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Chris Theo▫️Mixing engineer

@deepfriedtheo

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▫️ Mixing engineer, writer, producer
▫️ Shaping your music
▫️ Staying true to your sound

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A vocal can sound great
and still sit on top of the mix.

In situations like this, adding reverb does not create depth. It usually just adds lushness and density.

The issue is rarely space. It is dominance.

When a vocal carries a lot of low-mid weight around 250–500 Hz
and stays very clear in the 2–4 kHz range,
it will feel rich, present, and important regardless of how much ambience surrounds it.

In those cases, depth does not come from adding more reverb. It comes from reducing density and intelligibility.

Easing back the low-mids lightens the vocal’s footprint.

Softening the 2–4 kHz reduces how assertively it demands attention.

Once that dominance is under control,
the mix naturally reads as deeper without adding space.

This is not about dulling vocals. It is about hierarchy.

Save this if reverb keeps making your vocals bigger instead of deeper.

#vocalmixing
#musicproduction
#independentartist
#mixengineer
#homerecording taken in London, United Kingdom by @deepfriedtheo

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7 months ago

Get your free 17-page framework for defining vocal identity early in a project.

Vocal identity is shaped by the decisions that carry from a rough mix through to the final record.

When those decisions are intentional, the mix becomes a refinement rather than a guessing game.

If you want the guide, comment CHAIN and I’ll send it over.

#vocalidentity
#independentartist
#musicproduction
#recordingvocals
#mixengineer taken in London, United Kingdom by @deepfriedtheo

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6 months ago

Bass inconsistency is often about how the low end behaves from note to note.
In this case I’m lifting the subs slightly before compression, then controlling everything below around 67 Hz with a small amount of multiband gain reduction.
Doing it in this order matters. Shaping the subs first changes what the compressor reacts to. Adding level afterwards just makes the same imbalance louder.
I’m not trying to add huge weight here, just make the bass more predictable across the part.

#audiomixing
#mixingengineer
#musicproduction
#bassguitar
#mixtranslation taken in London, United Kingdom by @deepfriedtheo

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6 months ago

Look at this nerd by @deepfriedtheo

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2 months ago

Duplicate your bass for phone speakers? by @deepfriedtheo

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4 months ago

It’s not a volume problem.

When the backing vocals come in and your lead starts to feel swallowed, the instinct is to pull them down.

That doesn’t fix it.

They’re sitting in the same space as the lead.

Move them. Don’t neuter them. taken in London, United Kingdom by @deepfriedtheo

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5 months ago

Why does this hurt?

#guitarproduction #mixingengineer by @deepfriedtheo

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5 months ago

You’re told to keep it minimal. That advice isn’t built for you. by @deepfriedtheo

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5 months ago

Dense mix and vocals disappear.

Karnivool gets this right, a dense mix with clean vocals that cut and soar through.

Disclaimer: I took a guess at some processing based on what Forrester Savell has mentioned in the past, along with some careful listening to capture something similar.

SAVE to return to the full chain at the end.

#karnivool
#mixingengineer #vocalproduction by @deepfriedtheo

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5 months ago

Acoustic guitar ruined with compression?
No more.

#musicproduction #acousticguitar taken in London, United Kingdom by @deepfriedtheo

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5 months ago

Your lead vocal shrinks in the chorus.
It’s usually not a level problem.
When backing vocals occupy the same clarity range, the lead loses focus — even if it’s loud enough.
Listen to the difference.

#vocalmixing #mixingengineer #vocalproduction by @deepfriedtheo

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5 months ago

Stop blaming your mic.

Same mic. Four placements.

Which one would you release? by @deepfriedtheo

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5 months ago