Riff to Radio

3 Bass Mistakes That Ruin Every Metal Mix

After mixing hundreds of metal tracks for self-recording bands, the bass is often sent wrong. In this video I break down the 3 most common bass mistakes I find in client sessions, and exactly how to fix them before you ever open a mix session. Timestamps: 00:00 Three Bass Killers 00:17 Mistake 1 - The Tone Knob 01:04 DI Comparison Demo 02:48 Amp Sim Proof 03:54 Why EQ Can’t Fix It 05:59 Mistake 2 - Arrangement 06:58 Wrong Notes Reality 07:40 Mistake 3 - Performance 08:03 Compression Demo 09:50 Timing and Practice 10:34 Recap and Next Steps 📥 Free Guitar and Bass Recording Guide: https://liquidstudiosli.com/guitar-bass-guide 🔥 Hire me to mix your next track: https://liquidstudiosli.com/offer-video-2 📥 Free Resources For Metal Bands: https://liquidstudiosli.com/resources 👉 Subscribe for more metal production tips: https://youtube.com/@danielthabet?sub_confirmation=1

SSL Bus Compression for Metal (Attack & Release Settings That Actually Work)

Your metal mix sounds solid in solo, but something dies when you play it back together. The culprit is almost always your mix bus compressor's attack and release settings. In this video I break down four specific attack/release combinations using the Warm Audio Bus Compressor (SSL G-Bus circuit), and show you exactly how each one impacts the punch, aggression, and glue of your metal mix. Whether you're running hardware or a plugin like the Waves SSL G-Master, these principles apply directly. 🎚️ SETTINGS COVERED: 00:00 Why Your Mix Feels Thin 00:50 What Bus Compression Does 01:26 Setup and Test Plan 01:51 Fast Attack Fast Release 02:36 Fast Attack Auto Release 03:20 Slow Attack Secret Weapon 04:04 Choosing Release by Arrangement 04:51 Slow Attack Auto Release Sweet Spot 05:28 Free Mix Prep Guide 05:53 AB Test and Final Settings 06:44 Key Takeaways and Wrap Up 📥 Free Mix Prep Guide: https://liquidstudiosli.com/mix-prep-guide 🔥 Hire me to mix your next track: https://liquidstudiosli.com/offer-video-2 📥 Free Resources For Metal Bands: https://liquidstudiosli.com/resources 👉 Subscribe for more metal production tips: https://youtube.com/@danielthabet?sub_confirmation=1 #metalproduction #mixbuscompression #musicproduction #homerecording #metalrecording

The Only Way I Use Reference Tracks Now For Metal Mixing

A lot of metal mixers are using reference tracks completely wrong. In this video I break down the three ways I've used reference tracks throughout my mixing journey, from beginner to where I am today, and show you exactly how to use reference tracks the right way so your metal mixes translate on every system. 🎁 FREE Mix Prep Guide → https://liquidstudiosli.com/mix-prep-guide 🔥 Hire me to mix your next track: https://liquidstudiosli.com/offer-video-2 📥 Free Resources For Metal Bands: https://liquidstudiosli.com/resources 👉 Subscribe for more metal production tips: https://youtube.com/@danielthabet?sub_confirmation=1 00:00 Intro 00:21 What Is a Reference 00:56 Method 1 Ear Refresh 01:41 Why I Quit Method 1 01:51 Method 2 Focused A B 02:32 Why I Quit Method 2 02:50 Method 3 Analyzer Snapshots 03:00 Real Time Ozone Demo 04:55 Trust Ears Not Curves 05:35 Recap and Next Steps #musicproduction #mixingmetal #metalproduction #recordingstudio

I Ran the Same IR Through 3 Amp Sims vs 3 IRs on 1 Amp — Here's What I Found

Your metal guitar tone is shaped by two things: your amp sim and your IR. But which one has the bigger impact? I ran a controlled experiment using the Bogren Digital Ampknob series, testing the 5169, Rev C, and Trivium Rhythm through the same IR, then flipping it and running the Trivium Rhythm through three different IRs. The results might change how you build your whole recording rig. 🎸 Free Guitar & Bass DI Recording Guide → https://liquidstudiosli.com/guitar-bass-guide Gear used in this video: - Bogren Digital Ampknob 5169 - Bogren Digital Ampknob Rev C - Bogren Digital Ampknob Trivium Rhythm - York Audio MES 212 V30 Mix 1 Chapters: 00:00 Amp Sim vs IR Debate 00:17 Controlled Test Setup 01:37 Round One Same IR 03:22 Round Two Swap IRs 05:21 What Matters Most 06:25 How It Sits in Mix 07:17 Recap and Priorities 08:03 Next Steps Want to watch these videos early? Join the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5d5LAcG0ga-rBlWPEGIqeA/join 🔥 Hire me to mix your next track: https://liquidstudiosli.com/offer-video-2 📥 Free Resources For Metal Bands: https://liquidstudiosli.com/resources 👉 Subscribe for more metal production tips: https://youtube.com/@danielthabet?sub_confirmation=1

You Said I Was Wrong About Programmed Drums — Here's My Response

My last video on programmed drums vs real drums for metal divided the community, so I'm pulling up your comments and addressing the best arguments one by one. This isn't about real vs fake. It's about what serves your music best. 🥁 FREE Drum Recording Guide: https://liquidstudiosli.com/drum-recording-guide 📥 Free Resources For Metal Bands: https://liquidstudiosli.com/resources 🔥 Hire me to mix your next track: https://liquidstudiosli.com/offer-video-2 ⏱️ Chapters: 0:00 – Your Comments Divided This Community 00:16 – Did You Actually Watch The Video? 01:31 – "Why Not Replace Everything?" (Slippery Slope) 02:54 – "This Is Destroying Art" 04:22 – "Your Drummer Just Sucks" 05:44 – The Real Point Original Video: https://youtu.be/j2hf8bRAXkY #metalproduction #programmeddrums #drumrecording #metalmixing #musicproduction