Shows
The Empowered InvestorEntrepreneurship Through Acquisition with Expert Marc DeeganEntrepreneurship through Acquisition: Buying and Selling Canadian Small BusinessesIn episode, Keith Matthews welcomes Marc Deegan, founder of R33 Ventures and an expert in business valuations and M&A for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Together, they explore the rapidly growing model of entrepreneurship through acquisition, cover current trends in the Canadian SME marketplace, common challenges, and best practices.Expert Marc Deegan offers a clear, actionable conversation on the realities of buying and selling SMEs in Canada. Learn how to define the right buyer profile, discover what truly drives business valuations, and get the inside...
2026-01-2944 min
Music Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#230: What Is a Null Test? Stop Guessing Your Mix Changes with Eric MitchellNull testing is one of the fastest ways to prove what actually changes in a mix. In this episode of Inside The Mix, Marc Matthews sits down with mastering engineer Eric Mitchell to explain what a null test is, how phase cancellation works, and how producers can use null testing to stop guessing and start making confident decisions.Built for beginner to intermediate music producers, this conversation answers common questions like: What is a null test in audio? Do similar plugins really sound different? Can meter settings or power conditioners affect digital audio? Marc and Eric walk...
2026-01-2036 min
Sound DiscussionPodcast Growth for Music Producers with Marc MatthewsIn the Season 2 finale, we’re joined by Marc Matthews of the Inside The Mix podcast and synthmusicmastering.com to unpack how he built a music production and mixing show into the top 10% of podcasts. We talk weekly consistency, planning a year ahead, batching episodes, using polls and listener questions to guide content, why he’s shifting away from full video, and how AI helps with the admin so he can stay creative. Plus: smarter CTAs, where growth really comes from, and the mindset it takes to keep showing up.What you'll learn in this episode:Wh...
2025-12-291h 08Music Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#226: How AI Is Changing Voices, Studios, And The Value Of Human Performance (Face Your Ears Podcast)A single take can now become a gospel run, a country croon, or even a convincing female lead, and it happens in seconds. Justin and Rich of the Face Your Ears podcast unpack how AI jumped from pitch correction to “auto-sing,” the cost breakthroughs behind engines like DeepSeek, and what tools such as ACE Studio mean when 80-plus virtual singers sit inside your DAW. It’s a fascinating leap for producers and a gut-check for vocalists whose instrument is their body.They talk through real use cases: typing lyrics, drawing melodies, stacking instant harmonies, and round-tripping audio betwee...
2025-12-2334 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#225: Why Getting It Right At The Source Makes Mixing Easy with Will Purton (Master Your Mix Podcast)If your mixes keep fighting you, the problem likely started before the DAW ever opened. In this podcast takeover, Mike Indovina (Master Your Mix) digs into a source‑first mindset with London engineer and mixer Will Purton (RAK Studios), unpacking the practical decisions that make recording faster, mixing smoother, and translation far more reliable. From choosing the right instrument and tuning it properly to mic selection, placement, and preamp saturation, they explore how each link in the signal chain shapes the end result, and how to make those choices with intention.Will explains why ambience is a to...
2025-12-161h 18Music Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#224: Why Imperfect Recordings Feel More Alive | Abby Griffin on Creative Truth (Recording Studio Rockstars)What if the best mix isn’t the cleanest, but the truest? In this podcast takeover, Lij Shaw (Recording Studio Rockstars) dives into a standout conversation with engineer, songwriter, and producer-in-the-making Abby Griffin to explore how “being the weird girl” can be a creative superpower, and why the moments you capture now may matter more than perfection later. From choir training and vocal anatomy to tape love and AI stems, Abby brings a sharp, generous lens to making music that feels alive.The conversation starts with foundations you can use today: training your ear with tools like Pink T...
2025-12-092h 15Music Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#223: How A New York Intern Became A Grammy-Winning Mastering Engineer with Dan Millice (Sound Discussion Podcast)What does it really take to go from invisible intern to trusted, Grammy-winning mastering engineer? The Sound Discussion Podcast sit down with Dan Millice to unpack the habits, choices, and honest work that shaped his journey, from cleaning bathrooms and taking cheques to the bank at MasterDisc, to building a client list one late-night venue at a time, to mastering records for artists across genres and continents.Dan explains why he chose to specialise in mastering and why he ultimately moved fully in the box. The answer isn’t dogma, it’s service. Faster recalls, instant fixes, and...
2025-12-021h 35Music Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#222: From Vocal Prep to Mastering — 7 Standout Moments of 2025 (Part 2)What if the fastest way to a better mix is caring more about the human, the song, and the signal path than the plugin chain? We pulled seven moments from our 2025 conversations that changed how we write, record, mix, and master, and stitched them into one practical, heart-first guide you can use on your next session.We start where great records begin: with the singer. Rich Bozic, a professional vocal coach, shares why physical comfort is essential for sound design, encompassing layers, a calm seat, a dialled-in headphone mix, and planned breathers to manage fatigue. Then we...
2025-11-2516 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#221: Finish Songs Faster, Mix Smarter — 7 Standout Moments of 2025 (Part 1)Ready to trade plugin FOMO and meter anxiety for moves that actually make your tracks better? Marc pulls seven stand-out moments from a huge year of conversations with producers, engineers and artists to help you finish faster, mix with confidence and stay creatively sharp.We kick off with a surprising angle on depth: shaping contrast with bit depth instead of defaulting to saturation. You’ll hear how assigning different resolutions to drums, pads, and leads can create three-dimensional mixes that hold up in mono and stereo. From there, dismantle the gear trap. Modern DAWs already include the ess...
2025-11-1816 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#220: The One Thing We’ll Do Differently in 2026 (and Why It Matters)Stop counting playlist streams and start building momentum where it matters. Marc Matthews and Tim Benson unpack a year of wins and lessons that took monthly listeners from modest to meaningful, and the theme is simple. When you optimise for saves, repeats and fast post-release engagement, Spotify’s algorithm does the heavy lifting. That means Radio, Discover Weekly, and personalised mixes begin to surface your music beyond your immediate circle—and the compounding effect beats a single playlist spike every time.We share the unglamorous work that unlocks creativity at speed: DAW templates, organised drum kits, and a ha...
2025-11-1139 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#215: How to Mix a Wall of Sound That Still Breathes with DRUMxWAVE and Brian SkeelWhat does a true wall of sound feel like when the vocal still breathes? We sit down with vocalist‑producer Jay Cali (DRUMxWAVE) and mixer‑producer Brian Skeel to unpack the craft behind Severed, big drums, widescreen synths, supportive guitars, and why clarity starts with a shared vision before a single plug‑in loads.We trace the journey from demo to master, beginning with an hour of alignment on emotion, references, and the “mountaintop” vocal image that sets every downstream choice. Brian breaks down how he builds commanding vocals without harshness: Revoice for doubles and harmonies that behave lik...
2025-10-0747 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#214: The Best FREE Plugins Every Producer Should UseFree plugins often get overlooked in the endless pursuit of premium software, but professional producers know that some of the most powerful tools cost absolutely nothing. In this illuminating conversation, Marc Matthews and Tim Benson (Aisle9) unpack their go-to free plugins that consistently deliver exceptional results across various production scenarios.The discussion begins with TAL Chorus LX, Tim's top recommendation for achieving that classic Juno-style chorus effect. While many producers shy away from chorus on bass elements, Tim reveals how subtle application can add dimension without compromising mix integrity. Meanwhile, Marc swears by Slate Digital's Fresh Air...
2025-09-3042 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#213: Finish Tracks Faster - Workflow Hacks Every Producer Needs (feat. John Kunkel)Have you ever felt stuck in an endless cycle of tweaking, adjusting, and second-guessing your music production decisions? Producer John Kunkel (aka John Grand) reveals the counterintuitive truth that many of us miss: working smarter, not harder, is often the key to finishing more tracks and creating better music.John shares his game-changing approach to using reference tracks as structural blueprints rather than just mixing guides. By importing a track you love and mapping out its arrangement, you immediately transform that intimidating blank DAW canvas into manageable building blocks. This simple technique has helped John slash his...
2025-09-2337 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#211: Creating Authentic Remote Vocal Collaborations When Miles Apart (feat. INDIGO)Ever wondered how singers record vocals remotely and make them sound professional? In this episode of Inside The Mix, Marc Matthews is joined by New Zealand synthwave vocalist INDIGO to explore the art of remote vocal collaboration and the songwriting process behind her unique sound.From her unexpected start in the synthwave scene to collaborations with artists like Wolf Club and Turbo Knight, INDIGO shares how she records vocals from home while working with producers across the world. We dive into her vocal recording techniques—including why she double-tracks every vocal and prefers recording in the evenings fo...
2025-09-0935 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#210: Should You Record With Compression or Wait Until Mixing?Should you record vocals with compression or save it for mixing? It’s one of the most debated questions in music production, and in this episode of Inside The Mix, we break it down with practical advice for producers at every level.Guest Tim Benson shares why he often tracked vocals with hardware compressors in the studio, not just for sound quality, but because hearing compressed vocals in headphones helped singers perform with more confidence and precision. We discuss how compression during tracking can shape performances, highlighting the psychological and creative be...
2025-09-0228 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#207: How Many Drafts Does It Take to Finish a Track? (feat. Michael Oakley)Have you ever abandoned a promising track because it suddenly "didn't feel right" the next day? Why does your track feel wrong the next day? Is Overthinking Killing Your Songwriting Process? In this eye-opening episode of Inside the Mix, synth-pop artist Michael Oakley unpacks the creative psychology behind overthinking songwriting and how our emotional state can sabotage musical momentum.Inspired by advice from Max Martin -“Don’t overthink a song until its third rewrite” -Michael reveals how writing 14+ song drafts taught him the balance between intuition and iteration. We explore the mental traps artists fall into: abando...
2025-08-1252 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#206: Why Your Vocal Comping Workflow Is Slowing You DownStruggling with too many vocal takes? You nailed the perfect take, then recorded five more “just in case.” Now you’re lost in a sea of options, wondering how to create the perfect comp without losing your mind.In this episode of Inside the Mix, Marc Matthews and Tim Benson (Aisle9) reveal their proven strategies for organising takes and building seamless vocal comps. Learn how to avoid over-recording, why comping during the editing phase keeps your mixing sessions stress-free, and the ideal number of takes before vocal fatigue hits.We’ll cover:How to organise...
2025-08-0533 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#205: Why Artists Need Strategy Over Followers in 2025 (feat. Jesse Kirshbaum)The music industry is shifting fast—are you ready for it? In this episode, Jesse Kirshbaum returns to Inside the Mix to break down how independent artists can build sustainable music careers in 2025. From strategic content creation to authentic brand deals, Jesse shares how “selling in” (not selling out) can help you monetize without compromising your creativity.We dive into why follower count no longer dictates brand value, how artists with smaller audiences can still land partnerships, and what platforms reward consistent over perfect content. Jesse also unpacks the surprising return of physical retail spaces and wh...
2025-07-2943 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#204: What Is Dither in Audio? When and Why to Use It (feat. Ian Stewart)Ever wondered why engineers intentionally add noise to audio? In this episode of Inside the Mix, returning guest, mastering engineer and Berklee professor Ian Stewart, breaks down what dither is, why it’s used, and when to apply it in your music production workflow.Through clear explanations and real audio demos, Ian demonstrates how dither replaces digital artefacts with smooth, barely noticeable noise, preserving details such as reverb tails and low-level audio that would otherwise be distorted during bit depth reduction.You’ll learn:Do I need to dither when exporting a 24-bit...
2025-07-2248 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#203: What Actually Happens When You Choose a Sample Rate? (feat. Ian Stewart)Confused about which audio sample rate to choose for your music? Whether you're recording your first track or mastering for Dolby Atmos, knowing the difference between 44.1kHz, 48kHz, and 96kHz is more than technical—it’s essential to how your music sounds and where it ends up.In this episode of Inside the Mix, mastering engineer and Berklee professor Ian Stewart returns to demystify one of the most misunderstood elements in music production: digital audio sample rates.We answer common questions like:What is a sample rate in audi...
2025-07-1542 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#201: What If Your De-esser Plugin Could Do More Than Fix Sibilance?What if your go-to vocal de-esser plugin could do so much more?In this episode, Marc Matthews and Tim Benson break down the creative power of de-essers and why they might be the secret weapon missing from your mix.We kick things off with how de-essers work (spoiler: it’s more than just “s” sounds), before diving into smart, non-traditional de-esser techniques—like taming harsh cymbals, controlling boxy kick drums, and even smoothing out reverb tails and delay returns.Can you use a de-esser on backing vocal buses? Is a de-esser better than dynamic...
2025-07-0136 min
Face Your EarsEpisode 36: Marc MatthewsIn this episode of the Face Your Ears podcast, hosts Rich and Justin welcome Marc Matthews, a prolific producer and the host of the Inside the Mix podcast. They delve into Marc’s journey in the music industry, discussing his extensive experience in mixing, mastering, and teaching. Marc shares valuable tips on preparing tracks for mastering, the benefits and challenges of AI in music production, and how to overcome self-doubt in creative projects. The episode is packed with advice for emerging artists and producers looking to enhance their craft and find their unique sound.00:00 Welcome to Face Yo...
2025-06-2447 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#199: The Hidden Production Habits You’re Probably Ignoring (At Your Own Risk)Ever wondered why your mixes don’t sound professional, even with decent gear and endless YouTube tutorials? In this episode, Marc Matthews and Tim Benson, AKA Aisle9, reveal the overlooked production habits that separate amateur mixes from polished tracks.Discover how using reference tracks, including your own successful work, can instantly level up your sound. The duo also expose their most cringeworthy recording mistakes, from misaligned mics to monitor mishaps, underscoring why getting things right at the source is critical.You'll also learn the workflow most producers ignore: poor project or...
2025-06-1738 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#197: Why I Don’t Touch Plugins Before Doing This - The Art of Static Mixing (feat. Nate Kelmes)Why do some mixes, even with top plugins and techniques, still sound off? The answer might lie in a step you’re overlooking: the static mix.In this episode of Inside The Mix, Marc Matthews talks with mix engineer Nate Kelmes to explore: What is a static mix in audio mixing? And why is a static mix important before adding effects? Nate explains how balancing levels and panning, before any processing, can account for 70–80% of a great mix. “If the plugins disappear, the song should still work,” he says.You’ll learn how long to spend on a...
2025-06-0345 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#196: What Gear Do I Need to Produce Music at Home? Our Essential Home Studio Setup ToolsStarting music production at home? This episode of Inside The Mix is your step-by-step guide to building the best home studio setup for beginner music producers. Marc Matthews and Tim Benson unpack exactly what gear you need to produce music at home, without breaking the bank.They walk through a basic home studio equipment list for new producers, including affordable equipment for starting a home recording studio—from entry-level DAWs for home music production like Logic Pro and Cubase, to beginner audio interfaces for music production such as those from Focusrite and Behringer.You’ll also...
2025-05-2741 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#194: I Asked a Pro Vocal Coach How to Prepare a Singer for a Recording Session (ft. Rich Bozic)Capturing great vocal takes starts long before hitting record. In this episode, vocal coach and recording expert Rich Bozic shares how to record professional vocals in a home studio, with practical tips that work whether you’re using high-end gear or a modest setup.We cover how to prepare a singer for a vocal session, from effective pre-session communication to creating a stress-free environment. Rich also explains how to warm up your voice before recording, sharing warm-up routines that improve tone, prevent fatigue, and help artists deliver their best performances....
2025-05-1344 minMusic Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix#193: I Asked a Pro If You Really Need a Mastering Engineer - And If You Can DIY (feat. Mike Marsh)Acclaimed mastering engineer Mike Marsh demystifies the final stage of music production in this insightful episode. With a career spanning over three decades, working with artists like Björk, The Chemical Brothers, and Depeche Mode, Mike offers unparalleled expertise on what music mastering is and why it's important.He addresses the common misconception of the "fix it in mastering" mindset, explaining that mastering cannot correct issues that should have been resolved during mixing. This highlights the critical difference between mixing and mastering in music.Mike shares practical m...
2025-05-0640 min