Parallel Project Thank You Page

The process of mixing and mastering can be daunting. For years, I lacked a reliable system. My workflow consisted of trying to patch up recording mistakes with plugins and special effects—a frustrating cycle where fixing one issue inevitably created a new one. The process seemed endless.

Even though I’ve played guitar since junior high and have used Logic Pro for years, I always had to hire professionals if I wanted to release a song on streaming services. It was expensive, but more than anything, it cost me control. I wanted to own the entire creative arc: writing, recording, mixing, mastering, and distribution.

The real urgency came from my archive. I have a backlog of more than 50 recorded songs. I realized that if something happened to me, this lifetime of work would simply end up in a digital dump when my computer eventually got thrown away. While I’m under no delusion that the world is waiting for my next album, I wanted to do this for myself. If anyone else enjoys the music, that’s gravy. (There are many other profound benefits to this journey, which I will be posting about soon.)

To break the cycle, I spent the last year and a half diving deep. I sought advice from industry experts, joined home studio communities, and studied countless instructional videos on the endless technical nuances of audio production.

The list below features the people, groups, and creators who helped me get across the finish line. Though I have only met one of them in person, their insights allowed me to achieve my ultimate goal: releasing an album that is mixed and mastered to a competitive, indie-artist level—a threshold where the average listener won’t be distracted by technical flaws.

I believe I accomplished that goal, even though mixing is subjective and some may disagree. Because I don’t know most of these creators personally, I can’t speak to how they would judge my final mixes. Still, their content helped me precisely when I needed it, and I want to publicly thank them.

FYI on my setup: I use Logic Pro as my DAW. My primary tools include the iZotope Music Production Suite 8, MeterPlugs “Loudness Penalty Studio,” Toontrack’s EZdrummer, several Mastering The Mix tools, and Logic’s native plugins. For a detailed breakdown of my studio setup, see the section following the Thank You listings.

Thank You

Issue: Loudness
Ian Shepherd’s Loudness Penalty Studio: https://www.loudnesspenalty.com
This is one of the most useful software applications I’ve ever used, and I expect to use it every time I release music to streaming services. I heard Ian Shepherd speak on Home Studio Corner, took notes, and ordered Loudness Penalty Studio shortly afterward.

In my studio, I compared test songs I’d uploaded to Spotify with the same songs played through Loudness Penalty Studio. Both versions were normalized and played through the same computer and speakers at the same volume setting. The dB readings matched exactly, which gave me confidence that LPS was accurately predicting what I would hear on Spotify. As a result of these tests, I learned to trust the accuracy of LPS.

I also learned about PLR (Peak-to-Loudness Ratio), which “indicates how heavily compressed or limited a file is, aiding in retaining musicality while achieving competitive loudness.” To me, a high PLR value suggests that a song has been mixed and mastered in a way that preserves its dynamics and musicality. Since then, I’ve started mastering not so much for volume, but for dynamics. As a result I can tell that my songs sound louder and better on Spotify. 

I also discovered that isolating the lead vocal and bringing it up slightly, increased perceived loudness without incurring an additional loudness penalty. Thanks, Ian.

Issue: Everything you ever wanted to know about mixing, mastering, recording and setting up your home studio.
YouTube Channel (Joe Gilder – Home Studio Corner): https://www.youtube.com/@HomeStudioCorner
If you’ve ever searched the Internet for answers about mixing, mastering, recording or setting up your home studio, then you already know who Joe Gilder is. His YouTube Channel is a gold mine of practical knowledge. If you’re starting your journey, this is a great place to start. If you’re well up the learning curve, this is a great place to get better.

It’s not just about learning new techniques; sometimes it’s about unlearning bad habits. One example is his GIRATS philosophy (“Get It Right At The Start”). I try to keep this in mind whenever I record. No plugin or fancy mixing trick can save a poorly recorded song.

I’m a Gold VIP Member and I highly recommend joining the Home Studio Corner community.

Two songs on my Parallel album — “Tone Poems” and “Glorious Charade” — were dramatically improved thanks to my membership in HSC, especially through the regular Live Mixing Critiques. During one of those sessions, Joe gave me feedback on “Glorious Charade” that completely changed the direction of the song. I ended up scrapping the original big, layered production and replacing the piano with a simple but beautiful track from another keyboard player. I then re-recorded the song as an intimate piano-and-vocal piece. By stripping everything back and focusing on the song’s real strength — the lyrics — the track gained a passionate authenticity that was missing in the first version.

The song that has received the most positive feedback so far is “Tone Poems.”A Home Studio Corner VIP Member suggested I try a simple four-on-the-floor beat on the track. You can hear how it turned out right here (click here). Another HSC member said that “Best Days of Our Life”sounded like a Springsteen song. I’m not sure I completely agree, but it certainly made me feel good.

The most important thing I learned from Joe was this: release the music! Not everyone is going to like my songs or think my mixes are perfect. Fear of rejection or ridicule can lead to artistic paralysis. Eventually, I decided to take the leap, release the music, learn from the feedback, and keep creating. It feels risky sometimes, but I’ve come to believe it’s far less risky than doing nothing.

Thanks, Joe…and everyone at HSC. 

Issues: Many
Graham English
Website: https://grahamenglish.com
Graham regularly sends out short and instructive articles on specific topics. For example, “10-Minute Mastering: A Fast-Track Guide for DIY Producers,” “Mastering 101: Limiting,” “Mastering 101: Compression,“ “How to Use Chord ID in Logic Pro 12 (Step-by-Step Guide),” etc. I put the articles I find most helpful in a binder that I keep in my studio for easy reference. Getting on his mailing list gives you access to free and very useful articles, like the ones I mentioned, and opportunities to take courses. By the way, he literally wrote the Logic Pro For Dummies book. Thank you, Graham.

Issues: Many 
Barry Keenan Music: https://www.barrykeenanmusic.com
Barry is a fantastic singer, songwriter, musician, producer, and engineer. Check out his site and you’ll see what I mean. During the process of mixing and mastering this album he has been there for me. Many times I’d use “his ears” to hear things I couldn’t hear and he would teach me to hear them. I sent him lots of mp3’s and he would critique them and tell me what was “muddy,” what snares didn’t work, when the drums were too far back. He even suggested I put in the out-of-nowhere, echoing “tamborine hits” near the end of “Glorious Charade.” Thanks, man.

Issue: Anything to do with EZ Drummer 
Shootie School YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ShootieSchool
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0h3EtbLO1I
Website: https://shootieschool.com
If you want to learn ANYTHING about using EZ Drummer, this is truly a one-stop shop. In this particular video, Shawn Shootie demonstrates how to recreate the Beatles’ “Come Together” drum part from scratch. Theory is great, but watching him build the entire groove step-by-step in the Grid Editor — making real-time adjustments as he goes — is incredibly helpful and inspiring. I can’t recommend him highly enough. If you’re looking to learn or even master EZ Drummer, Shawn is your guy. Check out his YouTube channel. His videos are perfectly organized: you can start from the beginning or quickly jump to a specific issue you’re struggling with. His intuitive titles make it easy to find exactly what you need. A HUGE thank you to Shawn for creating such an outstanding, practical resource!

Issue: Using Mastering the Mix’s Expose 2 to check mixing and mastering metrics
Channel (Mastering the Mix): https://www.youtube.com/@Masteringthemixlondon
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmH9agbltTw&t=195s
Expose 2 is an incredibly useful and inexpensive tool for checking Integrated and Short Term LUF readings, dBTP and TP, phase issues, Dynamic and Loudness Unit Ranges, all on an easy to see graphic display. It even includes a track that is purple when there are no issues, while displaying red on the track where there are specific issues. This video provides a complete walk through. One other thing: They have the BEST Customer Support. The AI help is impressive, but the Human Customer Service response time was anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours. Your experience may vary, but that was consistently my experience.

Issue: Creating Full Length Music Video
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@neuralframes
Website: https://www.neuralframes.com
Neural Frames has become my main video creation platform. Every full-length music video I’ve created, as well as my short-form videos, are created here, then run through Final Cut Pro, and ultimately delivered to YouTube and various social media (in various formats). I’m currently writing an article on Neural Frames and how I use it. When it’s finished, I’ll put a link here.

Issues: Many
Channel (Jono Buchanan Music): https://www.youtube.com/@jonobuchananmusic
I really enjoy Jono Buchanan’s channel. His name kept popping up when I searched YouTube for help with mixing issues. Since I work in Logic Pro, his tutorials were easy to follow because we use the same DAW. And let’s be honest. He sounds like a host on Masterpiece Theater—easy to understand and well…his accent and articulation make him sound like he really knows what he’s talking about. Of course, it also helps that he actually does know what he’s talking about.
Logic Pro X – Mix Volume Considerations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v2qQ-dFGP4
Logic Pro X – Mix Volume Considerations 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuv_hjLUNGs
This was an incredibly valuable video that talked about headroom while mixing and what to do—like in my mixes when all the tracks were in the green yet the Stereo Out Fader showed clipping (red). He talked about one easy fix and one more complicated fix. The complicated fix was MUCH less complicated and time-consuming than what I was doing. More importantly, it worked. And it really changed the way I mix.
Logic Pro X – Why the Order of FX Matters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOrC6XlyXo0
Jono explains why plugin placement order on the Signal Chain is important. Simply put, plugins process audio sequentially. Therefore, changing the order of the plugins, changes how your song sounds.
Logic Pro X – Multipressor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnwCGKDCvOg&t=415s
Had any compression issues? Who hasn’t! This video—particularly around the 6-minute mark—helped clear up several important things.
Logic Pro X – Free Tempo Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpSkE0Xhdv0
This was interesting to me because I often have tempo variations in songs that I “feel,” or songs that call for “passionate” interpretations at different points in the song. This video was very helpful.
Logic Pro X – Mastering Assistant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDRX5APDP_0

Issues: Anything having to do with Logic Pro
Channel (Why Logic Pro Rules): https://www.youtube.com/@WhyLogicProRules
Liked this guy’s videos so much that when there’s anything I want to learn about Logic Pro, I always check out his channel.
Compression: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iT72m3kwXE
Compression2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0ln5wEI5pM
Compression/Sidechaining: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quL-v49bgP0
Simplify Compression with 1 Knob (PhatFX): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR8aZcjjepM
Using Flex Pitch on Vocals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXRzN6_1gbY&t=868s
Fantastic video on how to use Flex Pitch on your vocals. One thing that stuck with me was that sometimes when a note drifts way up (or down) into the next note, it might be an indication that there is, in fact, a separate note there. Without correcting it, it sounds too “tuned.” I tried it, found the note, changed it to perfect pitch as suggested. Problem solved. There’s even a section on how to turn the work product into a MIDI file for other uses. For example, it could be used by software instruments, like pianos.

Issue: How to lower volume of entire track full of animation.
Ryan Demaree Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ryandemaree1610
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olsKu-Qdh0E&t=117s
Quick and dirty, but very helpful video. Sometimes while mixing you want to bring down the volume of a track that contains lots of animation. Using Volume Trim you can bring down volume and keep the animation proportional. For me, this was a SERIOUS time saver.

Issue: Accessing EZ Drummer on existing Logic Drummer tracks.
YouTube Channel (Ste Stetson): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvqVfxX6EIqzcFWNWVIKAxw
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbxMSVb5lNM&t=6s
Short but very cool video showing how to use EZ Drummer on existing Logic Drummer tracks. This was incredibly helpful in repurposing existing Logic drum tracks and running them through EZ Drummer–particularly useful if you have a go-to drum kit in EZ Drummer.

Issue: I Wanted to Learn Ozone 11
iZotope YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@iZotopeOfficial
Video: How to use Ozone 11:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxlyt1c2sAE
This is a great overall tutorial about Ozone 11. Ozone’s YouTube Channel is packed with tutorials on all their great software and this video really worked for me. Note: I now use Ozone 12. 

Issue: Logic Pro’s Flex Pitch vs. Pitch Correction
YouTube Channel: (The Band Guide) https://www.youtube.com/@TheBandGuide
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14sTNC0lCHQ
Clear, under-ten-minute instructional video about Logic Pro’s Flex Pitch vs. Pitch Correction. I was working on a song that sounded just a little too “tuney.” I really liked the performance, but it needed a little pitch correction. This video helped me make the needed adjustments quickly. I play with dynamics a lot when I sing, moving between powerful, passionate delivery and soft whispers depending on the moment. Colin made the point that while you can’t turn a bad performance into a good one just by correcting pitch, he would rather work with a performance that has the right feeling and emotion — one that’s close to being in tune — and then tune it later, keeping the emotion intact and only needing to fix the tuning.

Issue: Logic Pro’s Flex Pitch vs. Pitch Correction
Music by Mattie YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@music.by.mattie
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-cRmuVrdR8
Great quick guide to understanding how to fix “pitchy” vocals using Logic Pro’s Flex Pitch. Flex pitch can needlessly overcomplicated, but Mattie not only knows what he’s talking about, but he can communicate that knowledge effectively. Highly recommended.

Issue: Open Tunings
Website: https://www.sweetwater.com
Article: https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/easy-alternate-tunings-for-guitar/?utm_content=article1-button&utm_source=insync&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20190817-insync-t1
Good article with easy-to-follow diagrams for several open tunings. I now play, perform and often record my guitars in Open E, using a Capo across 5 strings (capo on all strings except the low E string). I have another guitar always tuned to Open G, with the low E string removed, to get that authentic Rolling Stones sound. I enjoy writing songs in open tunings. The same chords sound different in an open tuning. That different sound provides me a “different aesthetic entrance point” into the song.

Issue: Creating a Short Video for Spotify Canvas
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Hypeddit
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPFghdureN0
Great video on how to create a 3-8 second video for Spotify Canvas.

Issue: Parallel Processing.
YouTube Channel (Mungk): https://www.youtube.com/@mungkdubs
Parallel Processing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARXOb2UuZWQ&t=225s
Quick and dirty, easily to understand demonstration of Parallel Processing. 

Issue: Getting Logic Strings to sound realistic
Gabriel Music YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GGabrielMusic
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVwKn8XZX2M
Website: https://www.gabrielmusic.com
This is the best video I’ve seen on how to make Logic Strings sound realistic.

 

My Studio

My Studio Setup & Plugins

  • DAW (Digital Audio Workstation): Logic Pro

  • Primary Processing: Extensive use of Logic Pro’s native utilities (Compressors, Limiters, Multipressor, Gain, and the Loudness Meter).

  • iZotope Music Production Suite 8:

    • Ozone 11 & Neutron 5 for mixing and mastering workflows.

    • RX 11 for precision audio repair and restoration.

    • Insight 2 (utilized on every single mixing and mastering session for visual analysis).

    • Velvet (part of iZotope’s Catalyst Series), which is a line of accessible, single-task mixing plugins. Velvet operates as a smart vocal de-esser that combines de-essing, dynamic tone shaping, and mouth-declicking (derived from their RX technology) into a single interface.

  • Specialty Plugins:

    • MeterPlugs: Ian Shepherd’s Loudness Penalty Studio. This tool was completely indispensable and a total lifesaver for ensuring my targets were perfectly accurate before uploading to streaming services.

    • Mastering The Mix: Expose 2 and Limiter for checking gain staging, target levels, and monitoring dBTP (Decibel True Peak).

    • Waves: CLA Guitars