My latest video shows how I create a tempo map in Pro Tools to sync with a natural, non-clicked recording. Watch my entire tempo mapping process as I prepare for overdubs on a song by singer-songwriter, Zelda. This is one of my best-kept secrets for recording natural live performances: let the artist record freely, without a click, then build a custom click track that follows their performance for use during…

Greetings from 28,000 feet above the globe! ✈️ After a productive week of record-making at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, North Carolina, I’m chasing a magnificent 3-hour-long sunset, typing this from my window seat, as I hurtle westward toward my home timezone of The Pacific. Read on for a video tour of my Echo Mountain setup, a discussion about parametric EQ plugins, and a sinister new streaming fraud scheme…

January 7, 2024
Your weekend Mix Protégé recap ​by Dana Nielsen
Happy New Year, Reader! The past two weeks have been a blur and I’m excited to be back into the swing of things with a fresh Friday Fader for ya!
It’s like you’re IN THE STUDIO w/ me!
YouTube’s mobile app let’s you “look around” the studio wherever you like… it’s BONKERS!
Take a 360º immersive trip into the studio with me and literally “look around” while singer-songwriter, ZELDA, performs one of her new songs I’m…

Dec 24, 2023
Cheers 🥂 to another inspiring, productive week on Mix Protége! The highlight for me was hearing some stunning in-progress mixes by our uber-multi-talented members. What a thrill! Plus some fantastic forum discussions, free plug-in alerts, and some exciting new releases to put on your holiday radar! Read on for all the deets….

Dec 16, 2023
Your weekend Mix Protégé recap ​by Dana Nielsen
What an amazing, action-packed week on Mix Protége! The highlight for me was hanging out with several of you on Zoom for our first-ever Member Meet-up. What an incredible community of talented, kind, inspiring people! 💜 We also had some fantastic forum discussions, free plug-in alerts, a four-hour full-mix-process livestream, and some fabulous new members joining the fray! Read on, Reader, for all the deets….
Some links…

Dec 10, 2023
Your weekend Mix Protégé recap ​by Dana Nielsen​Some links require login • create your free account today
Shoot outs: How to pick the best mix or master
Learn my process for comparative analysis of mixes and masters
As a producer, songwriter or artist, reviewing options from multiple mixers or mastering engineers can be a thrilling and inspiring experience. But it can also leave you feeling confused, overwhelmed – and sometimes even underwhelmed 😬. Last week, Jeremy Roye and…

Step into your studio slippers and sidechain that Distressor with a steady drip of eggnog… It’s time for the Friday Fader – your Mix Protégé peek at the week!
Heads up: some links require login – just log in once, if needed, and u should be good to go!
I’m pretty sure this is legal …”
Paul Tucci used RipX DAW, Izotope RX, and other tools to “reimagine” several songs by one of his (and my) favorite bands for this excellent mashup in the Member Spotlight forum!
This was an exploration of…

Hi Reader!
I’m comin’ in HOT with another incredible livestream replay for you to enjoy this weekend. In this live mixing session streamed from my Los Angeles studio, I take you through the entire process of mixing ‘Joy Is,’ a captivating movement from Ike Sturm’s upcoming album-length composition, RIVER, set for release in 2024, featuring a dynamic large ensemble.
Over 3 hours of teaching, technique, tone-sculpting, thought process, training, talking, and laughing. Not to mention Ike’s…

Things people say: It’s Friday! Things self-employed people say: It’s Friday?
Oh, the amazing truth in that quote. Happy Friday, peeps, and welcome to your Mix Protégé peek at the week!
Bassist-composer extraordinaire, Ike Sturm, and I hosted an epic live stream…
during which I mixed his gorgeous jazz-orchestral piece “Restore” from start to finish, including prep, comping, mixing, pontificating, and of course plenty of laughing. It was so special having Ike (and friends!) live on…