JOIN ME FOR A SPECIAL 2.30 HOUR HIP-HOP MIXING MASTERCLASS WHERE YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO MIX HIP-HOP TO THE HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL LEVELS
 
CLASS TIMINGS
Sunday 12 April at 15:00 BST (class is approx 2.30 hours)
 
CLASS RECORDING
The class will be recorded and available to stream once the live class ends, with lifetime access
 
INCLUDED FREE - HIP-HOP PLUGIN PRESETS
The class also includes plugin presets specifically for hip-hop that you can use in your DAW for enhanced mixes. The presets will be sent to you once the class ends
 
CLASS AGENDA
 
1. Introduction & Mixing Mindset 
What makes hip-hop mixing unique
Beat-first vs vocal-first mixes
Vibe, clarity, and translation
Genre differences: boom bap, trap, drill, melodic rap
 
2. Session Prep & Static Balance 
Gain staging for modern hip-hop loudness
Choosing reference tracks for hip-hop
 
3. Powerful Drum Mixing
Kick & 808 relationship
Snare/clap presence in dense beats
Transient shaping vs compression
Drum bus saturation
Hi-hats: brightness without harshness
 
4. 808s & Low-End Control 
Tuning 808s to the key
EQ strategies for sub vs harmonics
Distortion for translation on small speakers
Sidechain techniques (musical and creative)
Mono low-end 
 
5. Vocals: Clarity, Consistency & Attitude 
Cleaning vocals 
Serial compression for rap vocals
De-essing 
EQ for presence over loud beats
Ad-libs and doubles placement
 
6. Vocal Effects & Space 
Delays vs reverbs in hip-hop
Slap delays, throws, and automation
Stereo widening for ad-libs
Keeping the lead vocal dry and forward
 
7. Beat & Sample Management 
Making room for vocals in busy beats
EQ carving vs arrangement fixes
Stereo placement of samples
Filtering and automation for movement
 
8. Bussing, Saturation & Glue 
Drum bus, music bus and master bus processing
Saturation for loudness and grit
Glue compression
Avoiding over-processing
 
9. Loudness, Headroom & Pre-Master 
Hip-hop loudness expectations
LUFS for streaming vs artist references
Clipping vs limiting
Exporting clean pre-masters
 
10. Common Mistakes & fixes
Muddy low end
Buried vocals
Over-saturated drums
Harsh top end
Chasing loudness too early
 
11. Q&A