mastering.com

Who is your Master?

**Hey everyone, I’d like to share something from the heart.**If you had the opportunity to truly improve your mindset when it comes to mixing—would you take it?Speaking from experience, I used to think my mixes were solid. I’ve always loved blending records, creating mashups, and putting together my own versions of songs. I started out on a 4-track Tascam tape recorder, bouncing tracks just to get more layers. Those were the days! But I’ll admit, some of those mixes came out pretty muddy.Back then, my ultimate test was simple: I’d mix everything down, pop the tape into my car stereo, and listen. That was my reference system—the car told me the truth. Even after moving to a Roland BR-8, the “car test” was still my go-to.Eventually, I stepped into the digital world with Pro Tools and upgraded to proper studio monitors. My mixes got better, but sometimes they still sounded off. It took years to realize that layering too many sounds was eating up important frequencies—sometimes improving the vibe, other times completely changing it for the worse.I don’t remember exactly how I came across **Mastering.com**, but I do remember seeing a remix contest—and since I’m always on the hunt for acapellas, I signed up. All I can say is *wow.*The sessions were absolutely life-changing. Everyone was working in Logic Pro while I was still building remixes on my Akai MPC, recording them live through Serato, and cleaning things up with iZotope RX. That was my process! But through the course, I discovered new ways to refine my sound. The ability to adjust stems and truly understand the art of mixing opened my eyes—and ears—in ways I never expected.To this day, I keep learning through Mastering.com’s newsletters and videos. The growth never stops.If I had to sum it up in one thought:**Who’s your master? Take control of your mixes—don’t let them control you.**DJ TRio

Date of experience: Oct 15, 2025