Inside The Recording Studio

Chris and Jody sit down for a chat with guitarist producer extraordinaire, Steve Ouimette. Chances are you've heard his handiwork in video game soundtracks or via TV shows. We go in-depth with his beginnings and journey thru the music industry and how he got his start and some of the people he's worked with. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

Chris and Jody talk about pan laws and how to deal with them. What are pan laws and why do we even need to think about them? Do we need to think about them? Explaining the different versions of pans laws and how to choose which one to use. Find out what our Friday Finds are this week! It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

Chris and Jody talk about the psychology of collecting gear. Whether it's hardware or plugins, why are you collecting these items and does it help your ability to create. Extra guitars, check. Extra compressors, check. The latest and greatest orchestral samples and do you need them. Does having too much gear become an endless search to figure out what the right item is for a given production? It's...

Chris and Jody talk about the ins and outs of putting distortion to use in your mix. Various ways to achieve distortion, what it is good for. What instruments to use distortion on and some really good reasons as to why using distortion can improve a sound. Plus we give out our Friday Finds for this week. It is also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

Chris and Jody take on the application MainStage. Talking about who makes it. How's it great for live performance use. What instruments it's great to use for. How it can be used it in the studio. What plugin types it's capable of using. This is a good overview of a very handy plugin host. Plus we give out our Friday Finds for this week. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discu...

Chris and Jody sit down with drummer Christopher Allis to talk about what life is like with a career drummer. He dishes on where he came from, how he got started and some of the cool artists he's played with. From playing live to recording and lots of little steps in-between. It was so juicy that we had to split the episode into two parts. This here is the second half.

Chris and Jody sit down with drummer Christopher Allis to talk about what life is like with a career drummer. He dishes on where he came from, how he got started and some of the cool artists he's played with. From playing live to recording and lots of little steps in-between. It was so juicy that we had to split the episode into two parts. This here is the first half.

In this episode Chris & Jody talk about what Side-Chaining is and how to use it in your mixes! Side-Chaining is the process of using an audio signal to control the volume of another signal. It can be used in a variety of situations depending on your desired effect. We'll cover how to set up your DAW and also with the MPC Live hardware so that you can Side-Chain, different methods of using Side-Cha...

This week Chris & Jody talk about the concepts of using reference mixes to help your mixing work. Discussing why this is a useful way to help guide a mix. Find out how we tend to use reference mixes and why. Also find out who makes some useful plugins that make referencing other mixes easier in your DAW. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

This week Inside the Recording Studio talks about the concepts of telling people there are no rules when it comes to recording and just use your ears. Discussing why this is bad advice and not good form for helping others achieve their recording goals. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

Chris and jody take on busting some more myths in the studio. The oxygen free myth for cables. The audio version of USB cables myth. The "my DAW is better than your DAW myth." Plus some hidden stories of other myths you might encounter in the wild world of audio recording. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

Chris and jody take on the topic of sharing projects while recording. The differences between stems and multitrack projects. How it applies to collaboration, mixing, or sending a song out to be mixed. When someone might ask for stems and what they mean by it. Know your terminology so you can sound competent in any recording, mixing, mastering and licensing situation. It's also not unlikely that th...

Chris and jody take on the topic of headphone monitor mix solutions. From the very simple and even hack methods for home studios. Up to mid level studio solutions and then the beyond with pro level solutions. All solutions are meant to get your clients to feel most comfortable with their headphone mix while tracking in your studio. It's all in here. It's also not unlikely that there will be some n...

Chris and jody take on the topic of making use of loops in creating productions. Be it drums, percussion, instruments, vocals, etc, all kinds of loops. Is it considered cheating? Can you be creative with them? A little bit of history about loops also comes a long way in this episode. Plus a word to the wise about copyrights and sampling to make loops. It's all in here. It's also not unlikely that...

Chris and jody bring on special guest Raymond Gronvall to talk about live sound as compared to sound in a recording studio. Ray also divulges stories from touring and how he gets the gigs he gets. It's a fun filled show with a proven live sound veteran of the music industry. Also there will also be some nonsense discussed.

Chris and jody discuss their top 5 desert island must have plugins for writing, recording and mixing. From amp sims to synths, to channel strips to mixing. The reasons behind the picks and possibly even skirting their own rules for the picks of their top plugins. Of course they also reveal their Friday Finds for this week. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

What steps are needed to create a home and or mobile recording rig? Chris and Jody walk you thru the trials and tribulations of setting up a recording system from scratch. The do's and don'ts of what can get you up and recording quickly with the least amount of hassle and cost. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

A deep dive into the API 550a EQ, an classic and oft used EQ from the Automated Processes Inc company. We look at the history of it invention and go thru the inner workings of how the EQ works. Who bought one of the first ones? What frequencies does it cover? What kind of EQ is it? It's all right here. Plus the Friday Finds with what Chris and Jody have found for you this week. It's also not unlik...

Guitar players are an opinionated bunch. Jody and Chris discuss the differences between passive and active pickups. What are the differences? What should you be using? Is one better than the other? Listen and find out. Don't forget there are Friday Finds inside. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.   Whatever you do, don't leave your guitar plugged in while not playin...

Chris and Jody dive in on a question sent in by listener Ignacio. He asked about using pre-amps for tracking things at home with limited inputs. What type of things is he recording? What kind of pre-amps did they suggest? It's all inside for your listening pleasure. What are this week's Friday Finds? (one is based on a major classic for guitar players) And, what is this episode's Gold Star word? I...

Chris and Jody take a journey thru the history of the Fairchild compressor. One of the most sought after compressors. Who made it? Where do they get used? Who makes them now. The type of music and instruments they get used on. Of course there's also the Friday Finds for this week. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

Chris and Jody pull into the percussion train station with a discussion about the use of percussion in productions. What it is, what might be used, how it gets used, and more. Live percussion, sampled and looped percussion also join in the conversation. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

Chris and Jody walk thru the steps of dealing with High Gain guitar sounds. Which amps are good choices? What if you're using amp sims? Mic'ing an actual cabinet, or using IR's? Why too much gain may hurt you, why you should consider a Tube Screamer, and how the mid's can actually be your friend. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.    

Chris and Jody got asked to talk about the steps they take when getting hired to mix a project for someone else. Beginning with talking to the client thru the finished mix. What to ask about, what to watch out for, and what order they tend to work in. Find out what Friday Finds Chris and Jody have this week. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

Chris and Jody kick off their first anniversary episode with an interview of Mastering and Recording Engineer extraordinaire George Leger III. There's a really good chance you've heard his work somewhere somehow. Learn how he got his start and some of the interesting twists and turns his career has taken. Find out some of the lessons he's learned and what Barry Manilow and Frank Zappa have in comm...