Just as I sat down for dinner with my wife and daughter last night, an Instagram notice popped up on my phone: the band Mt. Joy had tagged me in a post.
"OMG!" I shouted across the table, startling my family, "The Mt. Joy album just dropped– The one with the song I mixed– In The Middle, featuring Gigi Perez!! And they tagged me in their post!"
That's me, @danafrio, right there in the comments 🙋🏻♂️
I was floored. Mt. Joy didn’t just tag everyone—they posted a screenshot of all the credits: musicians, producers, mixers, engineers… the whole crew. And they included a heartfelt note thanking their “village of talented, generous people” who helped bring the album to life.
Talk about CLASS! 🎩
Why am I telling you this?
Not just to celebrate a sick new release (though it is fun!), but to share 3 behind-the-scenes truths that I hope will seriously empower you, Reader.
1️⃣Like you, I work from a home studio.
Sure, I’ve picked up a few fancy mics and preamps over the years—but my core tools? Same as yours:
💻 Computer + DAW
🔊 A pair of honest monitors
👂 Ears + 🫃 Gut
That’s it. No magic gear. No million-dollar room. Just honest tools and trained instincts.
Every song I’ve mixed—multi-platinum hits and Billboard chart-toppers from SZA, The Avett Brothers, Smashing Pumpkins, Santana, Neil Diamond, Damien Rice—they were all mixed right here. In a regular ol’ bedroom. In a house built in the 1940s.
2️⃣All of my mixes are In The Box (ITB).
If you know me, you know I swear by faders. That’s why I often sign off emails with “Faders Forever!” I love the tactile feel and speed of physical faders under my fingers. With a mouse, you can only move one fader at a time.
The big console you see behind me on videos? It doesn’t pass ANY audio and it has no inherent sound. It’s just a controller. 1’s and 0’s, baby.
Take it from me: you can create any sound you want inside that DAW you already own.
3️⃣ That mastering credit on the Mt. Joy album?
Yep. Done in the same home studio.
I have huge respect for the mastering engineers I work with and don’t call myself one—but let’s just say… over the years, a lot of my “loud band ref” mixes have ended up being the version that makes the album.
If you’ve read this far, you might be sitting there thinking:
“Cool story Dana, thanks for the humble-brag… but how do I actually LEARN to do that stuff?”
Glad you asked.
🎛️ ENTER: Music MixLAB — a 4-week guided mixing journey starting this Monday, June 2nd.
You, me, and a crew of fellow Mix Protégés will all be mixing the same song at the same time—each of us working individually, but together, step-by-step.
No fluff. No guesswork. Just my exact mix process—broken down into bite-sized, repeatable steps—so you can finally crush that imposter syndrome and actually enjoy mixing.
✅ By Day 1: Know exactly where you stand
✅ By Week 4: Have a repeatable system, major clarity, and mixes you’re proud to share
Enrollment is open now and closes Sunday, June 1st at 11:59pm.
Spots are limited!
This is the very first time I’m offering this course—so yes, there may be a few bumps or tech quirks as we go. But that’s where the Founding Member magic comes in.
When you join this inaugural session, you’ll get:
🎯 The lowest price this course will ever be offered
🛠️ A chance to help shape the program as we build it together
🚀 Early access to new features and upcoming bonus content
If you were working with me 1-on-1, 3 hours a week, it’d run you about $3,000/month.
Joining MixLAB now as a Founding Member?
Just $224.
That’s less than I charge for a single hour—and you get a full month of hands-on guidance, community, and growth.
Our first session kicks off Monday, June 2nd at 11am PST, and the community is already live and buzzing.
Together, we’ll be mixing a mid-tempo acoustic song by one of our very own Mix Protégé members—featuring guitar, bass, drums, vocals, and some light overdubs. It’s a beautiful track, not too many audio tracks, and perfect for building your skills and confidence as a mixer.
I can’t wait to dive in with you and help your mixes soar. 🦅
Let’s make some noise,
Dana
PS ~ There's a Course Outline pdf available on the registration page if you'd like to learn more