The commodification of artists’ aesthetics refers to the phenomenon where the unique visual and thematic elements associated with an artist are packaged and marketed, often diluting the original artistic vision. Lana Del Rey serves as a prime example of this trend. Since her emergence in the early 2010s, Del Rey’s meticulously crafted image, which blends…

Intro Rob Kinelski is a highly esteemed audio engineer, mixer, and producer recognised for his contributions to the music industry. Collaborating with a wide range of artists, he has helped shape the sonic landscape of modern music. Kinelski’s work spans many genres, highlighting his versatility and expertise in the field. Notable collaborations Rob Kinelski has…

Over the course of several decades, multi-channel audio solutions have made significant advancements. In the 80s and 90s, Dolby Surround and THX Surround EX & Dolby Digital emerged as industry leaders, while DTS formats provided high-quality audio. Today, Dolby Atmos and Auro-3D offer unparalleled immersive experiences through object-based audio and height channels. These innovative solutions…

Surround sound systems have a fascinating history that dates back to the 1940s and 1950s. During this time, audio engineers began experimenting with new ways to immerse audiences in a more realistic auditory experience. One of the earliest and most notable attempts was Fantasound, developed by Disney for the 1940 movie “Fantasia.” This system used…

What is mastering? Mastering is the last stage in the audio production process where a song’s finished mix is prepared for distribution across different streaming platforms. The process aims to enhance the song’s overall sonic quality, coherence, and consistency. It involves adjusting levels, EQs, stereo imaging, and applying limiters to ensure the song translates well…

What are the Loudness Wars? The Loudness Wars refer to a phenomenon in the music industry characterized by a competitiveness to make audio recordings louder, especially when it comes to commercial releases.  This trend gained momentum with the development of digital recording technologies and digital distribution platforms. The primary objective of the Loudness Wars is…

Multiband EQ in Logic Pro What is EQ used for in music mixing? 1 Frequency balancing – Adjust levels of different frequency bands within an audio signal. This ensures all elements of the mix can be heard clearly without any frequencies dominating or masking others. 2 Tonal shaping – Sculpt the tonal characteristics of individual…

Stereo sound describes an audio reproduction technique that creates the illusion of multi-directional sound perception. In a stereo system, two or more audio channels are used to create a sense of space, depth, and localization of sound sources (where the sound is coming from). This technique works to mimic the way we humans naturally perceive…

Visual representation of “deja vu” by Olivia Rodrigo. After a few listens, I’ve constructed the visual representation of “deja vu” by Olivia Rodrigo’s mix image. 1 Every instrument and sound in the stereo field can be easily seen. This helps you to arrange each element effectively, making sure there’s no clashing or overcrowding in specific…

Mixing with a reference When we talk about mixing in music, reference material is used to describe a professional track that we use as a benchmark or point of comparison during the mixing process. These reference tracks work as a guide for achieving certain sonic characteristics, dynamics, loudness, stereo imaging, and overall quality of the…