The CLASS-UP™ Method
Recreate the Beatles' vintage sound in your own home studio
Want to know exactly how I record? Get the CLASS-UP™ Method — the exact microphone choices, compressor and EQ values per instrument, arrangement rules, and mixing logic I use myself, reverse-engineered from 15+ years studying how The Beatles made their records, translated into settings you can use today on any modern DAW.
Every number in this method is one I actually use. Nothing here is theoretical.
Different from the gear videos: those show you the equipment and how I set it up on camera. This is the written system of exact values I apply once the gear is already running — EQ, compression, arrangement, mixing, mastering.
What's Inside
10 modules, one complete workflow
- 00
Philosophy
What CLASS-UP™ is, why it works, and who it's built for.
- 01
Studio Setup
DAW choice, computer requirements, audio interfaces, the two-monitor trick, microphones and headphones.
- 02
Miking Techniques
Vocals without headphones, bass, acoustic and electric guitar placement, the "dead spot" technique.
- 03
Compression
Exact attack/release/threshold/ratio values per instrument, plus the closest Altec RS124 and Fairchild 660 plugin clones.
- 04
Equalization
Per-instrument cuts that make vocals sit in front of any mix, and how to recreate the Abbey Road Presence Box.
- 05
Ambience & Color
Plate reverb and pre-delay, slapback echo, ADT recreation, tape distortion — used the way EMI engineers used them.
- 06
Performance
Nut height, playing "in the pocket," song-structure dynamics, why copy-paste kills a recording.
- 07
Arrangement
The LCR frequency-separation rule, arranging piano and guitar parts that sing on their own.
- 08
Mixing
Why you mix in mono first, a full LCR mixing example, and how to get a drum sound that never falls apart in phase.
- 09
Mastering
The exact two-plugin mastering chain I use, with settings.
- ＋
Bonus: The Cheat Sheet
Every numeric value from the method — compression and EQ settings per instrument — on a single printable reference page.
This is for you if
- You record at home and want a warmer, more analog result
- You're tired of generic "mixing tips" videos with no real numbers
- You want a repeatable process, not one-off tricks
This isn't for you if
- You want loop-based, modern pop/EDM production
- Your goal is a super-polished, ultra-modern digital sound rather than warm analog character
- You already have a mixing workflow you're fully happy with
Reference Only
The Cheat Sheet
$37
- Every compression and EQ value from the method, per instrument
- One printable reference page — no explanations, just numbers
- For producers who already understand the "why" and want the "what"
Everything
The Full CLASS-UP™ Method
$147
- All 10 modules — setup, miking, compression, EQ, ambience, performance, arrangement, mixing, mastering
- The full reasoning behind every setting, not just the number
- The printable Cheat Sheet included
Delivered instantly as a PDF after purchase.
Before You Buy
A few things worth knowing
What format is this in?
A written PDF guide. It's a reference method, not a video course — built to be read once and then kept open next to your DAW.
Does this require expensive gear?
No. The method is built around affordable, accessible tools — a single condenser microphone, an audio interface in the €80–180 range, and mostly free or low-cost plugins.
Will this work with my DAW?
Yes. The method is DAW-agnostic — the settings and techniques apply whether you use Logic Pro, GarageBand, Pro Tools, Ableton Live, or Cubase.
This method is the result of everything I've learned trying to understand how The Beatles actually made their records — I hope it saves you the years it took me to figure it out.
— Galeazzo Frudua
Questions? Write to donate@frudua.com