In this week's episode, Ben and Carl unmask the mystery of masking (pun very much intended). They talk about frequency masking, rhythmic masking, transient masking, and more. There are plenty of "aha!" moments that will change the way you approach mixing, so tune in now and elevate your mixes from cluttered to crystal-clear! Topics we discuss: The little-known mixing villain that's sabotaging your mixes (hint: it's not just frequency masking!)How to diagnose and eliminate "rhythmic masking"...

Leaning into your authentic self, flaws and all, can become your greatest asset in building a standout career. In this offbeat episode, Ben and Carl dive deep into the quirky traits and tendencies that make them unique as music professionals. Topics we discuss: Why your quirks are more than just personality traits - they shape your artistic identityHow to harness your quirky strengths to attract your ideal clients and collaboratorsWhy facing your fears (even the irrational ones) can lead to...

In this thought-provoking episode, Ben and Carl dive headfirst into the complex world of artificial intelligence and its impending impact on the music industry. Discover how AI is already transforming music creation and production, and explore the philosophical quandaries that arise as technology blurs the line between human artistry and machine-generated content. Buckle up for a mind-bending journey that will leave you pondering the very nature of creativity in the digital age. Topics we...

What if the secret to standout mixes was doing less, not more? In this episode, Ben and Carl dive deep into the art of minimalism in audio engineering. Discover how applying minimalist principles, from streamlined plugin chains to intentional gear choices, can elevate your sound and simplify your workflow. Learn why sometimes the biggest results come from stripping away the excess. Topics we discuss: The surprising power of constraint and how it fuels creativityWhy some hits sound massive...

In this episode, mixing engineers Ben and Carl dive into the vital yet often misunderstood role of mastering in the music production process. Topics we discuss: The single biggest reason mastering can make or break your mix (it's not what you think)How to harness the power of objectivity to hear your mix with fresh earsThe little-known trick for using mastering to diagnose and fix mix problemsThe surprising truth about what really matters when choosing a mastering engineerWhy trying to "fix...

Ready to start earning what you're really worth as an audio professional? In this eye-opening episode, Ben and Carl talk about proven strategies for tactfully raising your rates with both new and existing clients. Discover how to showcase your unique value, frame your pricing in a compelling way, and confidently ask for the rates you deserve. Topics we discuss: Why regularly raising rates is crucial to account for inflation and increasing expensesHow to position a rate increase as a loyalty...

In this episode, Ben and Carl dive deep into the often uncomfortable but crucial topic of cold outreach for audio professionals. Carl shares his proven methodology for finding and connecting with potential clients and collaborators in a genuine, non-sleazy way. Learn how to move past the discomfort, build the habit of regular outreach, and transform your career trajectory. Topics we discuss: The key mindset shift that makes outreach effective and non-sleazyHow to get over the fear of...

In this week's episode of Secret Sonics, Ben and Carl explore the evolving nature of career success. Topics we discuss: Early unrealistic dreams transform into sustainable career visions over timeRealizing that artistic purpose can fuel and expand your goals as it connects with listeners⁠Life priorities reshape definitions of success at different stages⁠Liberation from standardized metrics frees you to determine your own successTrue meaning is derived from creative growth and the joy of the...

In this week's episode, Ben and Carl talk about taking criticism as an audio professional. Topics we discuss: Getting constructive vs unhelpful criticism and feedbackBuilding a "circle" of trusted people to give feedbackCharacteristics to look for in people you ask criticism fromReceiving criticism during different stages of productionDealing with well-intended but unhelpful feedbackHandling aggressive criticism from clientsDeveloping thick skin and not taking criticism personallyHaving...

Have a listen as Ben and Carl have an in-depth conversation about using templates for efficient mixing and production workflows. They talk about how they structure their templates by routing tracks, buses, and FX stacks to allow for maximum flexibility when mixing. They discuss setting expectations with clients about initial mixes as well as favorite plugins to include. The hosts also share some hot tips for Logic users and emphasize how templates enable them to work quickly and...

Tune in as Ben and Carl talk about what it takes to convince them to buy new plugins - from usefulness to inspiration and everything in between. They discuss the plugins they can’t live without, the plugins that were a total disappointment, and the future of subscription payment models. Topics we discuss: ⁠Prerequisites for buying a new pluginMarketing and sales tactics that might work on usExperiences with some select pluginsThoughts on subscription modelsPlugins that disappointed us or...

Ben and Carl discuss the role of a mixing engineer in 2024. They talk about how the role has changed over the years as well as the importance of communication with artists and producers to bring their vision to life. They also explore the impact of technological changes and how it has impacted the mixing process and made it more efficient. This discussion highlights the evolving nature of the mixing engineer's role and the need for adaptability in the ever-changing music industry. Topics we...

Get ready for 2024. Ben and Carl kick off their rebooted Secret Sonics podcast - as new co-hosts - by doing a goal-setting session for the new year. Ben shares his plans to realign his audio career, while Carl reveals his strategy to have over 1000 conversations in 2024 (yes, seriously). Money, mindfulness, and family take priority, too as they set a mix of professional and personal goals. With insight into crafting input goals and keeping each other accountable, this first episode will...

Matt Huber is a mix engineer based out of LA, CA, USA! In our conversation Matt and I go deep on the following: His journey from Arkansas to LA (via Nashville) Delegation & scaling Niching down Atmos His approach to mixing Getting bright (but not harsh) vocals Mixing into a limiter Why he buys every single plugin The quality of high vs. low track-count Advice for those getting started And so much more! You can learn more about Matt at https://matthuber.co/ You can follow Matt on Social...

This conversation first appeared as episode 98 of Progressions: Success in the Music Industry - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/episode/10-mindsets Credits: Guest: Ben Wallick Host: Travis Ference Editor: Stephen Boyd Learn more about Secret Sonics - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast

Sorry for dropping the ball there, wanted to keep you in the loop.

John Velasquez is a music producer, mixer, and songwriter based out of LA, CA, USA! In our conversation John and I go deep on the following: The importance of humility How he has built a community of creatives that he collaborates with Mindfulness Being real Patience Working with a team Getting artists to deliver great vocal performances The cry test Limitations are good The mix = the arrangement His new studio Be yourself And so much more! You can learn more about John at...

Enoch Yang is a systems and operational management specialist (in addition to being a music producer and artist), based out of Charlotte, NC, USA! In today's episode, Enoch offers a hands-on roadmap for implementing effective systems within your audio business. This approach can help you streamline your business and focus more energy on your core work. In our conversation, Enoch and I go deep on the following topics: When to start implementing systems and what to focus on Future-proofing...

Daniela Rivera is an Emmy-nominated and multiple-Grammy participating audio and mixing engineer based out of Atlanta, GA, USA! She's also the Governor of the Recording Academy's Atlanta Chapter. In our conversation Daniela and I go deep on the following: Her Journey starting with a Korg Triton keyboard Assisting for legendary mixer Phil Tan Coming up the traditional studio route The Atlanta music scene Working the Soundbetter platform Her approach to low-end Getting great pop vocals Stereo...

Stephen Cole is a music producer, mixing engineer, musician, and the owner of What Studio based in Liverpool, England, UK! In our conversation Stephen and I go deep on the following: Being a self-taught product of the bedroom recording boom Building up a palette of sounds and recognizing the context of a sound Building a studio in a church Getting great drum sounds and relying on the room It’s all fake, pick your fake The importance of quick decision making Transparent communication with...

Travis Ference is a Grammy-nominated mixing engineer and the host of Progressions, a podcast about finding success in the music industry. Travis is based out of LA, CA, USA! In our conversation Travis and I go deep on the following: Fatherhood and time management Soundflow, scripts, and other shortcuts Is AI coming for mixing engineers? Content creation and the surplus of noise on the internet Travis’s approach to stem processing Raising your rates ROIs on a mix Is technology helping...

Dave McNair is a multiple Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer based out of Winston-Salem, NC, USA! In our conversation Dave and I go deep on the following: His journey in audio and mastering Why mastering engineers work so quickly How bass and vocals are paramount in a mix Mastering with mixing in mind and vice versa Correcting a good mix made with bad monitoring Dave’s journey in Hi-Fi The relationship between Hi-Fi and pro audio Moving the studio into his living room and his current...

Noam Levinberg is a mastering engineer and the owner of the brand-new plugin company, Safari Pedals! He's based out of Tel Aviv, Israel. In our conversation Noam and I go deep on the following: Lessons from building the audio department at a sync company You don’t have to smash the dynamics for sync music Headroom and dynamics Things are getting quieter How he built his new plugin company, Safari Pedals What’s under the hood of his plugins Why he says no to mixing and only masters music...

Mix_Notes are a chance for Ben to talk about the topics on his mind and share what's been happening in his studio - beyond the scope of the usual interviews that take place on Secret Sonics. Here are some links based on what I referenced: Neural DSP's Wong amp -...