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 file to a 16-bit file?
• Can skipping dither cause distortion in quiet passages?
• When should you use dither in mastering?

Whether you’re mixing in 32-bit float or exporting for streaming, this episode explains how audio dither helps preserve quality during final delivery and when it’s best to skip it.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Follow Ian Stewart

32-Bit Float Files Explained

Goodhertz Good Dither

Izotope RX 11

Wavelabs 30th Anniversary

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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 audio production?
• Should I use 44.1kHz or 48kHz when mixing?
• Does a higher sample rate improve sound quality?
• What sample rate should I use for streaming or mastering?

Ian explains the Nyquist-Shannon theorem, how aliasing impacts your mix, and why 48kHz is the new practical standard, from YouTube to Bluetooth devices to Dolby Atmos. Plus, we discuss how higher sample rates give your plugins more headroom for harmonic generation and cleaner processing.

Don’t miss this one if you’re serious about choosing the best sample rate for your music. And stay tuned, next episode we dive into dither.

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Follow Ian Stewart

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Ever wondered if you're tracking the right metrics in your music production journey? That nagging question—"Am I measuring what truly drives growth or just staying busy?"—led me to create something that transformed my creative process completely.

In this episode of Inside the Mix, I introduce the Producer Growth Scorecard—a free, gamified tool designed to help you track what actually moves the needle in your music career.

Whether you're trying to release a new track every six weeks or just break through creative ruts, this system helps you focus on the right production habits. Each task—like finishing a loop, mixing a track, or releasing a single—earns points toward a weekly goal. The target? 40 points per week. Simple, measurable, and motivating.

We’ll dive into how the scorecard works, how it ties your day-to-day activity to long-term output, and why it’s helping producers worldwide stay consistent and finish more music.

If you’ve ever asked, “How do I stay productive as a music producer?” or “What should I track to grow as an indie artist?”—this is the episode for you

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Grab your FREE Producer Growth Scorecard

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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 EQ for harsh instruments? We answer these, share real-world wins (and mixing mistakes), and explain when less control = better results

If you've ever asked, “Should I use a de-esser on something other than vocals?” or “How do I stop overprocessing my mix?”—this one’s for you.

Whether you’re producing electronic vocals or mixing acoustic drums, you’ll leave this episode with actionable tricks to clean up harsh frequencies without killing vibe or tone.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Listen to 'Darklight' on Spotify

Listen to 'Future No More' on Spotify

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Wondering how to grow monthly listeners on Spotify as an independent artist, without gimmicks or burnout? In this episode, I break down my journey from 300 to nearly 3,000 Spotify listeners in just six months using real-world strategies.

Learn why reducing SubmitHub costs led to more playlist features, how extending Facebook ads to three weeks boosted algorithmic reach, and why static images outperformed videos on my socials. I also share the powerful impact of genre consistency in building curator trust and break down my waterfall release strategy across four singles.

You'll also hear about unexpected growth after pausing paid ads and how Amazing Radio’s free rotation helped sustain exposure. Plus, I unpack the truth behind playlist submission gates and whether new followers actually stick around.

If you’ve searched “how to grow your Spotify audience without spending a fortune” or “do playlist gates actually help Spotify follower engagement,” this episode is for you.

Whether you're a bedroom producer or an established artist, this is your roadmap to smarter growth, without sacrificing your creativity or sanity.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Presave 'Darklight' on Spotify

Listen to Marc Matthews on Spotify

Listen to Dystopian Progressive House

Listen to Synthpop & Synthwave Breakthrough

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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 organisation. Marc and Tim share practical tips on track naming, grouping, and DAW session structure that boost efficiency, and no new gear is required.

Whether on your first track or your fiftieth, this candid, tip-packed conversation will help you overcome common mixing hurdles, avoid overprocessing, and finally achieve that clean, professional sound you’ve been chasing.

Tune in to transform your studio sessions and start producing music that truly translates.

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Got a question? We'd love to hear from you! Submit a question, share your social media handles or website, and get featured in a future episode. Plus, one lucky person will win a Starbucks voucher each month!

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Struggling to promote your music on social media without burning out? You’re not alone. In this episode, Marc Matthews introduces his 30-day music release promotion calendar for indie musicians, a practical tool designed to eliminate guesswork, boost engagement, and help you post purposefully.

You’ll learn what a social media content calendar for musicians is, how a content calendar can improve music promotion, and what tools can help musicians plan and schedule social media content. Marc breaks down how to schedule content types (like teasers, throwbacks, or studio clips), choose the right platforms, and, most importantly, track engagement metrics for your music posts.

Marc also shares lessons from my campaigns, how tracking content performance helped his “Half-Life” release outperform “4-Minute Warning” with fewer posts and how to analyse the performance of your music releases online to get better results every time.

This episode answers key questions like how to measure the success of your music marketing campaigns and how to track social media engagement for music releases, all while reducing burnout from social media as a music creator.

Tune in and grab your free download of the calendar. Let’s make your next release smarter, not harder.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Grab your FREE 30-Day Social Media Calendar

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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 static mix (hint: 2–3 hours is a sweet spot), what the benefits of starting with a static mix are, and how a static mix improves overall mix quality by building emotion and clarity from the start. Nate also shares how a strong static mix can reduce the need for heavy processing later, making your workflow faster and more intentional.

From native DAW tools to vocal automation and top-down mixing, this episode is packed with actionable insights for producers at any level. If you want more cohesive, impactful mixes, this is where it starts.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Follow Nate Kelmes

Listen to the Sound Discussion Podcast

Listen to Microphones and Recording Audio with Mike Senior

Listen to Music, the Industry and Everything Else with Warren Huart

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Support the show

Ways to connect with Marc:

Book your FREE 20 Minute Discovery Call

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Thanks for listening!!