Production guides
Straight-talking guides to the moves that matter — EQ, sidechain, groove and mix — with the tools to do them.
Guide · EQWhat is a dynamic EQ (and when to use one)A dynamic EQ cuts or boosts a band only when its frequency crosses a threshold. How it differs from static EQ and multiband compression and when to use it.Guide · VocalsHow to de-ess a vocal (without dulling it)Tame harsh 's' and 't' sounds without killing a vocal's air: what causes sibilance, the two ways to fix it, and how to de-ess with a dynamic EQ.Guide · SidechainHow to sidechain in FL Studio (3 ways)Three ways to sidechain in FL Studio — Fruity Limiter, Peak Controller and a dedicated ducker — and how to get a clean, musical pump on bass and pads.Guide · SidechainHow to sidechain in Ableton LiveUse the sidechain on Ableton Live's stock Compressor to duck bass and pads to the kick, and get a steadier, more controllable pump than a compressor gives.Guide · MIDIHow to humanize MIDI so it stops sounding stiffQuantized MIDI sounds stiff. How to add the micro-timing, velocity variation and ghost notes a player brings — and a real groove instead of random jitter.Guide · MixingHow to fix a muddy mix (find the mud and clear it)Mud is low-mid build-up around 200-500 Hz. How to find it, clear it with subtractive and dynamic EQ, and keep the warmth in your mix.Guide · StereoWhat is mid/side EQ (and how to use it)Mid/side EQ splits stereo into the centre (mid) and the difference (side) so you can EQ each: tighten the centre, widen the sides, keep the low end mono.Guide · MixingHow to fix frequency masking (make everything sit)Masking is two sounds fighting for one frequency band so neither cuts through — kick vs bass, vocal vs synth. How to hear it and fix it, static or dynamic.Guide · VocalsHow to EQ vocals (a simple, repeatable order)Vocal EQ in a repeatable order: high-pass, clear the mud, tame harshness and sibilance, then add presence and air — with the frequencies that matter.Guide · MixingHow to remove resonance and harshness with EQA resonance is a narrow frequency that rings or jumps out. How to find resonant frequencies and remove them with EQ without dulling the whole sound.Free EQ · FL StudioFree EQ for FL Studio: a dynamic EQ for the mixer, next to Parametric EQ 2Parametric EQ 2 nails static moves. Add a free dynamic EQ to FL Studio: Plugin Manager scan, mixer sidechain routing and three practical recipes.Free EQ · Ableton LiveFree EQ for Ableton Live: a dynamic EQ to sit next to EQ EightEQ Eight is static. Add a free 24-band dynamic EQ to Live 12: VST3 or AU setup in Settings → Plug-Ins, plus de-essing and kick/bass sidechain recipes.Free EQ · REAPERFree EQ for REAPER: when ReaEQ is enough, and when to add a dynamic EQReaEQ covers static EQ. For de-essing and unmasking, add a free dynamic EQ: CLAP or VST3 setup in REAPER, a channel 3/4 sidechain and mix recipes.Free EQ · CubaseFree EQ for Cubase: where a dynamic EQ adds to the channel EQ and Frequency 2Cubase loads VST3, not AU or CLAP. Add a free 24-band dynamic EQ: VST Plug-in Manager scan, side-chain routing, and when Frequency 2 already does it.Free EQ · Logic ProThe best free EQ for Logic ProLogic's Channel EQ and Linear Phase EQ have no per-band dynamics. Where a free dynamic EQ fits in Logic Pro and how to install an Audio Unit so it appears.Free EQ · Bitwig StudioFree EQ for Bitwig Studio: a dynamic EQ that loads as CLAPEQ+ is fast but static. Add a free dynamic EQ to Bitwig as CLAP on Windows, macOS or Linux: Plug-in Locations, sidechain from any track, recipes.Free EQ · LinuxFree EQ plugins for Linux (LV2, VST3 and CLAP)What to install for mixing on Linux: open-source static EQs, native plugins, which formats each DAW loads (LV2, VST3, CLAP), and a free dynamic EQ.Use case · MasteringThe best free EQ for masteringWhat to look for in a free mastering EQ — linear phase, mid/side, precise moves — and how to use it on the 2-bus without smearing the transients.Guide · Multi-effectFree multi-effect plugin: what it is and when it helpsWhat a multi-effect plugin does, when one plugin beats a chain of six, when it doesn't, and what to look for in a free one - with COLONY as the example.Guide · SaturationFree saturation plugin: warmth, grit and clipping explainedWhat saturation does, how tube, soft-clip and hard-clip styles differ, how to keep it clean with oversampling and mix, and free saturation plugins to try.Guide · SidechainFree sidechain plugin: pump to the grid or to your kickHow sidechain pumping works, tempo-synced ducking versus a real kick trigger, how to set rate, depth and release, and the free ways to get the pump.Guide · Stereo widthFree stereo widener: wider without losing monoHow stereo wideners work, why some fall apart in mono, how a side high-pass keeps the bass centred, and free stereo wideners worth trying.Guide · ReverbFree reverb plugin: rooms, plates and when to use an insertHow reverb works, which style suits which sound, when a reverb belongs on a send and when on an insert, and the free reverb plugins worth trying.Guide · ModulationFree tremolo and auto-pan plugin: movement in time with the trackHow tremolo and auto-pan work, which shapes and rates suit which parts, how sync and swing keep them musical, and free plugins that do both.Guide · Lo-fiFree vinyl crackle plugin: dust, pops and hiss that play alongHow vinyl crackle and other noise beds work, how to keep them musical instead of fake, free plugins that add record noise, and how COLONY does it.