Ian StewartEvery podcast appearance, updated as new ones drop

Ever wondered why engineers intentionally add noise to audio? In this episode of Inside the Mix , returning guest, mastering engineer and Berklee professor Ian Stewart, breaks down what dither is, why it’s used, and when to apply it in your music production workflow. Through clear explanations and real audio demos, Ian demonstrates how dither replaces digital artefacts with smooth, barely noticeable noise, preserving details such as reverb tails and low-level audio that would otherwise be distorted during bit depth reduction. You’ll learn: Do I need to dither when exporting a 24-bit file to a 16-bit file? Can skipping dither cause distortion in quiet passages? When should you use dither in mastering? Whether you’re mixing in 32-bit float or exporting for streaming, this episode explains how audio dither helps preserve quality during final delivery and when it’s best to skip it. Links mentioned in this episode : Follow Ian Stewart 32-Bit Float Files Explained Goodhertz Good Dither Izotope RX 11 Wavelabs 30th Anniversary Send me a message Support the show Ways to connect with Marc : If you'd like a second set of ears on your mix or workflow, you can book a no-pressure chat here Radio-ready mixes start here - get the FREE weekly tips Follow Marc's Socials : Instagram | YouTube | Synth Music Mastering Thanks for listening!! Try Riverside for FREE

Confused about which audio sample rate to choose for your music? Whether you're recording your first track or mastering for Dolby Atmos, knowing the difference between 44.1kHz, 48kHz, and 96kHz is more than technical—it’s essential to how your music sounds and where it ends up. In this episode of Inside the Mix , mastering engineer and Berklee professor Ian Stewart returns to demystify one of the most misunderstood elements in music production: digital audio sample rates . We answer common questions like: What is a sample rate in audio production? Should I use 44.1kHz or 48kHz when mixing? Does a higher sample rate improve sound quality? What sample rate should I use for streaming or mastering? Ian explains the Nyquist-Shannon theorem , how aliasing impacts your mix, and why 48kHz is the new practical standard, from YouTube to Bluetooth devices to Dolby Atmos. Plus, we discuss how higher sample rates give your plugins more headroom for harmonic generation and cleaner processing. Don’t miss this one if you’re serious about choosing the best sample rate for your music . And stay tuned, next episode we dive into dither. Links mentioned in this episode : Follow Ian Stewart Send me a message Support the show Ways to connect with Marc : If you'd like a second set of ears on your mix or workflow, you can book a no-pressure chat here Radio-ready mixes start here - get the FREE weekly tips Follow Marc's Socials : Instagram | YouTube | Synth Music Mastering Thanks for listening!! Try Riverside for FREE