I noticed this interesting discussion in February 2026 FTM Day 2 replay about how we can reach the same LUFS level yet end up with completely different results depending on how we get there. Scenario 1: Forcing the Foundation Toward the LUFS Target In this approach, pushing the foundation harder into the limiter to reach the desired LUFS level causes the limiter to reduce dynamic range. It does this by raising the sustain closer to the transient peaks, shrinking the space between the sustain and the transients. As a result, we LOSE DEPTH and the mix sounds flat. Scenario 2: Adding Low-End to the Sustain of the Foundation to Reach LUFS Target Instead of squeezing dynamics to get louder, this approach increases perceived loudness by enhancing the low-end energy in the sustain. In this approach, we DON'T LOSE DEPTH because the transient-to-sustain relationship stays intact. Depth is preserved! Loudness comes from fullness, not limiting.

I had to share this… So I just discovered the mud recipe: 1.Take one chord progression. 2.Copy/paste it to multiple instruments 3.Keep everything in the same octave 4.Mix… and wonder why it sounds like a …. (Very bad word) Yeah… but I’ve been doing EXACTLY that 😱 I….. AM…… SO….. SHOCKED…. Turns out it’s not a mixing issue. It’s a production issue. But I had no idea that digging into harmony and arrangement would reveal this.