Every producer has faced it—the dreaded muddy mix. The low end is messy, the mids are cluttered, and no matter how you tweak, it never sounds quite right. In this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody break down proven strategies to remove mud from mixes and bring clarity back to your sound.
They begin with the often-overlooked foundation: arrangement. If too many instruments are fighting for the same space, no plugin will fix it. Chris & Jody share ways to think critically about instrumentation, layering, and voicing to set up your mix for success.
From there, it’s all about dynamics. Over-compressed tracks can kill separation and exaggerate low-mid clutter. You’ll hear recording setup tips for using compression wisely to tighten, not smother, your sound.
Of course, EQ is central to cleaning up mud. Chris & Jody highlight frequency ranges to watch out for, carving techniques to make room for each instrument, and how high-pass filters can be your best friend. They also dive into specialized tools—like dynamic EQs and multiband processors—that go beyond the basics to tame problem areas.
They round out the discussion with a look at software that can identify and reduce muddiness automatically, while reminding listeners why ears matter more than meters. Along the way, expect candid stories, humor, and a dose of nonsense.
And yes, the episode wraps up with their Friday Finds—this time spotlighting gear, plugins, or resources you’ll want to add to your own arsenal.
Whether you’re mixing on home studio gear or in a professional facility, these insights will help you achieve clarity, separation, and impact in your tracks.
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Gear we used:
Jody’s Mic & Voice Chain: Telefunken C12 – Groove Tubes Vipre – Apollo – UA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA Studer A800
Jody’s Channel Strip: iZotope RX Spectral DeNoise – iZotope RX Mouth DeClick – UA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA 1176E
Chris’ Mic & Voice Chain: Slate ML1 – Apollo – UA – Slate VMR (FG12, FG73, API Eq, SSL 4kE) – iZotope RX Voice – DeNoise
Chris’ Channel Strip: Eventide Precision Time Align – iZotope RX Spectral DeNoise – iZotope RX Mouth DeClick – UA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA 1176E
Master: Oek Sound Soothe 2 – iZotope Ozone Imager – iZotope Ozone Maximize.
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If you want to collaborate, sponsor a podcast, donate, or want us to review your product – contact us at: collaborate@insidetherecordingstudio.com