The Mixing Music Podcast is your ultimate guide to music production, audio engineering, mixing, and mastering. Hosted by professional mix engineers Dee Kei (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a>), Lu Moreno (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/masteredbylu/" rel="nofollow">@MasteredByLu</a>), and James Parrish (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesdeanmixes" rel="nofollow">@jamesdeanmixes</a>), this podcast covers recording techniques, studio mixing, vocal production, sound design, DAW workflows, plugin reviews, gear recommendations, industry secrets, and the business of music production. Whether you&#39;re a music producer, mix engineer, mastering engineer, independent artist, or content creator, you’ll get expert insights to take your sound to the next level.Our hosts have worked with Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, Rico Nasty, ATEEZ, Kanye West, The Game, and more, collaborating with major record labels like Universal Music Group, Sony Music, Interscope Records, Republic Records, and Capitol Records. Join us for mixing tutorials, mastering strategies, music production tips, home studio setup advice, industry interviews, and pro techniques used in professional recording studios. Whether you&#39;re using Pro Tools, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, or Studio One, this podcast is packed with valuable information to improve your mixing workflow and production quality.<a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">In our exclusive episodes</a>, James Parrish and Dee Kei react to interviews with various audio engineers, music producers, and YouTubers to help you understand the most useful advice for making better music. All exclusive episodes are focused on technical aspects of the post-production process.The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="http://antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">Antares (Auto Tune)</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">Plugin Boutique</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">Lauten Audio</a>, <a href="https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQ63Jj" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, &amp; <a href="https://filepass.com?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">Filepass</a>,Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/masteredbylu/" rel="nofollow">@MasteredByLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesdeanmixes" rel="nofollow">@jamesdeanmixes</a>witter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a><a href="https://links.deekeimixes.com/" rel="nofollow">CHECK OUT OUR OTHER RESOURCES</a>Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ <a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Discord</a>!The Mixing Music Podcast is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s Personal Mixing Studio in Los Angeles, California.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/9/7/21/6d71e65a-0fdf-47ca-8550-89d4ecd5e400_390_discussion_on_value_of_audio_jobs_v2.mp3

This episode almost didn&#39;t get released. Dee and Lu spent 20 to 30 minutes before recording debating whether to even touch this one. They went ahead — and it&#39;s one of the more honest, nuanced conversations the show has had about money, ego, and what engineers actually owe each other.The spark: a Facebook post from a professional musician and audio engineer who attended the same college program as Dee, publicly calling out a local arts center for posting a part-time live sound and lighting tech position at $15 to $18 an hour. The post was passionate, pointed, and signed with his full professional credentials. Dee reads it in full, along with the original job listing — which, among other things, requires Yamaha and Allen &amp; Heath console proficiency, QLab and Dante networking experience, 48-channel show operation, set construction, and lighting design, all from one part-time hire.On its face, it sounds like an easy call. But Dee takes the opposite position — not to be contrarian, but because he thinks the framing of the argument is doing real damage to the underlying point. He walks through the math: 25 hours a week at $18 an hour is a part-time supplemental income while you build your own business on the side. He also breaks down why the moral framing of the original post — treating a low offer as an act of injustice rather than a bad offer you&#39;re free to decline — weakens a legitimate case about engineer compensation. A low offer is not an injustice. Nobody is being forced. And presenting it as one, Dee argues, is exactly the kind of righteous indignation that Aldous Huxley described as the most delicious of moral treats.From there the episode gets into the structural reason audio engineer unions are difficult to sustain: the supply of people who want these jobs vastly outpaces the demand for them, and the barrier to entry is low enough that any coordinated refusal just opens the door to the next wave of hungry beginners. Lu adds his own experience — the times he&#39;s accepted well below his rate because the artist interested him, or because the gig gave him room to experiment — and the two land on a shared position: the number you get paid is not directly equivalent to the value of the job, and fighting for higher wages without understanding that nuance means missing the point entirely.Dee closes with a message to the person directly: the argument is worth making. Clean it up.<a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠</a><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a><a href="https://deekeimixes.com" rel="nofollow">HIRE DEE KEI</a><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/14193-lu---midside-sound" rel="nofollow">HIRE LU</a><a href="https://www.jamesparrishmixes.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠HIRE JAMES⁠</a>Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesparrishmixes/" rel="nofollow">@JamesParrishMixes</a>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://izotope.com/mmpodcast" rel="nofollow">⁠Izotope⁠</a>, <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠</a>, <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/sweetwater" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">⁠Plugin Boutique⁠</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠Lauten Audio⁠</a>, <a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">⁠Filepass⁠</a>, &amp; <a href="https://partner.canva.com/e44vg6" rel="nofollow">⁠Canva⁠</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at <a href="mailto:deekeimixes@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">⁠deekeimixes@gmail.com⁠</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Are Audio Engineers Underpaid? What a Low Job Posting Reveals About Engineer Wages and Self-Worth

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/8/31/20/099a30e0-5566-44cc-8840-bc9b9dd594e1_389_masterclass_review.mp3

This episode is a recap — and an expansion — of the six-hour Mixing Masterclass that Dee Kei hosted live in his LA studio. Lu was in the room. The audience brought mixes. Things got real. Now Dee and Lu bring the best of it to the podcast, including the things they didn&#39;t get to cover in person.The first and most important topic: what is the actual value of a mix engineer, and how should that determine your pricing? Dee lays out a position he holds firmly — you should never discount your rate based on stem count, never negotiate yourself down before the client even asks, and never charge by the hour for mixing. Your rate reflects the lifetime of training behind each decision, not the time it took to make it. Like Picasso sketching on a napkin, the price isn&#39;t for the five minutes — it&#39;s for everything it took to get there. Lu adds the market reality: what your price communicates before the client even hears your mix, and why charging too little signals something you don&#39;t want to signal.From there the episode moves into compression — specifically what happened in the room when Dee deliberately smashed a vocal with an 1176 in &#34;all buttons in&#34; mode and the mix bus with a Vertigo VCA compressor just to prove a point. The reaction in the room said everything: over-compression isn&#39;t always wrong. Rules like &#34;don&#39;t compress more than 2-3dB&#34; are useful frameworks until the moment the song tells you otherwise.They also get into the subjective vs. objective nature of mixing — why saying &#34;there&#39;s no such thing as a good or bad mix&#34; is actually incorrect, and how to think about objectivity in a field where the tools of judgment are mostly invisible. The Shohei Ohtani analogy here is one of the better ones the show has produced.The episode closes with a breakdown of how Spotify&#39;s LUFS normalization actually works — including the gating behavior that means raising your quieter sections can paradoxically lower your integrated LUFS, and why album masters and single masters should be approached as two completely separate deliverables if you want your music to hold up in playlists.A lot covered. All of it useful.<a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠</a><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a><a href="https://deekeimixes.com" rel="nofollow">HIRE DEE KEI</a><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/14193-lu---midside-sound" rel="nofollow">HIRE LU</a><a href="https://www.jamesparrishmixes.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠HIRE JAMES⁠</a>Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesparrishmixes/" rel="nofollow">@JamesParrishMixes</a>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://izotope.com/mmpodcast" rel="nofollow">⁠Izotope⁠</a>, <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠</a>, <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/sweetwater" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">⁠Plugin Boutique⁠</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠Lauten Audio⁠</a>, <a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">⁠Filepass⁠</a>, &amp; <a href="https://partner.canva.com/e44vg6" rel="nofollow">⁠Canva⁠</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at <a href="mailto:deekeimixes@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">⁠deekeimixes@gmail.com⁠</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

What We Taught at the Mixing Masterclass: Pricing, Compression, LUFS, and the Value of a Mix Engineer

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/8/24/20/a92aced8-3c26-4a17-82d6-ccd02c1ad21e_388.mp3

Fair warning: Dee Kei opens this one by saying he doesn&#39;t know if he&#39;s going to release it. Congratulations — you found it.This is a looser, more speculative episode than usual, and that&#39;s exactly the point. Dee brings a theory he&#39;s been sitting with: that the rise of AI tools and plugin saturation is quietly driving a resurgence in the value of analog gear — not because analog is objectively better, but because it represents something that AI fundamentally can&#39;t replicate. Humanness. Randomness. The chaos of a real circuit doing something slightly unpredictable.Lu, who has personally moved over $157,000 in analog gear sales and spent years tracking sold listings on eBay and Reverb, brings the market perspective. They get into which pieces actually hold their value (vintage preamps and compressors from the right era), which ones don&#39;t (anything mass-produced and recently released), and the old idea that buying the right gear is just another savings account you can twist the knobs on while you wait.From there the conversation opens up into some bigger territory. They talk about the current bubble of vintage mixer restoration and servicing companies popping up, what vibe coding is doing to the plugin marketplace, and how AI tools are being deployed very differently in live sound versus the studio — including a breakdown of the L-Acoustics source intelligence system and how it can achieve up to 40dB of feedback reduction in real time on a vocal channel. The episode wraps with Dee going full speculative: the Gartner hype cycle and where AI actually lands when the bubble pops, what nuclear fusion does to the cost of running AI at scale, and the two technology shifts he thinks will fundamentally change everything about how we make and experience music.It&#39;s the kind of episode that happens when two engineers with too much on their mind decide to just talk. The industry context makes it more interesting than it sounds. <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠</a><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a><a href="https://deekeimixes.com" rel="nofollow">HIRE DEE KEI</a><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/14193-lu---midside-sound" rel="nofollow">HIRE LU</a><a href="https://www.jamesparrishmixes.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠HIRE JAMES⁠</a>Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesparrishmixes/" rel="nofollow">@JamesParrishMixes</a>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://izotope.com/mmpodcast" rel="nofollow">⁠Izotope⁠</a>, <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠</a>, <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/sweetwater" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">⁠Plugin Boutique⁠</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠Lauten Audio⁠</a>, <a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">⁠Filepass⁠</a>, &amp; <a href="https://partner.canva.com/e44vg6" rel="nofollow">⁠Canva⁠</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at <a href="mailto:deekeimixes@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">⁠deekeimixes@gmail.com⁠</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Is Analog Gear Making a Comeback? Plugin Fatigue, Hardware Resurgence, and the Future of the Studio

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/8/17/21/c9bb8238-8c30-436c-b527-218dd489b675_387_fear_and_priming_effect.mp3

Lu brought the topic this week — and it&#39;s one of the most universally felt things in audio that nobody talks about directly: the feeling of not belonging in the room. Not because you don&#39;t have the skill. Not because you don&#39;t have the credits. Just because the feeling is there, and most people let it make the decision for them.The episode opens with Lu sharing what he keeps hearing in consultation calls — talented engineers at every level passing on sessions they would have handled just fine, because they didn&#39;t feel ready. Dee and Lu are direct about it: the gap between someone who is working and someone who isn&#39;t is almost never the quality of their mixing. It&#39;s almost always confidence and forward motion. They unpack what imposter syndrome actually looks like at different stages of a career — not just at the beginning, but also at the mid-level, when asking for help or shadowing someone starts to feel embarrassing in a way that holds people back just as much.From there, Dee reads from Daniel Kahneman&#39;s Thinking Fast and Slow — specifically the chapter on cognitive priming — and the episode gets genuinely fascinating. He walks through the Florida Effect study, where participants subconsciously primed with age-related words actually walked slower down a hallway without knowing it. Then the pencil experiment, where people forced into a smile by how they held a pencil in their teeth rated cartoons as funnier than those forced into a frown — without being aware their facial expression had changed at all. The implication is direct: acting calm and confident doesn&#39;t just make you look calm and confident to others. It statistically makes you feel calmer and more confident yourself.The conversation also takes an unexpected turn into money priming — how the mere presence of money-related imagery in your environment makes people measurably more independent, more self-reliant, and also more selfish and socially distant — and what that means for the environments engineers build and the mindsets they carry into sessions.It ends where it started: the feeling of not belonging is not evidence of not belonging. Send the email. Ask to sit in. Shadow the session. The only thing making the street look longer than it is, is you.<a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠</a><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a><a href="https://deekeimixes.com" rel="nofollow">HIRE DEE KEI</a><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/14193-lu---midside-sound" rel="nofollow">HIRE LU</a><a href="https://www.jamesparrishmixes.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠HIRE JAMES⁠</a>Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesparrishmixes/" rel="nofollow">@JamesParrishMixes</a>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://izotope.com/mmpodcast" rel="nofollow">⁠Izotope⁠</a>, <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠</a>, <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/sweetwater" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">⁠Plugin Boutique⁠</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠Lauten Audio⁠</a>, <a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">⁠Filepass⁠</a>, &amp; <a href="https://partner.canva.com/e44vg6" rel="nofollow">⁠Canva⁠</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at <a href="mailto:deekeimixes@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">⁠deekeimixes@gmail.com⁠</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Why Talented Engineers Say No to Opportunities — Imposter Syndrome, Thinking Fast and Slow, and Career Confidence

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/8/10/19/bff71ad5-2ce7-4276-a8c6-be59c284bf6f_386__gear_and_devotion.mp3

This episode starts with a confession: Dee Kei wants a new compressor. Specifically, he&#39;s been eyeing the Heritage Audio Grandchild 670N — a $3,000 stereo Fairchild-style compressor in a 5U rack unit that launched in late 2025. From there, the episode opens up into something much more interesting than a gear review.Dee and Lu walk through exactly what makes the original Fairchild 670 so mythologized — the tube count, the time constants, the maintenance costs that make owning one feel like buying a second car you&#39;re afraid to drive — and why Heritage Audio&#39;s approach of distilling the circuit down to four tubes in an affordable, modern form factor is either brilliant or sacrilegious, depending on who you ask. They break down what the Grandchild 670N actually has on the front panel — DC threshold, AC threshold, sidechain filters, mid-side and stereo linking, true bypass — and why $3,000 for two channels of Fairchild-esque compression is a genuinely different proposition than it was even three years ago.But the most interesting part of the episode isn&#39;t the gear. It&#39;s what happens when Dee reads from two actual peer-reviewed studies on whether listeners can hear the difference between analog and digital processing at all. The first study tested analog modeling plugins against free non-modeling alternatives across 540 participants — and found that not only did listeners show no preference for the analog mix, the majority who thought they could identify it were wrong. The second covered DAX differences using a loopback method with over 1,300 respondents. The conclusion: people largely can&#39;t tell the difference, and the majority who claimed they could were misidentifying what they heard.So why does any of this matter — and why does Dee still want the compressor? The episode lands on something more philosophical than a gear recommendation: the difference between buying hardware because you believe it&#39;s objectively better, and buying it as an act of devotion to the craft. Dee draws a sharp distinction between using gear purchases to fill a hole in your love for music versus buying from a place of already loving it deeply — and how Tony Mazzarati still sharpening techniques at his level is proof that the rabbit hole never ends for people who genuinely want to go deeper.Gear talk, research, psychology, and the irrational passion that keeps working engineers working. A lot going on in this one.<a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠</a><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a><a href="https://deekeimixes.com" rel="nofollow">HIRE DEE KEI</a><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/14193-lu---midside-sound" rel="nofollow">HIRE LU</a><a href="https://www.jamesparrishmixes.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠HIRE JAMES⁠</a>Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesparrishmixes/" rel="nofollow">@JamesParrishMixes</a>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://izotope.com/mmpodcast" rel="nofollow">⁠Izotope⁠</a>, <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠</a>, <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/sweetwater" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">⁠Plugin Boutique⁠</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠Lauten Audio⁠</a>, <a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">⁠Filepass⁠</a>, &amp; <a href="https://partner.canva.com/e44vg6" rel="nofollow">⁠Canva⁠</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at <a href="mailto:deekeimixes@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">⁠deekeimixes@gmail.com⁠</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Analog Plugins vs. Hardware: What Blind Tests Actually Show — And Why Engineers Still Buy Gear Anyway

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/8/3/22/d61f651f-0df7-4d68-a4a1-155e33a76510_385_ai_and_assistance_tools.mp3

Lu&#39;s on vacation. Dee Kei is alone with a page of talking points and one of the most contested topics in audio engineering right now — and the result is one of the most thoughtful solo episodes the show has produced.This is not an episode about which AI tools Dee uses or recommends. It&#39;s about something harder to talk about: how engineers think about delegation, what happens when a probabilistic recommendation gets presented with the confidence of certainty, and why the pro-AI vs. anti-AI binary is the least useful frame anyone could bring to this conversation.Dee opens with a distinction that reframes the entire debate: there&#39;s a difference between assistance tools, delegation tools, and full replacement — and most of the discourse collapses all three into one. He argues that engineers have been using automated decision-making for decades (dynamic EQ, auto release, delay compensation, drum replacement, LUFS metering), so the real question was never whether machines should make decisions. The real question is how much of the contextual, consequential decision-making we&#39;re comfortable handing over — and whether we understand what&#39;s being lost in that handoff.From there he gets into the value engineers actually bring that no AI is accounting for: accountability, history with an artist, taste, creative confidence, the ability to hear the same note as a client and understand what they actually mean. He&#39;s direct about the economic effects coming — fewer junior engineer jobs, faster turnaround expectations, clients arriving with better rough mixes — but equally direct about what those changes don&#39;t mean: that the ceiling of professional audio work is getting any lower.The episode closes on a question Dee leaves deliberately open: if an AI assistant could eventually make every technical decision as well as a human engineer, what do we actually believe the mixer is there to do?<a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠</a><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a><a href="https://deekeimixes.com" rel="nofollow">HIRE DEE KEI</a><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/14193-lu---midside-sound" rel="nofollow">HIRE LU</a><a href="https://www.jamesparrishmixes.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠HIRE JAMES⁠</a>Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesparrishmixes/" rel="nofollow">@JamesParrishMixes</a>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://izotope.com/mmpodcast" rel="nofollow">⁠Izotope⁠</a>, <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠</a>, <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/sweetwater" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">⁠Plugin Boutique⁠</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠Lauten Audio⁠</a>, <a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">⁠Filepass⁠</a>, &amp; <a href="https://partner.canva.com/e44vg6" rel="nofollow">⁠Canva⁠</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at <a href="mailto:deekeimixes@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">⁠deekeimixes@gmail.com⁠</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Ozone Assistant, Auto-Tune, Dynamic EQ — Have We Always Been Using AI? A Solo Deep Dive

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/7/27/18/2483595d-9226-4821-95c8-3163adda052d_384_big_5.mp3

Before you do anything else, pause this episode and go take the Big Five personality test at https://bigfive-test.com/ — it&#39;s free, open source, and it&#39;s the entire point. Dee Kei and Lu share their results live on the show, and if you don&#39;t know your own numbers, this episode won&#39;t hit the same.The Big Five — also called the OCEAN model — is the only personality framework that psychologists actually take seriously. Unlike Myers-Briggs and 16 Personalities, which studies have found are closer to horoscopes in predictive power, the Big Five is clinically validated, cross-cultural, and remarkably consistent over time. Dee breaks down exactly why — the difference in test-retest reliability, the Barnum Effect, and what it actually means to score on a continuous spectrum instead of being dropped into a binary personality type.From there, the episode gets into the part that&#39;s most relevant to anyone building a career in audio: what each trait actually predicts in a professional creative context. High neuroticism and how it maps to taking client feedback personally, spiraling on revisions, and undercharging to avoid confrontation. High conscientiousness and how it shows up differently in recording versus mixing workflows. The relationship between openness and musical taste — and why, despite what you might assume, personality and music preference are barely correlated at all.Then Dee and Lu read their actual results out loud — and it gets surprisingly candid. Lu&#39;s strengths and blind spots, including the gap between his external warmth and his internal sensitivity to criticism. Dee&#39;s near-perfect openness scores, his low cautiousness, and why his directness can sometimes outrun his warmth in ways people misread. The moment where the AI-generated analysis of Dee&#39;s personality is so accurate that he and Lu both go silent.It&#39;s equal parts psychology, self-awareness, and career development — wrapped in one of the more honest conversations the show has had. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

What Your Personality Type Says About You as a Mix Engineer — The Big Five OCEAN Deep Dive

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/7/20/21/4d805ce5-73aa-48b8-8017-6094b67d0c15_383_starting_over.mp3

What would Dee Kei and Lu actually do if they had to start their music careers completely over today — same age, same responsibilities, but zero industry knowledge, zero connections, and zero credits? That&#39;s the question at the center of this episode, and the answers get surprisingly deep.The conversation starts practical: Lu makes the case for going straight to the top and finding the most credible working professional you can — shadowing, interning, and learning how the industry actually moves before spending a dime on gear. Dee adds his own counterpoint, arguing that hands-on reps with real people, even local ones, build something an internship can&#39;t always give you early on. The two go back and forth on the internship vs. DIY debate in a way that&#39;s genuinely useful for anyone trying to figure out where to start.But the episode goes further than tactics. Dee pulls from Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman to break down how self-control, delayed gratification, and the ability to focus attention are more predictive of long-term success than raw intelligence — and what that means for how you show up in the early days of your career. They also get into the fatherhood premium, what motivation looks like when the stakes are real, and why community college might be one of the most underrated networking moves for someone starting over in their 30s.The episode closes on something more philosophical: the difference between genuinely wanting a career in music and just thinking you should have one — and why knowing that distinction early could save you years of wasted energy or redirect you toward something even more sustainable.Whether you&#39;re 19 with a laptop and a dream or 35 reconsidering your path, this episode will challenge how you think about starting.<a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠</a><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a><a href="https://deekeimixes.com" rel="nofollow">HIRE DEE KEI</a><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/14193-lu---midside-sound" rel="nofollow">HIRE LU</a><a href="https://www.jamesparrishmixes.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠HIRE JAMES⁠</a>Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesparrishmixes/" rel="nofollow">@JamesParrishMixes</a>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://izotope.com/mmpodcast" rel="nofollow">⁠Izotope⁠</a>, <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠</a>, <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/sweetwater" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">⁠Plugin Boutique⁠</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠Lauten Audio⁠</a>, <a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">⁠Filepass⁠</a>, &amp; <a href="https://partner.canva.com/e44vg6" rel="nofollow">⁠Canva⁠</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at <a href="mailto:deekeimixes@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">⁠deekeimixes@gmail.com⁠</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

How to Start a Music Career From Scratch: What Dee Kei & Lu Would Do Differently

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/7/13/18/c65fbb41-75cf-49aa-956a-d3fd6c2ffa8b_382_all_about_limiters.mp3

<a href="https://naturl.audio?utm_campaign=dee-kei&utm_id=partnership&utm_medium=link&utm_source=podcast" rel="nofollow">LINK TO 20% OFF!</a> CODE: MMPODLink and code expires 7/21/2026In this episode, Dee Kei and Lu sit down with Andrew Rynhard — mastering engineer, developer, and founder of Naturl Audio — for one of the most technical and candid limiter conversations the show has ever had. Naturl Audio&#39;s philosophy is &#34;evolution, not emulation,&#34; and that mindset runs through every corner of this episode.They start at the foundation: what&#39;s the actual difference between a brick wall limiter and a high-ratio compressor, and does the distinction even matter in practice? Andrew breaks down how the AL-1 takes a fundamentally different approach — abandoning traditional lookahead design in favor of an original zero-latency circuit, and deliberately avoiding the clipping or wave-shaping stage that most limiters rely on to force a hard ceiling. The result, he explains, is a limiter that stays musical and open under pressure rather than mechanical. Dee walks through how he actually uses the AL-1 in his mix sessions — not just as a loudness tool at the end of the chain, but as a creative shaping device — and Andrew digs into the Optimizer section, which uses upward compression and intelligent makeup gain to add loudness without coloration.The episode also takes some unexpected turns. Andrew opens up about the intense online backlash surrounding the AL-1&#39;s launch — including people threatening him over a plugin — and what that toxicity says about tribalism in the audio world. Dee shares a story about being the only engineer in a room full of pros willing to admit he couldn&#39;t hear a difference, and why that kind of honest integrity might be the most underrated quality in the business. Andrew echoes it with a lesson he learned from Jiu Jitsu: ego is the single biggest blocker to actually developing your ears, and the engineers who keep growing are the ones who can say &#34;I don&#39;t know&#34; out loud.It wraps with a real conversation about clipping philosophy — when to reach for a clipper vs. lean on the limiter, and what Grammy-winning masters actually look like in terms of true peak and LUFS. The answer might surprise you.<a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠</a><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a><a href="https://deekeimixes.com" rel="nofollow">HIRE DEE KEI</a><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/14193-lu---midside-sound" rel="nofollow">HIRE LU</a><a href="https://www.jamesparrishmixes.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠HIRE JAMES⁠</a>Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesparrishmixes/" rel="nofollow">@JamesParrishMixes</a>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://izotope.com/mmpodcast" rel="nofollow">⁠Izotope⁠</a>, <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠</a>, <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/sweetwater" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">⁠Plugin Boutique⁠</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠Lauten Audio⁠</a>, <a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">⁠Filepass⁠</a>, &amp; <a href="https://partner.canva.com/e44vg6" rel="nofollow">⁠Canva⁠</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at <a href="mailto:deekeimixes@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">⁠deekeimixes@gmail.com⁠</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

How Limiters Actually Work: Brick Wall, True Peak, Clipping, and the Naturl Audio AL-1 with Andrew Rynhard

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/7/6/22/c4383f59-46b4-4f90-9608-c7c158b0e306_381_substack_article.mp3

<a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/deekei/p/the-preamp-debate-was-never-really?r=gf995&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post+viewer" rel="nofollow">SUBSTACK LINK</a>In this solo episode, Dee Kei reads and expands on his Substack essay — a thoughtful response to the now-viral Jim Lil preamp video that sent the audio engineering world into a frenzy. If you haven&#39;t seen it, Jim Lil tested a Neve 31105 against a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and found the audible difference between the two to be far smaller than most engineers would ever admit. The reactions were loud, emotional, and — according to Dee Kei — largely missing the point.This episode isn&#39;t really about whether preamps matter. It&#39;s about why the conversation got so heated, what that reaction reveals about how engineers attach their professional identity to their gear, and what it looks like to hold your preferences with confidence without letting them harden into ego. Dee draws on philosophy — Nietzsche&#39;s concept of self-overcoming and Nishitani&#39;s idea of emptiness — not to be abstract, but to give language to something engineers feel but rarely articulate: the difference between having taste and needing your taste to be doctrine.He also calls out the logical fallacies that flooded the reaction videos, breaks down what Jim Lil&#39;s test actually proved versus what people claimed it proved, and ends with a distinction that every working engineer should sit with — the difference between a confident engineer and an egoic one.This is one of the more unique episodes in the show&#39;s catalog. Equal parts audio philosophy, industry critique, and professional development — and it&#39;s the kind of conversation the mixing world needs more of.<a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠</a><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a><a href="https://deekeimixes.com" rel="nofollow">HIRE DEE KEI</a><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/14193-lu---midside-sound" rel="nofollow">HIRE LU</a><a href="https://www.jamesparrishmixes.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠HIRE JAMES⁠</a>Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesparrishmixes/" rel="nofollow">@JamesParrishMixes</a>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://izotope.com/mmpodcast" rel="nofollow">⁠Izotope⁠</a>, <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠</a>, <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/sweetwater" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">⁠Plugin Boutique⁠</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠Lauten Audio⁠</a>, <a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">⁠Filepass⁠</a>, &amp; <a href="https://partner.canva.com/e44vg6" rel="nofollow">⁠Canva⁠</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at <a href="mailto:deekeimixes@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">⁠deekeimixes@gmail.com⁠</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Do Expensive Preamps Actually Matter? The Jim Lil Video, Neve vs. Scarlett, and What No One Got Right

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/29/21/8b17c9f2-3fa4-44ac-8b3c-e3246b838126_380_computers_in_2026.mp3

A listener-requested episode is back by popular demand! Dee Kei and Lu tackle one of the most common questions in the show&#39;s history — what computer should you actually buy for mixing, producing, recording, and video editing in 2026?They make the case for why Mac has become the default choice for anyone working in a collaborative environment, breaking down file compatibility issues, AirDrop convenience, and why the cost gap with PCs no longer justifies the headache. From there, they go deep on the Mac mini&#39;s rise as one of the best value computers ever made, why it became so hard to find, and how the M4 and M5 chip generations have made fan noise, overheating, and lag basically non-issues for audio work.The conversation also covers RAM and storage decisions that actually matter (versus the ones that don&#39;t), why external Thunderbolt drives are now just as fast and far more affordable than maxing out internal storage, and surprising GPU improvements that are changing video editing speeds for producers who dabble in content creation. They wrap with an unexpected but relevant detour into Apple&#39;s privacy stance and what that means for engineers handling sensitive, high-value sessions.If you&#39;ve been putting off a computer upgrade or just don&#39;t know what specs actually matter anymore, this episode cuts through the noise.<a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠</a><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a><a href="https://deekeimixes.com" rel="nofollow">HIRE DEE KEI</a><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/14193-lu---midside-sound" rel="nofollow">HIRE LU</a><a href="https://www.jamesparrishmixes.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠HIRE JAMES⁠</a>Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesparrishmixes/" rel="nofollow">@JamesParrishMixes</a>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://izotope.com/mmpodcast" rel="nofollow">⁠Izotope⁠</a>, <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠</a>, <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/sweetwater" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">⁠Plugin Boutique⁠</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠Lauten Audio⁠</a>, <a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">⁠Filepass⁠</a>, &amp; <a href="https://partner.canva.com/e44vg6" rel="nofollow">⁠Canva⁠</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at <a href="mailto:deekeimixes@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">⁠deekeimixes@gmail.com⁠</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

The Best Computer Setup for Music Production in 2026 (Mac vs. PC, RAM, Storage Explained)

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/15/19/2286c4b6-b41a-4eaa-b9e9-25f871a73f08_379.mp3

In this solo episode, Dee Kei walks through exactly what a mixing session looks like from the moment he sits down to the moment the file goes out — no guests, no theory, just the real process he uses on every project.He covers why the very first listen always happens before a single plugin is touched, how he organizes and gain stages a session before anything else, and the order in which he builds a mix and why. He also gets into his philosophy on plugin chains, how he actually uses reference tracks without chasing them, and how he knows when his ears have stopped telling him the truth. The episode wraps with his delivery routine — what the final check looks like, how he communicates with clients on send, and why the follow-up step most engineers skip is more important than they think.If you&#39;ve ever wanted to look over Dee Kei&#39;s shoulder during a real session, this is the closest thing to it.<a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠</a><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a><a href="https://deekeimixes.com" rel="nofollow">HIRE DEE KEI</a><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/14193-lu---midside-sound" rel="nofollow">HIRE LU</a><a href="https://www.jamesparrishmixes.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠HIRE JAMES⁠</a>Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesparrishmixes/" rel="nofollow">@JamesParrishMixes</a>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://izotope.com/mmpodcast" rel="nofollow">⁠Izotope⁠</a>, <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠</a>, <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/sweetwater" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">⁠Plugin Boutique⁠</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠Lauten Audio⁠</a>, <a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">⁠Filepass⁠</a>, &amp; <a href="https://partner.canva.com/e44vg6" rel="nofollow">⁠Canva⁠</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at <a href="mailto:deekeimixes@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">⁠deekeimixes@gmail.com⁠</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

My Mixing Session Routine: Start to Finish

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/15/19/0d39f4b9-3c0e-4c84-9a18-a86e5883d275_378.mp3

In this solo episode, Dee Kei gets honest about something nobody in the audio world really wants to say out loud — talent is the most common thing in this industry, and it&#39;s rarely what separates the engineers who are thriving from the ones who are struggling. After years of working alongside incredibly gifted mixers who can&#39;t keep the lights on, and watching others with average ears build sustainable careers, the pattern is clear: the gap isn&#39;t in the DAW.Dee breaks down the real reasons talented engineers stay stuck — from waiting until they feel &#34;ready,&#34; to undercharging out of insecurity, to treating their craft like a hobby instead of a business. He talks about the trap of being busy without being strategic, what it actually takes to build a referral pipeline, and why isolation might be the most career-limiting thing a mixer can do.This one is a mindset episode, but it&#39;s also practical. Every point has a fix — and none of them require you to get better at mixing.<a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠</a><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a><a href="https://deekeimixes.com" rel="nofollow">HIRE DEE KEI</a><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/14193-lu---midside-sound" rel="nofollow">HIRE LU</a><a href="https://www.jamesparrishmixes.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠HIRE JAMES⁠</a>Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesparrishmixes/" rel="nofollow">@JamesParrishMixes</a>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://izotope.com/mmpodcast" rel="nofollow">⁠Izotope⁠</a>, <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠</a>, <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/sweetwater" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">⁠Plugin Boutique⁠</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠Lauten Audio⁠</a>, <a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">⁠Filepass⁠</a>, &amp; <a href="https://partner.canva.com/e44vg6" rel="nofollow">⁠Canva⁠</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at <a href="mailto:deekeimixes@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">⁠deekeimixes@gmail.com⁠</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Why So Many Talented Engineers Stay Broke

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/8/21/c2236a4e-3f3c-4af5-a58e-d3bd2a76b61c_377_mixing_vocals.mp3

In this episode, Dee Kei breaks down how he actually thinks about mixing vocals — and it&#39;s probably not what you&#39;d expect. Before touching a plugin, an EQ, or a compressor, the most important step is understanding the intention behind the song. Is it a club banger or an intimate bedroom record? A polished pop vocal or something raw that&#39;s supposed to feel that way? Dee explains why blindly applying mixing techniques without reading context is the number one mistake engineers at every level make.From there, he dives into the fundamentals: how low-mids shape intimacy versus energy, why most beginners over-de-ess their vocals, when heavy compression works in your favor and when it fights the song, and how vocal placement in the mix is determined by the density and genre of the track. He also gets real about something not enough people talk about — the rise of intentionally &#34;rough&#34; sounding mixes that are racking up streams, and what that means for how you serve your clients.Whether you&#39;re a bedroom producer mixing your first song or a working engineer looking to sharpen your instincts, this episode will shift how you approach every vocal session.<a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠</a><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a><a href="https://deekeimixes.com" rel="nofollow">HIRE DEE KEI</a><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/14193-lu---midside-sound" rel="nofollow">HIRE LU</a><a href="https://www.jamesparrishmixes.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠HIRE JAMES⁠</a>Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesparrishmixes/" rel="nofollow">@JamesParrishMixes</a>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://izotope.com/mmpodcast" rel="nofollow">⁠Izotope⁠</a>, <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠</a>, <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/sweetwater" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">⁠Plugin Boutique⁠</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠Lauten Audio⁠</a>, <a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">⁠Filepass⁠</a>, &amp; <a href="https://partner.canva.com/e44vg6" rel="nofollow">⁠Canva⁠</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at <a href="mailto:deekeimixes@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">⁠deekeimixes@gmail.com⁠</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

How to Mix Vocals: The Mindset Pros Use Before Touching a Single Plugin

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/2/0/04db372a-a74d-4c7a-ae09-09c45c1bfe7c_376_personal_rant.mp3

In Episode 376 of the Mixing Music Podcast, Dee Kei shares a solo episode covering a wide range of topics that have been on his mind recently, from sleep and creativity to parenting, education, faith, and the psychology of pursuing music.He reflects on how sleep affects patience, decision-making, relationships, and creative work, why teaching is a completely different skill than doing, and how balancing rules with freedom applies to both parenting and artistic growth. The conversation then expands into bigger questions about faith, cynicism, self-limiting beliefs, and the importance of maintaining hope in an industry that often feels uncertain.This is a thoughtful and highly personal episode about creativity, perspective, and learning how to move forward without becoming trapped by fear, certainty, or negativity.  Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Escaping Negativity in Music, Art, and Life

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/26/1/370f4548-2aa4-4a5a-9f9a-6e307a133abc_375_client_acquisition.mp3

In Episode 375 of the Mixing Music Podcast, Dee Kei and James break down a tier list for client acquisition in the music industry, inspired by a video from Panorama Mixing and Mastering. They discuss what actually works for getting mixing and production clients, what sounds good in theory but rarely converts, and why repeat clients and word of mouth still dominate almost everything else.The conversation covers networking events, Instagram outreach, YouTube, educational content, spec mixes, referrals, local music scenes, label relationships, free work, websites, paid ads, and cold DMs. Along the way, Dee Kei and James share personal stories from their own careers, including what helped them grow, what failed completely, and how different strategies change depending on your city, pricing, and stage of career.The bigger takeaway is that most successful audio careers are built less on “hacks” and more on trust, consistency, relationships, and staying active long enough for momentum to compound. This is a practical episode for mixers, producers, and engineers trying to figure out where to actually spend their time and energy. <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠</a><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a><a href="https://deekeimixes.com" rel="nofollow">HIRE DEE KEI</a><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/14193-lu---midside-sound" rel="nofollow">HIRE LU</a><a href="https://www.jamesparrishmixes.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠HIRE JAMES⁠</a>Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesparrishmixes/" rel="nofollow">@JamesParrishMixes</a>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://izotope.com/mmpodcast" rel="nofollow">⁠Izotope⁠</a>, <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠</a>, <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/sweetwater" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">⁠Plugin Boutique⁠</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠Lauten Audio⁠</a>, <a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">⁠Filepass⁠</a>, &amp; <a href="https://partner.canva.com/e44vg6" rel="nofollow">⁠Canva⁠</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at <a href="mailto:deekeimixes@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">⁠deekeimixes@gmail.com⁠</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

The BEST Ways to Get Mixing Clients in 2026

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/19/0/ca267ce4-88fb-44c1-a82d-a1b77b3ee37d_374_moving_announcement.mp3

Hey Y&#39;all. It&#39;s Dee Kei.Sorry for the lazy announcment episode with no real content. I&#39;m moving and stressed out. I just want to knock this out and it&#39;s eating all my time. I&#39;ll be back with regular content next week. Thank you for your patience! Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Moving Announcement!

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/11/17/45cc003c-1f63-45cb-9bec-ccae467de7e3_373_austin_seltzer.mp3

In Episode 373 of the Mixing Music Podcast, Dee Kei sits down with multi-platinum mixer Austin Seltzer to talk about the real-world habits that separate professional mixers from amateurs.They dive into major label workflows, quality control, revision culture, stem prep, client communication, pricing, managers, points, mixing for indie artists vs major artists, and why sending a mix too early can hurt your career. Austin also shares practical advice on systems, professionalism, politics in the music industry, and how treating every mix like a major release can completely change your trajectory.This episode is packed with honest insight for engineers, producers, and mixers trying to level up both creatively and professionally.<a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠</a><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a><a href="https://deekeimixes.com" rel="nofollow">HIRE DEE KEI</a><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/14193-lu---midside-sound" rel="nofollow">HIRE LU</a><a href="https://www.jamesparrishmixes.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠HIRE JAMES⁠</a>Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesparrishmixes/" rel="nofollow">@JamesParrishMixes</a>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://izotope.com/mmpodcast" rel="nofollow">⁠Izotope⁠</a>, <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠</a>, <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/sweetwater" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">⁠Plugin Boutique⁠</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠Lauten Audio⁠</a>, <a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">⁠Filepass⁠</a>, &amp; <a href="https://partner.canva.com/e44vg6" rel="nofollow">⁠Canva⁠</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at <a href="mailto:deekeimixes@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">⁠deekeimixes@gmail.com⁠</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

The Real Difference Between Amateur and Pro Mix Engineers ft. Austin Seltzer

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/4/21/e16063bb-cf66-4133-abc1-1cb8729ccc7e_372_building_confidence.mp3

In Episode 372 of the Mixing Music Podcast, Dee Kei and Lu talk about how mix engineers build real confidence. They break down the difference between results-based confidence, where your confidence depends on client approval, clean revisions, or a perfect session, and a deeper confidence built through preparation, experience, systems, and consistency.The conversation covers revision notes, rejected mixes, stressful sessions, client communication, professional workflows, branding, practice, and why confidence cannot come only from good outcomes. Dee Kei and Lu also discuss faith, fear, imposter syndrome, clear conscience, and how staying calm under pressure helps clients trust you more.This episode is for engineers, producers, and creatives who want to build lasting confidence without relying on validation, luck, or every mix going perfectly. <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠</a><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a><a href="https://deekeimixes.com" rel="nofollow">HIRE DEE KEI</a><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/14193-lu---midside-sound" rel="nofollow">HIRE LU</a><a href="https://www.jamesparrishmixes.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠HIRE JAMES⁠</a>Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesparrishmixes/" rel="nofollow">@JamesParrishMixes</a>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://izotope.com/mmpodcast" rel="nofollow">⁠Izotope⁠</a>, <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠</a>, <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/sweetwater" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">⁠Plugin Boutique⁠</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠Lauten Audio⁠</a>, <a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">⁠Filepass⁠</a>, &amp; <a href="https://partner.canva.com/e44vg6" rel="nofollow">⁠Canva⁠</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at <a href="mailto:deekeimixes@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">⁠deekeimixes@gmail.com⁠</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

How to Build Confidence as a Mix Engineer

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/28/18/9b420f07-ee61-4812-8fad-9e967e08dd4e_371_life_update.mp3

In Episode 371 of the Mixing Music Podcast, Dee Kei and Lu have a more relaxed, reflective conversation about life, creativity, and staying inspired in audio. Dee Kei talks about moving through different phases as an engineer, from early excitement, to getting lost in technical details, to eventually trying to reconnect the emotional side of music with a deeper technical curiosity.They discuss gear research, learning from other engineers, Atmos and surround mixing, studio upgrades, creative plateaus, and the desire to fall back in love with mixing after feeling stuck. The conversation also opens up into fatherhood, having a third child, balancing family with a creative career, contentment versus complacency, and why responsibility can sometimes create more purpose instead of limiting ambition.This episode is part audio reflection, part life update, and part creative reset for anyone trying to stay curious, authentic, and motivated in a long-term music career.<a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠</a><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8" rel="nofollow">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a><a href="https://deekeimixes.com" rel="nofollow">HIRE DEE KEI</a><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/14193-lu---midside-sound" rel="nofollow">HIRE LU</a><a href="https://www.jamesparrishmixes.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠HIRE JAMES⁠</a>Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesparrishmixes/" rel="nofollow">@JamesParrishMixes</a>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes" rel="nofollow">@DeeKeiMixes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masteredbylu" rel="nofollow">@MasteredbyLu</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://izotope.com/mmpodcast" rel="nofollow">⁠Izotope⁠</a>, <a href="https://app.redcircle.com/shows/antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO" rel="nofollow">⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠</a>, <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/sweetwater" rel="nofollow">Sweetwater</a>, <a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4" rel="nofollow">⁠Plugin Boutique⁠</a>, <a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/" rel="nofollow">⁠Lauten Audio⁠</a>, <a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41" rel="nofollow">⁠Filepass⁠</a>, &amp; <a href="https://partner.canva.com/e44vg6" rel="nofollow">⁠Canva⁠</a>The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei&#39;s private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at <a href="mailto:deekeimixes@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">⁠deekeimixes@gmail.com⁠</a>. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Rediscovering the Fun of Mixing: Gear, Growth, and Getting Curious Again

Subscribers will have access to exclusive episodes all about engineering/production techniques to help you improve your music! Available every Wed and Thur morning at 6am EST! These episodes are hosted by Braeden Flint from Flint Mastering

Learn how to mix, master, and produce music like the pros. Hosted by Dee Kei (@DeeKeiMixes) and Lu (@MidSideSound).

The Mixing Music Podcast is your ultimate guide to music production, audio engineering, mixing, and mastering. Hosted by professional mix engineers <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/">Dee Kei</a> (@DeeKeiMixes), <a href="https://www.instagram.com/masteredbylu/">Lu Moreno</a> (@MasteredByLu), and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesdeanmixes/">James Parrish</a> (@jamesdeanmixes), this podcast covers recording techniques, studio mixing, vocal production, sound design, DAW workflows, plugin reviews, gear recommendations, industry secrets, and the business of music production. Whether you're a music producer, mix engineer, mastering engineer, independent artist, or content creator, you’ll get expert insights to take your sound to the next level.

Our hosts have worked with Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, Rico Nasty, ATEEZ, Kanye West, The Game, and more, collaborating with major record labels like Universal Music Group, Sony Music, Interscope Records, Republic Records, and Capitol Records. Join us for mixing tutorials, mastering strategies, music production tips, home studio setup advice, industry interviews, and pro techniques used in professional recording studios. Whether you're using Pro Tools, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, or Studio One, this podcast is packed with valuable information to improve your mixing workflow and production quality.

In our <a href="https://mixingmusicpodcast.com/exclusive">exclusive episodes</a>, James Parrish and Dee Kei react to interviews with various audio engineers, music producers, and YouTubers to help you understand the most useful advice for making better music. All exclusive episodes focus on the technical aspects of the post-production process.

The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by: 
<ul>
 <li><a href="http://antarestech.sjv.io/WDDyOO">Antares (Auto-Tune)</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=604322feb04e4">Plugin Boutique</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.lautenaudio.com/">Lauten Audio</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQ63Jj">Sweetwater</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://filepass.com/?fpr=twb41">Filepass</a></li>
</ul>

Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:
<ul>
 <li>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/">@DeeKeiMixes</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/masteredbylu/">@MasteredByLu</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesdeanmixes/">@jamesdeanmixes</a></li>
 <li>Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/deekeimixes">@DeeKeiMixes</a></li>
</ul>

Check out our other resources:
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://discord.gg/s2WrUg8">Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://links.deekeimixes.com/">More from Dee Kei</a></li>
</ul>

The Mixing Music Podcast is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei's Personal Mixing Studio in Los Angeles, California.