2. Maintain original sample rate and bit depth throughout.
-Digital processing causes a loss of bits. This fact is the reason why we record at the highest bit depth; and, the reason why we should continue to process at this bit depth and sample rate.

3. Use high quality plugins.
-Even though you will lose bits by processing digitally, using plugins with higher bit rate architecture will save a few of those bits. The difference in sound between a 32 bit plugin and a 64 bit plugin is clearly audible. The exponential quality difference causes a bit loss of 10 total processes in 32 bit, to a bit loss of around 3 total processes in 64 bit.

4. Perform as little processes as possible.
-It is counteractive to try to enhance sound by inserting every effect in your lineup. Instead, use very few effects and optimize each one. For instance when mixing vocal tracks, eq and compress lightly, then add send effects such as subtle delay and reverb. Adjust the effect volume to just below audible...mastering will bring it out. A short delay time (35-70 ms) is effective in bringing out the vocals. Other delays in time with the tempo add nice "repeating" effects. Use reverb sparingly; it is one of the biggest mistakes of newbies to drown the track.

5. Study the sound characteristics of your favorite commercial album.
-One of my favorite recorded, mixed, and mastered albums is Chamillionaire's "Sound of Revenge." Listen to your mixes next to your own favorite sounding album and compare. Pay attention to clarity before strength, but don't expect perfect clarity: mastering will strengthen and clarify. You may get an idea of certain nuances missing in your own mix. Observe the absence of sibilance, yet the presence of the frequencies. Notice the balance of the tone of the voice and the consistency in sound throughout the album.

6. Have someone else give an honest opinion.
-Trick other people into being honest. Don't tell them that it is your CD they are listening to. First, play some commercial music, then play one of your songs and see what the response is. See what they think about the overall sound quality compared to what was just played. Use this feedback for improvement. Honest constructive criticism is very valuable. Accept it for what it is, but also be careful and consider your source. Try to get as much feedback as you can so you may be accurate in your adjustments.

7. Have your music evaluated by an outside expert.
-It is a great tool to have a person who knows what to do listen to your mix. Explain what stage the recording is currently at (ex: recorded but not mixed, mixed but not mastered, mastered) so you can get some specifics about what needs to be improved.

8. Keep practicing (Trial and Error).
-As hard as it is to remember each process you performed and its settings, it is good to try different things basically to see what happens. Keep these mixes for later listening and remix the song at different times. You will be amazed at the differences in these mixes even though at the time they sound almost identical.

9. Research and Practice.
-Don't stop at these tips & tricks...keep asking questions, read books, and ask around. Learn about as many aspects of audio production as there are. From data manipulation to equalization techniques, all are important to the final product.

10. Have your album professionally mastered.
-There is no substitute for listening to a final, professionally mastered album. This is the ultimate answer to your questions. You will see what YOUR recording and mixing skills have lead to. After a while, you will discover weaknesses even in your mastered album. These discoveries will lead to your sharpening of skills and consistency in creating "that sound". You may also request feedback from your mastering engineer...he is not just a person who works on your projects, he works with you on your projects.