Broadcast News
16/12/2021
Audio Mixer Justin Merrill Relies On NUGEN Audio For High-Profile Projects

While he began his music career recording with a band in high school, GRAMMY Award-winning Audio Mixer Justin Merrill found his sweet spot 'behind the glass', working his way through various music and video production projects.
Merrill, who is also co-CEO of his own production company, Happy Yeah! Productions, has worked with many top music producers in the business. Included among them is Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas and Raphael Saadiq, with whom he worked on film scoring and music engineering. It was those projects that turned Merrill on to audio post-production.
Today, he spends his time on personal music writing and recording projects, as well as mixing and production work for top network television networks. Merrill utilizes NUGEN Audio's Halo Upmix and Halo Downmix software and the ISL limiter on a regular basis. He also uses the brand's VisLM loudness meter as needed, and is currently diving into Paragon, NUGEN's latest offering.
Merrill said that he typically works on audio for a variety of reality programs, in addition to re-mixing network intros―updating them from stereo 5.1 to 7.1 surround and turns to NUGEN's Halo Upmix software to add space to the audio. "Halo Upmix is the one that I definitely use the most and, compared to any of the other upmixers I've seen, NUGEN's is the most versatile," Merrill says. "A lot of other plug-ins are very basic, you put something in, and you get something else out, whereas, with NUGEN, you can tell it which channels you actually want and move stuff around. It's definitely more useful than any other ones I’ve used, and I think it just sounds better than the other solutions, by far. It’s usually the first thing I go to if I ever get a mono or stereo file that I want to spread out easily."
Merrill said he also turns to Halo Upmix to mix stereo 5.1 audio to 7.1 or Atmos, which continues to become an industry standard. "If I have an Atmos mix, I'm definitely using Halo Upmix," he added. "I think Atmos music has some really cool potential. I love remixing music in Atmos, it just has so much more space and dynamic range to use."
Merrill will also tap Halo Downmix software on the occasions when he is working on 5.1 music stems, and it needs to go to a stereo output. "In those cases, I'll definitely reach for Downmix rather than trying to actually downmix it another way," he said. "It's also an easier process than asking a client to re-deliver stems, especially since they often don’t have them."
Merrill first came to know the NUGEN brand from working with its original ISL limiter plug-in on a particular project. Today, Merrill says he regularly turns to NUGEN's ISL plug-in―keeping it on his master buss at all times―and has most recently also started to use the brand’s VisLM loudness metering tool. "The ISL plug-in has the hardest True Peak wall that I've found, so far. With some of the other limiters, sometimes they’ll sneak over a little bit, but NUGEN's seems to be just a hard, True Peak limiter," he continued. "It also doesn’t really mess with the character of the sound; the plug-in just does what it needs to and is very transparent, which I really like. I've also used it on some music projects for parallel compression. It seems to mix in well with the original sounds. And, like I said, you can push it and it doesn’t really change the sound, character-wise."
nugenaudio.com
Merrill, who is also co-CEO of his own production company, Happy Yeah! Productions, has worked with many top music producers in the business. Included among them is Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas and Raphael Saadiq, with whom he worked on film scoring and music engineering. It was those projects that turned Merrill on to audio post-production.
Today, he spends his time on personal music writing and recording projects, as well as mixing and production work for top network television networks. Merrill utilizes NUGEN Audio's Halo Upmix and Halo Downmix software and the ISL limiter on a regular basis. He also uses the brand's VisLM loudness meter as needed, and is currently diving into Paragon, NUGEN's latest offering.
Merrill said that he typically works on audio for a variety of reality programs, in addition to re-mixing network intros―updating them from stereo 5.1 to 7.1 surround and turns to NUGEN's Halo Upmix software to add space to the audio. "Halo Upmix is the one that I definitely use the most and, compared to any of the other upmixers I've seen, NUGEN's is the most versatile," Merrill says. "A lot of other plug-ins are very basic, you put something in, and you get something else out, whereas, with NUGEN, you can tell it which channels you actually want and move stuff around. It's definitely more useful than any other ones I’ve used, and I think it just sounds better than the other solutions, by far. It’s usually the first thing I go to if I ever get a mono or stereo file that I want to spread out easily."
Merrill said he also turns to Halo Upmix to mix stereo 5.1 audio to 7.1 or Atmos, which continues to become an industry standard. "If I have an Atmos mix, I'm definitely using Halo Upmix," he added. "I think Atmos music has some really cool potential. I love remixing music in Atmos, it just has so much more space and dynamic range to use."
Merrill will also tap Halo Downmix software on the occasions when he is working on 5.1 music stems, and it needs to go to a stereo output. "In those cases, I'll definitely reach for Downmix rather than trying to actually downmix it another way," he said. "It's also an easier process than asking a client to re-deliver stems, especially since they often don’t have them."
Merrill first came to know the NUGEN brand from working with its original ISL limiter plug-in on a particular project. Today, Merrill says he regularly turns to NUGEN's ISL plug-in―keeping it on his master buss at all times―and has most recently also started to use the brand’s VisLM loudness metering tool. "The ISL plug-in has the hardest True Peak wall that I've found, so far. With some of the other limiters, sometimes they’ll sneak over a little bit, but NUGEN's seems to be just a hard, True Peak limiter," he continued. "It also doesn’t really mess with the character of the sound; the plug-in just does what it needs to and is very transparent, which I really like. I've also used it on some music projects for parallel compression. It seems to mix in well with the original sounds. And, like I said, you can push it and it doesn’t really change the sound, character-wise."
nugenaudio.com
Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.
16/01/2004
Optibase receives favourable award in arbitration with Merrill Lynch
Optibase has announced that a New York Stock Exchange-appointed arbitration panel has awarded the company $1.79 million, on a February 2002 claim rela
Optibase receives favourable award in arbitration with Merrill Lynch
Optibase has announced that a New York Stock Exchange-appointed arbitration panel has awarded the company $1.79 million, on a February 2002 claim rela
21/06/2018
NUGEN Audio Releases Six New Bundles For Music And Post-Production
NUGEN Audio has released six new bundles specifically designed to deliver its proprietary algorithms for music and post-production engineers. Three of
NUGEN Audio Releases Six New Bundles For Music And Post-Production
NUGEN Audio has released six new bundles specifically designed to deliver its proprietary algorithms for music and post-production engineers. Three of
26/04/2019
Marcelo Cyro Deploys NUGEN Audio's NUGEN Post Bundle
As a sound designer, re-recording mixer and partner at Panela Productions, Marcelo Cyro takes pride in telling stories with sound. When Cyro and his t
Marcelo Cyro Deploys NUGEN Audio's NUGEN Post Bundle
As a sound designer, re-recording mixer and partner at Panela Productions, Marcelo Cyro takes pride in telling stories with sound. When Cyro and his t
22/08/2024
Nugen Audio Celebrates 20th Anniversary
NUGEN Audio is celebrating 20 years of providing top-of-the-line audio editing plug-ins to audio professionals around the world. The Leeds, UK-based c
Nugen Audio Celebrates 20th Anniversary
NUGEN Audio is celebrating 20 years of providing top-of-the-line audio editing plug-ins to audio professionals around the world. The Leeds, UK-based c
11/04/2024
NUGEN Audio Unveils New Halo Suite
NUGEN Audio has announced its new Halo Suite, which will be on display at NAB 2024 (Booth SU2051). Ideal for immersive mixing projects, the bundle inc
NUGEN Audio Unveils New Halo Suite
NUGEN Audio has announced its new Halo Suite, which will be on display at NAB 2024 (Booth SU2051). Ideal for immersive mixing projects, the bundle inc
14/09/2022
NUGEN Audio Announces Immediate Delivery Of Halo Vision Plug-In
NUGEN Audio has announced the immediate availability of its new Halo Vision plug-in. Designed for 3D, surround and immersive audio workflows, Halo Vis
NUGEN Audio Announces Immediate Delivery Of Halo Vision Plug-In
NUGEN Audio has announced the immediate availability of its new Halo Vision plug-in. Designed for 3D, surround and immersive audio workflows, Halo Vis
03/05/2022
NUGEN Audio To Demonstrate Halo Vision Plug-In
NUGEN Audio will demo its forthcoming Halo Vision plug-in to attendees of the 2022 Media Production & Technology Show (Stand U100). Designed for 3D, s
NUGEN Audio To Demonstrate Halo Vision Plug-In
NUGEN Audio will demo its forthcoming Halo Vision plug-in to attendees of the 2022 Media Production & Technology Show (Stand U100). Designed for 3D, s
14/11/2018
NUGEN Audio Unveils Audio Management Batch Processor Extension
NUGEN Audio has unveiled its new Audio Management Batch processor extension (AMB) that adds enterprise functionality to its modular software. To be sh
NUGEN Audio Unveils Audio Management Batch Processor Extension
NUGEN Audio has unveiled its new Audio Management Batch processor extension (AMB) that adds enterprise functionality to its modular software. To be sh
14/11/2017
NUGEN Audio Previews New Version Of Halo Upmix
NUGEN Audio has confirmed that it will preview a new version of its Halo Upmix 3D Immersive Extension at Inter BEE 2017. The company will demonstrate
NUGEN Audio Previews New Version Of Halo Upmix
NUGEN Audio has confirmed that it will preview a new version of its Halo Upmix 3D Immersive Extension at Inter BEE 2017. The company will demonstrate
23/05/2017
NUGEN Audio Unveils New Halo Downmix
At NAB 2017, NUGEN Audio unveiled its new Halo Downmix, a highly creative solution for precise downmixing of feature-film and 5.1 mixes to stereo. Hal
NUGEN Audio Unveils New Halo Downmix
At NAB 2017, NUGEN Audio unveiled its new Halo Downmix, a highly creative solution for precise downmixing of feature-film and 5.1 mixes to stereo. Hal
09/09/2016
NUGEN Audio Introduces AMB Audio Management Batch Processor
NUGEN Audio has launched its AMB Audio Management Batch processor, a suite of modular software that will expedite a range of audio management tasks. A
NUGEN Audio Introduces AMB Audio Management Batch Processor
NUGEN Audio has launched its AMB Audio Management Batch processor, a suite of modular software that will expedite a range of audio management tasks. A
12/04/2016
NUGEN Audio Releases Halo Upmixer 9.1
NUGEN Audio will launch a new 9.1 option for the Halo Upmix plug-in at NAB 2016. The update will include overhead positioning and generates a 7.1.2 (D
NUGEN Audio Releases Halo Upmixer 9.1
NUGEN Audio will launch a new 9.1 option for the Halo Upmix plug-in at NAB 2016. The update will include overhead positioning and generates a 7.1.2 (D
02/09/2015
NUGEN Audio To Demo Halo Upmix
NUGEN Audio will showcase Halo Upmix, the first product based on the company's proprietary new processes for upmixing stereo audio to 5.1/7.1 surround
NUGEN Audio To Demo Halo Upmix
NUGEN Audio will showcase Halo Upmix, the first product based on the company's proprietary new processes for upmixing stereo audio to 5.1/7.1 surround
28/09/2004
Sonic introduces AuthorScript Music SDK for online music providers and audio software developers
Sonic Solutions, the world leader in DVD and CD creation software, has announced the release of its AuthorScript Music SDK. Specifically tuned to sati
Sonic introduces AuthorScript Music SDK for online music providers and audio software developers
Sonic Solutions, the world leader in DVD and CD creation software, has announced the release of its AuthorScript Music SDK. Specifically tuned to sati
26/03/2014
NUGEN Audio To Unveil Complete Family Of Solutions At NAB 2014
With a special emphasis on the emerging loudness requirements of American broadcasters, NUGEN Audio is presenting its complete family of industry-lead
NUGEN Audio To Unveil Complete Family Of Solutions At NAB 2014
With a special emphasis on the emerging loudness requirements of American broadcasters, NUGEN Audio is presenting its complete family of industry-lead