Processing Cheat Sheet
(workflow for fast, consistent mixes)
VOCALS
- Tone → Neve 1073
- Shape → SSL 4K B (light compression)
- Color → choose ONE
- Saturn 2 (warmth)
- Decapitator (grit)
- RC-20 (vibe)
- Compression
- 1176 (fast, 3–5 dB)
- LA-2A (slow, 2–3 dB)
- Cleanup → Pro-Q (cuts only)
- FX → sends
- Valhalla Room (tight)
- VintageVerb (long)
- Delay (1/4 or 1/8)
- Optional Polish → Neutron Sculptor (very light)
VOCAL BUS
- Neve 1073 (subtle drive)
- 1176 slow or API 2500 (gentle glue)
- Pultec EQP-1A (tiny sweetening)
DRUMS — INDIVIDUAL
Kick / Snare
- SSL 4K B (main tone + punch)
- Pro-Q (cleanup)
- Neutron Transient Shaper (if needed)
- 1176 (2–4 dB)
Overheads / Rooms
- Neve 1073
- Pro-Q (tame harshness)
- Light comp (API or LA-2A)
DRUM BUS
- SSL 4K B Bus Comp (2–4 dB)
- API 2500 (slow attack glue)
- Saturation (Saturn 2 or Decapitator)
- Ozone Imager (very subtle width)
BASS
- Neve 1073 (body)
- Pro-Q
- 1176 (fast)
- LA-2A (slow)
- Saturn 2 (harmonics)
ELECTRIC GUITARS
- Neve 1073
- Pro-Q
- (Optional) Light compression
- Color → choose ONE
- RC-20
- Saturn 2
- SketchCassette II
- (Optional) SSL 4K B for presence
ACOUSTIC GUITAR
- Neve 1073
- Pro-Q (remove boxiness)
- LA-2A or Avalon (light)
- Valhalla Room (small)
KEYS / PADS / SYNTHS
- Neve 1073 (warm) or SSL (bright)
- Pro-Q
- Movement → ShaperBox (if needed)
- Long/wide verb (VintageVerb or Supermassive)
MIX BUS (Pick ONE)
A) Neve Bus (warm + musical)
- 1073 (tiny drive)
- API 2500 (2–3 dB)
- Pultec EQP-1A
- Ozone Maximizer
B) SSL Bus (punch + clear)
- SSL 4K B comp (1–2 dB)
- Pultec EQP-1A
- Ozone Maximizer
PARALLEL CHAINS
Parallel Vocals
- 1176 all-buttons
- Decapitator (mix 10–20%)
Parallel Drums
- 1176 all-buttons or API 2500 (hard)
- Blend to taste
RULE OF THUMB
One color plugin per track.
No RC-20 + Decap + Sketch + Saturn stack.
Pick one. Commit.