Music Production Blog

Create Powerful AI-Generated Chord Progressions (#1 Secrets)

Whether you like it or not, AI is taking over the music production world.    So, instead of fighting it, as music producers, we should learn how to get ahead of it and use it to our advantage…   That’s where MIDI Wizard 2.0 comes in.   In today’s article, we’ll be breaking down everything […]

Transient Shaping 101: The Absolute Best Guide for Producers

Transient shaping is all about controlling the attack and sustain of a sound to make your drums punchier, instruments cleaner, and mixes way tighter.    It can help you bring out the transients in your kick and snare, tighten up drum breaks, add clarity to your vocals every single time.   And, even reshape synths […]

11 Best Free VSTs that Are Taking Over 2025 (Unmatched!)

If you’re a producer, you already know the importance of a good plugin;that’s a given.    However, I’m sure we can all agree that some are super expensive and give you way too little for the price.    Well, that’s exactly why I’m breaking down the best free VSTs today, so you get unmatched value […]

What is Multiband Compression 101 (Become a Master Fast!)

As producers, knowing all about multiband compression can seriously take your mixing and mastering game to the next level.    It can help you clean up muddy mixes, balance frequencies like a pro, and keep your dynamics tight without sacrificing energy.    Plus, successfully shaping transients, controlling low-end, and enhancing overall loudness becomes way easier […]

8 Best Amp Simulators For Insanely Realistic Amp Tones 2025

As music producers, amp simulators can seriously help you dial in professional guitar and bass tones without needing expensive amps, pedals, or complicated mic setups.    They replicate the sound and response of real amplifiers, so you’ll easily have full control over your tone.   Whether you’re going for crystal-clear cleans, warm overdrive, or high-gain […]

The 9 Best Clipper Plugins in the Entire Industry (2025)

Clipper plugins are all about controlling peaks, maximizing loudness, and adding a super unique character to your sound.    They’re able to increase perceived volume, smooth out transients, and prevent any harsh distortion 一 all while preserving punch and clarity.    Whether you want to push your drums to the limit, make your basslines thicker, […]

Soft Clipping vs Hard Clipping 101 (Become A Master Clipper)

If you’re a producer, engineer or sound designer, knowing all about soft clipping vs hard clipping is key.    One is all about smooth saturation and natural dynamics, and the other excels at aggression, loudness, and energy.    It’s all about controlling peaks, shaping waveforms, and adding harmonics in ways that can completely transform your […]

Mid-Side EQ 101: Key Basics, Expert Techniques & Best Tips

Mid-side EQ is all about controlling the stereo image, which lets you shape the mid and side channels independently.    It can add width without making your mix feel unbalanced, enhance clarity without over-processing, and fix phase issues that could otherwise ruin your stereo mix.    Plus, it’s one of the best ways to tighten […]

Transforming Your 808s for MASSIVE Results (Advanced Tricks)

In the production world, if you have any chance of standing out and making your mark, you need the sickest 808s around.    They need to be hard-hitting, punchy, and clean.    Plus, they need to fill out the low-end, cut through the mix, and translate well on all speaker systems.    That’s exactly why […]

Bit Depth vs Sample Rate 101 (The Key to Super Clean Sound)

Going hand in hand with yesterday’s article, today we’re talking all about bit depth vs sample rate.    As a producer, knowing the differences between the two can seriously help you improve your recordings, mix with more precision, and avoid any unnecessary digital artifacts.    Plus, understanding how bit depth affects dynamic range and how […]

What is the Nyquist Frequency & Does it Truly Matter? 2025

The Nyquist frequency is one of the most important concepts in digital audio (whether you’re aware of it or not).   It influences everything from sampling rate choices to avoiding aliasing artifacts in your mix so it doesn’t mess things up.   Plus, it can determine how accurately a signal is sampled, prevent unwanted alias […]

Bitcrushing and Downsampling 101 (The Best Producer’s Guide)

Bitcrushing and downsampling are two essential processes/effects that can completely transform your sound in ways that no other techniques can.    One is all about bit depth reduction, creating gritty distortion and giving your samples that crushed, digital texture people go crazy for.   The other is all about sample rate reduction, stripping away high […]

Saturation vs Distortion 101: Key Differences & Epic Tricks

Saturation and distortion are two super powerful effects that can help your tracks get some warmth, grit, and harmonic depth.   This way, they feel fuller and more show-stopping.   Plus, they help you successfully shape transients, enhance presence, and add texture 一 making your sounds really pop (and sound professional too).   But, there […]

Drum Layering 101: How to Create Legendary Drum Sounds

Drum layering is all about stacking drum sounds so they hit way harder, sound fuller, and fit perfectly in the mix like they always should.   It can add depth, energy, and texture while keeping everything balanced.   Plus, it helps you avoid weak drum hits, muddy low-end, and clashing drum samples that fight for […]

Cross-synthesis 101: Learn Mind-blowing Sound Design Tricks

Cross-synthesis is one of the most powerful techniques in the world of sound design.    It’s all about blending two audio signals together in a way that lets one sound take on the tonal characteristics of another.    You could do things like transform a voice into a keyboard synthesizer, manipulate natural sounds into playable […]

10 Legendary Analog Synthesizers For Unmatched Sound Design

Analog synthesizers deliver the warmth, punch, and depth that digital synths just can’t replicate (well, not sounding as authentic, at least).   They’re all about hands-on control, edgy harmonic textures, and deep sound-shaping capabilities.    Plus, they give you some of the most organic, loved sounds in the game.   As a producer, using analog […]

How to Use Vocoders 101 (Best Tips, Tricks & Techniques)

Vocoders are all about turning ordinary sounds into futuristic, robotic, and harmonized textures that people really love.    They can help you create epic vocal harmonies, manipulate synth leads, and add unique textures to your basslines and drums.   They’re also a game-changer for sound design 一 giving you endless ways to shape your tracks […]

Best Music Production Hashtags For SERIOUS Engagement (2025)

Hashtags are, well… invaluable.   They can help you increase engagement, boost your profile, and connect with the right audience so your beats actually get some traction.   As producers, knowing the absolute best music production hashtags can seriously take your visibility to the next level.   They can help you promote your tracks, get […]

Sound Design for Film 101 (Secret Tips & Best Techniques)

Sound design for film is all about shaping audio elements and transforming a simple video project into a full-blown masterpiece.   Making everything sound immersive is #1.    Whether it’s a crazy storm, footsteps in a tense scene, or a super eerie room tone, great sound design is key to bringing a story to life. […]

9 Best MIDI Sequencers That I SERIOUSLY Recommend (2025)

MIDI sequencers are one of the most important tools in music production.    They let you program melodies, trigger drum sounds, control synthesizers, and sequence entire tracks all day.    Plus, they can help you stay locked in with tight timing, automate complex changes, and bring hardware and software together, which is a game-changer, trust […]

6 Best FM Synths For Killer Sound Design (2025 TOP PICKS)

FM synthesis is one of the most creative and unique ways to design sounds in music production (check out the last article we posted for the breakdown).   It can give you glassy, crystal-clear bells, deep, punchy basses, and sick evolving pads that you just can’t get from analog synths or basic subtractive synthesis.    […]

Frequency Modulation Synthesis 101: Create Super Crazy Sound

Frequency modulation synthesis (aka FM synthesis) is one of the wildest and most powerful ways to create sound.    It can take a basic sine wave and turn it into glassy bell tones, electric pianos, deep basses, or even crazy metallic sounds that cut through a mix.    Plus, it’s perfect for making full pads, […]

The 7 Best Ring Modulation Plugins of 2025 (Massive Results)

Ring modulation (which yesterday’s article was about) can help you completely transform an audio signal into something unique.    It can create metallic, robotic tones, add movement to your tracks all day.   Plus, generate complex harmonics that wouldn’t exist otherwise 一 even a simple sound can turn into something mind-blowing with the right ring […]

Ring Modulation 101: Creating Super Unique Sounds + Tips

Ring modulation is one of the most unique and powerful modulation techniques in the music production game (especially electronic genres).   It can create metallic sounds, robotic textures, and bell-like tones that wouldn’t be possible with subtractive synthesis or even frequency modulation.   Plus, even a simple waveform can be transformed into something completely unrecognizable […]

Multiband Distortion 101: Best Techniques & Advanced Tips

Multiband distortion is all about shaping your sound, enhancing harmonics, and making your mix shine with different unique textures.   If you’re a producer, knowing all about using multiband distortion creatively can enhance your skills and really take your beats to the next level.   It can help you add warmth to your synths, create […]

How to Choose a DAW That Best Fits Your Unique Style (2025)

As a producer, choosing the right DAW (digital audio workstation) is… well, everything.   You have to consider workflow speed, plugin compatibility, and MIDI editing capabilities.   As well as things like sound quality, OS compatibility, and whether you’ll be working with external gear or modular synthesis.   It’s going to be the place where […]

9 Mind-Blowing Multi-Effects Plugins I HIGHLY Recommend 2025

Multi-effects plugins are all about shaping, enhancing, and transforming your sound, whether you want to add movement, create depth, or completely mangle things.   They can help you warm up a mix with saturation, add space with reverb and delay, or even create crazy rhythmic effects.   As producers, knowing the best multi-effects plugins is […]

The 11 Best Vocal Effects Processors for ALL Genres & Styles

Vocal effects processors are all about transforming your vocals and giving them a super professional, polished sound.    They can help you enhance clarity, add depth, and shape your vocal tone in ways that make your voice (or your artist’s voice) really stand out in the mix.    Plus, if you want tight compression, crystal-clear […]

13+ Advanced Mixing Techniques For Mind-blowing Mixes

Mixing is all about balancing elements, creating clarity, and making sure everything flows nicely and fits together flawlessly.   As producers, knowing how to mix is one thing, but knowing advanced mixing techniques can really take things to the next level.   With them, you’ll have unmatched control over your mixing process, enhance sound quality […]

The 8 Best De-Esser Plugins You Absolutely NEED in 2025 

De-essers are all about controlling those sharp, harsh “s” and “sh” sounds that can make a mix sound overly bright or harsh.   They can successfully reduce sibilance, smooth out vocals, and help keep the high-frequency content in check.    Plus, they can help you maintain clarity without completely killing the natural brightness of your […]

What is a De-Esser? (Key Features And 7+ Best Techniques)

De-essers are all about taming harsh sibilance in vocals so that your mix stays smooth, clear, and professional.    They can reduce piercing “s” and “sh” sounds, balance high frequencies, and prevent any unwanted harshness from ruining your vocal mix altogether.   Plus, they help you retain brightness in a vocal without making it sound […]

Mastering Signal Chain 101: Key Steps to an Impactful Master

Mastering is all about taking your final mix and polishing it up so it sounds loud, clear, and professional on every playback system.    But, in order to have a killer master, you need to know how to set up your mastering signal chain the right way.    Each step in the chain builds on […]

10+ Killer Time-based Effects To Completely Change the Game

Time-based effects are all about manipulating the timing of an audio signal to add depth, create space, and shape the overall feel of your mix.    They can completely transform dry sounds, enhance stereo width, and add movement so your tracks are always on point.   Plus, they help you successfully build dynamic soundscapes, smooth […]

8 Best Limiter Plugins For Super Clean Masters (2025)

Limiter plugins are all about maximizing loudness while maintaining clarity and dynamic range.    They can help you achieve professional mastering results, control peak levels, and prevent distortion (even when pushing your tracks to commercial loudness standards).    Plus, modern limiter plugins give you everything you need for razor-sharp precision.   You can  fine-tune gain […]

9 Super Realistic Tape Emulation Plugins (Best of 2025)

Tape emulation plugins are about bringing that classic analog warmth, saturation, and depth that people absolutely love.   They can glue your mix together, smooth out transients and add subtle harmonic distortion (plus seriously enhance the vibe of any track, of course).   As producers, knowing the best tape emulation plugins can improve your flow […]

Should I Be Using Reference Tracks? 20+ Advanced Tips/Tricks

Reference tracks are super useful, there’s no doubt about it.    They can help you dial in the right tonal balance, fine-tune your mix, and achieve a professional sounding music production.    Plus, successfully matching loudness levels, understanding stereo width, and analyzing frequency response will take your own mixes to the next level.   As […]

9 Best Beatmaking Apps You NEED in 2025 (Free & Premium)

When you’re a producer, inspiration can hit you out of nowhere, which is why I’m breaking down the best beatmaking apps in the game.    Each one of the following apps is powerful, feature-packed, and designed to help you make beats, create music, and mix tracks with ease.    They can help you lay down […]

Harmonics and Overtones 101: Sculpt Sound like a True Expert

Harmonics and overtones are all about the extra layers of sound that shape the timbre of any musical tone you could imagine.   They can enhance clarity, add depth, and completely change how people perceive notes and frequencies altogether. Cr They basically define why a guitar string and a brass instrument playing the same frequency […]

Using Effect Sends In Super Creative Ways + 4 Advanced Tips

Effect sends let you apply reverb, delay, and other effects to multiple tracks at once without overloading your CPU.    Plus, using effect sends the right way can help you keep your mix clean, control wet/dry balance, and create dynamic effects that bring everything together.    And, when it comes to getting a professional, polished […]

10 Best Analog Emulation Plugins for That Epic Classic Sound

Analog sound is all about warmth, depth, and natural character; the kind of tone that makes recordings actually feel alive.    It’s what gives classic records their smooth, rich quality, with just the right amount of saturation, harmonic distortion, and subtle imperfections.    In a digital world, it’s easy for tracks to sound too clean […]

How to Emulate Analog Sound 101: Best Tips & Epic Techniques

Analog sound is, hands down, the holy grail of audio engineering because it brings unmatched warmth, depth, and harmonic richness to the table.    And let’s be honest, digital sounds just can’t touch that kind of saturation and dynamic range… Unless you have the right tools, techniques, and tricks, that is.   Luckily, I’m breaking […]

11 Best Compressor Pedals for the Ultimate Dynamic Control

The best compressor pedals are great when it comes to shaping your sound, tightening up your dynamics, and adding sustain without sacrificing tone.   They help smooth out volume inconsistencies, enhance sustain, and keep your playing punchy, consistent, and professional.   Plus, they can help you add clarity to clean tones, control peaks on overdriven […]

Audio Compression 101: Controlling Dynamics & Enhancing Clarity

Audio compression is about controlling dynamics, enhancing clarity, and bringing out the best in every sound in your mix.   It can help smooth out vocals, tighten up drums, and make your entire track sound more powerful and mind-blowing.   Plus, you’ll know how to successfully apply the right compression settings, choose the right type […]

#1 Music Theory Course EVER (Best Tips & Hidden Secrets!)

Music theory is all about understanding notes and rhythms to the scales, chords, and progressions that get people hooked.   Plus it helps you learn how to create harmonies, structure melodies, and arrange tracks the right way to take your production skills to the next level.   As producers, knowing all the music theory basics […]

Tube Saturation 101: Key Elements & Best Tips/Techniques

Tube saturation is all about adding warmth, bringing out harmonics, and making your audio signal feel fuller and more alive.    It adds even harmonics, smooth distortion, and a natural analog-style tone that can add depth to a mix and make your recorded signal sound more on point.    Plus evens out the dynamic range, […]

What is a Shepard Tone & How Do I Create One? + 4 Best Tips

A Shepard tone is one of the most mind-bending auditory illusions in sound design 一 it sounds like it’s endlessly rising or falling in pitch, yet it never actually goes anywhere.    It tricks your brain into hearing a scale that feels infinite.   So, when it comes to building tension, creating suspense, and adding […]

What is a Spectrogram 101: Fix Hidden Problems and Level Up

Spectrograms are all about visualizing sound and showing you exactly how frequency content changes over time.    They can help you scope out hidden audio problems, fine-tune amplitude, and clean up unwanted frequency spectrum buildup.    Plus, they let you identify masking issues, enhance your dynamic range, and shape your sounds with insane precision.    […]

What is Spatial Audio? Creating Super Immersive 3D Sounds 

Spatial audio is all about making your music feel immersive, three-dimensional, and as real-life as possible.    It takes sound beyond the usual left ear and right ear placement 一 letting you position different sounds anywhere in a 360-degree sound field.    As producers, knowing all about spatial audio can seriously level up your mixing […]

Noise Gate vs Expander 101: Key Differences & Creative Tips

Noise gates and expanders are two very powerful dynamic processing tools that can completely change how clean, punchy, and professional your mixes sound.    One cuts unwanted noise with an all-or-nothing approach, while the other shapes dynamics more naturally by controlling volume in a smoother way.    As producers, knowing all the differences between a […]

11 Legendary Glue Compressors You NEED in 2025 (Epic Mixes)

Glue compressors are all about creating cohesion and balance in your mix.    They add punch, smooth out dynamics, and help your tracks feel more connected, which make your mixes sound polished and professional.    They’re not just about controlling dynamics 一 they enhance tone, add warmth, and bring a mix together in ways that […]

9 Best Phase Correlation Meters For Super Clean Tracks (2025)

Phase correlation meters tell you exactly how the left channel and right channel of your audio interact so you can easily spot and fix phase issues before they ruin your mix.    They’re an absolute must-have for analyzing stereo width, phase alignment, and frequency balance.    Plus, they can help you avoid phase cancellation, tighten […]

How to Prevent Frequency Masking Like a True Expert in 2025

Frequency masking occurs when two or more sounds occupy overlapping parts of the frequency spectrum, which causes one or more elements to become less audible.    As producers, knowing how to successfully prevent frequency masking can completely transform your mixes 一 making them cleaner, more professional, and full of clarity.    Plus, it helps each […]

The 10 Best Equalizer Plugins That Are Killing It in 2025

EQ plugins are all about shaping sound, enhancing clarity, and solving mix issues.   Whether you’re adding warmth, cutting harsh frequencies, or creating space for every track in a mix, the right EQ plugin is key for getting your sound on point.    Plus, modern EQs give you advanced features to play around with like […]

How to Recreate Your Favorite Sounds 101 (Expert Techniques)

Recreating your favorite sounds is super exciting and one of the best ways to improve your music production skills in the process (win-win).   However, it can get a little complicated if you don’t know the key elements, tools, or step-by-step process.    As producers, knowing how to recreate your favorite sounds is all about […]

12 Legendary Resonance Suppressor Plugins You NEED in 2025

The best resonance suppressor plugins can completely transform your mixes by removing harsh resonances and balancing tonal issues.   It adds clarity to even the most cluttered tracks.    Plus, they can successfully tame problematic frequencies, smooth out resonant peaks, and eliminate unwanted resonance across your entire frequency spectrum.    As producers, knowing the best […]

Resonance in Music 101: Taming Frequencies for a Better Mix

Resonance in music can either be a powerful tool for creating depth and texture in your mix or a major issue that ruins the clarity of your sound.    However, when it’s bad, it’s distracting, piercing, and can completely take over your track in all the wrong ways.    As producers, knowing how to identify […]

The 8 Best Amp Simulator Plugins for 2025 (Super Realistic)

Amp simulator plugins bring the sound of real amps, cabinets, and pedals straight into your DAW with unmatched realism.   Whether you’re knocking out epic cleans, gritty overdrives, or crushing high-gain tones, they deliver every single time (and they’re super flexible to boot).   While saving you from the hassle of setting up physical gear […]

Phaser Effects: Add Epic Motion to Your Beats + 5 Best Tips

Phaser effects are all about creating depth, motion, and character.   They can transform a basic sound into something dynamic and alive 一 adding richness and complexity to everything from guitars to synths (and even drums).    Plus, they help your tracks stand out by bringing some unique textures, rhythmic modulations, and atmospheric tones to […]

Bitwig vs Ableton: Which Is the Absolute Best DAW in 2025?

Bitwig and Ableton are both super dope DAWs, no question about it.    One thrives on modular sound design and customization, while the other is a live performance powerhouse with a sick workflow.    But today, I’m breaking down everything about Bitwig vs Ableton so you can choose the best DAW for you 一 I’m […]

12 Mind-Blowing Guitar Compression Pedals You Need in 2025

When you’re looking for the best compression pedals, there are a few things to keep in mind, of course.   You should make sure the pedal enhances your tone without adding unwanted noise and comes packed with whatever you need for your unique style/goals.   Plus, it should include features like parallel compression, customizable attack […]