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Secret Sonics 141 - Dee Kei Waddell - The Way of the Mixer

124 min • 17 april 2022

Dee Kei Waddell is a mixing engineer, podcaster, and entrepreneur based out of LA, CA, USA! In our conversation, Dee Kei shares his journey; from playing in bands to opening a recording studio really young, getting a boost of confidence from Leslie Brathwaite at Mix With the Masters, and starting the "Mixing Music" podcast. He goes deep on his approach to mixing - starting with the bass, being aware of his objectivity, thoughts on analog gear, and monitoring. We also chat about believing in the artists he works with, fatherhood, Twitch, having fun doing the work, and so much more! Check it out!

You can learn more about Dee Kei at https://www.deekeimixes.com/about

You can follow Dee Kei on Social Media
IG - https://www.instagram.com/deekeimixes/

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Click here to listen to "Thanks for Thinking" - https://www.carlbahner.com/thanks-for-thinking

You can listen to the song we discussed in the "Sauce" segment here -
"Lover" by Genevra Munoa - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXP2JnaEcwE&ab_channel=VariousArtists-Topic

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

References
Leslie Brathwaite - https://www.instagram.com/lesterbud/
Chris Graham - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2021/5/2/secret-sonics-095-chris-graham-helping-audio-people-in-his-own-unique-way
“The Mastering Show” - https://themasteringshow.com/
Jesse Ray Ernster - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2021/8/29/secret-sonics-110-jesse-ray-ernster-going-all-in-on-his-dreams
"Atomic Habits" - https://amzn.to/3M6MNRu
Progressions - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/
Mike McClellan - https://www.instagram.com/mikemcclellanmusic/
Caleb Parker - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2021/4/4/secret-sonics-091-caleb-parker-getting-the-most-out-of-a-performance
Tilt saturation plugin - https://www.mixland.io/online-store/TILT-EQ-Plugin-p437766387
The Invisible Limiter - https://aom-factory.jp/products/invisible-limiter/
"The Happiness Project" - https://amzn.to/3jKpdh4
Kids books - deekeiandkayoko.com

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Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for helping edit this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Senaste avsnitt

Secret Sonics 141 - Dee Kei Waddell - The Way of the Mixer

Senaste avsnitt

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#252 - The NEW Business of Mixing

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

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#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

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

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#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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