#232: Fix Muddy Mixes With Arrangement, Not Plugins

Clearer mixes don’t come from buying more plugins, they come from making better decisions. In this episode of Inside The Mix, Marc Matthews sits down with returning guest Tim Benson (Aisle9) to show beginner and intermediate producers how to get clearer mixes using arrangement, sound selection, and simple processing choices that actually translate.

This episode is for independent producers struggling with muddy, crowded mixes that fall apart on headphones, Bluetooth speakers, or in the car. Marc and Tim explain why clarity starts at the source, writing interlocking drum and bass parts, choosing sounds that live in different frequency ranges, and being ruthless about what truly earns a place in the arrangement before reaching for EQ.

From there, they break down practical mix decisions that deliver immediate results: why gentle high-pass filtering and small cuts around 200–400 Hz often outperform aggressive boosts, how thinning stacked hats and shakers reduces ear fatigue, and when adding “air” helps—or hurts—your mix. Compression gets a reality check too, with clear guidance on attack and release settings that protect groove, where firm control matters (vocals, bass, snare), and when colour is more useful than gain reduction.

You’ll also learn simple systems you can repeat in every mix: sidechaining kick and bass for headroom, panning colliding parts apart, automating short dips for vocals, and using the one-mute test to identify what’s adding music or mud instantly.

TL;DR: Clear mixes aren’t about plugins—they’re about arrangement, sound choice, and small, intentional mix decisions that reduce mud and improve translation.

If this episode helped your mixes, follow the show and share it with one producer who’s fighting muddiness in their tracks.

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