What Everyone Gets Wrong About Reference Mixes

Platinum mastering engineer Justin Colletti discusses the common myths, misconceptions and misunderstandings around mixing with references. All Our Courses: ► https://members.sonicscoop.com ►🎚Mixing Breakthroughs: https://mixingbreakthroughs.com ►🎛Compression Breakthroughs: https://compressionbreakthroughs.com ►🎧 EQ Breakthroughs: https://EQBreakthroughs.com ►🔊Mastering Demystified: https://MasteringDemystified.com

Rock, pop, hip hop, R&B, metal and EDM all require a different approach to the mix. Platinum mastering engineer Justin Colletti explores the norms, traditions and tropes of each genre, how to get them right, and when to bend the rules. All Our Courses: ► https://members.sonicscoop.com ►🎚Mixing Breakthroughs: https://mixingbreakthroughs.com ►🎛Compression Breakthroughs: https://compressionbreakthroughs.com ►🎧 EQ Breakthroughs: https://EQBreakthroughs.com ►🔊Mastering Demystified: https://MasteringDemystified.com

Justin Colletti reveals the secret principle of that allows mixes to have huge sounding guitars, drums and vocals—seemingly all at once. All Our Courses: ► https://members.sonicscoop.com ►🎚Mixing Breakthroughs: https://mixingbreakthroughs.com ►🎛Compression Breakthroughs: https://compressionbreakthroughs.com ►🎧 EQ Breakthroughs: https://EQBreakthroughs.com ►🔊Mastering Demystified: https://MasteringDemystified.com ►🧠Mixer Brain: https://sonicscoop.com/mixerbrain ►🧂Black Salt Plugins & Courses: https://sonicscoop.com/blacksalt CODE: SONIC25 for 25% off!

Justin Colletti reviews the best new pro audio gear from NAMM 2026, including headphones, studio monitors, plugins, microphones, hardware and more. Affiliate Links: Sweetwater: http://imp.i114863.net/3PXVky Thomann: https://www.thomann.de/gb/hotdeals_GF_studio_equipment.html?offid=1&affid=1287 B&H: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=recording+studio&i=deals-intl-ship&crid=ZKGT8L090K2I&sprefix=studio+microphone%252Cdeals-intl-ship%252C53&ref=nb_sb_noss&_encoding=UTF8&tag=sonicscoop08-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=e7be06f9fe71378026cd0cadd5634282&camp=1789&creative=9325 Reverb: https://reverb.grsm.io/pro-audio-deals3474 Courses:► https://members.sonicscoop.com ►🎚Mixing Breakthroughs: https://mixingbreakthroughs.com ►🎛Compression Breakthroughs: https://compressionbreakthroughs.com ►🎧 EQ Breakthroughs: https://EQBreakthroughs.com ►🔊Mastering Demystified: https://MasteringDemystified.com   ►🧠Mixer Brain: https://sonicscoop.com/mixerbrain ►🧂Black Salt Plugins & Courses: https://sonicscoop.com/blacksalt CODE: SONIC25 for 25% off! Thanks to Soundtoys for sponsoring this episode! Try any Soundtoys plugins for free for 30 days at https://soundtoys.com 

Have you ever been amazed at others' ability to recognize frequencies and EQ bands instantly? Is it a skill you wish you had? Justin Colletti is here to give you the good news about how you can quickly realize this ability for yourself. 🚨Get 20% off all courses including EQ Breakthroughs with code MIX2026 at checkout for a limited time🚨 ► https://members.sonicscoop.com►🎚Mixing Breakthroughs: https://mixingbreakthroughs.com ►🎛Compression Breakthroughs: https://compressionbreakthroughs.com ►🎧 EQ Breakthroughs: https://EQBreakthroughs.com ►🔊Mastering Demystified: https://MasteringDemystified.com ►🧠Mixer Brain: https://sonicscoop.com/mixerbrain ►🧂Black Salt Plugins & Courses: https://sonicscoop.com/blacksalt CODE: SONIC25 for 25% off! Thanks to Soundtoys for sponsoring this episode! Try any Soundtoys plugins for free for 30 days at https://soundtoys.com

What level are your mixes at? Are you a beginner, intermediate or advanced mixer? And how do you know? Justin Colletti breaks down the 6 stages of progress in mixing. 🚨Get 20% off all courses with code MIX2026 at checkout for a limited time 🚨► https://members.sonicscoop.com All Our Courses: ► https://members.sonicscoop.com ►🎚Mixing Breakthroughs: https://mixingbreakthroughs.com ►🎛Compression Breakthroughs: https://compressionbreakthroughs.com ►🎧 EQ Breakthroughs: https://EQBreakthroughs.com ►🔊Mastering Demystified: https://MasteringDemystified.com ►🧠Mixer Brain: https://sonicscoop.com/mixerbrain ►🧂Black Salt Plugins & Courses: https://sonicscoop.com/blacksalt CODE: SONIC25 for 25% off! Thanks to Soundtoys for sponsoring this episode! Try any Soundtoys plugins for free for 30 days at https://soundtoys.com

Justin Colletti reviews the best studio monitors for mixing, producing and recording, with picks from brands like ADAM Audio, Kali Audio, Focal, Neumann, Genelec, HEDD, JBL, Eve and more.►Article Version: https://sonicscoop.com/the-best-studio-monitors-from-1500-to-3000/Monitor Links:►Kali Audio SM-5 https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=kali%20audio%20sm5►ADAM Audio A8H: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=adam%20Audio%20A8H►Dynaudio LYD 48: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=dynaudio%20lyd%2048►Barefoot footprint 03: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=footprint%2003►HEDD Type 07: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=hedd%20type%2007►Neumann KH 120: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=neumann%20kh120►Genelec 8040: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=genelec%208040b ....And more!All Courses: ► https://members.sonicscoop.com ►Mixing Breakthroughs: https://mixingbreakthroughs.com►Compression Breakthroughs: https://compressionbreakthroughs.com►EQ Breakthroughs: https://eqbreakthroughs.com►Mastering Demystified: https://MasteringDemystified.com 

Justin Colletti is joined by Nick Messitte to review the top audio plugins of 2025 from makers like Soundtoys, MixWave, iZotope, Waves, Valhalla, Universal Audio and more. ►Article Version: https://sonicscoop.com/the-10-best-new-plugins-of-2025/ Plugin Affiliate Links: ► Soundtoys SpaceBlender https://www.pluginboutique.com/search?q=spaceblender&a_aid=6818de78621be ►Waves Intrigger https://www.pluginboutique.com/search?q=waves+intrigger&a_aid=6818de78621be ► iZotope Ozone 12 https://www.pluginboutique.com/search?q=ozone+12&a_aid=6818de78621be ►Relab MEA-2 and 176 https://www.pluginboutique.com/search?q=maselec+mea-2&a_aid=6818de78621be ►Lewitt Space Replicator https://www.pluginboutique.com/search?q=lewitt+replicator&a_aid=6818de78621be ►Baby Audio Smooth Operator Pro https://www.pluginboutique.com/search?q=baby+audio+smooth+operator&a_aid=6818de78621be More links in the article above! All Our Courses: ► https://members.sonicscoop.com ►🎚Mixing Breakthroughs: https://mixingbreakthroughs.com ►🎛Compression Breakthroughs: https://compressionbreakthroughs.com ►🎧 EQ Breakthroughs: https://EQBreakthroughs.com ►🔊Mastering Demystified: https://MasteringDemystified.com ►🧠Mixer Brain: https://sonicscoop.com/mixerbrain ►🧂Black Salt Plugins & Courses: https://sonicscoop.com/blacksalt CODE: SONIC25 for 25% off! ►Big thanks to JZ Microphones for sponsoring this free episode. Check out all their mics, including the JZ Amethyst used in this episode at https://jzmic.com ►Big thanks to Soundtoys for sponsoring this episode. Try out anything they make for free for 30 day at https://Soundtoys.com

Justin Colletti reviews the top closed back pro level headphones for mixing, featuring models from brands like Audeze, ADAM Audio, Neumann, Audio Technica, Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, Shure, Audeze, Sony, Steven Slate, Focal, Shure, AKG and more. ►Article Version: https://sonicscoop.com/the-best-closed-back-headphones-for-mixing/ Headphone Links: ►Audeze LCD-S20: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=Audeze%20LCD%20S20 ►Audeze LCD-XC: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=Audeze%20LCD%20XC ►Neumann NDH-20: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=neumann%20ndh%2020 ►Slate VSX: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=slate%20vsx%headphones ►ADAM Audio H200: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=adam%20Audio%20H200 ►Audio Technica ATH M40X: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=audio%20technica%20m40x ►Beyerdynamic DT 770: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=beyerdynamic%20dt%20770 ►Sennheiser: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=sennheiser ►Austrian Audio: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=austrian%20Audio ►Sony: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=sony All Courses: ► https://members.sonicscoop.com►Mixing Breakthroughs: https://mixingbreakthroughs.com ►Compression Breakthroughs: https://compressionbreakthroughs.com ►EQ Breakthroughs: https:/eqbreakthroughs.com ►Mastering Demystified: https://MasteringDemystified.com

Justin Colletti reviews the top cube monitors for the studio, from Auratone, Avantone, Reftone and Tantrum Audio. ►Support this channel at no cost with the affiliate links in the article version: https://sonicscoop.com/the-best-cube-monitors-and-why-every-studio-needs-them/ ►Auratone Super Sound Cubes (Reissue) https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=Auratone%205C%20Super%20Sound%20Cubes ►Avantone Mix Cubes https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=Avantone%20MixCubes ►Reftone Reference Monitors https://sweetwater.sjv.io/c/3177824/794166/11319?u=https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=reftone ►Tantrum Audio Angy Boxes https://www.altomusic.com/products/tantrum-audio-angry-box-modern-reference-speakers-pair?srsltid=AfmBOoocCC_4zrCnK9NLblHOpoxiG0Q602xJkApoKyvBV2PQ4XdEQdsj ►Auratone Super Sound Cubes (Original - Used Only) https://reverb.grsm.io/sonicscoop?query=vintage%20auratone%205c ►Behrintone C50A (Used Only) https://reverb.grsm.io/sonicscoop?query=Behringer%20c5a ►🎚Mixing Breakthroughs: https://mixingbreakthroughs.com ►🎛Compression Breakthroughs: https://compressionbreakthroughs.com ►🎧 EQ Breakthroughs: https://EQBreakthroughs.com ►🔊Mastering Demystified: https://MasteringDemystified.com ►🧠Mixer Brain: https://sonicscoop.com/mixerbrain ►🧂Black Salt Plugins & Courses: https://sonicscoop.com/blacksalt CODE: SONIC25 for 25% off! Thanks to JZ Microphones, Avid Pro Tools and Soundtoys for sponsoring this episode! ►Get 10% additional discounts stacked on top of JZ Mics' 50% Black Friday offer with code "JUSTIN" at https://jzmic.com►Get started with Avid's Black Friday deal on Pro Tools by saving up to 40% at https://sonicscoop.com/protools ►Try any Soundtoys plugins for free for 30 days at https://soundtoys.com