Tag Archives for " recording studio "

Hamish talked about building your first studio, reaching for excellence in sound, building a business, and recording full bands in cool spaces from the pros: Mark Howard, Joe Chiccarelli, Steve Albini, Butch Vig, Vance Powell, and Eric Valentine.

My guest today is Hamish Benjamin a Recording Engineer and Producer from England, as well as the host of a new very cool podcast called 'Somewhere Sound' where he interviews great producers and engineers. Hamish is also the youngest guest to be on Recording Studio Rockstars at the tender age of 21. He started his podcast less than a year ago yet he already has a whos who list of incredible guests including Mark Howard, Larry Crane. Joe Chiccarelli, Steve Albini, Butch Vig, Vance Powell, and Eric Valentine to start.  

As an engineer himself, he runs a portable recording studio business also called 'Somewhere Studios' recording mainly from a hall in the south east of England. He specialises in recording bands live, playing together in one room, fusing traditional recording techniques with the benefits of modern digital recording. 

So I am excited to talk to Hamish today about what he has learned from his luminary podcast guests and from starting a studio business himself. And maybe even remembering what it was like to be 21 again. 🙂

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Website links:

somewhere-studios.com 

instagram.com/somewhererecordingstudios

youtube.com/channel/UCG1hU5Yw4Qmae9x9s9o8ybQ

Justin talked about producing and mixing rock and Americana, how to mix on small speakers, setting up a mix template, recording and mixing drums, plus lots of great plugin tricks!

My guest today is Justin Francis a multi Grammy nominated Nashville engineer and mixer who I got turned on to from listening to mastering engineer Kim Rosen’s discography when preparing for her interview.

Justin Mixes from his log cabin home studio in Ashland City, Tennessee. In just one week, clients can range from Andrea Bocelli to Alice Cooper, and other notable artists include Top 40 bands like Little Big Town; country singers like Kacey Musgraves, Ronnie Milsap, Tyler Childers, Margo Price, and Rodney Crowell; blues legends like Buddy Guy; classic rock stalwarts like Deep Purple; punk legends like Anti-Flag, and rabble-rousers like Rozwell Kid and Diarrhea Planet — streams of which reach more than a million every month. Additionally, Justin’s work with bluegrassers like Special Consensus and Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen earned him two Grammy nominations for Best Bluegrass Album.

Today I’m going to ask Justin all about his studio here in Nashville, how he likes to mix a wide variety of music, and what tips we can learn for getting better mixes in our own pro and home studios.

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Ryan talked about learning vinyl mastering from George Marino, how to get started listening to vinyl, his new studio at Sterling Sound Nashville, and pro tips for DIY mastering from your home studio!

My guest today is Ryan Smith a mastering engineer at Sterling Sound.  He has mastered records for a wide array of artists, including Greta Van Fleet, Elle King, and AC/DC.

Ryan Smith began his journey in the world of audio when he moved to New York City in 1995.  In the late 90’s he moved through various recording studio gigs and other “audio odd jobs” around New York City.  This eventually led to a job as an assistant engineer at the Manhattan’s Right Track Recording, where Ryan had the opportunity to work alongside legendary engineers and producers, including Phil Ramone, Arif Mardin, Russ Titelman and Frank Filipetti.

In 2002, Ryan made the move to mastering.  He joined Sterling Sound where he’s been for the past 17 years.  Early in his time at Sterling, Ryan spent time working alongside both Ted Jensen and the late George Marino.  In addition to digital mastering, Ryan learned the art of vinyl mastering and lacquer cutting from George. During the current resurgence of vinyl, Ryan has become one of the most in demand vinyl specialists around.

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Dr Ford talked about radio in Europe, business tips for your studio, and a deep dive into mixing including lessons learned from Jack Joseph Puig, Michael Brauer, mix templates, easy powerful drums and bass, and how to setup your eq and compression.

My guest today is Daniel Ford aka “Dr Ford”, 6 x 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 episode RSR136 to talk share some great tips for vocal mixing.

We also covered Daniels recording journey studying under west coast legends Ronnie King and DJ BattleCat of Tupac, Snoop, & Dr Dre cred. So go back and check out that episode to learn more. But today we decided to bring Dr Ford back to focus strictly on mixing in your home studio. Lets learn what we can about taking the tracks that you have or that people send you and mixing the drums, bass, guitars, keys, and vocals to sound like a polished mix.

Were going to dig into each element of a mix and break down some of the challenges and solutions that you might run when mixing. Dr Ford has lots of experience teaching online and in person. So if you want to follow up this interview to learn more then make sure to check out his website at DrFord.com or go visit his Youtube channel where he does regular videos including a new series called The Dr’s Office.

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Justin talked about how to record stereo acoustic guitar like Bil Vorndick, interning with Chuck Ainlay, recording Paul McCartney, Johnny Depp, and Alice Cooper, guitar tips from Joe Walsh, vocal recording tips from Bob Ezrin and so much more!

My guest today is Justin “Corky” Cortelyou a platinum selling Nashville producer, engineer, mixer who has worked with all sorts of great talent learning under greats like bluegrass legend Bil VornDick (working with Marty Robbins, Ralph Stanley, Alison Krauss) , mixing guru Chuck Ainlay (working with Dixie Chicks, Mark Knopfler, Miranda Lambert), and master mixer Mike Shipley (working with Def Leppard, Shania Twain, Maroon 5, and Aerosmith). 

Justin studied music and engineering at Middle Tennessee State University, became the night manager for Sound Stage Studios before moving out to LA to work with Mike Shipley. Justin then teamed up with producer, songwriter, and musician, Tommy Henriksen.  He partnered with Tommy developing artists, negotiating record deals with Warner Bros., Geffen, and Interscope, touring, and doing front of house.  

In 2008, Tommy and Justin moved their operations to Nashville, TN where they teamed up with legendary producer, Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper, KISS). Alongside Bob Ezrin, Justin worked with some of the biggest artists in history including Paul McCartney, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, Johnny Depp, Phish, Ke$ha, and Kiss to name just a few.  Working out of Ezrin’s Anarchy Studio, Justin’s work has gone on to gain international acclaim including numerous #1’s and sales records.

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Chris talked about the music and studio scene in New Orleans, how to build a custom guitar amp isolation box for your studio, how to record sax like John Coltrane, recording The Meters and how he got Lucille to sound just right for BB King!

My guest today is Chris Finney a Grammy Winning Producer, Engineer, and Mixer. He is a life long advocate of music and business education, on both the High School and College levels.  

His 25+ years in the recording studio include dates with Robert Plant, B.B. King, Herbie Hancock, and New Orleans legends Dr. John, Harry Connick, Jr., Allen Toussaint, the Meters, and Fats Domino.  He has been instrumental in kicking off and developing the recording careers of New Orleans funk-rock mainstays Galactic, Trombone Shorty, The Revivalists, Naughty Professor, and newcomers like SexualThunder! and Organized Crime.  

In 2017, He co-founded the non-profit 30AMP Circuit, with renowned guitarist Charlie Hunter. 30AMP’s mission is to bring music from underserved communities around the world into the mainstream.  Their first project brought them to rural Southeast Mexico to produce “Lo Sagrado,” by Silvana Estrada, which was released in November, 2017.  

Chris is currently adjunct professor of Music business at Tulane University in New Orleans, and is an active member of the Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy, currently serving as a Chapter Governor, as well as Co-Chair of the Producers and Engineers wing.

A big thanks to Emile Louapre, for introducing me to Chris to bring him on the show.

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​Kim talked about rising from intern to mastering engineer with Alan Douches, how getting fired was the best opportunity for success, building Knack Mastering and Whitestone Audio, and how to get the lows and highs right on your record. Plus lots more...

My guest today is Kim Rosen a mastering engineer working out of her own studio, Knack Mastering, located in Ringwood, NJ. Kim’s mastered six Grammy® nominated albums in the past four years; one winning for Best Folk Album (Aimee Mann), three nominated in Best Blues Album categories (Bettye LaVette, Victor Wainwright and Theresa James) as well as two nominations in the Best Engineered Album/Non-Classical category (Bonnie Raitt and The Milk Carton Kids).

Kim grew up in Northampton, Massachusetts and poured herself into the vibrant college music scene. In the summer of 2002, a friend turned her on to a mastering studio in NJ that was looking for an intern. Kim jumped at the opportunity, moved to NJ and began her journey at West West Side Music with Alan Douches (RSR092).

In 2009, after working her way up to Staff Mastering Engineer at West West Side, Kim decided to go out on her own and has built a growing list of clients that includes producers and engineers such as Ryan Freeland, Ed Cherney, Joe Henry, Matt Ross-Spang, Paul Q. Kolderie and artists such as Rhiannon Giddens, Aimee Mann, Belly, Bonnie Raitt, Billy Bragg, Wynonna Judd, The Birds of Chicago, The Barr Brothers, Over The Rhine, Sarah Jaffe, Anthony Green and Title Fight. 

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Tommy talked about his rock band Government Cheese in the 80s, writing with acoustic vs electric guitars, becoming an author, and how to know a good song from a bad one and then finish it.

My guest today is Tommy Womack A Singer-songwriter, author, humorist and Kentucky native Tommy Womack got his start in 1985 to 1992 with legendary Bowling Green based post-punk and college radio faves, Government Cheese (who’s story is immortalized in Tommy’s cult classic book “Cheese Chronicles”). 

Upon moving to Nashville in 1992, Tommy’s become known for his long working relationship with Will Kimbrough, starting with their bands the bis-quits (who made one classic album for John Prine’s Oh Boy label in 1993), and their band Daddy, who have made two albums and enjoy a cult following.

Since 1998, Tommy has released seven solo albums, the latest being the brand-new “Namaste”. He looks forward to the back half of 2016 with new songs from that record to play, in addition to such proven past show-stoppers as “Nice Day”, “Vicky Smith Blues” and “Alpha Male & the Canine Mystery Blood.”

In addition to “Cheese Chronicles”, Tommy is the author of the comic Civil War novella “The Lavender Boys & Elsie”, and the recently published “Dust Bunnies”. He has written for many magazines, including the Oxford American, and is a regular contributor to The East Nashvillian.

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Matt talked about going full time with a studio in a church in a small town, how to create live streaming multi cam videos for bands, learning how to make the record sound like a mix when tracking, and tips for recording drums and big guitars.

My guest today is Matt McQueen a studio owner, recording engineer, music producer, and videographer who built his studio in 2013 in an abandoned church located in the mountains of a rural East Tennessee town. The building has a 30 x 50’ live room with 24’ high ceilings and large old wooden rafters.

Matt has recently gone full time with his studio having had plenty of experience creating music but also creating content as a videographer for other producers like Warren Huart and Glenn Fricker. This has led him to create his own video channel for his studio to help promote local artists and bands.

We live in a world where social media and YouTube channels can be an important part of our musical output. So I’m psyched to talk with Matt today about making the leap to go full time in music and also see what we can learn about creating content for our own studios and artists that we work with. And of course we will be digging into his process for recording and mixing too.

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