This is Chapter 2 of Mixing Foundations – Saturation Explained: Everything you need to now about Saturation. Learn the differences between transformers, tape, and tubes, discover what harmonics are, and learn how to add warmth and depth to your mixes. (12–15 minute read)

The Importance of Saturation in Mixing

Saturation is so vital in mixing. I can tell you in half a second whether a producer or mixer is skilled or not with their use of saturation. More often than not, I bet the tracks that you really love have high-quality, thoughtful, and intentional saturation. But what exactly is saturation?

I always explain it like this: 

Someone went to the kitchen one day to warm up bread. They warmed it up in a pan on the stovetop and left it on too long, which caused it to change color and become hard and crunchy. But then they tried it, and it was incredible.  

When you take soft bread and toast it, its molecular makeup changes from soft and bland to sweet and crunchy. That's the sa...

This is the Introduction to Mixing Foundations—My personal experiences that laid the groundwork for our world-famous courses on saturation, compression, EQ, reverb, and much more. (8–10 minute read)

About the Author
Daniel Wyatt is a multi-genre, Emmy-nominated, Platinum-selling music producer, engineer, and educator based on the East Coast with over 40 years of professional experience.

My First Official Major Record Label Release

Recording the Album - A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield

Easily the most cherished memory of my music journey to date was flying to Atlanta to Curtis Mayfield's house and recording Curtis Mayfield's vocals for a track that I co-produced and played congas on for a band that I co-founded, Repercussions. I think I literally remember every second of that day - and I can replay the entire "movie" memory from start to finish.

That track became a single and was a cover of "Let's Do It Again" and was featured as track 3 on the Tribute to Curtis Mayfield Album th...