THE BEST Newsletter for working audio Pro's: https://www.panoramamastering.com.au/newsletter
🎧 Featuring: @Noah_Cronin
🎛️ Hosted by: @panorama_mastering
In this episode of LoudAF.Club, Grammy-nominated reggae mixer Noah Cronin joins Nicholas Di Lorenzo to unpack what it really takes to mix reggae at the highest level — from fat, punchy low-end to preserving emotional feel without sacrificing clarity or loudness.
- Mixing reggae for both feel and translation
- Building trust with artists who self-produce
- Navigating demo-itis, revisions, and energy burnout
- Touring, mixing, and running a studio — all from Hawaii
- Why niching down didn't limit Noah’s career — it expanded it
- The philosophies behind breath control, vocal production, and mix taste
Whether you’re an engineer looking to carve out your niche or just love behind-the-scenes insights from some of the best in the game — this one’s for you.
00:00 - Intro: From Hawaii to Grammy Noms
01:10 - How Nicholas and Noah first collaborated
02:21 - Balancing low-end feel vs loudness in reggae
03:59 - When songs are recorded on buses or in hotels
05:09 - What reggae mixes need to feel “right”
06:05 - Choosing feel vs technical perfection
07:13 - Navigating creative trust with artists like Collie Buddz
08:47 - How demo-itis impacts the mix
10:59 - Matching the artist’s headspace before mixing
13:22 - What reggae artists want in their mixes
14:36 - How breaths affect vocal mixing in reggae
15:53 - Vocal breath control trick using RX
17:26 - Mixing philosophy: tools vs taste
18:26 - Why Noah chose to niche into reggae
20:14 - Blending vintage tone with modern techniques
21:16 - Does Noah want to mix other genres too?
22:22 - The global reggae community and its growth
24:23 - Reggae’s emotional universality
25:23 - The emotional role of low-end in mixes
26:47 - Advice for mixers struggling with niching
27:34 - Staying in Hawaii vs moving to LA
29:15 - Bringing high-level mixing to your community
30:53 - What Noah learned from working with new artists
32:31 - Learning from the outside in
33:01 - Noah’s origins as a producer
34:59 - Supporting artists beyond just mixing
36:10 - Building Noah’s website and online presence
37:40 - Balancing studio work, live sound, and touring
39:49 - Saying no: the challenge of scheduling
41:36 - Conserving energy while mixing
43:07 - How many mixes per month Noah does
44:27 - The emotional energy of delivering great mixes
46:33 - Burnout, boundaries, and long-term sustainability
48:00 - Why beginners need to hear more than plugin tips
49:31 - Outro: Collaboration, trust, and gratitude
