How do you spell audio peak? Bill talked about designing for transient audio peaks at Spectra1964, why attack brings your audio to life, how to set your knobs for maximum dynamic and signal-to-noise ratio, and how the STX500 EQ is great for your mix.

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 episodes RSR227 and 269. So you should check those episodes out too and today we are going to talk about what's new at Spectra1964, the importance of understanding Peaks, how they affect your recordings, mixes, productions and ultimately masters and how Spectra1964 handles peak content to make sure your records sound amazing (like the many great records recorded with the Spectra 101 amplifier circuit including Aerosmith, ZZ Top, KISS and John Lennon to name a few. Spotify playlist in show notes).

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Website Links:
www.spectra1964.com

Additional podcast editing and production by:
Brayden Stremming
Vlad Vasilcenko
Jon Richardson

Are you addicted to analog synths? Moot talked about subtractive, additive, FM, and wavetable synthesis and the history of modular synths, the birth of the DX7, how to record funky drums, writing with lyrical flow, and how to play funky clav parts!

My guest today is Matt Baxley, better known to the wider world as Moot Booxlé, a multi-instrumentalist, singer, producer, composer, synthesist, teacher, and funk connoisseur currently based in Fort Myers, Florida. 

Moot rose to prominence in the early days of YouTube with his videos demonstrating his abilities on the modular synthesizer and the talkbox, gaining millions of views and many followers. He played his first professional gig at the age of 16, playing drums in a production of the musical “Grease” in his hometown of Morristown, TN. He has played thousands of gigs since then on multiple instruments. He currently plays and sings nightly in several bands in Southwest Florida, producing records, playing on studio sessions, demonstrating musical equipment both live and on the internet and writing books.

I stumbled on Moots Youtube channel surfing synth videos when I was checking out the new line of Behringer synths like the Poly D, Odyssey, MS-101, Crave, and Pro-1 where he does a great job of demoing all these. Moot also live streams from his studio where you can see walls of super cool new and vintage synths played with lots of funky skill.

Plus he is from TN so… come on!

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Website Links:
mootbooxle.bandcamp.com
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube

Additional podcast editing and production by:
Brayden Stremming
Vlad Vasilcenko
Jon Richardson

Do squats really help you mix better? Trent talked about producing podcasts and music and how strength training and routine fitness can help you stay healthy in the studio, vocal techniques for audio books, and how to use room tone for clean edits.

My guest today is Trent Jones, a podcast producer, editor, and composer based in  Chattanooga, TN. He has produced over 1,000 podcast episodes in a wide variety of formats and topics, as well as a number of audiobooks. As a  composer, he has written bumpers and music beds for podcasts and midroll advertisements. 

Trent is also a strength and conditioning coach, with a speciality in training men and women over 40 using barbells, resistance training, and high intensity interval training. After years of “working out” in public gyms and seeing little progress, Trent discovered the Starting Strength method in 2016 and began training under a Starting Strength Coach. 

He gained 40lbs of muscular bodyweight over a year and greatly improved his strength, joint health, and mental health in the process. He began coaching others in 2018, and earned the Starting Strength Coach credential himself in 2020. His passion is teaching people to lift barbells to build stronger, more useful bodies, gain confidence, and improve their quality of life for the long-haul. 

Trent currently coaches online and in-person out of his home gym. And He co-hosts two podcasts about health and fitness, Weights and Plates and 40fit Radio and also a music podcast called Music and Ideas, and regularly hosts workshops and training camps teaching the Starting Strength training method.

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Website Links:
https://www.marmaladecream.com
@marmalade_cream
RSR - 20 Workouts You Can Do at Home - Trent Jones

Additional podcast editing and production by:
Brayden Stremming
Vlad Vasilcenko
Jon Richardson

Heavyweights and heavy mixes! David talked about mixing efficiently with SSL and Softube Console 1, his ultimate mix bus chain, gain-staging, vocal mics, finding the best workout routine, and staying healthy in the studio during a zombie apocalypse.

My guest today is David Gnozzi a platinum mixing/mastering engineer and producer, as well as the creator and host of the popular YouTube channel MixbusTV and a Pro Mix Academy Tutor.

David is a former professional musician with 2 albums published (Universal Records and Danse Macabre Records), and he has been recording and mixing for almost 20 years, he fully dedicated himself to recording, mix and mastering after ending his career as musician in 2010.

David initially started to gain recognition as a mixing engineer after successful remixes for Ladytron and Felix Da Housecat. His credits include: Raygun Romance, MC Solaar, Ryan Shuck (Orgy, Adema, Julien-K), Daniel Graves (Aesthetic Perfection), Mad Gallica, Danny Blue, Stonebreed, The Nest, and Italian pop superstar, Valeria Rossi to name a few. He mixed various projects for Universal Records, Nettwerk Records and Virgin Radio and video games such as Fallout 4 and Rock Band 3.

In 2017, David worked with one of France’s most famous and influential hip hop artists of all times, MC Solaar, mixing the multiplatinum album Geopoetique. The release also went on to win “album of the year” at the French Music Awards.

In 2014 he started the now popular Youtube channel MixbusTv, which became one of the most trusted and respected online resources for audio mix and mastering. David does “how to” video tutorials for the studio. And with an ever expanding list of partners like AMS Neve, SSL, Empirical Labs, and many more, he’s known for his detailed and very technical reviews of pro audio hardware and software.

Now located in Los Angeles, California, David has his own private mix and mastering suite, equipped with some of the best gear available on the market he is available as a producer, mix & mastering engineer. David also discovered and developed the upcoming alternative popstar Bella Kelly, and the new singles “Throat” and “Heartbreak Motel” are both in the Youtube playlist.

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Listen on YouTube

Website Links:
www.davidgnozzimixing.com

Additional podcast editing and production by:
Brayden Stremming
Vlad Vasilcenko
Jon Richardson

"In A Medieval Dungeon Being Tortured For Information..." Linda talked about improvising music for titles like that one on the popular tv show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?", how to shrink your guitar rig for sessions, and tips for recording guitars.

My guest today is Linda Taylor a Guitarist and composer for over 20 years on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” with Drew Carey, and Aisha Tyler.

She has Toured, recorded and/or performed with Art Garfunkel, Terri Lyne Carrington, Tracy Chapman, Sheila E., Christopher Cross, Sara Niemietz, Crystal Bowersox, Edwin McCain, Don Was, Jim Keltner, Thelma Houston, and many more. And her recent recordings include Terri Lyne Carrington’s Grammy winning “Mosaic” and “Love And Soul”; Art Garfunkel’s “The Singer”; Ed Roth’s “Mad Beatnik”; Edwin McCain’s “Mercy Bound”; and Maia Sharp’s “The Dash Between The Dates”.  

Currently Linda is collaborating with Sara Niemietz, co-writing, producing, mixing. Film and TV composer with placements including “This Is Us” and “Superstore”.

Thanks to Bill Cheney at Spectra 1964 for making our introduction. 

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Website Links:
https://lindataylormusic.com/
Facebook
YouTube
Instagram
Twitter

Additional podcast editing and production by:
Brayden Stremming
Vlad Vasilcenko
Jon Richardson

Tight drums in big studio spaces? Duane talked about recording drums, getting the perfect kick sound, mic placement for acoustics, his ultimate vocal chain with fx, how to record vocals in the control room, and producing music for Ringo Starr.

My guest today is Duane Lundy, a music producer, mixer, and studio owner in Lexington Kentucky. Duane has worked with hundreds of artists from Grammy-Award winners like Sturgill Simpson & Flor de Toloache, to critically acclaimed and eclectic Ben Sollee, Vandaveers, Jim James, and the Horse Feathers.

Duane also works on projects that include legacy artists like Ringo Starr, Michael McDonald, Bela Fleck, Robert Randolph, Earl Slick, Duff McKagan, and touring artists like Joe Pug, JDawn Landes, Daniel Rodriguez, as well as emerging buzz acts such as The National Reserve, Ian Noe, Brain Owens, Miles Nielsen and The Rusted Hearts. 

Recently he produced and engineered two tracks on the new Ringo Starr album, as well as produced and mixed Saving Country Musics 2016 song of the year “The Dogs” by Justin Wells. He also records his own music for television shows, feature films and advertising like Sons of Anarchy, Weeds, NCIS, and BMW Mini Cooper among many others.

I met Duane in 2013 when he produced Americana band, The Breedings, here at The Toy Box Studio with me engineering, and we had a blast recording to analog tape through my MCI console. So I’m psyched to have him back!

Thanks to Justin Perkins for reconnecting us for this interview.

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Website Links:
Facebook
Instagram
The Lexington Recording Company

Additional podcast editing and production by:
Brayden Stremming
Vlad Vasilcenko
Jon Richardson

Zippah Recording Recovery Fund

Icicles were literally hanging from the NS10s! Brian talked about losing 30 years of recording gear at Zippah studio to a devastating fire, what to do about insurance, why you should follow your dreams, and how to record guitar like Mick Ronson!

My guest today is Brian Charles a producer, engineer, plugin designer for Rare Signals from Boston Massachusetts. Brian has been a fantastic guest on the podcast before on episode RSR174 to talk about working with indie rock bands. He’s worked with thousands of artists over the years and has made albums in almost every genre imaginable. 

Some of Brian’s many credits include The Vatican Commandos featuring a young “Moby” as the lead singer, Dispatch, pop artist Marina and the Diamonds, Weakened Friends, and his longtime work as a producer and touring member of the band “The Sheila Divine”. 

Brian is also an educator working with Berklee College of Music, Emerson College, The Walnut Hill School for The Arts, and The Recording Workshop. And he is the creator of the “Transatlantic Plate Reverb” at his plugin company Rare Signals where he digitally recreated the iconic plate reverbs of Zippah studio.

Tragically in December 2021 His Home base studio, Zippah Recording (of 33 years), was destroyed in an 8-alarm fire. Incredibly the music community has come together to fundraise in support of Brian’s studio and family recovery after the devastating loss of many decades of instruments, recording equipment, and musical history. 

Thanks so much to Mark Rubel at Blackbird Academy for making our original introduction.

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Website Links:
Zippah Recording Recovery Fund
Studio Website
Facebook Studio
Facebook (Rare Signals)
Facebook
Instagram
Instagram (Rare Signals)

Additional podcast editing and production by:
Brayden Stremming
Vlad Vasilcenko
Jon Richardson

Don't chuck that old iPad! Ben talked about mixing workflow using Soundflow, OSCTouch, Logic, and a variety of iPads for fast easy mixing in Pro Tools, producing hip hop and jazz, live recording at Smalls jazz club, and working with MC Masta Ace.

My guest today is Ben Rubin a producer, mixer, bassist, and composer in Brooklyn NY. Whether he’s melding hip-hop and jazz with legends like Masta Ace and Donny McCaslin, playing upright bass at the Newport Jazz Festival with Dred Scott Trio, remixing Karsh Kale or WuTang’s Killah Priest, rockin’ on electric bass with Marshall Crenshaw, or producing Peter Bernstein solo jazz guitar, Grammy-nominated producer/(re)mixer/bassist/composer Ben Rubin (aka Benny Cha Cha) is renowned for making records that are pure or genre-bending or both.

Picked seven times as a “Rising Star Producer” in DownBeat Magazine’s International Critics’ Poll, Rubin has well over 100 album credits to his name. Lately, he has been working with a diversity of artists including Queen Esther, Erik Deutsch & Theo Bleckmann, Steve Conte (New York Dolls), Stripmall Ballads, Rachel Eckroth (St Vincent), Lower Power, Caleb Wheeler Curtis, Drifter feat. Lucy Woodward, Buzzed Armstrong, and Jon Irabagon, as well as labels like Ropeadope, Sunnyside and Imani.

Most recently, Rubin’s attention has focused on Analog Players Society at the Bridge Studio in Brooklyn with APS founder Amon Drum creating cut-up hip-hop instrumental records and jazz albums released on Ropeadope and described by Downbeat Magazine as “truly compelling.” featuring legendary Juice Crew MC Masta Ace described as “in the direct lineage of classics like A Tribe Called Quest’s Low-End Theory, and Guru’s Jazzmatazz.”

Bens production and mixing credits include Walking Distance feat. Jason Moran, Grammy nominated composer/pianist Emilio Solla, and many recordings for Smalls Live Records releasing more than 30 records with jazz greats including Larry Goldings, Louis Hayes, Tom Harrell, Johnny O’Neal, Chris Potter, Tim Ries, Roy Hargrove, Mulgrew Miller, Seamus Blake, and Cyrille Aimeé to name just a few.

As a bassist, Ben has toured and recorded both upright and electric bass with a diversity of artists, including Dred Scott Trio, Patti Smith, James Maddock, Courtney Love, Mary J. Blige, Moby, Bill Frisell, and his own acclaimed, genre-bending band Mudville which I believe my brother Nate played in at one point. Ben has also composed scores for features and short films, including director Nelson Kim’s feature film debut, Someone Else, which premiered at the Miami International Film Festival in 2015

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Website Links:
https://benrubin.com
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook

Additional podcast editing and production by:
Brayden Stremming
Vlad Vasilcenko
Jon Richardson

Mixing in Pro Tools? Collin talked about using consoles for recording but mixing totally in the box, tons of cool plugin tips, Pomodoro mixing, reverse engineering Vance Powells speakers for Jack White, and how to run audio through guitar pedals.

My guest today is Collin Dupuis a Nashville and Detroit based multi Grammy nominated and two time Grammy winning mixer, producer, and engineer. Collin has been on the podcast previously to talk about working with artists and projects including, Lana Del Rey, St. Vincent, Dr. John, The Black Keys, and many others. You can hear his back story on episode RSR252 where he talked about starting out in Detroit working with the Bass Brothers, Jack White, Planet-E Records, and Dan Auerbach and moving to Nashville.

Currently, Collin is busy working as a freelance mixer and engineer, recording, and mixing songs and albums for artists including, Angel Olsen, Yves Tumor, Boy and Bear, Cherry Glazer, Lawrence Rothman and many others.

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Website Links:

www.collindupuis.com
Instagram: @collin_dupuis_mixer

Additional podcast editing and production by:
Brayden Stremming
Vlad Vasilcenko
Jon Richardson

Do you really need a console to mix? Mike talked about mix assisting with Vance Powell, recording to analog tape with Mitch Dane, building Sputnik Sound, mixing in the box, recording a live band in the room Glyn Johns style, and killer drum sounds.

My guest today is Mike Fahey an engineer, mixer, and producer from the great state of Maine. Michael went to college for mechanical engineering at the University Of Maine before switching over to an audio engineering degree at The New England School Of Communications (NESCOM). My first instrument was the trumpet in my elementary school band and he picked up the guitar at 11. 

In 2012, He landed an internship at Sputnik Sound after Vance Powell came to speak at NESCOM earlier that year about mixing for The Raconteurs' Consolers of the Lonely. He moved to Nashville that fall and after two months of interning was hired by Mitch Dane to be his assistant engineer. During that time, Sputnik moved to a new building in Berry Hill where he helped with construction for 7 months renovating the studio. In late 2014 Vance hired Michael as his assistant engineer and he has been with him ever since.

In May 2020 Mike started his own studio, Starbird Sound and has been able to spend time on his production projects while working full time at Sputnik.

Thanks so much to Vance Powell and Mitch Dane for making our introduction.

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Website Links:

https://linktr.ee/starbirdsound
Instagram: 
@badmfamps
@starbirdsound

Additional podcast editing and production by:
Brayden Stremming
Vlad Vasilcenko
Jon Richardson