Architects’ Peak Metalcore Guitar Tone: Henrik Udd’s Mix Insights

Architects. The name alone conjures images of colossal riffs and meticulously crafted metalcore anthems. Their guitar tones are legendary – tight, aggressive, and perfectly seated in a dense mix. Ever wondered how they achieve that signature sound? We got a peek into the methods of producer Henrik Udd, the wizard behind some of their killer records, as he shared some gold nuggets about his mixing process. While there’s no single magic bullet, Henrik’s approach combines smart fundamentals with some unique processing tricks. You can check out the full session here. Let’s dive into a few techniques he uses to sculpt those massive guitar sounds and more!

Subtle Panning for a Cohesive Wall of Sound

When you’re dealing with multiple layers of heavy guitars, getting them to sound huge without becoming a mess is key. One of Henrik’s foundational moves is surprisingly simple but effective: strategic panning. For elements like his “Overhead Monster” or “Guitar Monster” tracks – those big, characterful layers – he avoids hard-panning them 100% left or right.

Instead, he pulls them in just a tiny bit. Why? He finds it makes everything sound more cohesive, more “together.” This subtle tweak can prevent your wide elements from feeling disconnected from the core of the mix, helping to create a more unified and impactful stereo image. It’s a small detail, but in the world of dense metal mixes, these little things add up.

Creative Saturation and Character with Unconventional Tools

Raw guitar tones are just the starting point. Adding character and vibe often comes from creative saturation and an open mind towards your plugin choices.

The Surprising Power of Stock Lo-Fi

You don’t always need the latest, flashiest plugin to get cool textures. Henrik has been known to reach for the stock Pro Tools Lo-Fi plugin for some interesting effects. While he mentioned using it extensively on DI vocals in certain parts, the principle is widely applicable for adding grit.

This plugin isn’t just about making things sound “lo-fi” in the traditional sense. Henrik pointed out that it can seriously boost a signal – like by a whopping 40dB! – and in doing so, it introduces a healthy dose of compression, almost bordering on distortion. It’s a fantastic example of how a seemingly basic tool can be pushed to create unique, aggressive sounds. Don’t sleep on your stock plugins; experiment and see what hidden gems you can uncover!

Vintage Filters for Saturated Sweetness

When it comes to shaping tones, especially guitars, Henrik sometimes turns to older, perhaps less conventional, filter plugins. He described using an “old overpriced plugin” specifically for its unique filter characteristics, which he feels impart a desirable saturated quality. This sounds a lot like how many producers use vintage-style parametric EQs, such as the Waves Q-series (like the Q10), not just for cutting or boosting, but for the subtle color their filter types can add.

He even mentioned a “golden value” of around 1.7 for a particular parameter on these filters when dialing in sounds on guitars and other elements. This could be a Q-factor setting or a specific gain amount on a favored band that consistently delivers the saturation he’s after. It’s a great reminder to explore your EQ tools beyond basic cuts and boosts; some EQs are fantastic for adding that special harmonic sauce.

Interestingly, while praising its sound, Henrik humorously noted that this particular plugin interface could be frustratingly “tweak-y” and inconvenient – a relatable sentiment for anyone who’s wrestled with older software!

Strategic EQ and Dynamics for Clarity and Punch

Once you’ve got your core tones and saturation, it’s all about refining them with precision EQ and dynamic control to make them sit perfectly in the mix.

Taming Frequencies without Losing Aggression

Every producer knows the pain of harshness or mud building up in heavy guitars. Henrik’s approach to tackling this involves careful, surgical EQ. A key part of his process is to listen at a pretty low volume when searching for problematic frequencies. Why? Because, as he puts it, you can hear all the “shit” much clearer at lower levels.

He then uses notch filters to attenuate these offensive frequencies. However, he’s cautious not to go overboard. If you get too aggressive with your cuts, you can easily suck the life and aggression right out of the tone. It’s a balancing act – clean up the problems without sacrificing the power. For more on this, check out these EQ strategies for modern metal.

Adding Back Body and Weight

After surgical cuts, it’s common for a sound to feel a bit thin. Henrik addresses this by then focusing on putting “a little bit more body” back into the instrument. This usually means finding those pleasing lower-mid or low frequencies that contribute to the fullness and power of the guitars and giving them a gentle boost.

Multiband Compression for Control (Waves C4)

For overall dynamic shaping and frequency-specific control, Henrik employs tools like the Waves C4 multiband compressor. He described using it to compress a lot of the high-end – even if there isn’t a massive amount of sonic information up there, this can help tame any fizziness or harshness that pokes through.

Crucially, he also uses it to control the low end, sometimes compressing it “a little bit too much” to ensure it’s tight and focused. This multiband processing, especially on guitar busses or even “monster” layers, helps to glue things together and ensures that no particular frequency range gets out of hand, contributing to that polished, professional sound. Mastering metal compression often involves this kind of targeted approach.

Bringing It All Together: Learn from the Pros

Henrik Udd’s techniques for achieving Architects’ monumental guitar tones involve a blend of:

• Thoughtful Panning: Slightly narrowing wide elements for cohesion.
• Creative Saturation: Using tools like stock Lo-Fi plugins and characterful filter EQs.
• Precision EQ: Identifying and notching out problem frequencies at low volumes, then adding back body.
• Multiband Dynamics: Utilizing plugins like the Waves C4 for frequency-specific control.

These insights are gold for any producer looking to elevate their metal mixes. But imagine seeing how these concepts are applied in real-time, across an entire session, by the very producers who crafted these iconic sounds.

That’s exactly what you get with Nail The Mix. Each month, you gain access to the genuine multi-tracks from massive metal songs and watch world-class producers like Henrik Udd mix them from scratch, explaining every decision and technique. If you want to see how Henrik Udd crafts those peak Architects tones in full detail, you need to check out his exclusive Nail The Mix session. You can get access to the Architects NTM session with Henrik Udd here and truly dive deep.

Stop guessing and start learning the techniques that define modern metal. It’s time to unlock your sound beyond presets and see exactly how pros like Henrik Udd get these results.