From the Studio
Production Tips, Gear Reviews & Tutorials
Real knowledge from 30+ years behind the console — mixing techniques, synthesis deep-dives, gear reviews, and studio insights by Claudio Passavanti.
Featured Article
Two Producers, One Synth, One Track: A Techno Masterclass With Jam El Mar
Jam El Mar of Jam & Spoon came to the studio and we built an early-nineties techno track out of nothing but the Martinic Prodigy and a 909. Tempos, kick tuning, why a high 909 snare is house and a low one is techno.
127 articles
ASM Leviasynth: A Digital Heart With an Analog Filter
300 waveforms, an oscilloscope that teaches you what you're doing, filters that double as oscillators, and an FM matrix underneath it all — with a real analog filter on the end. A walkthrough of the ASM Leviasynth.
I Finished My Commodore 64 Synthesizer
Seven episodes in: a proper detachable enclosure, a dead SID chip brought back to life, two vintage SIDs running hard left and hard right, and a free virtual version you can play right now.
Rhodes Clav Pro: The Most Convincing Clavinet I've Played in Software
Modelled on the Clavinet D6 — and I have a real black D6 in the studio to compare it against. Panel by panel through the Rhodes Clav Pro, including the trick hiding in the mechanical-noise control.
Carbon Electra 2: The Synth That Thinks in Music, Not Just Sound
A modern synth built around music, not just sound. Wave Terrain oscillators, Scale Lock, and chord sequencing make Carbon Electra 2 one of the most inspiring instruments I've played in ages.
The Rarest Hammond On Earth
A 1956 Hammond C3 rebuilt into a flight case, refinished by a drum company, carried down a ship's staircase in Lyon — and the Italian musician who spent his school-book money on Brian Auger records at fourteen and ended up owning it.
The Theremin Explained
The theremin is a single oscillator electronic musical instrument with two metal rods used to control pitch and amplitude by … read more
Roland D-50: Digital Brain, Analog Soul
Roland D-50: The Digital Revolution That Shaped the Sound of the ’80s In the ever-evolving world of synthesizers, few instruments … read more
How To Use Reverb in Your Mix
Reverb is one of the most powerful tools in mixing — and one of the most misused. Get it right, … read more
Singer’s Vocal Range Chart
Whether you’re a singer, vocal coach, or music producer working with vocalists, knowing the standard vocal ranges is essential. Combined … read more
Note To Frequency Chart
One of the most powerful – and most overlooked – tools in a mixer’s arsenal is the Note to Frequency … read more
Parallel Compression Explained
Discovering parallel compression was a big “a-ha” moment for me. It was a moment that forever changed the way I … read more
How Can I Make My Mixes Sound Professional?
“How do I make my mixes sound like a real record?” — I’ve been asked this question thousands of times. … read more
How To Make The Kick Drum Punchy
Do you know why most commercial records have such big and punchy kick drum? Have you ever tried to match … read more
How Audio Compression Works
Understanding how audio compression works is pivotal for anyone engaged in music making and mixing. This process is one of … read more
How can I make my mixes louder?
To start things off, don’t expect to slam a limiter on the bus, crank down on it, and get your … read more
How To Make Your Mix Sound Professional: 10 Golden Rules
Every mix engineer has a checklist — a set of principles they return to on every session. After years of … read more
Sequential Circuit – Prophet 5
A Synthesizer Like No Other When it comes to synthesizers that have left an indelible mark on the music industry, … read more
Minimoog: The Legendary Synth That Shaped Modern Music
The Moog Minimoog: A Syntheser Journey from Earth to the Stars There aren’t many synthesizers that can claim their sound … read more
Doctor Mix Studios Gear List
Mixing Desks: Thermionic Culture: Fat Bustard Yamaha Nuage: Comprised of 4x Yamaha NIO500-D16, RIO1608-D2, NCS500-CT, and NCS500-FD Outboard Effects: Aphex: … read more
Famous Rhodes Piano Songs
The Rhodes piano is one of the most recorded instruments of all time. It found its way into jazz, pop, … read more
Guide: How To Press Vinyl Records
So, you want to press vinyl records and have a ton of questions? How much does it cost? How are … read more
The Best PC For Music Production
Best Computer for Audio and Music Production (2019 Build) In this article you can find the specs, parts, and descriptions … read more
How To Get Your Music On iTunes
So you’ve written your songs, got them recorded, and now you want to release them on iTunes, one of the … read more
Roland RE-501 Chorus Echo Tape Delay
The Roland RE-501: A Classic Tape Delay with a Unique Sound As one of the most distinctive tape delay units … read more
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