My guest today is Brian Murphree mastering engineer at Soundporter Mastering in Spring Hill TN. After recording his first band in 1994 at a studio in Decatur, AL, and taking the mix-engineer helm in 1999 for his punk band, Random Conflict, followed by a 5-year stint with Surf Rock band, Daikaiju, Brian has been focused on recording, mixing, and mastering for underground artists who might lack the budget to track in major professional studios.
Brian spent 20 years recording, mixing, and mastering music in the North Alabama, Middle TN area, helping artists find their best sounds without blowing their budget. For the past 4 years, he has focused solely on mastering and has been able to grow his client list even in the challenging climate of COVID-19.
Grammy-winning “Boo” Mitchell of Memphis’ Royal Studios, Mark Slaughter, Melly Baldwin, and BZ Lewis are just a few clients Brian has worked with and his goal is to always help his clients realize their best production and mix no matter who they are, and to do it without breaking the bank.
Brian takes pride as a mastering engineer in being easy to work with and helpful at the early stages before you even think your mix is ready for mastering. And Since Brian and Soundporter are a welcome sponsor on the podcast also I thought it would be cool to have Brian as a guest on the show so that we can get to know him better and discover “how to get your mix ready for mastering”.
Thanks to our sponsors!
JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com
PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com
Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com
OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com
iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off
API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com
Soundporter Mastering: https://www.soundporter.com
RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy
Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here
My guest today is Kevin McMahon of Marcata Recording first started by The Walkmen in 2000 as a purely analog facility located in Harlem inside what had been a Nascar production facility.
Kevin joined in 2003 and took over daily operations, bringing his collection of vintage microphones, preamps, and a long history of studying great live performance from the decade of work as a live sound engineer/designer at the now-defunct but not forgotten venue Brownies in New York City’s East Village.
Doing live sound is where Kevin developed his love of living interactions between musicians, and the ability to recognize the spirit of an artists’ vision and to act with a sense of urgency toward nurturing an environment to allow that vision to be realized at any cost.
Some of Kevin’s credits include: Real Estate, Pile, Parlor Walls, Mr Gnome, The Walkmen, The French Kicks, Diarrhea Planet, and Herzog to name just a few.
Thanks so much to Caleb for making our introduction.
Thanks to our sponsors!
JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com
PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com
Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com
OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com
iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off
API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com
Soundporter Mastering: https://www.soundporter.com
RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy
Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here
My guest today is Morgan Page a GRAMMY-nominated producer and DJ with hundreds of millions of plays, and charted multiple Billboard, Beatport, and US Dance Radio #1s.
Morgan has built a massive live following performing at major festivals across the world, including Coachella, EDC, Electric Zoo, Burning Man, and Ultra Music Festival, as well as countless shows in the world’s top venues and clubs. He typically tours nearly year-round and holds a Las Vegas residency at Daylight, having previously held a three-year residency at Wynn Las Vegas.
Morgan also curates and hosts a weekly radio mix show, ‘In The Air,’ which airs on Sirius XM and broadcasting weekly uninterrupted for nearly ten years, and has surpassed episode number 500!
Outside of music, his two main passions are the environment and technology, and particularly where the two intersect. The Tesla-driving producer installed solar panels to power his recording studio; he is always on the cutting edge and an early adopter and advocate of new tech.
In 2013, he brought to life the groundbreaking ‘Morgan Page Presents 3D Tour,’ a forward-thinking, immersive visual experience utilizing 3D technology. In 2014, partnering with Oculus, DTS, and Alienware, he also produced the first-ever virtual reality lyric video for his single ‘In The Air.’ Followed by an Oculus partnership to produce a Gear VR mobile experience for his single “Open Heart.” Most recently, he’s produced music for Tesla and SpaceX.
Morgan’s Quick Tips project is his way to pass on his vast wealth of knowledge and experience to an eager audience of musicians and producers, as well as the broader creator community, helping them crack the creativity code and improve their workflow. MPQT is comprised of a series of 750+ short-form tips and 50+ blog post deep-dives available online and in physical card sets. Recently Morgan partnered up with technology leader OWC to distribute the cards and connect with creators as a brand ambassador.
Thanks to our sponsors!
JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com
PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com
Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com
OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com
iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off
API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com
Soundporter Mastering: https://www.soundporter.com
RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy
Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here
My guest today is John Storyk, registered architect and acoustician, is a founding partner of WSDG (Walters-Storyk Design Group). He has provided design and construction supervision services for the professional audio and video recording community since the 1969 design of Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios in New York City.
John Storyk received his architectural studies from Princeton and Columbia Universities. As an independent designer, engineer and principal designer of WSDG he has been responsible for over 3.5k world-class audio/video production facilities, including studios, radio stations, video suites, entertainment clubs and theatres.
His work includes private studios for Whitney Houston, Bob Marley, Ace Frehley, Russ Freeman, Taylor Dayne’s producer Rick Wake; Johnny Yuma Recording in L.A.; Greenway; C & C Music’s Robert Clavicles; Oven Studios (Alicia Keys); Roc the Mic (J-Z) and others.
Professional audio video installations include Soundshop, Nashville; Crawford Post, Atlanta; Talking House (San Francisco); screening rooms for NYC’s Planet Hollywood and Technicolor; conference facilities for Mercury (Polygram), EMI, CEMEX, Sumitoma; large scale educational and performance facilities for Full Sail/Platinum Post (Orlando), Ex’Pression Center for New Media (San Francisco), and Jazz at Lincoln Center / XM Radio (New York city).
He is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Acoustical Society of America, Audio Engineering Society (AES) and a frequent contributor to AES convention papers and professional industry periodicals. John is also a frequent lecturer at schools throughout the nation. He has established courses in acoustics at both Full Sail and Ex’pression Center for the Media Arts and is an adjunct professor of Acoustics and Studio Design at Berklee College of Music, Boston.
As an architect turned music producer myself I feel very honoured to have John with us today on the show to see what we can learn about studio design and the ways it can help us make better records.
Thanks to our sponsors!
JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com
PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com
Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com
OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com
iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off
API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com
Soundporter Mastering: https://www.soundporter.com
RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy
Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here
My guest today is Patrick Rene aka Killah Trakz a Miami native rapper and hip hop music producer who has worked with artists like Iconz, Rick Ross, 2 Live Crew, and Uncle Luke to name a few.
An analog junkie at heart adapting in the world of digital, Trakz has been at the forefront of the digital revolution of music distribution by having one of the most downloaded albums in the MySpace / Napster era titled “ Hoodz Prodigy “.
Getting his start in '07 at a time when the "Internet" was at its peak of popularity for all advocates of music, sites like AcidPlanet, UGHH, MP3.com, and hundreds more were gaining more notoriety by the day. Within the first week, Trakz saw his debut album surpass 50,000 downloads with ease. Overnight Success was an "understatement" for what would follow.
After landing several placements with his production on numerous indie films, Trakz got calls from everyone wanting his sound. By 2008, his sound was hitting the radio waves but getting heard by millions by "ghost producing" for the likes of many of today's favourites.
I met Trakz through our Facebook group at Recording Studio Rockstars. He kept posting so many great hip hop songs that I knew I had to learn more. So I am excited to have him join us today on the podcast to hear more about his story and see what we can learn about writing, producing, and mixing hip hop in the digital age.
Thanks to our sponsors!
JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com
PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com
Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com
OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com
iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off
API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com
Soundporter Mastering: https://www.soundporter.com
RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy
Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here
My guest today is Stephen Shirk an engineer, producer, and owner of Shirk Studio in Chicago. Originally from Bloomington, Illinois, he began playing in bands through junior high college at Miami University where he earned a degree in Business and Marketing.
In 1998 he moved to New York City to chase his dream of working in a recording studio where he worked at The Hit Factory, Pink Noise and Three Tree Productions as well as assisting on sessions at many legendary NYC facilities like Avatar (Power Station), Clinton, Right Track, and Sound on Sound. Recording in New York also exposed Stephen to a unique artistic community beyond that of music. His collaboration with Nadine Robinson would ultimately land one of his sound designs in the Museum of Modern Art’s Tempo exhibit in 2002.
In 2004, Stephen relocated to Chicago to continue producing and recording bands, creating sound for art installations, as well as providing audio services for the advertising community. This was the beginning of SHIRK studios. Through a chance meeting at SXSW in 2006, Stephen partnered with the music blog, HearYa.com, and began recording and filming the HearYa live sessions.
The video series featured powerful live in-studio recordings of artists like Alabama Shakes, Delta Spirit, Other Lives, Patterson Hood, White Denim, Strand of Oaks, Rayland Baxter and many more. In 2013 he acquired the building that now houses SHIRK studios in Chicago’s West Town neighbourhood. Firmly planted in Chicago, Stephen records, produces and hosts sessions with some of Chicago’s most celebrated artists as well as those just getting their start.
I had the pleasure of spending a day at Shirk studio in 2019 when I hosted a mixing clinic there with Anthony Gravino. We spent the day listening to the beautiful Sphere console and I knew I found a new favourite studio in Chicago. Plus Stephen is the coolest.
Thanks to our sponsors!
JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com
PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com
Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com
OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com
iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off
API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com
Soundporter Mastering: https://www.soundporter.com
RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy
Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here
Marc Daniel Nelson is a Latin Grammy-nominated producer/mixer. He has been producing, mixing and managing creatives for over 19 years.
Since our last interview, Marc has been diving headfirst into the film and tv world for music. In 2018, Marc engineer and mixed the score for the film “Amanda” that went on to be nominated for the French Academy Award for “Best Score”. That following spring he mixed the score and music for the Ukraine film “Ya, Ty, Vin”, which was the last film Zelinsky Vladimir starred in before becoming president.
“Ya, Ty, Vin” went on to having the largest film opening in Ukraine history. In 2019 and 2020, Marc engineered and mixed the scores for a few Netflix originals movies. Outside of film score work, he has kept busy mixing numerous large action trailers and continuing work in the album world, with mixes for Francesca Battistelli, Eric Burdon / Ben Harper and more.
Thanks to our sponsors!
JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com
PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com
Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com
OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com
iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off
API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com
Soundporter Mastering: https://www.soundporter.com
RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy
Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here
My guest today is Shawn Èverett, a Juno and Grammy-winning Canadian producer, engineer, previously a guest on episode RSR137. In that interview, we talked with Shawn about his background schooling and his production and mixing philosophies.
He has worked with many great artists including Grammy-winning Alabama Shakes, Weezer, Margaret Glaspy, Pete Yorn, Warpaint, John Legend, The Killers, Julian Casablancas, and The Voidz, Kesha, Har Mar Superstar, Local Natives, and many many others.
In 2019 he won his fifth Grammy for mixing Kacey Musgraves Golden Hour which included songwriting and production from Daniel Tashian and engineering from Craig Alvin both previous guests on the show as well. You can hear their episodes at RSR176 and RSR232. I’ll have these links in the show notes.
I have also become a huge fan of Sound & Color by the Alabama Shakes which Shawn engineered and mixed winning a Grammy in 2015. I feel like this record has set the bar pretty high for my own mixes.
Thanks to our sponsors!
JZ Microphones: https://usashop.jzmic.com
PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com
Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com
OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com
iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off
API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com
Soundporter Mastering: https://www.soundporter.com
RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy
Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here
My guest today is Bill Cheney co-owner with Jim Romney of Spectra1964. Bill designs mic pre amps, eqs, and compressor limiters for studios following in the footsteps of William Dilley who founded the original Spectra Sonics company in 1964.
Bill has been a guest on the podcast before to talk about the history of Spectra Sonics and Spectra 1964 on episode RSR227. So if you want to learn more about the background go back and check that episode out. Bill talked about the original Spectra 101 amplifier circuit, its original role in the military as part of the Minute Man missile defence system, and the history of the Spectra consoles at the Record Plant and Stax Studio.
Today Bill and Jim are taking the classic sound of the Spectra 101 amplifier and retrofitting it into 500 modules to allow us to get that same incredible sound in our pro and home studios. Bill has already brought us the STX100 mic pre, the STX 500 eq, and now has also taken the classic C610 complimiter design and found a way to add that as well bringing us the STX600 Complimiter Microphone Preamplifier.
So today we're going to catch up with Bill and Spectra1964 find out what's new and learn more about the new STX 600 module and how to properly record with them.
Thanks to our sponsors!
JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com
PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com
Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com
OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com
iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off
API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com
Soundporter Mastering: https://www.soundporter.com
RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy
Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here
My guest today is Bill Schnee an internationally renowned producer, engineer and mix master. In a highly decorated career that spans five decades, Bill has engineered many gold and platinum albums with a wide variety of artists that include Three Dog Night, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Rod Stewart, Chicago, Steely Dan, Natalie Cole, The Jacksons, Marvin Gaye, Dire Straits, Ringo (with all the Beatles), Barry Manilow, Carly Simon, Michael Bolton, George Benson, The Pointer Sisters, Bette Midler, Amy Grant and Whitney Houston, including her mega-single "I Will Always Love You”.
Bill also produced multiple projects with Huey Lewis and the News, Boz Scaggs, Pablo Cruise, Joe Sample, as well as internationally renowned direct-to-disc recordings with Thelma Houston and James Newton Howard and Friends.
In addition to working on dozens of Grammy-nominated and Grammy-winning albums, Bill has been personally nominated 11 times for The Best Engineered Album category and has won twice for Aja and Gaucho, both from Steely Dan. Those two multi-platinum releases add to a harvest of hits that includes over 85 gold records, 50 platinum projects and 50 top twenty singles. Schnee also has won an Emmy Award for Best Sound Mixing for a Variety Special and a Dove Award.
In 1981, Bill opened his own recording facility in Los Angeles – Schnee Studio. It boasted a large live recording room with a very unique acoustical sound, a custom made recording console, custom tube mic pre-amps, and an extensive collection of vintage tube microphones. It was widely regarded as one of the finest recording rooms in Los Angeles.
Bill currently resides in Franklin, Tennessee with his wife Sallie. And we are lucky to have him here on the podcast with us today!
Thanks to our sponsors!
JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com
PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com
Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com
OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com
iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off
API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com
Soundporter Mastering: https://www.soundporter.com
RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy
Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here
My guest today is Marc Frigo a mix engineer, recording engineer, and producer based out of Nashville, TN with multi-platinum credits and over 29 years of experience.
Marc started out in his hometown of Chicago in 1990 but relocated to Nashville, TN in early 1991 where he became a staff engineer at Woodland Studios. It was there that he was able to work with and learn from some of the best engineers and producers in the world, such as producers Peter Collins, Don Was, T-Bone Burnett, Tony Brown, Josh Leo, Jay Joyce and engineers David Leonard, Steve Marcantonio, Rick Will, Bob Bullock, Steve Tillisch, Bill Schnee, and so many others that were great mentors.
During his days as an assistant engineer, he worked on projects with Bob Seger, Keith Urban, Restless Heart, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, The Divinyls, Nancy Griffith, Larry Carlton, Gillian Welch, and the list goes on.
Eventually moving out of assisting and into engineering, Marc engineered and/or mixed projects for The Indigo Girls, K.T. Oslin, Nelson, Dez Dickerson (of Prince & The Revolution) Israel Houghton, Jewel, and Future Leaders of the World to name a few. Marc also recorded and mixed the "Larry Boy" theme song featuring Nicole C. Mullen for the popular Veggie Tales children's video series, which went on to sell 15 million copies.
Marc And I Met when I was interning at Woodland and I’m psyched to be reconnecting 25 years later!
Thanks to our sponsors!
JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com
PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com
Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com
OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com
iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off
API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com
Soundporter Mastering: https://www.soundporter.com
RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy
Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here
My guest today is Dana Dowd whose father was the legendary Tom Dowd an American recording engineer and producer for Atlantic Records with a credit list of top artists in jazz, blues, doo wop, soul, and rock records spanning 5 decades of recording from the 50s-90s.
Credited with innovating the multitrack recording method and linear console faders from their original round knobs Tom engineered through the various phases of recording technology starting with direct to disc all the way through analog tape 2 track, 4 track, eight-track, 16 24 and finally Pro Tools in the 90s.
His first hit in the 50s was Eileen Barton's "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake". And he went on to record popular artists such as Ray Charles, the Drifters, the Coasters, the Spinners, Ruth Brown and Bobby Darin.
He recorded iconic jazz records by John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, and Herbie Mann and continued through other genres of music recording Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Black Oak Arkansas, Derek and the Dominos, Rod Stewart, Wishbone Ash, New Model Army, Cream, Lulu, Chicago, the Allman Brothers Band, Joe Bonamassa, Robin Gibbs, Meat Loaf, Cher, the Rascals, the Spinners, Willie Nelson, Diana Ross, the Four Seasons, Kenny Loggins, James Gang, Dusty Springfield, Eddie Harris, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Joe Castro and Primal Scream.
I met Tom’s daughter Dana Dowd more recently when she wrote a glowing testimonial as part of our movement to help save home studios in music city. Dana is an outspoken supporter of the music industry, and expert on her father and his work, and a successful business person and entrepreneur in her own industry of brand marketing.
So It’s an honour to have Dana joining us on the podcast and today we are here to learn more about her dad Tom Dowd and what it was like to grow up around so much incredible music that influences us all.
Thanks to our sponsors!
JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com
PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com
Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com
OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com
iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off
API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com
Soundporter Mastering: https://www.soundporter.com
RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy
Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here
My guests today are Buick Audra and Jerry Roe of Friendship Commanders, a heavy duo from Nashville TN. Their new EP - HOLD ON TO YOURSELF released in April of 2020 follows their second LP, BILL, which they made with Steve Albini Electrical Audio. HOLD ON TO YOURSELF was tracked between Fort Knockout and Sound Emporium studios in Nashville TN. It was mixed by Kurt Ballou at GodCity in Salem MA and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege in Portland OR.
In this body of songs, Friendship Commanders examines the world around them, their part in the problems and potential solutions, and even challenges the patriarchy. The release also gets personal and discusses what it looks like to be an adult who survived childhood trauma.
The band’s primary songwriter, Buick Audra, is an abuse survivor and has chosen to dedicate this work to other survivors. Her outgoing message is summarized in the EP’s title. The phrase has been a personal mantra for Audra; she has a habit of writing it down every morning as a reminder.
Buick and Jerry record and self produce their music and have created an immediately classic heavy punk rock sound. I’ve known Buick for years playing in other band settings and when I heard this record I knew we would want to learn more from Buick and Jerry about the process of writing, capturing, mixing, and mastering such a powerful sound.
Thanks to our sponsors!
JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com
PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com
Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com
OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com
iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off
API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com
Soundporter Mastering: https://www.soundporter.com
RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy
Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here
My guest today is Marc Urseli a 6-time Grammy-nominated, 3-time Grammy Award-winning engineer, producer, mixer, sound designer and front of house engineer Marc Urselli works with many artists from around the world.
He has worked with U2, Foo Fighters, Nick Cave, Lou Reed, Sting, Keith Richards, Kesha, and Laurie Anderson and scores of other amazing artists performing rock, pop, metal, jazz, experimental/avantgarde/new music, urban and electronica and classical.
Marc also composes music for film and television, creates sound design for commercials and mixes audio for film and television as well as mixing more than half a dozen movie soundtracks.
Born in Switzerland he moved to Italy and opened his first commercial recording facility at 17 years old later moving to New York City, where he currently resides and works as Chief House Engineer for the historic & legendary recording studio EastSide Sound.
Marc works in the highest calibre studios worldwide, including Village Recorders (LA), Capitol Sound (LA), EastWest (LA), Sunset Sound (LA), Sear Sound (NY), Flux (NY), Grouse Lodge (Dublin) and many others.
Marc has learned a great deal about recording and mixing and teaches online and from the stage. I’ve included a great clip of him teaching for Sonic Scoop and am excited to learn more about mixing professionally for multiple genres.
Thanks to Rudy Roopchan for the intro!
Thanks to our sponsors!
OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com
JZ Microphones: https://usashop.jzmic.com
Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com
PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com
API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com/
RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy
Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here
Get Jordan’s Free 3-part video series
This series will hand you the blueprint to becoming a paid professional in the studio.
Jordan Valeriote is a producer, mixer, and engineer specializing in hardcore music who fast-tracked his decade-plus career from assistant working with Usher, Timbaland, Serena Ryder and The Jonas Brothers to a successful major label producer for Silverstein, Antimacy, the Dead and Divine, and Prophets for the Counterparts, Nick Johnston, Forevermore, Great Lakes, Mandroid Echostar, and Skynet.
Jordan is also an educator at Hardcore Music Studio helping to transform students around the world from home studio hobbyists to top-tier rock and heavy music producers. He has helped thousands of music producers learn how to produce powerful rock records and build successful careers from their music studios.
In this episode, Jordan shows you how to go from charging $100 to $1000/song as a full-stack producer while understanding the 4 key ingredients for how to capture raw tracks in your studio that sound better than most people’s final mixes.
Additional bonus content:
Beefing up Your Snare Sound with Samples (+ Free Snare Sample)
My guest today is Dana Nielsen a Grammy-nominated mixer, engineer, producer, and saxophonist known for his work with Damien Rice, The Smashing Pumpkins, Neil Young, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Weezer, Adele, The Avett Brothers, Bob Dylan, and Kanye West.
Nielsen also frequently works with music for picture, producing, recording, and mixing a growing number of film scores and soundtracks, such as Will Ferrell’s Anchorman 2 (Paramount) and Casa De Mi Padre (NALA), as well as the Sam Rockwell/Olivia Wilde dark comedy Better Living Through Chemistry.
I am psyched to talk with Dana today about everything from recording to mixing both in the studio and remotely around the world.
Thanks to our sponsors!
OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com
JZ Microphones: https://usashop.jzmic.com
Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com
PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com
API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com/
RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy
Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here
My guest today is Eyal Levi the CEO of URM Academy, the world’s best school for rock and metal producers. Eyal is a critically acclaimed entrepreneur, musician, podcaster, educator and producer having cut his teeth as the guitarist and primary songwriter in Daath, a progressive death metal band that released albums on Roadrunner and Century Media.
In 2014 he founded URM Academy, an online education platform for producers with thousands of students from across the globe. URM is best known for its flagship program, Nail The Mix. The platform hosts some of the most prestigious rock and metal producers including Tom Lord Alge, Will Putney, Dan Lancaster, Daniel Bergstrand, Jens Bogren, Adam “Nolly” Getgood, Frederik Nordstrom and Kurt Ballou among dozens of others.
An accomplished speaker and educator, he has logged hundreds of hours teaching the next generation the craft and business of music production. His URM Podcast is now in its 5th year with over 250 episodes.
In the studio, he has worked with The Black Dahlia Murder, Monuments, The Contortionist, Chelsea Grin, Firewind and many others. And In 2017 Eyal co-founded Riff Hard with Monuments guitarist John Browne. Riff Hard is an online guitar school dedicated to the most important part of modern metal: rhythm guitar!
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My guest today is Mike Fanuele a recording engineer, music producer, and live sound engineer based in Washington, D.C. Starting out in the studio in 1998, he has recorded and mixed hundreds of bands over the last 22 years, including Breaking Pangaea, Dashboard Confessional, The Deadmen, Second Letter, Further Seems Forever, John Bustine, Meghan Trainor, Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park, and many others.
Mixing FOH for live shows, Mike has toured with Brand New, The Chainsmokers, Dashboard Confessional, Fifth Harmony, Fountains of Wayne, Garbage, Gwen Stefani, Hanson, Jimmie Vaughan, Meghan Trainor, and Miley Cyrus, to name a few. Mike stays busy when he’s off the road at his private home studio, Lavabed Recording, where he’s focused on creating an environment that keeps bands comfortable while making great music. Mike also does remote broadcast mixing for some of his live touring clients, combining the world of the live performance with the polished sound of the studio.
So today we will talk about how the studio and stage meet and what lessons Mike has learned from both.
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My guest today is Chuck Zwicky a mixer, engineer, writer and producer in Manhattan. He’s built studios, designed plug-ins and recorded, mixed and mastered hit records. His credits include Prince, The Rembrandts, Reggie Watts, Soul Asylum, Nine Inch Nails, the Jonas Brothers and more. He has a private mix room in his home in Manhattan.
I met Chuck at a recent AES show when he was doing a presentation for Eventide showing off some ninja tips for the H9000 Harmonizer.
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Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
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My guest today is Eric Masse a Producer and engineer living in Nashville since 2006.
Self-described as a three times Grammy losing producer originally from Grand Rapids MI, later living in Boston. Eric is a fan of great songs and focuses on producing (or co-producing), cutting, and mixing the records he makes. He loves European Football and is a Chelsea FC supporter. He loves giving people the thumbs up. He has a beard and almost exclusively wears plain black t-shirts.
After graduating Berklee School of Music in Boston he moved to Nashville to intern at Blackbird Studio by day and tend bar at night. Masse’s first studio was called "Cabin In the Woods" (Fairview, TN), followed by Idiot Dog (Music Row), and finally, The Casino (East Nashville), where he works today. When a record calls for a larger studio, he prefers Southern Ground.
In 2014, while playing in a golf tournament, Masse met eminent Nashville producer, Frank Liddell. That connection led to a collaboration that has born several projects, most notably Miranda Lambert’s 2016 release, The Weight of These Wings produced by Masse, Liddell, and Glenn Worf which won the Academy of Country Music's Album of the Year award.
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Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
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My guest today is Michael Beinhorn who has lived his life in the pursuit of artistic expression, first as a visual artist, then as a performer, and finally as a record producer.
Michael began in 1979 as co-founder of the seminal New York musical collective Material and has since produced and or recorded a long list of artists including Brian Eno’s “Lizard Point” from “Ambient 4: On Land.”, Herbie Hancock’s Future Shock, which included the groundbreaking cut “Rockit.”, the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ breakthrough albums “The Uplift Mofo Party Plan” and “Mother’s Milk”.
Michael’s recordings have achieved combined worldwide sales of more than 45 million albums helping to define the careers of a diverse range of artists, including Soul Asylum, Hole, Soundgarden, Ozzy Osbourne, Courtney Love, Marilyn Manson, Social Distortion, Korn, and Mew.
Over the past 20 years, Michael has become increasingly aware of the concerns facing artists and producers alike who are trying to maintain their creative ethics, personal expression and focus in the recording process. He has increasingly devoted his attention to artist development, the changing music industry and various ways to improve the quality of contemporary popular music.
For this reason, he has been increasingly active in mentoring fellow artists and aspiring record producers. He has extensively addressed these (and other pertinent) issues in his book, “Unlocking Creativity” published by Hal Leonard. He has also started an innovative online consulting service (Beinhorn Creative) that remotely provides all the functionality of music production to artists who would otherwise, be unable to afford these services.
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Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
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My guest today is Packy Lundholm a Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer/engineer. He plays the guitar with Nintendo rock band I Fight Dragons, who just released their third LP "Canon Eyes" and celebrated their 10th anniversary. Packy runs his recording operation out of the B-room at Sound Vault Studios in Chicago, where he records various artists, and works as a session musician at Rax Trax Recording and Gravity Studios as well.
In recent years he has collaborated on several projects with Vulfpeck keyboardist Woody Goss, sharing credits with Vulf members Theo Katzman and Joe Dart. Outside of the studio he performs live in different contexts, from jobbing bands and bar mitzvahs to improv-heavy tributes to Traffic and the Grateful Dead.
Packy writes and records his own music from time to time, his most recent full-length release being 2016's American Soccer. His music draws heavily from early power pop influences with touches of psychedelic rock and Americana. He is slowly brewing plans to release more singles over this year, hopefully culminating in another full-length record in the nearest possible future.
Recently I saw a new video that Packy posted recording the song Don’t Leave A Thing Behind in his studio and I knew he would be great to have on the show to talk about recording yourself in the studio as well as playing with and producing other artists.
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Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
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My guest today is David Rodgers, a California native David Rodgers is one of the most exciting talents in Nashville’s jazz scene today. Currently an active member of Keb’ Mo’s band as a keyboardist, he has also recorded on numerous records including Keb’s Grammy-winning Oklahoma (2019).
David has toured and performed worldwide at the Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, and the Playboy Jazz Festival, among many others with a Bachelor of Music degree in classical and jazz piano performance from Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music and a Master of Music degree in commercial composition from Belmont University.
His compositions have been performed and recorded internationally, including guest appearances at the 2018 Jazz Education Network’s Young Composers Showcase where the U.S. Airmen of Note played his winning big band composition, as well as in Canada where he was invited as a guest artist to the Banff Centre’s International Workshop in Jazz & Creative Music.
In addition to being an active Korg-endorsed artist, he was also a finalist for ROLI’s first-ever International Next Awards for which he was invited to London to perform as a soloist. He has released two albums: the 2017 genre-bending, debut project Songs For A Generation which I mixed; as well as his 2019 album, Doorways which he recorded and mixed with me right here as well.
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Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here
My guest today is Ike Schultz, a Multi-Platinum award-winning mixing and tracking engineer based in Los Angeles, CA originally from Toronto Canada. He’s collaborated and worked on albums for a variety of artists including Tinåshe, Lizzo, Adele, Rihanna, Kanye West, Ariana Grande, Adam Lambert, Whethan, Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa, Charlie Puth (pooth), Phantogram, and more.
Ike worked at the legendary Larrabee Studios directly assisting nine-time Grammy award-winning mixer, Manny Marroquin, for 3 years. Then went on to mix Lizzo’s debut release ‘Coconut Oil’, under executive producer Ricky Reed at S.K.A.M. Studios. Ike worked on the majority of the album including the singles “Phone” & “Good As Hell”.
While at S.K.A.M. Studios, Ike worked with DJ Felli Fel, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Yachty, Whethan, DRAM, Imad Royal & Post Malone. Afterwards, he mixed & contributed as a songwriter for multiple feature films for Paramount Pictures’ music department, and began working with Grammy award-winning producer & engineer Chris Testa for the Oprah Winfrey Network, MTV, & Facebook’s content collaborations with Buzzfeed.
In 2018, Ike became the engineer/vocal producer for Emmy Nominated & Multi-Platinum recording artist Tinashe. He recorded & mixed her fourth studio album “Songs for You” which became the first independently released #1 album on iTunes in the US since 2016.
Thanks to Gabe White at WhisperRoom for the introduction.
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Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
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My guest today is Kevin White a Nashville based musician, audio engineer, musicologist, film composer, and audio educator.
As an audio engineer, Kevin has worked with national corporate clients, films, radio, rock bands and gained a reputation for his retro-futurist aesthetics. He has taught classes on mixing and lo-fi production techniques. Kevin is a voting member of the recording academy and works full-time for the audio production college, SAE Institute.
A notable milestone in Kevin's career has been his contributions to the NASA Apollo Flight Journal. His musicology and audio restoration work has contributed to the preservation of American/space flight history as well as expanding the frontiers of musicology.
Kevin was part of the newly-released documentary film Teslafy Me (2019) which presents the history of renewable energy and the authentic story of Nikola Tesla from the perspective of his Balkan homeland. As the film's composer and sound supervisor Kevin specifically used sounds from Tesla's lifetime.
He mixed the instrumentation of an old fashioned Serbian string band with early electronic instruments from the era including the: Theremin, Ondes Martenot, Hammond Novachord, and Hammond Solovox. He also used source samples of vintage equipment including electric arcs, Tesla Coils, and a Bell Labs Voder, in order to create a unique sonic signature for the film.
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OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com
JZ Microphones: https://usashop.jzmic.com
Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com
Presonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com
API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com/
RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy
Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com
If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here