BROOKLYN ― Since discovering NUGEN Audio, Brooklyn-based Mixing and Mastering Engineer Nick “Squids” Squillante, who today specializes in Dolby Atmos and surround mixing, finds himself turning to the brand’s Halo Upmix plug-in for almost all projects that come his way. From mixing singles and live performances in Atmos for bands and artists like Mötley Crüe, The HU and Sam DeRosa, to incorporating the plug-in as part of his teachings and professional discussions, Halo Upmix has become an essential component of his workflow.
“When I initially came across Halo Upmix, I was immediately blown away, but over this past year, I’ve become so much more familiar with the plug-in and all it has to offer,” says Squillante. “After getting comfortable with all the parameters, figuring out exactly how it works and all of its little tricks, Halo Upmix has become an absolute staple for me.”
Squillante recently incorporated Halo Upmix in an Atmos mix for Mötley Crüe’s lead single, “Dogs of War.” As the sole Atmos mixer on the song, he explains how working from stereo tracks can sometimes lead to difficulties. “You don’t always have the option of doing exactly what you want in instances like this; it all depends on the stereo mix and how the stereo mixer printed the stems,” he explains. “Oftentimes you receive grouped stems ― for example, the guitars may all come in one and keys in another, but you never want to waste the Atmos space. That’s where NUGEN’s Halo Upmix comes in, it provides full control and allows for expansion.”
While Halo Upmix is most commonly used for static elements of a song, Squillante says the plug-in also has a “surprising” effect on lead vocals. “In stereo, I love to have the dry vocal shoot out of multiple speakers at similar volumes. It provides a sense of intimacy, like it’s right inside your head. With Halo Upmix, I can basically get that same effect, while also taking the signal with the wetter effects and wrapping it around behind you.”
For Squillante, Halo Upmix also played a pivotal role when it came time to create Atmos mixes of the Mongolian metal band, The HU’s live performance at Glastonbury. “I was excited to make it feel as though at-home listeners were part of the live audience,” says Squillante. “I staged the majority of close-mic’ed signals up front, shifted more reverberation in the rears and had the crowd behind and up to the side of the listener. This way, when audiences turn around with the spatial effect on, it feels like they are standing in the crowd and can hear the back of the venue as well. This was another instance where I was given a lot of stereo stems and I didn’t get to pick and choose, so of course, Halo Upmix helped me a ton in getting that effect and feel that I intended.”
NUGEN’s Halo Upmix was also a major point of reference at a Nashville-based seminar, where Squillante presented an educational talk about upmixing in the world of Atmos. “During the session, I presented the mix I created for the artist Sam DeRosa. I explained that my goal was to take the speakers out of the equation. In most mixes, the main elements can usually be found in the front left/right or wide speakers, with some sprinkles in the rears. My approach differs by creating more of an immersive bubble. In other words, I can take something as simple as a kick drum and make it feel like it’s coming out of every speaker. Halo Upmix is the key to that.”
Squillante began his career at the renowned Electric Lady Studios as an assistant engineer to seven-time GRAMMY® Award-winning mixer Michael Brauer. During his time at the studio, Squillante worked with artists such as Bon Jovi, Frank Ocean and Mumford & Sons, to name a few. Since then, Squillante has independently amassed hundreds of millions of total streams and acquired Dolby Atmos certification, while operating from his own Dolby-listed 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos mixing suite.
For more information about NUGEN Audio products, visit: https://nugenaudio.com.