"Witch" distortion pedal rocks the most? Kurt Ballou from God City Studios in Salem MA talked about designing guitars and distortion pedals, the challenges of going fulltime with a recording studio, winning a Grammy for engineering High On Fire and more!

My guest today is Kurt Ballou is a Grammy-winning producer, engineer, mixer and studio owner in Salem MA with extensive production credits on some of aggressive music's most successful albums. In addition to his studio work, Kurt is the guitarist in ground breaking hardcore/metal crossover act CONVERGE.

Kurt's studio, God City Recording, was constructed in 2003 and contains the finest analog and digital recording equipment available. God City has hosted bands such as Grammy winner High on Fire, American Nightmare, NAILS, Darkest Hour, Code Orange, Four Year Strong, Converge, Russian Circles, Torche, Cave In and many more.

Kurt also designs guitar pedals and guitars under the name God City Instruments where you can get the heaviest guitar distortions and fuzzes pre-built and ready to use or build your own with ready-made PCB boards and kits.

Thanks to Brian Murphree for the introduction.

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How fast can you mix? Billy Decker shows you how to mix radio-ready hits as fast as a rough mix in his new book Template Mixing & Mastering. In this episode, he breaks down some great mixing tricks showing you drum triggering with samples and more!

My guest today is Billy Decker a Nashville producer, engineer, and mixer with multiple #1 hits for clients like Chris Young, Kenny Chesney, Darius Rucker, Jason Aldean, Jaime Lynne Spears, and Sam Hunt and even George Jones. 

Billy is known for his high-speed method of mixing using templates and systems for getting to the creative side of mixing immediately without getting bogged down in the tech side of mixing. He was a guest on the podcast previously on episode RSR210 and recently he has written a new book called Template Mixing and Mastering.

So today we will dig deeper into Billy’s template mixing and get an introduction to what you will find in his new book. I highly recommend that you pick up the book since he does a wonderful job of breaking down every detail beautifully with images and charts to help you set up your own template for mixing in your studio.

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Should you get a work surface for mixing in your studio? Discover the pros and cons of this episode. Justin also talked about constructing his mix room, producing music with your significant other, using a control surface for mixing and much more!

My guest today is Justin Francis is a multiple Grammy Award nominee as an engineer, #1 Billboard chart mixer, and budding producer based right here in East Nashville. His work can be heard on records ranging from Ronnie Milsap to Alice Cooper including Top 40 hits for Little Big Town and Kelsea Ballerini; soundtracks with Kacey Musgraves and P!nk, and releases from diverse artists as Rodney Crowell, Tyler Childers, Margo Price, Buddy Guy, Deep Purple, Anti-Flag, Rozwell Kid and Diarrhea Planet reaching millions of streams every month.

Justin has been a guest on the podcast previously one episode RSR220 when we got to talk about his background in the recording. So this episode we will continue to dig into mixing and production and ways that we can ramp up the quality of our work in our own pro or home studios.

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Website links: 
www.jryanfrancis.com
Social media - @jryanfrancis
Previous episode with Justin (RSR220)
Kelsey Waldon - https://youtu.be/QMyqWIPu5J4

Additional podcast editing and production by:
Brayden Stremming
Hugh Macdonald
Vlad Vasilcenko

Why did the chicken cross the road? AHEE described his Dubstep EDM production studio on a chicken farm, talked about the benefits of mixing with a Subpack, the creative flow state, tricks for the OTT Compressor and Serum, and much more!

My guest today is Chris Adams, aka Ahee, an EDM producer and artist with extensive experience touring clubs and festivals known for his prolific musical output, helpful YouTube tutorials, high-quality sample packs, & crowd engaging live sets.

I discovered Ahee’s Youtube channel when I was searching for tutorials on using the Serum wavetable synth from Xfer Records and really enjoyed the ways that Chris broke down EDM production and techniques for everything from creating DIY synth drum samples to production using his custom sample and sound packs for Ableton Live, to mixing through RTA frequency analyzers so that we can compare our own home studio mixes to a huge club and festival mixes by top EDM producers like Skrillex. Plus Chris affectionately refers to his audience by introducing each video with “Yo What’s Up Aliens” which obviously a great way to talk them don’t you think so Rockstars?

Some of his collaboration and remix credits include The Funk Hunters, Manic Focus, Defunk, Stylust, Psymbionic, Stickybuds, David Starfire, Soohan, and more. I’ll include links to his Youtube channel in the show notes where you can also find a collection of his EDM music productions. 

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What the heck is micro editing?? Daniel Schlett talked about using the API Legacy console at Strange Weather Studio in Brooklyn NY, working with Ghost Killah, Songhoy Blues, Steve Gunn, and Booker T, making it onto the cover of Mix Magazine, and more!

My guest today is Daniel Schlett a Producer, Engineer, Mixer and owner of Strange Weather Studio seen on the cover of Mix Magazine in 2019 as one of the best rooms in Brooklyn NY. Daniel’s production finds itself at the creative intersection where acoustic and rock recording meets loop and edit based production. His discography ranges from NYC hip hop to live in-studio performances, to rock production from Mali with a clear sense of how each sounds best. 

Daniel has worked with many great artists including Iggy Pop, Booker T., Songhoy Blues, Peelander-Z, Ghostface Killah, War on Drugs, Luke Temple and Here We Go Magic, Combo Chimbita, The Lost Brothers. And I’ve been enjoying a fantastic sounding playlist of videos for you in the show notes. 

I’m psyched to talk with Daniel today about his philosophy of production with a wide range of musical styles and see what we can learn about working with a variety of artists. Thanks to Dave Hintze at API for making our introduction.

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How do you know when your mix is ready for mastering? Brian Murphree talked about the difference between mixing and mastering, why he uses a hybrid mastering system, how to make your clients feel great about working with you, and much more!

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”.

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Do you want bigger bass in your mixes? Morgan shared quick tips for producing EDM, staying creative in the studio, how to mix bass for clubs vs studio, distortion techniques, master bus treatment, sub drops and other cool EDM tricks and much more!

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.

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What if your first gig ever was working with Jimi Hendrix? John Storyk talked about designing Electric Lady Studio for Jimi Hendrix, working with Eddie Kramer, The importance of Symmetry, live room vs mix room design and much more!

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.

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What does it take to make great hip hop? Killah Trakz talked about MPC vs Maschine, the benefits of Presonus Studio One, how to upgrade your studio to PC, why your midi controller is giving you trouble, finding the J Dilla groove and much more!

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.

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