Mixed by Adam Bentley (guitarist and producer for Arch Echo), this session is a masterclass in managing dense, layered arrangements without sacrificing punch or articulation. Known for his ability to inject clarity into high-information mixes, Bentley’s work balances polyrhythms, aggressive guitar tones, and synthetic textures with pristine instrumentation. Key techniques include parallel processing on snares and overheads to retain precision during high-speed playing, multiband saturation for tone sculpting on lead guitars, and focused automation to keep compositions dynamic and evolving across rapid transitions.

This session’s real challenge lies in establishing sonic separation across similarly voiced mids, orchestrating midside width without phasing, and translating dynamic range without losing impact. From the interplay of clean-toned arpeggios with syncopated kick patterns to how you handle group bus compression on drum and synth busses, there’s depth in every detail.

Download the multitracks for “Color Wheel” and dive into a brutally honest mix scenario. You’ll sharpen your skills in frequency management under complexity, control dynamics across odd-time grooves, and rethink how you create depth in a hybrid prog/fusion production environment. This one’s not easy—but that’s the point.