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#233 - Finding Your Sonic DNA: A Deep Dive into Musical Identity

25 min • 28 januari 2025

What really shapes a mixer's signature sound in today's post-genre world? Ben and Carl explore the evolving nature of sonic signatures, from early career influences to streaming-era adaptability. Discover how your musical foundations, early projects, and listening habits combine to create your unique sonic fingerprint - and why that signature might be more fluid than you think.

Discover:

Why early career projects may have an outsized impact on your mixing approach
How streaming culture has transformed the concept of genre-specific sounds
The delicate balance between experimentation and client expectations
Why your listening history might matter more than your gear choices
Ways to intentionally evolve your sonic signature while staying true to your roots

LA Wildfire Relief:
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WAMTN - https://give.wearemovingtheneedle.org/campaign/654724/donate

Learn more about StudioLand - https://www.welcometostudioland.com/a/2147995182/bmyFf8p5

Download our free guide: "The Future-Proof Mixing Engineer: 8 Essential Skills for 2024 and Beyond" - https://mpe-ebook.benwallick.com/future-proof-mixing

Connect with us:

Secret Sonics - https://www.instagram.com/secretsonics
Ben - https://www.instagram.com/benwallickmusic/
Carl - https://www.instagram.com/carlbahner/

Learn more:

https://www.benwallick.com/
https://www.carlbahner.com/

This episode with edited by Gavi Kutliroff - https://www.instagram.com/pleasant_peasant_music/

Senaste avsnitt

#233 - Finding Your Sonic DNA: A Deep Dive into Musical Identity

Senaste avsnitt

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#253 - Dave Stagl: Leaving Artists Speechless with Dolby Atmos

#252 - The NEW Business of Mixing

#251 - Context Context Context (Vocals Pt2)

Quick Announcement: Taking a Week Off to Celebrate 6 Years and 250 Episodes

#250 - Are We Making Vocals Too Perfect? (Pt1)

#249 - Are We Hearing the Bass, or Just Feeling It? (Pt2)

#248 - Our Wildly Different Bass Philosophies (Pt1)

#247 - The Drummer's Divide: Two Wildly Different Approaches to Drum Production

#246 - Template Updates: The Unsung Hero of Efficient Mixing

#245 - Why You’re Afraid to Charge More (And What To Do About It)

#244 - You Don't Need Permission: Why Creatives Hold Back & How to Move Forward

#243 - Creating Unforgettable Client Experiences

#242 - Limitations > Creativity

#241 - Inspiration: Where to Find It, How to Nurture It, and Why It Matters

#240 - Forging New Directions: Chasing What Feels Right in Music & Creativity

#239 - Reference Mixes: When They Should (and Shouldn’t) Guide Us

#238 - Time Management: Why Productivity Advice Fails Music Pros

#237 - Playlist Psychology: Organizing Your Work to Impress the RIGHT Clients

#236 - How to Know When Your Song is Finished

#235 - Emotional Cues in Mixing: Crafting a Powerful Listener Experience

#234 - Rethinking Sonic Identity

#233 - Finding Your Sonic DNA: A Deep Dive into Musical Identity

#232 - Setting (and Resetting) Goals for 2025

#231 - Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

#230 - Seasons of Growth

#229 - Mix Like a Producer: Crafting Sonic Depth and Dimension

#228 - Philip Weinrobe Part 2 - Trust and Authenticity in Music Production

#227 - Philip Weinrobe Part 1 - Death by Perfection: Bringing Humanity Back to Records

#226 - Why the Client Isn't Always Right (But Their Vision Is)

#225 - Burnout and Overwhelm in the Audio Industry

#224 - Matt Huber Part 2 - The Mixer's Mastermind: Collaborative Learning and Leveling Up

#223 - Matt Huber Part 1 - Mastering Loudness in the Streaming Era

#222 - What We Wish We Knew When We Got Started

#221 - Dave McNair Part 2 - The Lifelong Learner's Guide to Mastering

#220 - Dave McNair Part 1 - The Perpetual Balance of Taste and Technique

#219 - Dana Nielsen Part 2 - Vocal Production Mastery

#218 - Dana Nielsen Part 1 - The Art of Studio Diplomacy

#217 - Nick Nagurka Part 2 - The Psychology of Live Recording

#216 - Nick Nagurka Part 1 - Capturing Magical Moments (Live in the Room)

#215 - Future-Proofing Your Music Business: Essential Strategies for Sustainable Success

Quick Announcement: The Platinum Pitch (Free Class)

#214 - Four Years of Growth: Reflections on Our Professional Journeys

Reissue: #058 with Carl Bahner - Forging a Creative Path in Production

#213 - How to Mix an Arena-Ready Backing Track

#212 - How Our Instrumental Backgrounds Shape Our Production & Mixing

#211 - On-Stage Lessons for Studio Success

#210 - Your Opinion Wanted: The State of the Podcast

#209 - Building Your Dream Team: How to Collaborate in Music Production

#208 - Overcoming the Curse of Perfectionism

#207 - Our Go-To Reference Mixes (and Why We Chose Them)

#206 - Using Music Theory to Conquer Common Mixing Challenges

#205 - Consistency Hacks for Reliably Radio-Ready Mixes

#204 - Masking Mayhem: How to Tame the Chaos and Clarify Your Mixes

#203 - Embracing Your Inner Weird: Turning Quirks into Career Superpowers

#202 - AI in Music: Salvation or Doom for Creatives?

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#200 - Mastering: A Mixer's Perspective

#199 - How to Confidently Raise Your Rates

#198 - Cold Outreach That Doesn’t Feel Icky

#197 - Why the Goal Posts of Success are Always Moving

#196 - Taking Criticism Like a Pro

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#194 - Don’t Get Suckered By The Sale: What We ACTUALLY Look For When Buying Plugins

#193 - How the Role of the Mixing Engineer is Changing in 2024

#192 - Moving Forward: Ben & Carl Chart Their 2024 Game Plan

Secret Sonics 191 - Matt Huber - The Hyper-Focused Mixing Engineer

Bonus Episode - 10 Must-Have Mindsets for Music Professionals - With Travis Ference of Progressions

A Brief Message from Jerusalem

Sorry for Going AWOL

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Secret Sonics 189 - Enoch Yang - Future-Proofing Your Audio Business with Systems

Secret Sonics 188 - Daniela Rivera - Letting the Music Shine in the Mix

Secret Sonics 187 - Stephen Cole - Making Eclectic Records

Secret Sonics 186 - Travis Ference - Strategic Audio Workflows

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