Visual context for D&B producer Etherwood to join B-Side Project.
The global electronic music community is buzzing with the latest development from the UK remix competition landscape. As mastering engineers at SM Mastering, we closely monitor industry events that shape the future of electronic music production. This is why we are incredibly excited to analyze the technical and creative ramifications of the industry-shaking announcement that D&B producer Etherwood to join B-Side Project is now official. The B-Side Project, which has been bridging the gap between global remixers and musicians since 2009, is steering its focus toward UK students for its 2018/19 run, providing an unprecedented platform for emerging talent.
With the official confirmation that D&B producer Etherwood to join B-Side Project is moving ahead, UK colleges have a unique opportunity to expose degree-level students to professional-grade stems. Up to 20 academic institutions across England, Scotland, and Wales are participating in this cycle. Students will have the rare privilege of remixing a track from Etherwood’s critically acclaimed album In Stillness, released via Med School/Hospital Records. This initiative provides a real-world testing ground for advanced mixing and mastering methodologies that we advocate for daily at the SM Mastering Audio Articles platform.
The Technical Impact: D&B Producer Etherwood to Join B-Side Project
Understanding the sonic landscape of modern liquid drum & bass is essential for any producer aiming to win this competition. Etherwood is renowned for his lush, atmospheric pads, organic instrumentation, and clean, rolling sub-bass. When preparing stems because D&B producer Etherwood to join B-Side Project is launching this autumn, student producers must pay meticulous attention to dynamic range and spectral balance. Utilizing advanced spectral shapers and dynamic EQs from developers like iZotope can help in taming harsh high-mid frequencies while preserving the emotional weight of the original acoustic elements.
Additional product view and interface angle for D&B producer Etherwood to join B-Side Project.
To help participating students optimize their project setups, the technical team at SM Mastering has compiled a list of recommended tools for tackling a high-fidelity remix of this nature:
| Name | Use | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| iZotope Ozone 11 | Mastering & Spectral Control | $399 | 4.8 / 5.0 |
| Ableton Live 12 | Creative Remixing & Warping | $439 | 4.9 / 5.0 |
| FabFilter Pro-Q 3 | Precision Equalization | $169 | 4.9 / 5.0 |
| Oeksound Soothe2 | Dynamic Resonance Suppression | $219 | 4.7 / 5.0 |
Practical Studio Workflow Tips for Liquid D&B Remixing
When working on your submission, keep these technical workflow recommendations in mind to ensure your remix stands out to the elite panel of judges:
- Control the Sub-Bass: Liquid D&B relies heavily on a clean low-end. Keep your sub-bass in mono below 90 Hz and use sidechain compression keyed to the kick drum to prevent frequency masking.
- Preserve Acoustic Transient Detail: Etherwood’s tracks often feature delicate acoustic guitars, pianos, and vocals. Avoid over-limiting your instrument groups; instead, use parallel compression to add density without destroying transients.
- Mastering Headroom: Ensure your final mix peaks between -6 dBFS and -3 dBFS. This leaves adequate headroom for mastering engineers to apply final polish without introducing digital distortion.
Implementing these workflow tips is critical, especially now that the news that D&B producer Etherwood to join B-Side Project has set the bar so high. The judging panel includes industry heavyweights like Hospital Records producer Nu:Tone, legendary mastering engineer Luca Pretolesi of Studio DMI, DJ/producer Shadow Child, Claudio Passavanti, and Sub Pop founder Bruce Pavitt. With such a high-caliber jury assessing the final masters, your technical execution must be absolutely flawless.
Conclusion
The announcement that D&B producer Etherwood to join B-Side Project represents a monumental bridge between academic music courses and the professional realm. By offering students access to world-class stems and an elite panel of judges, the project continues to foster high standards of technical excellence in music production. At SM Mastering, we look forward to hearing how these young producers reshape Etherwood’s signature liquid sounds into future club anthems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What stems are provided for the B-Side Project competition?
Students will receive official stems from a track off Etherwood’s album In Stillness. These stems will be sent directly to participating UK colleges at the start of the autumn semester when remix creation officially begins.
Who is eligible to enter this specific remix competition?
For the 2018/19 cycle, the competition is specifically open to degree-level students attending up to 20 participating colleges across England, Scotland, and Wales.
What criteria will the judges look for in the winning remix?
The judging panel, which features top-tier producers and mastering engineers, will evaluate submissions based on artistic creativity, arrangement, mix clarity, low-end translation, and overall technical execution.
Written by SM Mastering
Official content on sound engineering, mixing, mastering, and advanced electronic production by SM Mastering.