Music Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers | Inside The Mix

Free synth plugins can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re staring at an empty patch and just want results. In this episode of Inside The Mix, Marc Matthews walks beginner and intermediate producers through a practical Surge XT tutorial, showing how to design mix-ready high strings from an init patch using this powerful free synth plugin.
Surge XT is a free, open-source synthesizer packed with features, but more options don’t always mean better results. Marc focuses on what actually matters in a real track: speed, tone, and fit in the mix. Starting with a quick interface overview, he explains how small workflow tweaks, like using Surge XT’s Dark skin, can improve focus before sound design even begins.
From there, the episode breaks down a simple, repeatable system: building the core tone with two saw oscillators, controlled unison width, and careful detuning to avoid phase issues. Marc explains envelope shaping in plain language, why octave placement matters for strings, and how gentle filtering prevents harshness without killing brightness.
The final section covers effects that solve problems at the source. You’ll hear how light chorus and plate reverb help strings sit in a dense house mix—often reducing the need to fight levels later. Along the way, Marc shares a clear framework for evaluating any free synthesizer: how fast it gets you to a usable sound, how intuitive the controls are, and whether the result works in context.
If you’re looking for a free synth plugin that earns its place in your workflow, this episode shows how to test Surge XT properly, inside a real project with real constraints.
TL:DR: Marc designs high strings from scratch in Surge XT, showing how to judge a free synth plugin by speed, clarity, and real mix results—not presets.
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Surge XT
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Null testing is one of the fastest ways to prove what actually changes in a mix. In this episode of Inside The Mix, Marc Matthews sits down with mastering engineer Eric Mitchell to explain what a null test is, how phase cancellation works, and how producers can use null testing to stop guessing and start making confident decisions.
Built for beginner to intermediate music producers, this conversation answers common questions like: What is a null test in audio? Do similar plugins really sound different? Can meter settings or power conditioners affect digital audio? Marc and Eric walk through real-world null test examples, flipping polarity, aligning samples precisely, and listening only to what doesn’t cancel.
Together, they put popular studio myths to the test. Do plugins built on the same code cancel perfectly? Can DAW meter scaling change your sound? Does file integrity survive cloud storage and drive transfers? Eric shares clear results and a calm framework for evaluating bold claims without getting lost in internet noise or expectation bias.
Listeners also learn how to run a null test step by step: use identical source files, line them up sample-accurately, invert polarity, and expect differences more often than silence. The episode covers the limits too, why analogue passes won’t fully null, and how to use measurements to support musical taste rather than replace it.
If you’re tired of second-guessing mix choices or buying duplicate tools, this episode shows how null testing can save time, money, and mental energy.
TL;DR: Null testing uses phase cancellation to reveal real differences between audio files. Marc Matthews and Eric Mitchell explain how to run null tests, bust audio myths, and make confident mix decisions backed by evidence
Links mentioned in this episode:
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Logic Pro workflow tips can dramatically speed up music production, and in this episode of Inside The Mix, Marc Matthews breaks down seven practical Logic Pro tweaks that remove friction and help producers finish more music, faster.
Designed for beginner to intermediate Logic Pro users, this episode tackles a common frustration: slow sessions that kill creativity. Marc explains why workflow, not plugins, CPU power, or inspiration, is usually the real bottleneck in Logic Pro music production.
Listeners learn how to restore creative flow with MIDI Chase, ensuring sustained notes always trigger when playback starts mid-phrase. Marc then shows how to assign a third tool to the right mouse button so essential edits like Gain or Scissors are always one click away. Visual organisation comes next, with auto-colouring tracks, regions, and markers to make large sessions readable at a glance.
Timing and arrangement get a boost using Groove Track and Flex, aligning stacked vocals quickly while keeping performances natural. Marc also shares overlooked Logic Pro workflow tips for routing, like instantly revealing the correct aux, and using marker shortcuts to navigate song structure without breaking momentum. The episode wraps with a powerful creative trick: converting Flex Pitch data to MIDI to generate new musical ideas directly from audio.
Each tip is explained clearly, with real-world examples and a focus on repeatable systems you can build into your templates.
TL;DR
Slow Logic Pro sessions aren’t about plugins or CPU, they’re about workflow friction. Marc Matthews shares 7 beginner-friendly Logic Pro workflow tips that speed up editing, organisation, timing, routing, and creative decision-making so you can stay in flow and finish more music, faster.
Subscribe to Inside The Mix for more Logic Pro workflow deep dives, and share which tip sped up your sessions the most.
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A single Spotify comment sparked a bigger question: Does networking actually help musicians, or are you on your own? In this episode, Marc breaks down networking tips for beginners who want real results without feeling fake, awkward, or salesy. If you’ve ever wondered how to network as a beginner, or asked yourself “what is not an example of professional networking?”, this conversation offers a clear, no-cringe reset you can use immediately.
We start by reframing what professional networking really is, and what it isn’t. Blind DMs, copy-paste promo, and asking for favours from strangers? Not examples of professional networking. Instead, Marc explains why trust, context, and consistency matter more than follower counts, and answers common beginner questions like “how do beginners network with no connections?” and “how do you network without sounding fake?” Talent only opens doors when people know you exist and trust your work—and that trust is built through small, human interactions.
From there, we get practical. You’ll learn how to start networking as a beginner using warm introductions, why they outperform cold outreach, and the exact low-pressure question that often unlocks a new contact. We break down online networking tips for beginners, including how to engage publicly before sending a DM, how to pick one platform to focus on, and how to write short, natural messages that don’t feel awkward or transactional. This is especially useful if you’re asking, “How do I network when I hate networking?” or “How do introverts network effectively?”
We also map out where networking actually works: Discord servers, curated group chats, niche forums, gigs, workshops, and meetups, and how to spot high-signal spaces without burning time. You’ll get a simple weekly networking cadence beginners can stick to: two helpful public interactions, one thoughtful DM, and one introduction you make for someone else. It’s a sustainable way to build a professional network from scratch, especially for producers, artists, and creatives.
As we look ahead to 2026, we’re doubling down on in-person connections, studio sessions, and conversations that start with curiosity, not promotion. Consider this your nudge to reach out to one person this week simply to acknowledge their work. If you’re looking for beginner-friendly networking strategies that actually lead to collaborations, gigs, and momentum, this episode shows you how to start, without being awkward, fake, or pushy.
If the ideas land, share this episode with a producer friend, subscribe for more practical breakdowns, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Who’s one warm introduction you’ll ask for this week?
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Year-end victory laps are more fun when they belong to all of us. We gathered standout wins from the Inside the Mix community and stitched them into a guided tour of what real progress looks like in music: narrative albums released one single at a time, a premiere on a tastemaking YouTube channel, the first vinyl in decades, live shows rebooted, and a charity compilation that rallied more than 56 artists and topped Bandcamp charts.

We kick off with Year of the Fall’s Love on a Dying Planet, a story-driven release rolled out over three years with visuals to match, proof that serial storytelling can build anticipation without sacrificing cohesion. Valley Lights shares the strategy behind pairing a high-energy track with an “epic” video and aiming at a niche platform where the audience actually lives. From there, we read wins from makers who finished EPs, returned after long hiatuses, and found their voice again through disciplined routines, remote collaborations, and careful channel selection.

Community power runs through every segment. Aisle9’s 'Outrun the Sun' shows how curation and cause can galvanise a scene while delivering real impact. We spotlight live momentum from Dream Commander, a Berserk-inspired remix from Typherian, and the sharpening of craft from Jay Cali, whose focus on foundation and consistency unlocked better writing and vocal work. I also share personal milestones, YouTube monetisation, a surge in monthly listeners, and 600+ first-week podcast downloads, to unpack what sustained output and simple marketing rhythms can do.

If you’re planning 2026 goals, this is your blueprint: ship small and often, collaborate with intent, and choose channels where your genre thrives. Subscribe, share this with a producer friend, and leave a review with your biggest win of 2025. What are you building next?
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Support the show
Ways to connect with Marc:
Book your FREE Music Breakthrough Strategy Call
Radio-ready mixes start here - get the FREE weekly tips
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