iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

~ @tildesounds.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Reposted by Ian Stewart

Really appreciate the replies so far. One thing im hoping is that we can get more so that we can start looking at the differences between subsets of data. E.g. we only have 40 entries by full-time audio professionals so far. Take the survey: forms.gle/u2Wr9pezJPC2...

stat showing that 15.2% of the people entering are full time audio profesionals

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Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 25/02/2026

I don’t know if I’ve ever heard a more apt description of us than “dynamics Ian” and “mid-side Ian” 🤣 reposting now

Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 22/04/2025

It’s funny how program-specific certain bits of #audiomastering gear can be. I have a Buzz SOC-M I hadn’t used in ages and was starting to consider selling, and then along comes this lovely hybrid soundtrack album and I’ve used it in more than half the tracks. For now, it stays.

Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 05/03/2025

It has just occurred to me that it must be very muddy for a while after an ice age…

Ok, that’s kinda interesting. I was just talking to someone yesterday about a way to visualize LRA over time and I can show that in WaveLab, but this could be helpful. Cheers :)

The most solid center, adjustable image width on one fader 👌🏻 I’m a mastering engineer, but I’ll never let go of my VP88.

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At the end of the day, even if you get the OG quality stuff, there’s never been a better or more affordable time to make music. Anyway, I digress. M/S is the shit.

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…manufacturing, or labor costs. We see similar things in the plugin market too. It just feels intellectually lazy to me. And look, if you can copy something and also make meaningful improvements in ergonomics, interface, performance, features, etc. that’s one thing, but that is so rarely the case.

More to the point though, it just irks me that that’s where the industry is at. Rather than innovate and bring something new to market, we clone something that has already made all its R&D money back ages ago, which means the only ways to make it cheaper are to cut corners on materials…

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I hear ya, and I’ve been there. And also, in 2025 is it? I can barely get out of the grocery store with food for a few days for less than $100, so for a mic that’s built like a tank and will literally last decades, with great customer support from a company that’s not going anywhere…

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My absolute favorite sounding stereo recording technique.

They make clones of SM58s now? Because a legit one is soooo expensive? What the actual eff. Not mad at you, but like, how is that where the industry is at?

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Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 18/02/2025

Is this in REAPER? Can it overlay other metrics like LRA and such now too?

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As successful as one can be in such an endeavor. The driveway is passable* *with all wheel drive and snow tires

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Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 17/02/2025

I’m not normally one to complain about cold or snow, but starting your day at 6AM with 2.5 hrs of snowblowing (kinda more like iceblowing) in -7° F weather is enough to change a guy’s mind…

A close-up selfie of a bearded man with snow and ice clinging to his facial hair. He is wearing a black beanie, blue ski goggles pushed up onto his forehead, and a heavy winter jacket. His eyes are wide open, and he has an intense expression with gritted teeth.

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Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 15/02/2025

As long as we’re making things up:

A digital map of the Boston area and the surrounding Massachusetts coastline, including Gloucester, Plymouth, and Cape Cod Bay. The Gulf of Maine label has been partially crossed out and replaced with ‘Boston’ in red handwriting, and Cape Cod Bay has been similarly altered to read ‘Bruins.’

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Sometimes it can be cool. Sometimes linear phase is the ticket. Sometimes a shelf (LP or MP) is better suited. Horses for courses and all that.

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Eek! Please be careful with minimum phase HPFs on the side channel!

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That can definitely happen when it’s pushed too far or the mix just doesn’t suit it in the first place. When done well – applied carefully, paying attention to phase interactions, etc. – it can sound very transparent IMO.

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Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 05/02/2025

I don’t blame you, but can you articulate why?

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How well do you really know mid/side processing? Do you understand the role phase and polarity have in stereo placement? Did you realize a hard-panned signal is 50% mid, 50% side? For [much] more, check out the chat I had with Marc Matthews! youtu.be/7XjHqKAxqas?... #audiosky #midside

youtu.be

165: What is Mid-Side EQ? Enhance Your Stereo Image with Ian Stewart | @FlotownMastering

YouTube video by Marc Matthews Producer

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Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 29/01/2025

Don’t neglect to check minimum vs linear phase. They are uniquely different tools.

Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 22/01/2025

We saw Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn. Through my childhood telescope we were even able to make out Saturn’s rings and 4 of Jupiter’s moons. There was much mutual excitement and rejoicing. Huzzah!

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Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 22/01/2025

Inducted the kid into the astronomy club last night. On the coldest night of the year (-12 F/-24.5 C), we went outside, at her urging, to look at the planetary alignment. #spacesky #astronomysky

A small telescope mounted on a tripod sits in the snow at night, positioned in front of a tan-colored garage with white trim. The scene is dimly lit, with dark trees visible in the background. Hunched over, a child dressed all in black peers into the telescope.

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Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 12/01/2025

Welcome! Basically it searches for skeets that contain “M/S” “mid/side” “mid-side” etc. and populates a feed with them. You can follow the feed to see what it picks up, but all you have to do to chime in is say the magic words :)

Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 07/01/2025

Put on my mix hat for the first time in ages this week and am really loving what I’m getting out of Soothe2 as a side chain-able space-maker/unmasker. What other fun updates to old techniques are people using these days? #audiosky #mixing

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Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 01/01/2025

Gotcha, so probably a downward expander/gate? In that case check out FabFilter Pro-G and Sonible smart:gate.

Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 01/01/2025

Probably. What’s the drum machine make/model?

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Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 01/01/2025

Oh man, so many. First of all, are we talking upward or downward expansion? FabFilter Pro-MB can cover most bases, but depending on your application I may have other suggestions.

Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 31/12/2024

+1 to my tally of things I’ve “fixed” by taking them apart, looking thoughtfully at them, testing an impedance or two, and putting them back together. Also, huzzah for not having to buy a new dishwasher or even any parts.

Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 24/12/2024

‘‘’Twas the day before Xmas (and Hanukkah), and all through the house not a creature was stirring… except Fizz, who stared into your soul with demon eyes, ready to unleash pandemonium.” #happyholidays #dogsky #catsky

A cozy Christmas scene with two dogs sleeping on a dark gray couch - one dark-colored and one light-colored dog snuggled under a plush brown blanket. In the background, a decorated Christmas tree with silver ornaments and white lights stands near a window, and three Christmas stockings hang on the wall - one plaid, one patterned, and one black with fur trim.

A close-up of a Christmas tree decorated with silver glitter ornaments and festive decorations, including a Grinch ornament wearing a Santa hat and several Rhode Island specific ornaments. A black and white cat with bright eyes peeks out from within the tree branches, and a gift bag with a tree design is visible in the corner.

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Bonus points if you use forward slashes in your file names so that it fucks with file paths on their system.

Hey kids, if you really wanna piss your mastering engineer off, here’s a top tip: After hearing their 4th master based on your 2nd mix tell them you’re sending a 3rd mix, but actually tweak their 4th master and send it back to them relabeled in your usual format.

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Pleasure! If you have a mixed phase EQ like DMG Equilibrium or the iZotope Ozone EQ, you can even really dial it in to taste.

If you haven’t already, experiment with the differences between minimum and linear phase in m/s. It makes a big difference, especially in headphones.

I suppose. They have a whole team of very clever people though that have found ways to update other things I didn’t think would come due for ages 🤷🏻‍♂️ I’m sure there’s something market driven behind it though.

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I love that it’s simple on the surface but that the advanced controls allow some pretty deep stuff. I basically just want a (much) bigger advanced panel :P

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Peak vs RMS detection, dual peak and RMS release… I’ll think of more I’m sure.

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Call me old fashioned but I still think there’s room for distinct dynamic EQ and multiband dynamics processors.

Oh I dunno, I think different compression styles like Pro-C, variable band GR linking, a proper wet-into-dry blend, simultaneous mid/side processing with variable link, and probably a few other things I can’t think of off the top of my head would be nice :)

Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 15/12/2024

So like is @fabfilter.bsky.social Pro-MB dead? No updates in over 11 years but in the meantime there have been 3 versions of Pro-Q, 2 of Pro-R, and many other updates. @danworrall.bsky.social, should I stop hoping?

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Some of my favorite “crisps” (chips, not chips=fries, what is this language?), on this side of the pond are salt and black pepper, totally delish. Now I want crunchy things.

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Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 15/12/2024

Now these are the engineering solutions I expect from you, Dan!

Ian Stewart @flotownmastering.com · 15/12/2024

Yeah, the variable slope thing is also cool, but I just grabbed TDR Infrasonic (which is incredible) so also don’t feel the need there.