SONICAL.LY BLOG

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Jeremiah Salep

10.18.24

The Best Beginner-Friendly DAWs for Music Production

Getting into music production can be an exciting journey, especially for beginners. With so many digital audio workstations (DAWs) available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one.

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Nicholas Girgis

10.18.24

Top 10 Mixing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mixing is an art form that requires not only technical skill but also a keen ear and attention to detail. Many producers and engineers fall into common traps...

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Nicholas Girgis

10.11.24

How to Create Epic Risers and Transition Effects for Electronic Music

Creating epic risers and transition effects is essential for electronic music producers to build tension and anticipation before a drop or shift in their tracks. Here’s how you can do it...

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Jeremiah Salep

10.6.24

Automating a Drum Bus in Reaper to Create Dynamic Room Effects

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Nicholas Girgis

10.6.24

EQ in Practice: How to Use Subtractive EQ to Clean Up Muddy Mixes

ixing music is an art, and one of the most essential tools for achieving clarity in a mix is the equalizer (EQ). One technique, in particular, known as subtractive EQ, can work wonders for cleaning...

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Jeremiah Salep

10.6.24

How to Manage Static Noise in High Frequencies When Compressing Vocals

One common frustration in vocal production, especially for home studio and bedroom producers, is encountering static noise in the high frequencies after compressing and brightening vocals...

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Nicholas Girgis

10.6.24

Sampling Like a Pro: How to Flip Samples and Avoid Legal Issues

Sampling has been a cornerstone of modern music production, allowing producers to reimagine and breathe new life into old tracks. Whether you're producing hip-hop, EDM, or any genre, knowing how to...

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Jeremiah Salep

10.6.24

What Makes an EQ or Compressor VST High-Quality: Insights and Examples from Pros

When selecting EQ and compressor plugins, musicians and producers look for more than just a shiny interface or brand recognition. It's all about how these tools perform in real-world scenarios...

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Nicholas Girgis

10.6.24

Sound Design 101: Crafting Killer Drum Sounds Using Synthesizers

Drum sounds form the backbone of many music genres, and while sample packs are popular, designing your own drum sounds from scratch can elevate your production to a whole new level. Crafting custom...

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Jeremiah Salep

10.6.24

Mastering Multiband Compression Sidechaining: A Solution to Clashing Frequencies

In modern music production, one of the most common challenges is the clash of frequencies between instruments. For example, bass guitars and drum kits often compete for space in the lower end of...

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Nicholas Girgis

10.1.24

Studio One Workflow Tips for Faster Music Production

Studio One by PreSonus is an incredibly powerful DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) that offers a variety of tools to streamline your music production workflow. However, like many DAWs, getting the...

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Jeremiah Salep

10.1.24

Solving the Issue of Buried Crash Cymbals in the Mix

Crash cymbals often get buried in the mix, especially when using complex miking techniques like Glyn Johns, which balances close mics with overheads. While re-recording with higher cymbals may be a...

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Nicholas Girgis

10.1.24

GarageBand Hacks: Creating Professional-Sounding Tracks Without Expensive Plugins

GarageBand is often seen as an entry-level DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), but it has powerful tools that, when used effectively, can create professional-quality tracks. Many indie musicians and...

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Jeremiah Salep

10.1.24

Solving the General MIDI Program Change Dilemma in Ableton

When working with MIDI in Ableton, one might notice that although MIDI clips can send program changes, most of Ableton's native plugins don’t seem to respond to these changes effectively. This can...

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Jason Schwartz

9.21.24

Escaping 'Tutorial Hell': Stay Motivated and Actually Progress in Music Production

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Jeremiah Salep

9.20.24

Should You Write Music or Lyrics First? Solutions from Famous Creators

One of the most common challenges for songwriters is deciding whether to write the music or lyrics first. This can feel like a "chicken-or-egg" situation, but there's no one-size-fits-all answer...

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Nicholas Girgis

9.20.24

How to Plan the Perfect Release Day for Your Single or Album

Releasing a new single or album is a huge milestone for any musician. However, without proper planning, your work may not get the attention it deserves. It’s not just about putting the song online...

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Jeremiah Salep

9.20.24

Mastering the Low End: Compression Tips for a Tight Mix

When it comes to music production, getting the low end right can be tricky. Many producers face a common issue: after the initial mix sounds perfect, a few days later, the low end starts to feel...

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Nicholas Girgis

9.19.24

How to Turn a Bedroom into a Professional Home Studio on a Budget

For many aspiring musicians, the dream of creating a professional-quality home studio seems out of reach due to costs and space constraints. However, with the right strategies and tools, it's...

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Jeremiah Salep

9.18.24

Remote Music Collaboration: Tools and Tips for Seamless Production

Collaborating on music remotely has become more common, but as you’ve experienced, it can be a challenge to get it right. Audio latency, control sensitivity, and lack of real-time feedback are...

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Nicholas Girgis

9.18.24

How to Build a Loyal Fanbase Using Social Media in 2024

In today’s digital age, building a loyal fanbase is essential for musicians to thrive. Social media platforms have become powerful tools for connecting directly with fans, sharing music, and...

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Jeremiah Salep

9.18.24

Best Apps and Websites for Creating Instrumentals When You Don’t Play Instruments

As a songwriter, it can be frustrating to have melodies or lyrics in your head but no way to bring them to life without instrumental skills. Thankfully, with modern technology, there are apps and...

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Jeremiah Salep

9.18.24

How to Match Chords to Your Singing – Overcoming the Struggle

Creating music often feels like an intricate puzzle. You might have a melody that you love, but when it comes to pairing it with chords, you feel stuck. If you're in this situation, you're not alone.

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Nicholas Girgis

9.18.24

The Top 10 Free Tools Every Indie Musician Needs to Succeed

As an indie musician, creating professional music while sticking to a budget can be challenging. You might not have the resources to afford high-end software or pay for expensive marketing...

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Jeremiah Salep

9.16.24

Breaking the "Second Verse Curse": Tips to Keep Your Songwriting Flowing

This is a predicament that many songwriters encounter: You're thrilled with the direction your song is headed, the melody feels great, and you've nailed the first verse and chorus. But then you...