounds and loops.
1/3
#musicproduction
Back in the 90s when Roland released these multi-layer synth/samplers, several of their expansion cartridges were discontinued early because they used copyrighted sounds and loops.
1/3
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ FabFilter Pro-Q 4 saturation (Character button) - a bit of caution.
Even harmonics are a characteristic of tubes. They can definitely sound nice, but there's a catch: the stronger the input signal level, the more waveform asymmetry is being introduced.
1/4
#musicproduction
Even harmonics are a characteristic of tubes. They can definitely sound nice, but there's a catch: the stronger the input signal level, the more waveform asymmetry is being introduced.
1/4
#musicproduction
May 13, 2025 at 8:00 AM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ FabFilter Pro-Q 4 saturation (Character button) - a bit of caution.
Even harmonics are a characteristic of tubes. They can definitely sound nice, but there's a catch: the stronger the input signal level, the more waveform asymmetry is being introduced.
1/4
#musicproduction
Even harmonics are a characteristic of tubes. They can definitely sound nice, but there's a catch: the stronger the input signal level, the more waveform asymmetry is being introduced.
1/4
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ The null test - what is it, why it’s useful, how to perform it, and how to interpret the results. And a hot take 🔥
→ What is null testing ←
Null testing is used to compare two signals by summing one with a polarity-inverted version of the other.
1/14
#ProducerThreads
→ What is null testing ←
Null testing is used to compare two signals by summing one with a polarity-inverted version of the other.
1/14
#ProducerThreads
May 11, 2025 at 5:56 PM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ The null test - what is it, why it’s useful, how to perform it, and how to interpret the results. And a hot take 🔥
→ What is null testing ←
Null testing is used to compare two signals by summing one with a polarity-inverted version of the other.
1/14
#ProducerThreads
→ What is null testing ←
Null testing is used to compare two signals by summing one with a polarity-inverted version of the other.
1/14
#ProducerThreads
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ Probably the best stem extractor among all free and paid ones: MVSep-MDX23
It runs on Google Cloud, your PC specs doen't matter. You can use your machine for the usual tasks while it does its thing.
1/5
#musicproduction
It runs on Google Cloud, your PC specs doen't matter. You can use your machine for the usual tasks while it does its thing.
1/5
#musicproduction
May 9, 2025 at 12:28 PM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ Probably the best stem extractor among all free and paid ones: MVSep-MDX23
It runs on Google Cloud, your PC specs doen't matter. You can use your machine for the usual tasks while it does its thing.
1/5
#musicproduction
It runs on Google Cloud, your PC specs doen't matter. You can use your machine for the usual tasks while it does its thing.
1/5
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨🟪 A handy free plugin to start any track processing chain with: DMGAudio TrackControl
Especially if your DAW doesn't have a feature-rich utility plugin, this one is a no-brainer.
1/7
#musicproduction
Especially if your DAW doesn't have a feature-rich utility plugin, this one is a no-brainer.
1/7
#musicproduction
May 8, 2025 at 4:30 AM
🟥🟧🟨🟪 A handy free plugin to start any track processing chain with: DMGAudio TrackControl
Especially if your DAW doesn't have a feature-rich utility plugin, this one is a no-brainer.
1/7
#musicproduction
Especially if your DAW doesn't have a feature-rich utility plugin, this one is a no-brainer.
1/7
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨🟪 Transient shaper - the open hats saver (video)
Because the original open hat I’ve started the project with wasn’t punching through, I’ve spent almost an hour searching for another hi-hat with the same texture but more transient.
1/3
#ProducerThreads
Because the original open hat I’ve started the project with wasn’t punching through, I’ve spent almost an hour searching for another hi-hat with the same texture but more transient.
1/3
#ProducerThreads
May 6, 2025 at 10:01 PM
🟥🟧🟨🟪 Transient shaper - the open hats saver (video)
Because the original open hat I’ve started the project with wasn’t punching through, I’ve spent almost an hour searching for another hi-hat with the same texture but more transient.
1/3
#ProducerThreads
Because the original open hat I’ve started the project with wasn’t punching through, I’ve spent almost an hour searching for another hi-hat with the same texture but more transient.
1/3
#ProducerThreads
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ Mastering strategy for hard and soft clipping.
The idea here is pretty simple. The hard-knee will shave the peaks, while the soft-knee will round the peaks.
1/6
#musicproduction
The idea here is pretty simple. The hard-knee will shave the peaks, while the soft-knee will round the peaks.
1/6
#musicproduction
May 5, 2025 at 10:33 AM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ Mastering strategy for hard and soft clipping.
The idea here is pretty simple. The hard-knee will shave the peaks, while the soft-knee will round the peaks.
1/6
#musicproduction
The idea here is pretty simple. The hard-knee will shave the peaks, while the soft-knee will round the peaks.
1/6
#musicproduction
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ Optimize your compression game: turn Downward Compression into Ranged Upward Compression
1/14
#musicproduction
1/14
#musicproduction
May 3, 2025 at 9:51 PM
🟥🟧🟨⬜️ Optimize your compression game: turn Downward Compression into Ranged Upward Compression
1/14
#musicproduction
1/14
#musicproduction