Max Pote
Marketing Director & Bass Music Mentor
Professional bass music producer (Protohype) with a decade of releases on major labels and tour dates across North America. Max leads marketing at Futureproof and mentors students on sound design, songwriting, and getting tracks finished.
Posts by Max Pote
How to Mix and Master Dubstep: A No-Nonsense Guide
Most producers treat mixing and mastering like separate, intimidating stages. You finish your track, bounce it, and stare at a master bus wondering why everything sounds flat. I think that whole approach is broken. If you're processing your sounds right as you go, you're already most of the way there. This is from the final unit of my course "How to Make Dubstep with Protohype" on Futureproof. Here's the full breakdown of my approach, including my jar analogy, why transient shaping is non-negot
Parallel Compression Explained: NYC, Meat, and Spank Techniques for Bigger Mixes
Every mix has that moment where a channel sounds almost right but feels flat. You reach for the compressor, squeeze harder, and the punch goes away. Back off, and the body goes with it. That's the problem parallel compression was built to solve. The trick's pretty simple. Instead of making one compressor do two jobs, you split the signal. One path stays dry. The other gets smashed into oblivion. Then you blend them back together to taste, and you get the weight without killing the transients.
Serum 2 Spectral Mode: A Producer's Deep Dive
Serum 2 dropped and the one feature everyone keeps asking about is Spectral Mode. Fair enough. It's the biggest shift in how Serum makes sound since the original plugin hit, and once you understand what's actually happening under the hood, it opens up a whole new way to get weird with any sample you throw at it. Spectral synthesis isn't new. It's been around for a minute in other tools. But having it baked into Serum, with the workflow and the warp modes we already love, makes it genuinely usab
What are chord inversions and how do I use them in music production?
Learn chord inversions & voice leading for smoother transitions, fluid progressions, and richer harmonic textures in your music....
How do I make my chord progressions sound smoother?
Unlock smoother chord progressions with voice leading & inversions. Minimize note jumps for fluid, cohesive music compositions....
How does spectral synthesis work in Serum 2?
Master Serum 2's spectral synthesis. Deconstruct sounds into frequencies, use warp modes to create unique bass, leads, and FX....
What is voice leading and how does it improve my chords?
Master smooth voice leading & chord inversions to create fluid keyboard progressions. Optimize transitions, minimize hand jumps....
What does the scan knob do in Serum 2 spectral mode?
Unlock Serum 2's spectral power. Freeze samples for granular textures, morph snares into metallic bass with advanced scan and filter techniques....
Should I cut low end on the sides when mastering?
Master your low-end with M/S EQ! Cut sides at 160Hz to eliminate phasing, boost your sub, and maintain a healthy stereo field....
How do I make bass sounds from vocal samples or drums in Serum?
Master Serum 2 bass sound design! Turn vocals & drums into unique, metallic bass using spectral mode, scan knob & warp....
How do I set up Voxengo SPAN analyzer for mixing?
Master Voxengo SPAN settings for your mixes. Monitor midside stereo to prevent phasing, low-end stereo issues & ensure mix translation....
How do I fix phasing issues in my mix?
Master your tracks! Fix phasing issues and achieve powerful bass punch with mid-side EQ. Keep low-end frequencies in mono for clear mixes....
How do I preserve mono low end while adding stereo width to highs?
Master Serum 2 stereo width with Splitter Mid/Side. Preserve mono bass, spread highs, and avoid phase issues. Learn the technique!...
What is spectral synthesis and how does it work?
Master precise sound design using spectral synthesis in Serum 2. Create complex, evolving textures & soundscapes....
How do I use parallel processing on individual oscillators in a synth?
Enhance Serum 2 sound design! Learn parallel processing: route oscillators with F1 knobs to effect buses for deep pads & aggressive textures....
Should I cut low frequencies from the sides or the mid channel?
Expert mixing tip: Master bass mono-compatibility. Prevent phase cancellation, keep low end centered, & maintain stereo width in mixes....
How do I make my mix wider without affecting the drums?
Achieve incredible stereo width for your mixes with mid/side EQ. Enhance melodic elements, keep drums tight, and stay mono-compatible....
What synth waveforms can I use to make a reese bass?
Master advanced synth sound design & music production. Learn iconic reese bass techniques, phase beating, and all waveforms....
How do I fix phase cancellation on wide synths in mono?
Master mono compatibility for wide synths. Learn mid/side EQ & filtering techniques to fix phase cancellation & retain stereo width....
Why does my reese bass sound different at higher notes?
Master Reese bass! Discover why its wobble speeds up at higher pitches due to phase beating. Essential D&B synthesis skills....
How do I make a reese bass from scratch?
Learn to make the iconic reese bass from scratch! Master two methods using detuned saw waves for its signature phase-beating sound....
What sounds should I avoid using OTT on?
Master OTT compression. Avoid muddy sub-bass, over-processed drums & reverb issues. Learn creative uses for professional mixes....
How do I use OTT to make creative artifacts and textures for dubstep?
Elevate your sound design. Explore unconventional OTT techniques to create unique textures, samples, and background elements for dubstep....
Should I use OTT on sounds that already have reverb in them?
Optimize your mix: Master using OTT and reverb in the correct order. Get aggressive sounds and clean tails for pro-level production....