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Ian Shepherd

RSR008 – Ian Shepherd – Home Mastering Masterclass

RSR007 - David Glenn - The Mix Academy

If you dig the show and find it helpful I would be honored if you would subscribe, and leave a rating, & review in iTunes.

RSR008 - Ian Shepherd - Home Mastering Masterclass

Home Mastering Masterclass (Click the link to check it out)


Ian Shepherd is a professional mastering engineer with over 20 years experience and owner of Mastering Media Ltd. Ian has mastered thousands of CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays for all of the major record labels, TV stations and independents, including several number one singles and award-winning albums.


Some of the artists and clients include: Keane, Tricky, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Deep Purple, The Orb, Leslie Garret, Culture Club, Porcupine Tree, Andy Weatherall, The Las, Ozric Tentacles, Christine Tobin, New Order and King Crimson amongst many others.


Ian has taken all of that experience and created the popular website, Production Advice.

He is also the founder of Dynamic Range Day raising global awareness for the loudness wars, and he is creator of  the award-winning Perception Plugin with MeterPlugs. The one tool you need to make sure your masters sound 'better" not "worse!"


But the best tool that Ian has created for you is:

The Home Mastering Masterclass

This class will help you get better results mastering your own music.

This is an awesome resource that can help you with your mastering whether you are just starting out and wanting to master from home on your laptop or looking to deepen your understanding of what mastering is really all about. Even if you still rely on professional mastering!

Home Mastering Masterclass

Use this link below for the RSRockstars discount!

The Home Mastering Masterclass

Here is a sweet deal for you Rockstars!

Ian has a special offer for you Rockstars! If you purchase through the link below he will throw in a FREE copy of  The Essential Production Advice. ($25 value!) 

And you can also get an exclusive 33% discount on Perception Plugin, too ! Just click here.

The Home Mastering Masterclass (Click Here) 




Mastering Advice - Q&A:

Q: Have you worked at a number of mastering studios or do you do it mostly at your own?

A: I worked at SRT for about 15 years. I learned most of what I know there, and now I do my own work.


Q: What is mastering?

A: It’s actually really simple. It’s like Photoshop for audio. It’s about taking the mixes and taking them to the next level. Mastering is balancing the songs within an album. Mastering mostly consists of EQ, Compression, and Limiting.


Q: What is the loudness war?

A: People like louder music. If you play them the same song at different volumes, they will like the louder one most of the time. Over the years, people have been compressing or limiting as close as possible to 0dB Full Scale. The trouble is if you go too far, it can actually make the music sound worse, and that’s the situation we’re seeing today.


Q: Tell us a little bit about your Home Mastering Masterclass.

A: I’m still learning all the time. I understand most people do not want to pay someone to master something when they can just do it themselves, so I want to teach them to do it well.

Home Mastering Masterclass covers EQ, reference tracks, compression, and limiting.


Q: What are some of the most frequent questions you get about mastering?

A: How loud should it be? How loud is too loud? How loud should your monitors be when mixing or mastering?


Q: How often is your Home Mastering Master Course available?

A: Usually about 3 or 4 times a year. The course lasts for 8 weeks. Every week I master a different song of a different genre, using a different DAW and software. I assign the listeners a small task that will help them improve their own mastering skills.


“Jam Session” - Q&A:

Q: Tell us about what was holding you back at the start of your Mastering career?

A: I had no gear. I had nothing at all. I persuaded my parents to buy me an old computer that had an 8-bit sampler. It got me started making noises and allowed me to create little songs. It doesn’t matter what gear you have, just how you make use of it.


Q: What was some of the best advice you ever received about recording or mastering?

A: When you’re making comparisons, always loudness-match first, so you’re not fooled into thinking it sounds better just because it’s louder.


Q: Can you share a recording tip, hack or secret sauce?

A: Loudness matching. My plug-in called Perception, allows you to loudness match with the click of a button. You can do this without a plug-in, but it takes much longer.


Q: Can you share a great resource related to the business aspect of mastering?

A: My advice would be just be as generous as you can with the knowledge you have. Don’t be afraid to provide free information or lower your rate for a band you think is truly amazing. You never know who you’re interacting with.


Q: If you were dropped into a strange city with only a simple mastering set-up, what would you use, how would you find music to master, and how would you make ends meet while you do it?

A: All you need is a laptop. I can improve the way you perceive a song with just an EQ and Limiter. If you’re just getting started, you will probably have to do work for free to begin with. People will not want to pay you to master until they can see that you really can master.


Twitter - (@IanShepherd)

Folow Ian on Twitter - @IanShepherd

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/shepherd.ian

http://mastering-media.blogspot.com/

Rockstars don't forget your special discount!

Ian has a special offer for you Rockstars! If you purchase through the link below he will throw in a FREE copy of The Essential Production Advice. ($25 value!)

​

And you can also get an exclusive 33% discount on Perception Plugin, too ! Just click here.

The Home Mastering Masterclass (Click Here) 

If you have any or questions about recording you would like me to answer on the show or suggestions for the show please email me:

lij@recordingstudiorockstars.com

If you dig the show and find it helpful I would be honored if you would subscribe, and leave a rating, & review in iTunes.

And if you want to get on the email list for free content full of videos, tips, studio tricks, and special offers just text RSROCKSTARS to 33-444 from your phone (super easy and I promise you won’t get spammed!)

Credits: Thanks so much to Merissa Marx and Hunter Hansen for assisting with editing audio and show notes. You guys totally rock!

Cheers!

Lij

 

 

 

David Glenn

RSR007 – David Glenn – The Mix Academy

RSR007 - David Glenn - The Mix Academy

If you dig the show and find it helpful I would be honored if you would subscribe, and leave a rating, & review in iTunes.

RSR007 - David Glenn - The Mix Academy

The Mix Academy (Check it out)

My special guest on the show today is David Glenn, a professional mix engineer from Orlando, FL, who has worked with many great artists including Pablo Villatoro, Blanca Callahan , LaRue Howard, the American Idol Finalist Jeremy Rosado , and Aimee Allen on Warner to name a few.

David generously shares his expertise with you through his site DavidGlennRecording.com where he creates Youtube tutorial videos, a podcast, blog articles, and a complete set of products to help you learn recording and mixing.

One of his coolest products is The Mix Academy, a membership site where David shares the complete mixing process from start to finish while members virtually watch over his shoulder to learn the tricks and techniques that David uses to create professional mixes.

And David has created a special offer just for you, Rockstars!

If you text MIXACADEMY to 33-444, David will throw in two extra multitrack songs for you to start mixing right away when you become a member. That’s on top of the sign up bonuses that already come with every new Mix Academy membership. (That’s a $100 bonus right there) Awesome!

Intro -

Born and raised in Orlando florida, David Glenn’s interest in music began early. He began playing guitar in his free time on the road with his soccer team. He was inspired to pursue a career in music after hearing Weezer’s Blue Album for the first time. Hs grandmother bought him his first guitar, a Fender Washburn Stratocaster. Armed with his guitar, a zoom pedal and a 4 track recorder, Glenn set out to begin his music career.

Some of the topics we talked about on the show:

  • David started out recording with Cakewalk and later got Pro Tools.

  • Mixed bag of influences include: Blink 182, Misfits, Nirvana, also Martina McBride, Backstreet Boys, & top 40.

  • His first recording setup was the Digidesign DIGI 001 with Pro Tools 6, a G4, and an M-box.

  • Early drum machines he used: Korg Electribe, Emu, Akai.

  • His first real studio internship and gig at 18 years old was at Starke Lake Studios in Ocoee FL a beautiful studio with a variety of vintage mics including the AKG C12 and SONY C800G.

“Git r done” @davidglennjr on mixing advice

Click to Tweet

“Make commitments, get stuff done. I have to push myself to set goals and meet them." @davidglennjr

Click to Tweet

What was a setback or failure?

  • Over promising and under delivering.
  • Communication with clients and people; serving their interests first is key.

  • "If they want the dang house door painted yellow, it’s their house. I had to learn to serve the clients and humble down."

David Glenn

What was successful moment or win for you?

    • When I started my internship I was certified in Pro Tools. So after a few months at the studio I got my hands on the console and helped record Amy Allen (signed to Warner Bros. at the time). Getting in there, being quiet but having the right suggestions were the right thing to do. And my big win was that she later asked me to help her and Ryan Adkins produce as a team and it took my confidence to a new level!


What are you excited about right now?

  • “I’m excited about running mix academy and I thought it’d be cool to have a web show for tutorials so I started one with my friends similar to Pensado’s Place but more laid back. we’ve done 6-7 episodes.

  • I learn a ton from my students every day on the forums or facebook group.

  • I miss the interaction with people in the big studios which is key. that’s why I love the web show community aspect of the home recording.

Jam Session:


Anything ever hold you back when starting out?

  • Grades. My parents took away my guitar because of my grades! I held myself back by not doing well in school.


Best advice received?

  • Graham Cochran of The Recording Revolution told me don’t hold back, serve people and you’ll see business growth. And don’t over promise/under deliver. If you say a week make it 3 days.


Recording hack/secret sauce?

  • So many small moves add up to a great record.

  • Top-down mixing

  • Sonar workshttp://sonarworks.com/ headphones, calibration reference 3 headphones plugin flattens response of frequencies. They modeled custom profiles on 50 pairs of headphones and come up with the average eq measurement.

  • And just for you Rockstars Sonarworks has offered a special discount of 15% off! Just gp to Sonarworks and use the code RSR-15SW at check out (Good thru 10/31/15).


Fav book or film?


Fav studio hardware tool?


Fav software tool?

  • Soundradix Auto Align and pi helps align phase on multi instruments.


Great business resource?

  • Bookkeeping websites. Facebook ads. hire an assistant to cut out prep work and the tech side of things.


Online resources for outsourcing assistants or editors?


If you were dropped in a strange city, had to take a simple setup to record, what would you take? How would you meet people to record? And how would you make ends meet to survive at first?

  • Grab a 4 track recorder, couple of mics and go to open mics; find street musicians and do whatever you can to find people who have great songs.

  • That’s the goal; to make great music.

  • You’re name will grow faster with a good song and bad recording than the other way around.

  • Find talented artists and vocalists.

  • The soul of a great song is in its vocalist.


What is a modern version of a 4 track?


What is the single most important thing to becoming a recording studio rockstar?

  • listen to Lij’s podcasts! (Thanks David!)


Here's how you can find David Glenn:



And remember David has created a special offer just for you, Rockstars!

If you text MIXACADEMY to 33-444, David will throw in two extra multitrack songs for you to start mixing right away when you become a member. That’s on top of the bonuses that already come with every new Mix Academy membership.

(That’s an added value of one hundred dollars right there)

So awesome!

If you have any questions or suggestions for the show please email me:

lij@recordingstudiorockstars.com

(If you dig the show and find it helpful I would be honored if you would leave a rating and review in iTunes. You can tap through right on your phone from the podcast search page or go to recordingstudiorockstars.com/review for easy instructions.)

And if you want to get on the email list for free content full of videos, tips, studio tricks, and special offers just text RSROCKSTARS to 33-444 from your phone (super easy and I promise you won’t get spammed!)

Cheers!

Lij











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Graham Cochrane

RSR006 – Graham Cochrane – The Recording Revolution

Subscribe In iTunes

 Listen and subscribe to the podcast directly in iTunes (click here)

(If you dig the show and find it helpful I would be honored if you would subscribe, leave a rating, and review in iTunes. You can tap through right on your phone from the podcast search page or go to recordingstudiorockstars.com/review for easy instructions.)

RSR006 - Graham Cochrane - TheRecordingRevolution.com

Dueling mixes (check it out)


My guest on the show today is Graham Cochrane a musician, mix engineer, and audio blogger. Graham has built a very successful career recording and releasing both his own records and mixing for clients in many different genres.


He is also the creator of The Recording Revolution.com, a fantastic resource where you can go to learn tons about recording. You will find blog articles, youtube videos, and podcasts, all absolutely FREE.


And when you are truly ready to invest in yourself and your recordings you can also check out the in depth training courses that Graham offers. He has created complete video courses called the Rethink series to take you through different aspects of recording and mixing.

Or you can check out The Audio Income Project to help you get started building the business side of your recording career.


But the top gun training is a membership site Graham created with Joe Gilder called Dueling Mixes.

When you are ready to join an awesome community of peers to take your mixing to another level. You get access to monthly mixes from Graham and Joe, multitrack recordings, and a large support system of peers to practice your mixing and building your resume.


Dueling mixes (click the link to check it out)



Graham starts out his story on the podcast like so many of us do…

He was a musician first and had a band in high school. When they were finally ready to record they considered going the professional studio route, but instead decided to spend their budget on a home recording setup.


When Graham’s band bought a Korg Digital 8 Track they realized they were in way over their heads! So Graham took on the duty of reading through a very complicated manual to try to figure out exactly how to use the thing.


And so started his journey on the path becoming a Rockstar of the Recording Studio.

Graham humbly denies the title. (But if you want irrefutable proof CLICK HERE!)


Many records and blog posts later Graham shares with us some of the wisdom he has learned along the way…


He started with an inspirational quote that applies to all of us (from the host of This American Life.)

Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.

Ira Glass

It is only by going through a volume of work that... your work will be as good as your ambitions 

Click to Tweet

Then we got to talking about the process of getting better at recording and mixing.

“I’m an audio experimenter. I’m just pushing buttons until it sounds good. Just like with a guitar amp,  just turn the knob until it sounds good. And over time you get really smart about what sounds good and what doesn’t sound good.” 


“You’re just probably a solid year away from half decent recordings, and a few years away from the kind of recordings you really want to get good at. But you don’t need to buy anything new. You just need to do a lot of it.”

Graham Cochrane                 

“Experience is really valuable, even if it’s a failure. You can learn a lot from every experience, and so it’s [important to have] the courage to continue to apply what you are learning. To try new things, and not make sweeping generalizations about your entire life history or the course of your life after one experience.” - Graham Cochrane

"It’s gonna take a while. It’s normal to take a while" @recordingrev

Click to Tweet

You only hear a mix for the first time once... and that moment is so valuable. - @recordingrev

Click to Tweet

And if you want a great place to learn with the support of a community of peers. A place where you can develop you mixing skills with the support of Graham Cochrane and Joe Gilder as your experienced and patient guides then I highly recommend that you check out:

Dueling mixes (click through here)

  • Monthly mixes from Graham and Joe for your review
  • Downloadable Multi-tracks so that you can mix the same songs as Graham
  • An online community and Facebook peer group for reviews of your mixes
  • An unique community of support to help you take your mixes to the next level!

Recording Advice - Q&A:

  • Q - What is one failure that has taught you something throughout your career?

    • A - When I first tried being a full-time freelance engineer, I quit because of the uncertainty of a regular paycheck. I got a job as a sound designer for a while and then tried freelancing again after a while. I learned that even a failure in this industry still provides you with experience.

  • Q - What are the benefits to mixing fast?

    • A - You only hear a mix for the first time once... and that moment is so valuable.

  • Q - What are the most important things you can do to a mix?

    • A - The most important things are getting the tracks to a good level, then compression and equalization. Those three things will have the biggest impact on your mix.

The Jam Session Q&A:

  • Q - What was holding you back when you were getting started in recording

    • A - A fear that my recordings would not sound good.

  • Q - What was some of the best advice you ever received about recording

    • Just put the mic where it sounds good and don’t over think it. - Graham Cochrane @recordingrev

    Click to Tweet

  • Q - How about a tip hack or secret sauce that you would like to share from your experience?

    • A - Recording - Use cardioid microphones as much as possible when you’re recording in your home studio. Point the back of the mic towards things that sound bad to reject the noise. Mixing - Do a lot of mixing in mono. It forces you to get clarity and punch when mixing out of only one speaker.

  • Q - Do you have a favorite book you would like to share?

  • Q - Can you share a favorite hardware tool of the studio?

    • A - I have a custom Argosy desk that was built for my studio. It does nothing for the audio, but it makes me feel good about my space.

    • I also love these Kel Audio HM1, HM2D mics that are very cheap but sound great.”

  • Q - How about a favorite software tool?

  • Q - How about a great resource for the business part of the recording studio?

    • A - WordPress for your website. Paypal for collecting money. And Soundcloud for hosting your music.

    • A - It’s not the technical tools. Go meet people, make some records for free, and ask for referrals. Add value to people’s lives and serve them.

    • A - “Be your client’s trusted advisor” - Jay Abraham

  • Q - If you were dropped into a strange city and you could only take a simple setup for recording, what would you choose, how would you find people to record, and how would you make ends meet right away to continue recording?

    • A - The first thing I would do is get a job. All I would need is a laptop, a 2-channel usb interface, large-diaphragm condenser and a dynamic mic like an Shure SM57. I would be fine with the stock plugins on the DAW. Then I would just go to where music is happening and offer to record people for free. You need money to stay in this business, so a job is nothing to be ashamed of. Then you can pocket all the profits you make recording.

  • Q - How can our listeners follow you?

If you have any questions or suggestions for the show please email me:

lij@recordingstudiorockstars.com

(If you dig the show and find it helpful I would be honored if you would leave a rating and review in iTunes. You can tap through right on your phone from the podcast search page or go to recordingstudiorockstars.com/review for easy instructions.)

And if you want to get on the email list for free content full of videos, tips, studio tricks, and special offers just text RSROCKSTARS to 33-444 from your phone (super easy and I promise you won’t get spammed!)

Cheers!

Lij





 

 

 

Russell Wolff

RSR005 – Russell Wolff – Producer, Songwriter, Musician, Funny Dude

Subscribe In iTunes

(If you dig the show and find it helpful I would be honored if you would leave a rating and review in iTunes. You can tap through right on your phone from the podcast search page or go to recordingstudiorockstars.com/review for easy instructions.)

RSR005 - Russell Wolff - Producer, Songwriter, Musician, Funny Dude

RussellWolff.com          http://www.russellwolff.com/

Instagram - @russellwolff

Twitter - @russellwolff

Krazy Pop Studio - http://www.krazypopstudio.com/

No Bull Productions - http://nobullproductions.bandcamp.com/


My guest today is a self described “Musical Octopus” and Harvard graduate, Russell Wolff, is a recording/touring artist, and producer of over 30 albums. He got his start in New York City working in Theatre before beginning his career in audio. Russell is an ASCAP member, a voting member of the Grammy’s, a multi-instrumentalist, and a DJ and live sound mixer. Throughout his career he’s worked with the talented acts of Martina McBride, LL Cool J, and has worked on albums under Atlantic Records.


Projects

While Russell was attending Harvard, he released six albums. More recently, Russell completed the 365 Project, where he wrote a song each day for a full year. The project was started to help lift the spirits of a close friend, Dana, who was diagnosed with a terminal illness.

During Project 365 “There was no such thing as a song that was a bad idea.”

-Russell Wolff



One of the cool resources Russell shared is: Entertainment Legal Aid in Nashville

In Nashville, there is an entertainment Legal Aid Society for people in the industry of low income. Also there is a society through Music Cares and the Grammy association that provides volunteer legal aid for the arts, that will provide you with a lawyer and discuss contract negotiation with you, and also represent you if you’re sued.


Some great quotes from Russell:

"We are responsible for our own success"

Click to Tweet

"Fear is large portion of why people don’t achieve their goals"

Click to Tweet

"Any day can be your last and nothing is guaranteed, so do what you can to make the most out of every day" 

Click to Tweet

Screw up! It’s the best way to learn. It’s essential to life. 

Click to Tweet

Jam Session

Q: Do you have anything that was an inspirational quote about making music?

A: There is no right or wrong way to do something (more like a concept than a quote)


Q: Can you share an important failure or setback in your career that turned out to be a great lesson?

A: Every record I ever made. They’re all failures and they’re all successes.


Q:Tell us about a moment of success that felt like a “hit” moment for you.

A: Opening for Moxy Fruvous in 1999 and the crowd sing along to my songs by the first verse.


Q:Tell us something you’re excited about right now in recording, making records, or your music career.

A: Branching out internationally, with work in Israel, Europe, and Africa



Q: Do you have any advice for anyone interested in making records in other countries?

A: Really get to know people in your community, then your region, state, etc.


Q: What was holding you back at the beginning of your career in music?

A: Fear. Everything was fear based.


Q: What was some of the best advice you received starting out or advice you’d give to someone who’s just starting?

A: Don’t listen to anyone. Listen to the loudest, most passionate voice in your head.


Q: What recording tip hack or “secret sauce” would you like to share?

A: Don’t over-compress, especially when you’re just starting out. There is no secret sauce. Don’t use secret sauce. Use your ears and use your brain.


Q: Do you have a favorite book you’ve been reading that you’d like to share?

A: Sadly, I can’t focus on a book enough to read. On shorthand, TapeOp


Q: Do you have a favorite hardware tool to use in the studio?

A: This cheap chain of mics into an API pre, then into an ART VLA II compressor, into a Behringer V-Verb Pro REV2496 reverb.


Q: Do you have a favorite software tool?

A: My UAD plugins


Q: Can you share a resource for the business side of the recording studio?

A: Write everything down. Everything.


Q: If you were dropped in a strange city and you could only take a simple setup to record, what would you choose, how would you find people to record, and how would you make ends meet?

A: I’d take a UA Apollo Twin, a Miktek CV3, a laptop with Pro Tools, a guitar and a small keyboard. I’d probably go to the middle of town every night and see where the musicians are. I’d play music in the middle of town with a guitar cases for donations





(Many of my links in the article are affiliate links which means that if you use them and decide to make a purchase I will get a small commission for helping to bring you this valuable content. This is how I support Recording Studio Rockstars. So I thank you in advance for using these links. You rock! Lij)


Links

Instagram - @russellwolff

Twitter - @russellwolff

Website - http://www.russellwolff.com/

Krazy Pop Studio - http://www.krazypopstudio.com/

No Bull Productions - http://nobullproductions.bandcamp.com/














If you have any questions or suggestions for the show please email me:

lij@recordingstudiorockstars.com

If you dig the show and find it helpful I would be honored if you would leave a rating and review in iTunes. You can tap through right on your phone from the podcast search page or go to recordingstudiorockstars.com/review for easy instructions.

And if you want to get on the email list for free content full of videos, tips, studio tricks, and special offers just text RSROCKSTARS to 33-444 from your phone (super easy and I promise you won’t get spammed!)

Cheers!

Lij






 

 

 

Björgvin Benediktsson

RSR004 – Björgvin Benediktsson – www.audio-issues.com

Subscribe In iTunes

RSR004 - Björgvin Benediktsson - www.audio-issues.com


My guest on the the show is Björgvin Benediktsson, a songwriter, producer, engineer, and music recording blogger. An Alumni from the SAE Institute, He has been writing about music production since 2008, bringing you insight into everything he has learned along the way.


I was first introduced to Björgvin through The Pro Audio Files leading back to his site www.audio-issues.com. Here he creates content to teach you more about the whole recording process from Songwriting to recording and mixing till you create a finished master.


Björgvin gives audio enthusiasts an easy yet solid understanding of the various aspects of producing music, through practical production tips and in depth training products. Providing everything you need to know to produce your own music in your home recording studio.


He runs his own site Audio Issues, and has produced an EP and multiple singles for his band, The Long Wait, and is currently working on their first LP.

Content:

The best ways to make great records is to start with great recordings and know how to work with the tracks till you have a balanced mix.

The best way to get to a sound that is balanced is to understand the basics. That’s why Björgvin created The Ultimate Guide To EQ to help you get the ultimate sound!

“If you've ever wondered how to give instruments their proper place in your mix where they don't fight with each other, you already know the answer... Its EQ 

​Any engineer will tell you that EQ is their most important weapon when they're mixing.

Click to Tweet

Everything else comes after.” -BB


When you are ready to mix then you need the power to understand how to use your plugins

(Especially if your are mixing in a DAW like 99% of the music making world!).

Björgvin created an awesome course called Mixing With 5 Plugins to help guide you on your mixing journey. He breaks it down to five basic plugins to give you everything you need to create a fantastic, professional mix.


Create an Amazing Mix With Only 5 Plug-ins

“Discover How To Use EQ, Compression, Reverb, Delay and Saturation To Create Incredible Sounding Mixes. You only need 5 plug-ins to get a great mix.”


You can find all of Björgvin’s work at Audio Issues


(Many of my links in the article are affiliate links which means that if you use them and decide to make a purchase I will get a small commision for helping to bring you this valuable content. This is how I support Recording Studio Rockstars. So I thank you in advance for using these links. You rock! Lij)

Here are some of the wisdoms that Björgvin shared with me on the podcast:


Philosophies


  • “Always try to teach what you know while striving to improve” @audioissues

    Click to Tweet

  • “Forge your own path, even if it’s different or difficult” @audioissues

    Click to Tweet

Jam Session


Q: Tell us about something that was holding you back when getting started with music

A: Fear of thinking that I’m not good enough


Q: What was some of the best advice you received about recording?

A: Read everything you can about it


Q: Can you share a recording tip, hack or “secret sauce”?

A: Experiment. Even if you don’t have a lot of time, try at least two things so you can have something to compare.


Q: Can you recommend a favorite book?

A: Unlocking Creativity by Michael Beinhorn


Q: Share with us a favorite hardware tool from the studio

A: AKG C-414 XLS


Q: What about favorite software tool?

A: Logic and UAD API channel strip plug-in


Q: What’s a great resource you found for the business side of the industry?

A: Wunderlist, XMind, and my calendar


Q: If you were dropped into a strange city with a simple setup to record, what would you choose to have, how would you find people to record, and how would you make ends meet?

A: I’d take a 4 to 8 input interface. I’d find people to record by going to shows and networking.


Resource Links


Facebook - facebook.com/audioissues

Twitter - @audioissues

YouTube - Bjorgvin Benediktsson

The Long Wait

Patreon - The Long Wait


Websites - Audio Issues

Björgvin's Products to help you make better recordings:

The Ultimate Guide To EQ

Recording and Mixing Strategies

Mixing With 5 Plugins

So if you have any questions or suggestions for the show please email me

lij@recordingstudiorockstars.com

If you dig the show and find it helpful I would be honored if you would leave a rating and review in iTunes. You can tap through right on your phone from the podcast search page or go to recordingstudiorockstars.com/review for easy instructions.

And if you want to get on the email list for free content full of videos, tips, studio tricks, and special offers just text RSROCKSTARS to 33-444 from your phone (super easy and I promise you won’t get spammed!)

Cheers!

Lij






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RSR003 – Joe Gilder – HomeStudioCorner.com

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My guest today is Joe Gilder. He is songwriter, producer, engineer, teacher and innovator in the online world of music production, blogging, and podcasting. Joe’s focus is the home studio owner, to help you create the best recordings you can. He has created a fantastic resource and website called HomeStudioCorner.com

Check out Home Studio Corner Production Club​ a 19-Part Online Course Walking You Through the ENTIRE Home Studio Production Process From Song Idea to Finish Mastered Recording


In his own words:

“Home Studio Corner (HSC) exists to help home studios excel. It gives you LOTS of ways to expand your recording knowledge, hone your recording skills, and make better recordings.”


Joe offers articles, videos, podcasts, and training products so that you can start learning for free now and dive in for much more in depth training when you are ready.


Here are some of the topics we discussed on the show.


Dueling Mixes: 

  • Dueling Mixes is for users who are comfortable with their DAW and want to go deeper into what the program can do. The site offers alternate mixes of the same song so the user can compare the two and see how differently a single track can be mixed. They can also download the original track to mix the song themselves. Joe and his co-host Graham Cochrane show you how they mix the songs to give you insights into the process.


“Home Studio Corner” & “Simply Recording” Podcasts. (These links will take you straight to iTunes)

  • Joe talks about the production of one of his albums from 2010. He brings up the 80/20 rule which states 80% of your results comes from 20% of the inputs given. He talked about how he was going to write 50 songs in 12 weeks to create at least 10 that he was super proud of!


Predicting The Cost of a Record:

  • Joe talks about how to plan out how long and how much time it will cost to complete a record. This goes back to knowing how long it takes you to accomplish something in order to accurately predict how long the process will take. Joe talks about the value of salesmanship when quoting a client on how much his services will cost. This is a great lesson for us all in matching our rates to the high value of our service.


Recording Advice - Q&A:

  • Q- “What is the most important advice you have?”

    • A - “Getting it right at the source.”

  • Q - “What was an important failure or setback that became an important learning lesson for you in the studio or in your musical journey?

    • A - “The more I learned about the proper way to record music, the less time I spent creating it.”

  • Q - “Tell us about a moment of success in your recording career.”

    • A - “Listening back to old recordings and noticing how the emotion of the songs are still coming through, even after so much time.”

  • Q - “Where can we find your album “Better This Way?”

  • Q - “Tell us about something you’re excited about right now.”

    • A - “I am most excited about writing more music, especially in the studio with my drummer and bassist.”

  • Q - “How do you imagine capturing that writing process with a group of people like that?”

    • A - “I think it would be let’s just set up a recording session and jam until we come up with something or jam to a click to build a track that way.”


The “Jam Session” Q&A:

  • Q - “What was holding you back from getting started in recording?”

    • A - “Feeling like I had to do everything myself.”

  • Q - “What was some of the best advice you received about recording?”

    • A - “Get it right at the source.”

  • Q - “How about a tip hack or secret sauce that you would like to share from your experience?”

    • A - “Committing to time-based effects at the time of the recording.”

  • Q - “Do you have a favorite book you would like to share?”

  • Q - “Can you share a favorite hardware tool of the studio?”

  • Q - “How about a favorite software tool?”

  • Q - “Would you like to just drop a reference to one favorite new feature that exists in it that you’re liking a lot right now?”

    • A - “I like the feature that lets you to route the plug-in chain on any channel and split the signal, and do different things on each part of the signal”

  • Q - “How about a great resource for the business part of the recording studio?”

  • Q - “If you were dropped into a strange city and you could only take a simple setup for recording, what would you choose, how would you find people to record, and how would you make ends meet right away to continue recording?”

    • A - “The rig - a laptop with Presonus, an interface, and a mic. People to record - you have to go to where the musicians are and find them.

  • Q - “What if someone is in a town that doesn’t have many musicians?”

  • Q - “How can our listeners follow you?”

For more about Joe go to

HomeStudioCorner.com

So if you have any questions or suggestions for the show please email me

lij@recordingstudiorockstars.com

If you dig the show and find it helpful I would be honored if you would leave a rating and review in iTunes. You can tap through right on your phone from the podcast search page or go to recordingstudiorockstars.com/review for easy instructions.

And if you want to get on the email list for free content full of videos, tips, studio tricks, and special offers just text RSROCKSTARS to 33-444 from your phone (super easy and I promise you won’t get spammed!)

Cheers!

Lij


















 

 

 

RSR001 – Mike Purcell – 6Minor Films

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Intro:

Mike purcell has a long list of recording, mixing and mastering credits including Lynyrd Skynyrd, Brad Paisley, Waylon Jennings, and Billy Ray Cyrus. He is a recording artist himself, and has a passion for indie rock. He is also an entrepreneur with many business ventures.

He grew up in Nashville, and started playing guitar when he was 14. He began recording with 2 cassette decks and a Radioshack mixer, and his first recording studio experience in 1988 solidified his passion for recording.


Early Career:

Mike attended Belmont University from 1990-1994. He interned at The Castle recording studio and was offered a job there for $150/week. He later went to LA for a six month trip to record Lionel Richie.

When he returned to Nashville, he got a ProTools rig and was very into digital audio. He did a lot of vocal tuning work at this time. He would also often record using the Otari RADAR II digital multitrack recorder.


Demo Recording:

A demo recording is done for songwriters who want to pitch something to a recording artist. These songs are often done with session musicians who do not rehearse extensively before the session, because they can sight-read the charts.

At County Q studio, Mike would record a high volume of demos in a single day. Because of his ability and experience as an engineer, and the quality of the session musicians, they were able to record songs very quickly and efficiently.


Philosphy/Advice:

-What comes next in the recording industry is what you invent. Don’t be afraid to try new things and make mistakes.

-Mike Purcell prefers to find music he loves, and capture it, rather than finding music that he kind of likes and reinventing it.


-Take every job you can if it has anything to do with music. Take the gigs that you’re uncomfortable taking; you’re probably uncomfortable because you don’t know much about it, so you’ll probably learn from the experience.

-Don’t have an ego as an engineer. Try to fulfill the client’s vision rather than your own.

-Get hooked up with someone who is successful and doing something that you want to be a part of. Do the best job out of anybody there, and confess to your mistakes, and you’re likely to be successful.





Jam session:


-what was holding you back at the beginning of your career?

-lack of resources to and access to the good studios. That’s different now, because you can buy ProTools.


-what was some of the best advice you’ve received?

-do it right and do it once.


-What is your favorite recording trick?

-Sidechain compress the bass, using the kick drum as a key input, and squash it down half a dB. It helps keep kick punch through the mix.


-Do you have any book or magazine recommendations?

-Abbey Road book.

-Tape Op magazine.


-Favorite piece of gear that you have?

-SansAmp gt 2.


-Favorite software tool?

-I use an old standalone version of T-RackS (version 3) for mastering. You can get stuff really loud with it.


-Favorite internet resource?

-Facebook


-If you were dropped in a strange city, and could only take a simple recording setup, what would you take? How would you find people to record? How would you make ends meet?


-Take a simple m-box setup with a couple of mics.

-Go to shows to meet bands.

-Deliver pizzas or something like that to make ends meet.


Links to Check Out:


-Mike’s current project, 6minor Films, which creates documentary films about the music creation process:

-Website

-Facebook

-Youtube


-Mike’s facebook

-County Q website



So if you have any questions or suggestions for the show please email me

lij@recordingstudiorockstars.com


If you dig the show and find it helpful I would be honored if you would leave a rating and review in iTunes. You can tap through right on your phone from the podcast search page or go to recordingstudiorockstars.com/review for easy instructions.


And if you want to get on the email list for free content full of videos, tips, studio tricks, and special offers just text RSROCKSTARS to 33-444 from your phone (super easy and I promise you won’t get spammed!)


Cheers!

Lij







 

 

 

RSR000 – Lij Shaw Introduction to the podcast


Text RSROCKSTARS to 33-444 and get free content delivered to your email!


Welcome to Recording Studio Rockstars I’m Lij Shaw and this is the podcast created to help you become a rockstar of the recording studio! I am an award winning chart breaking music and podcast producer and have been making records for 25 years. I’m also the owner of a Grammy award winning studio called The Toy Box Studio in East Nashville TN.


But when I started out I knew nothing about recording and had to learn from the ground up. All I wanted was a chance to be in the studio learning from the best! Whether you are just starting out in recording, or want to take your recordings to the next level this show is made to help you get excited about recording and learn more stuff. Who doesn’t need that? I know I do!


I’ll be interviewing producers, engineers, studio owners, gear builders, or anyone else that is a rockstar of the recording studio. We will hear their stories from starting out to becoming the pros that they are today, and learn from their insights, tricks, and advice.


I be asking questions about their musical journey to keep us all inspired, and follow it up at the end with “The Jam Session” a series of shorter questions full of tips and tricks. So if you have any questions you would to hear me ask or suggestions for the show please email them to me

lij@recordingstudiorockstars.com


If you dig the show and find it helpful I would be honored if you would leave a rating and review in iTunes. You can tap through right on your phone from the podcast search page or go to recordingstudiorockstars.com/review for easy instructions.


And if you want to get on the email list for free content full of videos, tips,studio tricks, and special offers just text RSROCKSTARS to 33-444 from your phone (super easy and I promise you won’t get spammed!)


Cheers!

Lij

 

 

 

RSR002 – Vance Powell – Grammy Winning Production, Mixing, And Engineering At Sputnik Sound

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Intro:

Vance Powell is a Grammy award winning producer, engineer and mixer from Joplin, MO. who’s impressive list of credits include Keb’ Mo’, Jars of Clay, Jack White (Third Man Records), Buddy Guy, Kings Of Leon, Sturgill Simpson, and local Nashville artists such as Jeff The Brotherhood, Moon Taxi and Bobby Bare Jr. He made his start in live sound, touring with local Missouri bands as a front-of-house engineer and in 2002 John McBride asked him to run Blackbird Studio. Vance is now also co-owner of Sputnik Sound.


Early Life:

Vance was introduced to electronics early in his childhood, as his grandfather was an electrical engineer and miner. He later attended electronic school while in high school. This helped him to land a job as a second audio engineer in a local studio – Massey Studios – in Missouri where he worked for $5/hour learning and teaching himself the arts of mixing, and other tools of the trade like tape duplication (i.e. mastering). This marked the beginning of his successful career as an audio mix engineer.


Reference Monitors:

Auratone Monitors are speakers designed to listen to mono mixes. Yamaha NS10’s later became the replacement for Auratone reference monitors.


“…I use NS10s (Yamaha) because they sound cool… and they will translate well in any situation.” –Vance Powell

“It’s all about your reference… It doesn’t matter what your speakers are,” says Powell. “I have definitely made changes to a mix based on a mono iPhone speaker.

When asked how one is able to hear the bass on a mono iPhone speaker he says simply “turn the bass off and then back on.”


Jam Session:

Q: What is the best advice you have for someone just starting out?

A: You have to be fearless to make it in this business. If you are a person who is afraid of change, or afraid of failing, or afraid of losing your house… you’re normal, but if you are afraid and act upon it because you are afraid, you’re not going to last.


Q: What was a time where you feel you hit a real point of failure or a time you felt like giving up that turned out to be a valuable learning experience for you.

A: A year after I moved to Nashville, I did my first session and I had no idea what these people were wanting or doing. In some ways that was an interesting failure but I’ve been very lucky in that I don’t have anything I can really point out and say, “that was a disaster.”


Q: I definitely know you for working with a lot of artists that like to push the boundaries and really get to the heart of what makes something great. You want to tell us a little bit about that?

A: Obviously, I’ve spent 8 years working with Jack white and that’s been an incredibly eye-opening thing because he’s pretty amazing. He’s probably the most talented person I’ve ever been around. He’s one my favorite drummers…ever. He’s my favorite keyboard player, pianist and organist. He’s the easiest artist I’ve ever had to get a guitar sound for. It doesn’t matter what amp he plays, it doesn’t matter what guitar, it doesn’t matter how old the strings are it doesn’t matter what microphone you put in front of it, it sounds just like him. It’s all in his hands. He’s an amazing vocalist.


Q: What is a tip about the process of recording that you learned while working with artists like Jack White?

A: Learn to be fast. I think anybody learning this business should do live sound. Live sound teaches you a bunch of things. You have to put a mix together in a very short period of time. You don’t have all day. You have one song to put a killer 48-channel mix together; otherwise you’re going to lose people.


Q: If you were dropped into a strange city and you were going to start out in recording or live sound, what advice would you have for someone who’s willing to take on that challenge?

A: If you want to record, the first thing you need to do is purchase some way to record such as a laptop and an interface or port-a-studio. Then go find a band that you are willing to do what ever it takes to help them out. That means cart their gear around, do live sound for them, or record demos in your basement. Get yourself 4 good microphones. You can pretty much record a band with 4 or 5 good microphones. Don’t let the technology get in the way of creativity. I have a rule for my own productions and that is: my entire record has to fit inside 32 tracks. Don’t be afraid to make a decision; that’s the number one thing I’d say to anyone first starting out.


Websites:


Twitter - @Vancalot

Sputniksound.com

Credits - Allmusic.com


So if you have any questions or suggestions for the show please email me

lij@recordingstudiorockstars.com


If you dig the show and find it helpful I would be honored if you would leave a rating and review in iTunes. You can tap through right on your phone from the podcast search page or go to recordingstudiorockstars.com/review for easy instructions.

Also leave a comment below on this webpage!​ Say hi to me and Vance.


And if you want to get on the email list for free content full of videos, tips, studio tricks, and special offers just text RSROCKSTARS to 33-444 from your phone (super easy and I promise you won’t get spammed!)


Cheers!

Lij


 

 

 

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