Pre-mix audio analysis and problem detection for audio engineering. Runs Phantom MCP diagnostic tools on stems, catalogs issues by severity (dealbreaker/significant/moderate/minor), identifies frequency masking between stems, and produces a structured mix brief. Use this skill whenever the user wants to analyze audio stems or files before mixing, diagnose audio problems (phase issues, clipping, noise, hum, mud, harshness), assess recording quality, prepare a mix session overview, check if a mix is ready for mastering, or investigate why something "sounds wrong." Also use when the user provides WAV file paths and asks for analysis, quality checks, or problem identification -- even if they don't explicitly mention "diagnostics."
Deep expertise in audio effects for sound design and mixing. Covers distortion/saturation taxonomy, modulation effects, time-based processing, creative effect chains, and effects automation. Use this skill whenever the user wants to choose effects, design sounds, build effect chains, make creative processing decisions, add warmth or grit (saturation/distortion), set up reverb or delay, create specific sonic textures (ethereal, lo-fi, massive, underwater), understand the science behind effects (harmonics, comb filtering, all-pass filters), or automate effects for dynamic transitions. Also use when the user asks about making something "bigger," "wider," "warmer," or "more interesting" -- those are effects engineering questions even if they don't mention specific plugins.
Professional mastering methodology for audio engineering. Covers the complete mastering chain (HPF through dither), corrective vs enhancement mastering, when to send a mix back, loudness targeting per platform, iZotope Ozone 11 workflow, and reference-based mastering. Use this skill whenever the user wants to master a mix, prepare audio for distribution, target a specific loudness standard, compare against a reference track, decide whether a mix needs more work or is ready for mastering, deliver for streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube), CD, or vinyl, or make any mastering decision. Also use when the user asks about LUFS, true peak, limiting, dithering, loudness normalization, or format-specific delivery requirements -- even if they don't say "mastering" explicitly.
Professional mixing methodology for audio engineering. Guides through pre-mix analysis, phase checking, gain staging, EQ decisions, compression selection, spatial processing, and automation. Encodes the decision-making process of a senior mix engineer backed by Phantom MCP measurement tools. Use this skill whenever the user wants to mix stems or tracks, balance a mix, make EQ or compression decisions, set up signal chains, choose compressor types, solve frequency conflicts between instruments, set up spatial processing (reverb, delay, panning), automate volume or effects, or compare their mix against a reference. Also use when the user mentions muddy mixes, harsh frequencies, buried vocals, kick/bass conflicts, or any mixing problem -- even if they don't say "mix" explicitly.
Session setup methodology for Reaper DAW. Guides track hierarchy, bus routing, send/receive configuration, sidechain setup, and genre-specific session templates. Use this skill whenever the user wants to set up a new mixing session, organize tracks into folders and buses, create routing for sends and returns, build a session from a genre template, configure sidechain compression routing, set up color coding and naming conventions, or prepare render settings. Also use when the user has a mix brief from /phantom:audio-diagnostician and needs to translate diagnostic findings into session architecture decisions, or when they ask about Reaper-specific track setup, folder structures, or plugin routing -- even if they don't say "session setup" explicitly.