Music production answers

Clear, accurate answers to the questions producers actually ask — written by people who build mixing and mastering tools. No fluff.

Fixing your mix

Why does my mix sound muddy?

The low-mid buildup that makes mixes cloudy — and how to clear it.

Why do my vocals sit behind the beat?

Why vocals get buried, and how to bring them forward without turning everything up.

Loudness & mastering

Why is my song quieter than commercial releases?

Perceived loudness, limiting and why turning up the gain isn't enough.

How do I get a Spotify-ready master?

Loudness targets, true-peak safety and what "streaming ready" really means.

Translation & problems

Good in headphones, bad in the car?

Why mixes don't translate — and the mono and balance checks that fix it.

Audio glossary

LUFS, true peak, clipping, headroom, stems — plain-English definitions.