Wika wiki wika... Freeeesh! Gio talked about his start in turntablism, moving to Nashville to find his Hip Hop tribe in Country music, the art of sonic storytelling, why he records at 96k, and his step-by-step process for a great artist production.

My guest today is Sean Giovanni a Producer, Engineer and Owner of The Record Shop in Nashville, TN. Gio has worked with artists such as, John Legend, Big and Rich, Zakk Wylde, Tim McGraw, The Wallflowers, Juicy J, and Lil Jon. 

After moving to Nashville at 20 years old and unable to land an internship, Gio set out to build his own path in the recording industry, with a focus on supporting artists in achieving their creative vision and offering a wide range of content creation services in addition to production. 

A frequent NAMM show panelist, speaker at Belmont, MTSU, SAE, The Recording Academy, Sean has also appeared in interviews with the likes of Adam Audio, Antelope Audio, Make it in Music, The Working Your Way Up Podcast, Recording Connection and many more to discuss topics such as entrepreneurship, time management, building a brand , leading with purpose, overcoming adversity, and much more.

Thanks also to Paul from DPA Microphones for originally introducing us. 

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

Listen TO THE PODCAST here⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎

Website Links:

therecordshopnashville.com
Facebook
@ therecordshopstudios


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

Keep those hi-hats locked young man! Bob talked about saving the master tapes for Fleetwood Mac Rumours as a young engineer, why accurate monitoring is so crucial for mixing, why you need more than one DAW, and how less is more on your mix bus.

My guest today is Bob Bullock a recording engineer, mixer, and producer whose credits can be found on over 50 gold and platinum albums. He loves to work with independent artists from around the world and does extensive teaching through multiple universities including Belmont University & The Art Institute in Nashville, TN, and Troy University in Montgomery, AL. Bob has been a guest on the podcast way back on episode RSR055 where he shared his story of starting out and working his way to Nashville.

Today we will catch up with Bob joining us from his home studio in Nashville to talk about his beautiful Phantom Focus Mixroom and how he mixes in the box with Pro Tools.

Thanks so much to Carl Tatz for reconnecting us for this interview!

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

Listen TO THE PODCAST here⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎

Website Links:

bobbullock.net
RSR055 – BOB BULLOCK – RECORDING CRAZY HORSE, CHICK COREA, & STEELY DAN

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

Analog is instant audio! Chris talked about how much acoustic guitar players love recording to analog, how to capture vocals and harmonies, ribbons vs condensers for drum overheads, recording an upright piano, and the annual recording summit.

My guest today is Chris Mara who says in his own words, “Well, basically... I'm the luckiest guy in the world. My "job" (I'm a recording engineer and producer) is to find cool artists & bands and help them make cool music. How frickin' awesome is that? I've been doing this music thing here in Nashville for over 20 years (since I was 19 years old), and it's the only real job I've ever had. I absolutely love helping people make music and also take a lot of time to help them make some wise career decisions too. There's a lot of bullshit. in the music biz, so I try to keep things really straightforward and simple for the people I come in contact with.

I really dig the art of getting artists comfortable and then capturing great performances in the studio. Although I use all types of technology to record, tend to gravitate to the "old school way of doing things and record on analog tape whenever I can. That's probably the reason I built my retro, all analog recording studio called "Welcome to 1979".

I also record in other studios all over the country, as well as in barns, cabins, old churches, hallways, highways, byways, parks, and garages....basically wherever people are making good music!”

Chris also runs a tape machine restoration company called Mara Machines and In early 2016, Mara launched a vinyl electroplating facility offering vinyl mastering and electroplating under the same roof to allow for the highest quality vinyl to be produced. And every November you can travel to Music City to attend the annual W21979 Recording Summit for panel discussions on all things studio.

Chris has been a guest on the show before RSR027 and later his wife and studio manager Yoli Mara joined us for episode RSR180. 

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

Listen TO THE PODCAST here⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎

Website Links:

RSR027 – Chris Mara – Welcome to 1979
RSR180 – Yoli Mara – How To Manage A Pro Studio – Welcome To 1979
www.chrismara.com

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

Be like Grasshopper and become one with the mix! Dr. Ford talked about monitors, dialing in production and mixing templates, how to set up your website, why di is best for bass, how to phase align your guitars, and how martial arts helps your mixing!

My guest today is Daniel Ford aka “Dr Ford”, multiple Award Winning Producer and Mixer with music at #1 on iTunes, & the Billboard Top 20. Daniel has Studio C of the world-famous Sound Kitchen Studios here in Nashville and has been on the show with us before for episodes RSR136 and RSR218 to share some great tips for vocal mixing and other cool stuff in the studio, and to hear his back story.

So go check out those episodes if you like and today lets dive into whats new at his studio, and share some more tips on mixing pop, country, rap and whatever else comes your way in the studio. Plus we will dig into what it takes to successfully build marketing for your studio and services and ways that you can reach future customers for your talents.

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

Listen TO THE PODCAST here⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎

Website Links:
RSR136 – Daniel Ford – The Secrets To Hip Hop, LCR Mixing, Powerful Vocals, And Studio Biz
RSR218 – Dr Ford – How to Mix in a Pro or Home Studio from an Award Winning Mixer
www.drford.com
YouTube
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter


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

Like floating down a river toward new songs... Daniel talked about his creative process, how to capture a great idea for a song, why images and story are your sources for new songs, ambient music, and rushing slowly to the chorus with Burt Bacharach.

My guest today is Daniel Tashian is a Gammy-winning producer, musician, and songwriter who has produced for artists such as Kacey Musgraves, Tenille Townes, Jessie James Decker, A Girl Named Eddie, Trent Dabbs, Emily West, and Keelan Donovan.  He has had several sync placements in hit TV shows and movies including the film Our Idiot Brother, Pretty Little Liars, Nashville, Reign, and Scorpion among others. 

His first #1 Country song was with “Hometown Girl” by Josh Turner co-written with Marc Beeson and Daniel co-produced Kacey Musgrave’s critically acclaimed and CMA and Grammy nominated album Golden Hour & also co-wrote 7 of the album’s 13 songs.

He also has a band called The Silver Seas with Jason Lehning (episode 74) in 1999 doing very well in the U.K. including a gig on the Jules Holland Show. I had great fun recording with these guys a few times at my studio, and I’m happy to have Daniel back on the show to keep talking about songwriting and creating as much as we can in the time that we have.

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

Listen TO THE PODCAST here⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎

Website Links:

Photo credits: Kate York
RSR176 – DANIEL TASHIAN – WRITING GREAT SONGS IN NASHVILLE
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

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

Stream Decks, iPads, iPhones, Faders and Midi Foot Controllers... Oh My! Chris talked about setting up his studio for maximum speed and ease using Soundflow and the AVID S1 for Pro Tools to automate editing and mixing tasks saving hours and days!

My guest today is Chris Shaw a four-time Grammy Award-winning American producer, engineer, mixer, and musician. He is a veteran of Greene Street Recording in New York recording Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, Run-DMC, and LL Cool J. And has moved on to independent production, mixing, and engineering working with Weezer, Wilco, Bob Dylan, Death Cab For Cutie, Nada Surf, and The Derek Trucks Band to name only a few. He has even been credited for working on six of Rolling Stone's "500 greatest Records of All Time".

Originally based in New York, Chris relocated to the Austin, Texas area in 2013 where he joined us on the podcast for episode RSR246. We are psyched to have Chris back again to learn whats new at his mixing studio in Austin and geek out on controllers and mixing automation.

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

Listen TO THE PODCAST here⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎

Website Links:

RSR246 – CHRIS SHAW – RECORDING AND MIXING WITH PUBLIC ENEMY, WEEZER, RIC OCASEK, AND JEFF BUCKLEY
www.chrisshawmix.com
Facebook: @chrisshawmix
Twitter: @chrisshawmix

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

What are the best controllers for Pro Tools? Matty has tied everything and breaks down his new studio setup telling us about the best controllers and plugins he has found for pro mixing in the box, plus he reveals his new Trinnov Atmos setup!

My guest today is Matty Harris a music producer, mixing and mastering engineer originally from Boston. As a young musician, he won several awards, including best drummer in New England touring with jazz, blues and calypso bands, playing clubs by the age of 14. And later went on to Berklee College of Music to study Music Production and Engineering.

Matty work in the studio includes credits for Atlantic, RCA, & Warner Bros Records, Sammy Adams, A$AP Rocky, Logic, Lil Yachty, Cousin Stizz and the Grammy Award-winning song “Stronger” for Kelly Clarkson winning the 2008 Boston Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Engineer and Producer. 

Matty now lives in Los Angeles where he also runs a cool Youtube Channel teaching you how to create music in the studio called Mix And Master My Song which also happens to be the name of his website and studio where he works with artists from all over the world.

Today we are going to find out more about Matty's story of moving from Boston to LA to pursue music, and see what we can learn about the best tools and techniques for creating, mixing, and mastering your music in the studio.

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

Listen TO THE PODCAST here⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎

Website Links:

RSR229 – MATTY HARRIS – HOW TO WRITE MIX & MASTER HIP HOP
https://mixandmastermysong.com/
https://www.youtube.com/mixandmastermysong
https://www.instagram.com/mixedbymatty/
https://mixandmastermysong.com/   

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

Which came first the music or the film? Freddy talked about creating cinematic music with analog synths and sample libraries, the philosophy of creating from an initial idea, the inspiration of David Lynch, and how to manage a 4000 track template!

My guest today is Freddy Avis aka Arswain a composer, producer, and solo artist in the  indie/electronic band Arswain in Los Angeles, CA.

Freddy got his start in composition under acclaimed Emmy-nominated composer James S. Levine (Glee, American Horror Story, Bloodline, Nip Tuck, The Last Ship) at Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions in Santa Monica, CA. Since then Freddy holds music credits on shows including Major Crimes, Why Women Kill, Instinct, Star, & Chambers, as well as placements on Tiger King, Shark Tank, Dateline, & The Dr. Oz Show. 

He’s contributed synth & percussion work on 8-time Oscar-nominated composer James Newton Howard’s score for Walt Disney feature Jungle Cruise, as well as additional music for Steve Jablonsky’s score for Why Women Kill.

Freddy holds a pair of Bachelor's degrees in Music and Political Science from Stanford University, where he also pitched for the baseball team. In 2012 he was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 25th round of the Major League Baseball Draft.

Arswain has some amazing music and video productions that create sounds scapes and surreal worlds in a very cinematic way and today we will talk about how he creates in his studio and composing for film in LA.

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

Listen TO THE PODCAST here⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎

Website Links:

Instagram: @arswain__
arswainofficial.com
freddyavismusic.com

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

How critical is your listening? Jett talked about learning mastering from the legendary Doug Sax, the four main elements of a perfect mastering chain, how to calibrate your speakers with an iPhone, and how to get started mastering in iZotope Ozone.

My guest today is Jett Galindo, a Los Angeles-based mastering engineer and vinyl cutter now working at The Bakery. Jett has worked on albums spanning a wide array of genres and artists including Barbra Streisand, Haley Reinhart, Weezer, and the La La Land OST, to name a few. 

Jett kickstarted her post-Berklee engineering career in the world-renowned Avatar Studios in New York (now known as Power Station) as the recording engineer for producer Jerry Barnes. As Barnes’ engineer, Jett engineered for veteran artists such as legendary singer-songwriter Roberta Flack, Nile Rodgers, Bashiri among others. 

In 2013, Jett joined The Mastering Lab family as the sole right-hand woman to pioneer mastering engineer and GRAMMY Technical Achievement awardee Doug Sax, working on various notable vinyl releases including Pink Floyd’s 15th & final album “Endless River”, Bette Midler, Neil Young, Randy Travis, and Seth MacFarlane. Some of the other great mentors Jett has been able to work with include George Massenburg; producer Prince Charles Alexander; recording engineer Susan Rogers (Prince’s Purple Rain); and mastering engineer and AES President-elect, Jonathan Wyner. 

Most recently through The Bakery, Jett has helped pave the way for the growing audiophile releases in the video game soundtrack genre, having mastered award-winning chart-topping releases such as the “Pokemon Red & Blue Piano Collections”, Rozen’s Legend of Zelda tribute “Children of Termina”, and the remastered 1980s Nicon Falcom’s “Ys I & II:  Ancient Ys Vanished” original soundtracks.

Jett is actively involved with Soundgirls, an organization for women working in the audio engineering field, and she is a contributing writer for iZotope’s widely popular LEARN portal. Jett is also an accomplished lyric soprano who specializes in choral ensemble music. Currently singing with Los Angeles-based professional choir Tonality, Jett has performed in various countries spanning across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Thanks very much to Bryan Cook! For making our introduction!

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

Listen TO THE PODCAST here⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎

Website Links:

https://thebakery.la
https://thebakery.la/jett-galindo
https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/author/jett-galindo.html
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Linkedin

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

Are fart machines ok in the studio? Anthony talked about recording directly to analog tape and selling reel-to-reel tapes, how to set up a great headphone mix for the band, working with the API 1608 console, and Charlie Hunter's split bass guitar.

My guest today is Anthony Gravino an independent music maker near Chicago, IL. He has worked with a wide variety of artists across multiple genres as a producer, recording engineer, mixing engineer, mastering engineer and musician. Anthony has been on the show before for Episode RSR156 when we talked about how he makes records in the studio capturing great sounds for Indie rock, jazz, and other genres and more mixing tips on episode RSR250.

He has recently moved to a beautiful tall new loft studio called High Cross Sound south of Chicago in a space that looks like you might stumble on it strolling through the Hobbit Shire. Anthony loves to work with talented artists and musicians and record using classic vintage studio making records with smooth and beautiful tones. So we will talk about what’s new with the studio and how his recording and mixing have evolved in the past couple of years.

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

⬇︎⬇︎Scroll down to listen⬇︎⬇︎

Listen TO THE PODCAST here⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎

Website Links:

RSR250 – ANTHONY GRAVINO – HOW TO MIX IN PRO TOOLS & CONSOLE HYBRID
www.anthonygravino.com

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