Justin Colletti
Verified- Content and Publishing Director, SonicScoop
- Host, The SonicScoop Podcast | Mixing, Mastering, Audio Engineering and Music Production
Brooklyn
As seen in:
SonicScoop,
The SonicScoop Podcast | Mixing, Mastering, Audio Engineering and Music Production
Covers:
recording, science, production, economics, audio, streaming music services, music, education, art, sound
-Mastering engineer, author and audio educator. -Masters records at @JLMsound. -Writes, edits and makes videos for @SonicScoop
Articles by Justin Colletti
The 1 Question That Fixes 90% of Mix Problems Original
Is it possible that there is one unusual question that can fix the majority of your mix problems? I say YES. As a platinum mastering engineer, I’ve worked on mixes from the best to just about the worst you can imagine… …And every time they can be improved, there is one simple question you can ask yourself that will completely eliminate the biggest problems in your mix. It works at every level, on every mix, every time.
Why You Don't Need Mastering (It's Not Why You Think) - SonicScoop
I'm a platinum mastering engineer, but I'll be one of the first to admit that you might NOT need mastering. At least... not yet. There's a fair chance you just aren't ready for it. You could be simply throwing your money away. Here's my take on who should-and who SHOULDN'T-get their music mastered. And if you fall into the latter camp, I'll give you a good idea as to where you're better off spending your hard-earned money instead.
A New Way to Hear Mixes
I want you to step through the looking glass with me today. …We are going to be exploring an entirely different way to hear and experience sound—and a new way of thinking about the mix. Around this time last year, a GRAMMY-winning producer hipped me to the idea of hearing tones and mixes as being “convex” or “concave”. And now I can’t UN-hear it. We’ll talk about how this way of thinking (and hearing) can inform and even transform your approach to mixing and production today.
Beyond Compression: 10 Weird Types of Dynamic Control
You’ve probably heard of dynamic range compression. You probably know what it does. And you may even know how to use it. …But what if I told you that there are at least 10 OTHER types of dynamic range control? And that you should learn ALL of them!? That’s what we’ll talk about today. I’m going to make it easy for you to master them all. Join me here. (Or check out the list below!) We can break dynamic range control into the following categories. (Get all the details in the video!) 1.
Why Use Multiband Compression? - SonicScoop
Is multiband compression worth all the fuss? Is it too complex? Is it too likely to cause artifacts? ...and is it best left to the rocket scientists and "real pros"? I think there are some important applications for multiband processing that can be useful at ANY level. That's what we'll talk about today. From bass to vocals, to drums, acoustic guitar and entire mixes, get my top tips on how to use it well.
Creative Techniques & Technology for Music & Audio Production
YOU Can Clone Studios Now. (ft Sonarworks VM Pro) Original
Headphone mixing has become increasingly popular over the years. And for good reason! For a lower cost than ever before, you can get startling good frequency response—even low frequency response—out of high quality headphones. Today, there are many cases in which a smaller investment in headphones can outperform a substantially larger investment in speakers and room treatment.
Multipolar Pattern vs. Cardioid Mics: Are They Worth It? (ft. Shure KSM series)
Today, I’m going to help you ask and answer the question of whether you really need a multipolar pattern mic in the studio. If you work in a small or relatively untreated home studio, you might be skeptical of the value of polar patterns like bidirectional and omni—mic patterns patterns which are supposed to pick up more of the room.
There Are Only 4 Ways to Compress Anything
Compression can seem complicated. …But it’s not! And I can prove it to you. Ultimately, there are only 4 ways to compress anything. And I can teach you all of them in minutes. And it gets better than that: When you focus in on these 4 ways to compress, and learn to hear the differences between them, it completely UNLOCKS compression in your brain forever. It also makes more advanced concepts and techniques around compression much easier to understand.
Why No One Hears Your Music (And what to do instead…)
Finishing your mix isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning. Today we’re going to be talking about why music releases fail to get heard, and what you can do to help maximize your chances of developing an honest audience of listeners who will love your work for years to come. If you want a sustainable and fulfilling career (or hobby) in music, it’s usually not enough to merely complete an album or a single. You need additional goals to feel like your music truly matters to the world.
The Source of the 1960s Sound (ft. The Zombies)
Colin Bluntstone of legendary 1960s group The Zombies joins Justin Colletti to talk about the 1960s approaches to stereo and mono, and why remasters matter. This week’s episode of the SonicScoop Podcast is sponsored by Soundtoys. Subscribe and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Try one of our great full length courses, like Mixing Breakthroughs, EQ Breakthroughs, Compression Breakthroughs or Mastering Demystified.
What “True Peak” Limiters Really Do.
Are “True Peak” limiters really necessary? …And do they sound better or worse than regular limiters? These types of limiters—and the problems they were invented to solve—are often misunderstood. Today, I offer a practical understanding of how they work, and some clear guidelines for how, when, where and why to use them. This week’s episode of the SonicScoop Podcast is sponsored by Soundtoys. Subscribe and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.
The Unwritten Rules of Mix Bus EQ
How should you EQ your mix bus? …And should you even EQ it at all?? That’s what we’ll be talking about today. There are a handful of different philosophies and approaches on this, and I’ll be walking your through each of them, so you can figure out which will work best for you. This week’s episode of the SonicScoop Podcast is sponsored by Soundtoys. Subscribe and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.
Transformer vs. Transformerless Mics, Compared! (ft. Aim Audio)
Do your favorite mics have transformers in them? Or do you prefer transformerless mic designs? To be honest, if you’re like a lot of producers, engineers and musicians, you may have never even considered the question! But the presence of a transformer (or the lack of one) can have a BIG impact on the character of a mic, and how it performs. Aim Audio makes the first mic I’ve EVER SEEN that can switch between a transformer and transformerless mode.
A Brief History of Microphones: Classic Condensers
How well do you know your vintage mics? Do you know your M49 from your M50, and your C12 from Elam 251? If you do, you”ll be in good company! …And if you don’t? I’m going to demystify it all for you today and make this simple and memorable. Join me as we survey the most important condenser microphones in history, detailing their history, their use in modern music production—and alternative options to pricey classics and the same old sounds.
A Totally New Kind of Limiter (A Look at the AL-1 from Naturl Audio)
In recent weeks, I’ve been trying a totally new kind of limiter. One that actually preserves transients—better than any other limiter I’ve heard. If you’ve never heard of it before, don’t be surprised! It’s just becoming publicly available THIS WEEK. It’s called the AL-1 from Naturl Audio, and I’ve been trying it extensively in my masters lately. I am simply amazed at how “un -squashed” this thing sounds compared to conventional limiters.
Mix Masters: The Sound of Bob Power
Bob Power was a legendary producer, engineer and mixer for the likes of Tribe Called Quest, Erykah Badu, De La Soul, D’Angelo and so many more. He passed away earlier this month, and shortly after, I filmed this retrospective on his work and career. He was a major influence on the world of music production—as well as a true mentor to many. Bob‘s mixing masterclass on our channel is still our most popular video in 17+ years on YouTube.
What Everyone Gets Wrong About Reference Mixes
Today we’re going to be talking about what everyone gets wrong about reference mixes. For this topic, I was inspired by a recent series of videos where some major mix engineers rated common mixing tips on a scale from 0 to 10. When mixing with references came up, one of the engineers in this series rated mixing with a reference with an emphatic 10 out of 10! …But another equally credible and capable mixing engineer rated it as a big fat ZERO. So who is right?
The Unwritten Rules For Mixing Each Genre
What genres do you work in the most? Is it rock, pop, hip hop, R&B, metal, EDM? The reality is that all of them have different norms when it comes to production, arrangement and performance. …And because of this, all of them require a substantially different approach to the mix. Have your really stopped to consider what kinds of balance decisions make a mix sound “right” for its style? And how about breaking the rules—are there times you can steer away from the usual approach for a genre?
Mix Masters: The Sound of Bob Power
Bob Power was a legendary producer, engineer and mixer for the likes of Tribe Called Quest, Erykah Badu, De La Soul, D’Angelo and so many more. He passed away last week, and was a great influence on the world of music production—as well as a true mentor to many. Bob’s mixing masterclass on our channel is still our most popular video in 17+ years on YouTube. If you haven’t seen it, you should.
The Secret Principle To Huge Metal Mixes — SonicScoop
Recently, I released a new video about the one key principle that leads to truly HUGE metal mixes. In it, we evaluate this principle through some of the most massive sounding metal mixes of all time. But, I think you’ll quickly find this principle applies to any genre, from rock to pop to hip hop and beyond. This trick is what allows you to get huge kicks, basses, guitars, keys, vocals, and more—seemingly all at once. …How do they do it? The trick is simple.
Best New Pro Audio Gear of 2026: NAMM Edition — SonicScoop
This week, I shared my top picks for the best new pro audio and music gear for the studio from NAMM 2026. This list includes headphones, studio monitors, microphones, plugins, hardware and more. This week’s episode of the SonicScoop Podcast is sponsored by Soundtoys. Try one of our great full length courses, like Mixing Breakthroughs, EQ Breakthroughs, Compression Breakthroughs or Mastering Demystified.
How to Hear EQ (...and identify frequencies instantly.) — SonicScoop
Do you spend too long EQing? Do you often second guess your EQ choices? Have you ever been amazed at others’ ability to seemingly recognize specific frequencies and EQ bands instantly? …And is it a skill you wish you had? Well, I’m here to give you the good news about how you can quickly realize this ability for yourself, and improve your approach to EQing everything. It doesn’t take long if you learn to listen with the right mindset.
The 6 Stages of Mixing Progress (What Level is Your Mixing?) — SonicScoop
What level are your mixes at? Are you a beginner, intermediate or advanced mixer? And how do you know? Today, I breaks down the 6 stages of progress in mixing that we all go through on our way to fully developing our abilities. We’ll talk about how to know where you are on your journey and what to do next. This week’s episode of the SonicScoop Podcast is sponsored by Soundtoys. Subscribe and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.
The Best Studio Monitors From $1500 to $3000 — SonicScoop
This article on the best studio monitors from $1,500 to $3,000 is also available as a video and podcast episode. Introduction: What Makes for a Good Pair of Studio Monitors Recently, I did posts on the Best Studio Monitors for $500 and Under, and on the Best Studio Monitors Around $1000 [$500-$1500]. And today, we are upping the ante once again! We’ll be looking primarily at studio monitors priced under $3,000, but we’ll consider options for as little as $1,500 or so as well.
The Best Closed Back Headphones for Mixing — SonicScoop
Article Contents hide This article is also available as a video and podcast episode. Today, we’ll be looking at closed-back headphones, and specifically for the task of mixing. Right out of the gate, we should establish that from a pure sound quality perspective, closed-back headphones simply can’t and won’t perform as well as open-back headphones—all else being equal.
The Best Cube Monitors (And Why EVERY Studio Needs Them) — SonicScoop
I’m a huge fan of cube style monitors, and I think YOU should be too. Mixing cubes are possibly one of the most useful tools to have in your studio—far more important than new plugins, and new microphones, and potentially more impactful and more trustworthy than many studio monitors, acoustic treatment and great headphones. Today, I’ll give you my full reasons for recommending these types of speakers for practically every producer, engineer and mixer.
Mixing Masterclass with Niko Bolas [Neil Young, Prince, Bonnie Raitt, Blues Traveler, Sheryl Crow] — SonicScoop
Niko Bolas is an engineer and mixer who has worked with absolute legends of rock, pop and Americana, like Neil Young, Prince, Bonnie Raitt, Blues Traveler, LeAnn Rimes, James Taylor, Crosby Stills & Nash, Fiona Apple, Ben Harper, Sheryl Crow and more. Today he takes us through his approach to mixing, with a special focus on learning to trust yourself and your instincts. Masterclass Premieres at 3:30PM ET Livestream Q&A Premieres at 5pm ET Big thanks to Kali Audio for supporting MixCon.
R&B Mixing Masterclass with Prizzie Reid [Usher, 21 Savage, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Kanye West] — SonicScoop
Preston “Prizzie” Reid is a GRAMMY-winning mixer who has worked with the likes of Usher, Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, Alicia Keys, Cassanova, Kanye West, John Legend and more. Today he takes us through his approach to mixing, with a special focus on getting great sounds in the box, while staying true to the source material. Masterclass Premieres at 3:30PM ET Livestream Q&A Premieres at 5pm ET Big thanks to Waves for supporting MixCon.
Mixing Masterclass with Andrew Scheps [Hozier, Adele, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jay-Z, Metallica] — SonicScoop
Andrew Scheps is unquestionably one of the best mixers working today. And today, he makes his MixCon debut. Andrew’s platinum selling, GRAMMY-winning work includes mixes for artists like Hozier, Adele, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Audioslave, Metallica, Jay-Z and many more. His skill in creating beautiful, lush soundscapes, and crafting gritty, emotionally charged balances is unparalleled.
Masterclass: Making Dramatic Mix Moves with Dana Nielsen [Adele, Post Malone, Weezer, Linkin Park] — SonicScoop
Dana Nielsen is a GRAMMY-winning producer, engineer and composer who has worked with Adele, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bob Dylan, SZA, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Slayer, Santana, Post Malone, Neil Young, Weezer, Linkin Park, and more… And today, we are premiering his first MixCon Masterclass, where he focuses on finding and enhancing the most dramatic elements in the mix.
Masterclass: Mixing With Emotion ft. Brent Kolatalo [Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Kanye West] — SonicScoop
Brent Kolatalo is a GRAMMY-winning producer, engineer and musician who has worked on over 24 Gold and Platinum albums.
Exploring Strange & Unusual Reverbs (ft. SpaceBlender from Soundtoys) — SonicScoop
MixCon 2025 has just begun, and runs for the whole month of October! We are brining you new mixing masterclasses with major platinum-selling and GRAMMY-winning mixers EVERY WEEK. But we are also doing a series of workshops for deep dives into specific effects, tools, techniques, and products—and the first one just dropped! Join me for “Exploring Strange & Unusual Reverbs” with Mitch Thomas of Soundtoys. We are also GIVING AWAY thousands of dollars in free pro audio gear with 3 chances to win.
The Best Kind of Reverb You're Not Using [ft. FREE Spring Reverb from Fuse Audio Labs] — SonicScoop
Spring reverbs are MASSIVELY underrated. Are you using them as often as you should? These types of reverbs are often associated with guitar amps… But there’s a whole world of possibilities that opens up with more mixing-focused spring reverbs, which often go unexplored and underutilized by beginning mixers. Where should you use them? What should you know about how to use them… and how NOT to? That’s what we’re talking about today! I also have something special for you today.
The Best Studio Monitors Around $1000, RANKED [$600-$1600] — SonicScoop
This article on the best budget studio monitors is also available as a video and podcast episode. Introduction: What Makes for a Good Pair of Studio Monitors Recently, we did a post on the Best Studio Monitors for $500 and Under, and today we are upping the ante! We’ll be looking primarily at studio monitors priced at $1,000. But, because there are so many options above and below this target, we will consider and touch upon models priced as low as $600 and as high as $1600 or so.
Are Your Speakers Good Enough for Mastering? [ft. Ex Machina] — SonicScoop
What makes a set of speakers “good enough” for mastering? How much do you have to spend? …And what features should you look for? Today we explore this question in detail, and I talk about how I chose my studio monitors for mastering, and why. Prepare to learn a LOT about speaker technology and what factors make studio monitors truly great.
The Great Lie of DIY — SonicScoop
DIY isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking the DIY route will save us money when the opposite is the case. Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking others can’t be trusted with our darlings when the opposite is the case. Sometimes we think we can’t afford help or be slowed down by it when the opposite is the case. …and sometimes, DIY is a genuinely good idea. Today I give you my complete guide on the right and wrong ways to DIY.
The #1 Reason Mixes Don't Translate — SonicScoop
Have you ever had trouble with mixes “translating” from one listening environment to another? I know I have! But that literally NEVER happens to me anymore. As a mastering engineer, I couldn’t let that happen to me… …because if I did, I’d be failing at my job. So what’s different about what I do now so that translation is no longer a problem? And no, it’s not just having nicer speakers and a better tuned room. It’s something ANYONE can do, even in headphones. That’s what we’re talking about today.
What Makes Lyrics Good? — SonicScoop
Are there such a thing as “objectively good lyrics“? Or objectively bad ones? That’s what we’ll explore today. I’m taking a look at some of the best lyrics in the history of pop music to figure out what makes them work—as well as some of the most hated lyrics, so we can see what to avoid! This week’s episode of the SonicScoop Podcast is sponsored by Soundtoys. Subscribe and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.
High End vs Low End Speakers - The REAL Difference (...it's not frequency response) [ft. Kali SM-8] — SonicScoop
Frequency response is NOT the most important measurement for a speaker’s performance. There, I said it. …And I can prove it to you. I just got finished testing a new $5,000 pair of speakers from Kali Audio. These are the most expensive set of studio monitors ever made by a brand that is so well known for their budget offerings—some of which cost as little as $300. These speakers cost 5x more than their next series down, and 10x more than their most popular pair of studio monitors.
Become a Mixing Artist [ft. Jordan Valeriote & Black Salt Audio] — SonicScoop
Mixer Jordan Valeriote does’t want you to consider him a mixing “engineer”. …And he doesn’t want you to call yourself one either! A successful hardcore music producer in his own right, Jordan gets great results without overanalyzing, and he has some of the same exact priorities and values when it comes to music production that I do! Join us for an exclusive conversation about bringing the art back to music mixing. We’ll even take your questions in real time.
The Best Low End Under $500? [Gauss 7 Studio Monitors] — SonicScoop
The Gauss 7 studio monitors easily have some of the best low end in their class. But what does it mean for bottom end to be “good” anyway? It it just about being flat or fat? Or is there more to it? Justin Colletti explores. Thanks to RAD Distribution and Avantone for supporting this channel. Check out their Gauss 7 here. Please note: When you buy products through links on this page, we may earn an affiliate commission. | SWEETWATER | THOMANN | AMAZON | REVERB |
Mix Masters: The Secrets of Shawn Everett's Sound — SonicScoop
Shawn Everett is among the most acclaimed and influential producers, engineers and mixers of working today. From his work with Alabama Shakes, Hozier, Beck, War on Drugs, Local Natives, Kasey Musgraves, Big Thief, Weezer, Miley Cyrus and more, find out what makes his mixes great. This week’s episode of the SonicScoop Podcast is sponsored by Soundtoys. Subscribe and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.
Mixing Doesn't Have to Be Hard. (THIS Makes Mixing Easy.) — SonicScoop
I have an admission of guilt to make. I used to spend weeks getting a single mix to sound right. …Actually, it was worse than that. There were times when I spent months on a project—sometimes more than a year! Even then they never seemed to come out quite right. Something was missing. When I compared against major releases, or even some friends’ albums, something was just “off”.
Best Mastered Albums According to Audiophiles — SonicScoop
Recently I reviewed some lists of the best mastered albums—according to audiophiles—to find out what they have in common. Check out this video to hear them with me and discover what drives the perception of “audio quality” in a master. This week’s episode of the SonicScoop Podcast is sponsored by Soundtoys. Subscribe and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.
The Best New Compact Studio Monitors? (ADAM Audio D3V Compared) — SonicScoop
Article Contents hide ADAM Audio D3V Desktop Studio Monitors ADAM Audio’s new D3V Desktop monitors are some surprisingly small monitors with a shockingly good sound, and proved more power than just about anything else in their class. How do they stand up to the other options out there? That’s what we’ll look at today. I’ve tried these little speakers at length, and compared them extensively to the competition.
Industry Intel: 2025 Audio Engineer Salaries and Jobs Report — SonicScoop
Prefer to watch or listen? Check out the podcast/video version of this article here. Want to know what audio engineer salaries are like, and where the best prospects of employment are? We’re diving into the data once again and analyzing the trends around audio jobs and income for 2025.
Mixing with Saturation & Pedals In The Box [ft. MixWave] — SonicScoop
I LOVE using mixing with saturation and cool sounding analog hardware. And do you know what I love even more than that? MIXING WITH EFFECT PEDALS. It is just so much fun, and it can take you in new directions that you’d never reach with standard EQs and compressors, reverbs or delays. …But to be honest, I’ve fallen away from wanting to actually send my audio outside the computer these days.
The Best IEMs for Mixing and Studio Use — SonicScoop
This article on the best IEMs for mixing is also available as a video and podcast episode. Introduction: Can you mix in IEMs? In Ear Monitors, or “IEM”s, are a mainstay of the live sound world, and have been for years. These extra small earphones that sit deep inside the ear canal help to keep stage volumes low, while allowing musicians to hear themselves better. This leads to better sounding concerts and less hearing loss among performers.
Why I LOVE This Condenser Mic [ft. JZ Amethyst Vintage] — SonicScoop
If you’ve been watching the channel or listening to the podcast, you probably know that I’m a BIG fan of the JZ Amethyst condenser microphone. This is my main mic on videos and on the podcast, because I absolutely love the sound and look. It’s big, bold, detailed, thick and detailed all at once. I just did a special livestream about this mic, why I chose it as my main mic for videos, and where I do (and don’t) like to use it in recording sessions.
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