Stop counting playlist streams and start building momentum where it matters. Marc Matthews and Tim Benson unpack a year of wins and lessons that took monthly listeners from modest to meaningful, and the theme is simple. When you optimise for saves, repeats and fast post-release engagement, Spotify’s algorithm does the heavy lifting. That means Radio, Discover Weekly, and personalised mixes begin to surface your music beyond your immediate circle—and the compounding effect beats a single playlist spike every time.

We share the unglamorous work that unlocks creativity at speed: DAW templates, organised drum kits, and a handful of trusted synth presets that act as launchpads instead of cages. There’s a balance to strike between efficiency and originality, so we talk about stepping away when tweaks turn into time sinks, coming back with fresh ears, and capturing the patches worth saving. We also get candid about release cadence and genre clarity. Keeping one artist profile sonically consistent helps Spotify place you next to the right peers; if you love variety, set up separate profiles so each lane feels coherent.

Collaboration sits at the heart of our 2026 plan. We’re reaching out to local vocalists to bring songs to life and share with audiences in a way that attracts editorial and radio attention. On the business side, we dig into the small but real revenue streams that stack: PRS, PPL, publishing admin via Songtrust or Sentric, DistroKid splits, and even modest YouTube monetisation. Add in smart seeding through SubmitHub and user curators to spark early signals, and you have a repeatable system that turns good music into sustainable growth.

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Got a win from 2025 or a goal for 2026? We want to hear it, and we’re featuring listener wins on an upcoming show.

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Ever twist a saturation knob and wonder if you’re hearing compression, distortion, or something in between? In this episode of Inside The Mix, Marc Matthews puts that question to the test with a clean, scientific setup, a 440 Hz sine wave, the Softube Saturation Knob, and Wave Observer, a free oscilloscope plugin by Press Play.

By placing Wave Observer last in the signal chain, Marc visually shows how your waveform changes as you dial in saturation, how rounded peaks flatten, harmonics stack up, and a pure sine wave slowly edges toward a square. No more guessing, no more placebo, just a clear visual of how your favourite plugins reshape the sound.

Marc explains why visual feedback matters when subtle processing tricks your ears, and walks you through a simple DIY method you can try in any DAW. You’ll see exactly what happens around -12 dBFS, where soft saturation tightens dynamics long before the audible grit appears.

This quick session helps you connect what you hear to what you see — so you can mix faster, gain stage with intention, and start trusting your ears with confidence.

Takeaways:

• How to use Wave Observer for real-time saturation analysis
• What clipping actually looks like
• A repeatable workflow for plugin testing and calibration

If you’re ready to stop mixing blind and start seeing your decisions pay off, on meters, waveforms, and final masters — this one’s for you.

Subscribe, share the episode with a producer friend, and drop Marc a note with the next plugin you want analysed. Your suggestion might feature in a future episode of Inside The Mix.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Press Play Wave Observer

FREE Plugin To See Inside Your Mixes - Press Play Wave Observer

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Tired of guessing what kind of podcast content actually helps you make better music and grow as a producer or artist? In this special listener-driven episode of Inside The Mix, host Marc Matthews flips the script — and puts you in charge of shaping the show’s next chapter.

Marc is designing the 2026 Inside The Mix editorial calendar, and your feedback will decide what the podcast covers next: from mixing workflows, DAW productivity systems, and plugin deep dives, to music marketing strategies that build real fans.

It takes just two minutes to complete the survey (link below), where you can:

• Vote on future episode formats (10–15 minute tutorials or long-form interviews)
• Suggest guests, tools, and production topics you want explored
• Share your biggest music win of 2025 for a chance to be featured in Episode 227 on December 30th

Whether you just finished your debut EP, mastered vocal clarity, booked your first client, or built a consistent content routine, your milestones matter. These wins are proof that focused workflows, smarter systems, and creative consistency beat guesswork every time.

Tap the survey link and share your 2025 win by November 29th!

Inside The Mix helps independent producers finish faster, sound pro, and build real fans.

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Staring at a blank DAW is exhausting; staring at a mapped-out arrangement from a reference track is energising. Marc walks through a clear, repeatable reference track arrangement blueprint workflow that turns a single reference track into a full song structure, so you can stop looping and start finishing. From matching tempo and key to placing eight-bar markers, Marc shows how to label intros, verses, breakdowns, builds, and drops, then use that structure to guide creative choices without feeling boxed in.

Marc digs into why intelligent imitation is a craft skill, not a shortcut. By reverse-engineering the reference track structural DNA, you can learn pacing, contrast, and energy flow faster than via trial and error. He goes beyond markers to analyse macro dynamics, tonal balance, and how loudness shapes a listener’s journey. You’ll discover where spectrum shifts create space for vocals or bass, and how micro-changes sustain attention across long sections. With stem splitting from the reference, you learn drums, bass, and instruments in isolation and translate their function into your own sound.

The practical steps are simple: import your reference track, set BPM/key, add a one-bar buffer for alignment, then mark changes every eight bars. Use those signposts to automate builds, design drops, and maintain forward momentum. As your track evolves, reduce reliance on the reference and treat it as a launch pad, not a cage.

Marc closes with a challenge: pick a song that grabbed your ear, map its structure today, build your arrangement, and send him a work-in-progress. If this approach helps you move faster and think clearly, subscribe, share with someone stuck in loop-land, and leave a quick review to help more producers find the show.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Listen to Darklight

How to Make Progressive House from Start to Finish | Splice

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What if a better‑translating mix starts before you touch a single channel plugin? I put top‑down mixing under the microscope and share a candid, first‑hand evaluation: what worked, what didn’t, and how a few smart moves on the mix bus reshaped the entire project in less time and with fewer plugins. Rather than a tutorial, this is a field report packed with practical takeaways you can try on your next session.

I begin by setting a clear vision using references—one in the same key for tonal and energy alignment—and a bounced static mix for instant AB checks. From there, we build a lean, disciplined master bus chain: gentle resonance control, broad‑stroke EQ shelves, an SSL‑style bus compressor, and subtle tape saturation. Those small, wide moves made a big difference early, tightening low‑end focus and smoothing top‑end glare while preserving macro and microdynamics. With the canvas set, we move through subgroups—kick and bass, drums, synths, vocals, FX—pushing fixes upstream and only dropping to track level for surgical EQ where it truly matters.

Not everything got faster. Saving time on tone and dynamics meant time‑based effects arrived later, and finding the right reverb balance took more iteration than usual—proof that arrangement and spatial design can complicate a top‑down flow. Still, automation needs dropped thanks to better macro balance, CPU use fell with fewer chains, and translation improved across volumes. You’ll hear why starting at the mix bus can prevent “getting stuck in the weeds,” how to pick effective reference tracks, and when to abandon restraint for a precise channel tweak.

Suppose you’re curious about master bus processing, top‑down mixing, and faster decision‑making without sacrificing quality. In that case, this session offers a straight‑talk guide to trying it responsibly on your own productions before rolling it out for clients. Listen, steal the framework, then run your own experiment—and tell me what you discover. 

Links mentioned in this episode:

Listen to Narcissist 

THE UNSEEN DANGERS OF TOP-DOWN MIXING

Where Top-Down Goes WRONG

TOP DOWN MIXING - the SECRET SAUCE

Why Top-Down Mixing is the GOAT

Top-Down Mixing: The Secret To Better FASTER Mixes?

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What does a true wall of sound feel like when the vocal still breathes? We sit down with vocalist‑producer Jay Cali (DRUMxWAVE) and mixer‑producer Brian Skeel to unpack the craft behind Severed, big drums, widescreen synths, supportive guitars, and why clarity starts with a shared vision before a single plug‑in loads.

We trace the journey from demo to master, beginning with an hour of alignment on emotion, references, and the “mountaintop” vocal image that sets every downstream choice. Brian breaks down how he builds commanding vocals without harshness: Revoice for doubles and harmonies that behave like real performances, meticulous cleanup, Slate’s processing for character and control, FabFilter DS for precision, and a touch of L1 to pin dynamics so automation can shape arcs. Width becomes a dynamic fader, verses intimate and centred, choruses opening with MicroShift for that lift you feel more than hear. Jay and Brian also reveal the “demon” breakdown: a vocoder moment sculpted with Baby Audio’s Humanoid, tamed by Soothe 2 and widened just enough to shock, then glide.

If you’ve ever struggled to pair synths and guitars, you’ll get a clear playbook. Guitars serve aggression rather than steal focus, panned L/R and low‑passed to make way for hi‑hats and vocal air. Synth choices lean on Serum 2 and ANA 2, with patches picked for fit, not flash. The top end gets the same discipline as the low: cut clutter above 10 kHz so the mix doesn’t fizz, a lesson that came into focus after upgrading monitors and hearing what the old room hid. And for loudness without lifelessness - around −7.8 LUFS - Brian details a reference‑driven, top‑down chain using Metric AB, soft clipping and bus moves to reduce limiter strain, and focused multiband to keep choruses powerful without pumping.

Along the way, you’ll pick up collaboration habits that save weeks: arrive with a concise brief and references, label stems to spec, and send specific revision notes. Ready to test it? Grab one current track with guitars, synths, and vocals. Try widening only the chorus vocal and low‑passing rhythm guitars until the breath returns. Hear the space? That’s what loud and open can sound like. If this resonates, follow, share with a friend who mixes dense productions, and leave a quick review so more producers can find these deep dives.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Follow DRUMxWAVE

Follow Brian Skeel

Listen to Chroma Cloud

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Free plugins often get overlooked in the endless pursuit of premium software, but professional producers know that some of the most powerful tools cost absolutely nothing. In this illuminating conversation, Marc Matthews and Tim Benson (Aisle9) unpack their go-to free plugins that consistently deliver exceptional results across various production scenarios.

The discussion begins with TAL Chorus LX, Tim's top recommendation for achieving that classic Juno-style chorus effect. While many producers shy away from chorus on bass elements, Tim reveals how subtle application can add dimension without compromising mix integrity. Meanwhile, Marc swears by Slate Digital's Fresh Air for bringing clarity to percussion elements, though he cautions listeners about its potentially aggressive presets and the importance of proper gain staging.

Perhaps most valuable are the practical insights into how these tools integrate into real-world workflows. Soft Tube's Saturation Knob emerges as a versatile one-knob solution for adding harmonic richness, while TDR Nova provides dynamic EQ capabilities that rival premium alternatives. For spatial effects, Valhalla Super Massive creates otherworldly reverbs and delays that transform ordinary sounds into immersive soundscapes - particularly effective during breakdowns when automated thoughtfully.

What becomes clear throughout is that these aren't merely "good enough" alternatives to paid options - in many cases, they're the preferred tools of experienced producers who could choose anything. Their simplicity often becomes their strength, allowing for quick, intuitive adjustments without getting lost in parameter overload. Whether you're just starting or looking to expand your production toolkit without the investment, these recommendations offer immediate ways to elevate your sound.

Try implementing one of these free plugins in your next project and share your experience with us! We'd love to hear which free tools you consider essential in your own production arsenal.

Links mentioned in this episode:

We'd love to hear from you! Submit a question

Listen to Night Trains

Listen to Half-Life (Instrumental)

TAL Chorus LX

Slate Digital Fresh Air

Soft Tube Saturation Knob

TDR Nova EQ

Valhalla Super Massive

Goodhertz Midside Matrix

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Have you ever felt stuck in an endless cycle of tweaking, adjusting, and second-guessing your music production decisions? Producer John Kunkel (aka John Grand) reveals the counterintuitive truth that many of us miss: working smarter, not harder, is often the key to finishing more tracks and creating better music.

John shares his game-changing approach to using reference tracks as structural blueprints rather than just mixing guides. By importing a track you love and mapping out its arrangement, you immediately transform that intimidating blank DAW canvas into manageable building blocks. This simple technique has helped John slash his production timeline from weeks to days, and it might just revolutionise your workflow too.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when John explains why your sound selection decisions matter far more than your processing skills. "Your track is only going to sound as good as the choices that you make in sound selection," he explains, likening poor sound choices to painting with incompatible materials. This insight challenges the common tendency to reach for EQ and compression when the real solution might be choosing a different sample entirely.

Perhaps most thought-provoking is John's psychological observation that constantly adding layers often indicates a lack of confidence in your original ideas. Drawing inspiration from artists like Eric Prydz, he advocates for focusing on fewer, higher-quality elements that evolve through automation rather than overwhelming arrangements that exhaust listeners' cognitive capacity.

Whether you're just starting or looking to break through a creative plateau, this episode offers practical strategies to finish more music while keeping the joy in your production process. 

Links mentioned in this episode:

Follow John Grand

Follow The New Division

 How to Make Progressive House from Start to Finish | Splice

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Frustrated by endless email chains, confusing file links, and clients commenting on the wrong version of a mix? In this episode of Inside the Mix, Marc Matthews explores how Mixup.audio is transforming the mix revision process for producers, mixers, and collaborators.

Marc breaks down the platform’s most powerful features, including timestamped comments, version comparison, and normalised level matching, which eliminates loudness bias when reviewing mixes. Listeners will discover how Mixup’s intuitive design—where clients don’t even need to create an account—removes the barriers to clear communication and saves hours of frustration.

The episode also compares Mixup’s free and paid versions, highlighting which features may be sufficient for different workflows. Marc contrasts Mixup with alternatives like FilePass and Highnote, offering his honest assessment of where each excels and how they can fit into a modern music production setup.

For anyone struggling with mix revisions, vague feedback, or confusing client communication, this episode provides practical solutions to simplify collaboration. Whether producing for clients or working on personal projects, listeners will learn how to make the feedback process smoother, faster, and more professional.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Mixup.audio

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Ever wondered how singers record vocals remotely and make them sound professional? In this episode of Inside The Mix, Marc Matthews is joined by New Zealand synthwave vocalist INDIGO to explore the art of remote vocal collaboration and the songwriting process behind her unique sound.

From her unexpected start in the synthwave scene to collaborations with artists like Wolf Club and Turbo Knight, INDIGO shares how she records vocals from home while working with producers across the world. We dive into her vocal recording techniques—including why she double-tracks every vocal and prefers recording in the evenings for her best takes.

You’ll also learn how Indigo adapts her lyrics to fit electronic music, moving between dreamy love songs and darker themes, and how she overcomes songwriter’s block with practical strategies like listening to instrumentals on long drives or stepping away from projects overnight.

For the tech-minded, Indigo reveals her setup, using the Aston Origin microphone, basic vocal processing, and clear communication with producers to make remote collaborations successful. She also opens up about the challenges of online music partnerships and why trust and reliability matter as much as technical skill.

Whether you’re a producer looking to collaborate with vocalists or a singer wanting to deliver better takes from home, this episode is packed with actionable tips for remote recording, lyric writing, and collaboration in the digital age.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Follow INDIGO

Listen to Darklight (feat. INDIGO)

Listen to Engraved Disillusion

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Ways to connect with Marc:

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