Ever wondered if you're tracking the right metrics in your music production journey? That nagging question—"Am I measuring what truly drives growth or just staying busy?"—led me to create something that transformed my creative process completely.

In this episode of Inside the Mix, I introduce the Producer Growth Scorecard—a free, gamified tool designed to help you track what actually moves the needle in your music career.

Whether you're trying to release a new track every six weeks or just break through creative ruts, this system helps you focus on the right production habits. Each task—like finishing a loop, mixing a track, or releasing a single—earns points toward a weekly goal. The target? 40 points per week. Simple, measurable, and motivating.

We’ll dive into how the scorecard works, how it ties your day-to-day activity to long-term output, and why it’s helping producers worldwide stay consistent and finish more music.

If you’ve ever asked, “How do I stay productive as a music producer?” or “What should I track to grow as an indie artist?”—this is the episode for you

Links mentioned in this episode:

Grab your FREE Producer Growth Scorecard

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Ways to connect with Marc:

Radio-ready mixes start here - get the FREE weekly tips

Grab exclusive access to BONUS content

Book your FREE 20 Minute Discovery Call

Follow Marc's Socials:

Instagram | YouTube | Synth Music Mastering

Thanks for listening!!

What if your go-to vocal de-esser plugin could do so much more?

In this episode, Marc Matthews and Tim Benson break down the creative power of de-essers and why they might be the secret weapon missing from your mix.

We kick things off with how de-essers work (spoiler: it’s more than just “s” sounds), before diving into smart, non-traditional de-esser techniques—like taming harsh cymbals, controlling boxy kick drums, and even smoothing out reverb tails and delay returns.

Can you use a de-esser on backing vocal buses? Is a de-esser better than dynamic EQ for harsh instruments? We answer these, share real-world wins (and mixing mistakes), and explain when less control = better results

If you've ever asked, “Should I use a de-esser on something other than vocals?” or “How do I stop overprocessing my mix?”—this one’s for you.

Whether you’re producing electronic vocals or mixing acoustic drums, you’ll leave this episode with actionable tricks to clean up harsh frequencies without killing vibe or tone.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Listen to 'Darklight' on Spotify

Listen to 'Future No More' on Spotify

Send me a message

Support the show

Ways to connect with Marc:

Radio-ready mixes start here - get the FREE weekly tips

Grab exclusive access to BONUS content

Book your FREE 20 Minute Discovery Call

Follow Marc's Socials:

Instagram | YouTube | Synth Music Mastering

Thanks for listening!!

Wondering how to grow monthly listeners on Spotify as an independent artist, without gimmicks or burnout? In this episode, I break down my journey from 300 to nearly 3,000 Spotify listeners in just six months using real-world strategies.

Learn why reducing SubmitHub costs led to more playlist features, how extending Facebook ads to three weeks boosted algorithmic reach, and why static images outperformed videos on my socials. I also share the powerful impact of genre consistency in building curator trust and break down my waterfall release strategy across four singles.

You'll also hear about unexpected growth after pausing paid ads and how Amazing Radio’s free rotation helped sustain exposure. Plus, I unpack the truth behind playlist submission gates and whether new followers actually stick around.

If you’ve searched “how to grow your Spotify audience without spending a fortune” or “do playlist gates actually help Spotify follower engagement,” this episode is for you.

Whether you're a bedroom producer or an established artist, this is your roadmap to smarter growth, without sacrificing your creativity or sanity.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Presave 'Darklight' on Spotify

Listen to Marc Matthews on Spotify

Listen to Dystopian Progressive House

Listen to Synthpop & Synthwave Breakthrough

Send me a message

Support the show

Ways to connect with Marc:

Radio-ready mixes start here - get the FREE weekly tips

Grab exclusive access to BONUS content

Book your FREE 20 Minute Discovery Call

Follow Marc's Socials:

Instagram | YouTube | Synth Music Mastering

Thanks for listening!!