Master Your Mix Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Bruce Kaphan: How to Become a Session Musician Feb 16, 2022

Show notes

Bruce Kaphan is a musician who has worked on many studio projects, often as a pedal steel player. Kaphan was a member of American Music Club.

In addition to Mark Eitzel and American Music Club, Kaphan has worked on albums for Sheryl Crow, The Black Crowes, R.E.M., John Lee Hooker, Chris Isaak, Francesco De Gregori, Love & Rockets, Red House Painters and many others.

He has also appeared in such live or pre-recorded television performances of David Byrne’s Feelings tour, and Jewel’s Saturday Night Live and MTV Unplugged appearances. Kaphan has also written many articles for Recording Magazine, and has released 3 solo albums - Slider- Ambient Excursions for Pedal Steel Guitar (2001), Hybrid (2010) and Bruce Kaphan Quartet (2012).

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

How to become a session musician
Is it better to niche down as a session performer?
Does it matter if you know how to read music?
What does it take to be the musician people want to hire?
Writing for film scores - How to convey the emotion of a scene
How to record pedal steel
Pedal steel signal chains that will give you big, lush, ambient sounds

To learn more about Bruce Kaphan, visit: http://www.brucekaphan.com

Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?

Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:

https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?

For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/

Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/

Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:

The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Check out our Sponsors:

Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?

Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com

Please leave a rating and review:

https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!

Joe Costable: Creating Great Mixes With Minimal Processing Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

Joe Costable started his career in Houston Texas at Studio 7303. Starting as an intern, Joe eventually moved up the ranks as an engineer working with many prominent artists and producers, such as Mike Jones, Scarface, Mannie Fresh, Gerald Levert, and many others.

In the years since, Joe has worked with many more artists in genres from hip-hop to shoegaze. His work has been everywhere from top 10 at radio, selling millions of copies worldwide, national ad campaigns, to being featured on the most underground of music blogs.

Joe currently works out of his New York based studio mixing primarily Rock, Alternative, and Pop records. He is a member of the Audio Engineering Society and a voting member of The Recording Academy.

Some of his notable credits include artists such as American Authors, Good Charlotte, Rob Thomas, Bayside, and Young Rising Sons

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

Top-down mixing: How you can create a great sounding mix just using the master buss
Why it’s a good idea to NOT use compression in your mixes
Using automation vs compression: Which is better for creating clarity in your tracks?
Joe’s vocal chain
When and where to use saturation
Sidechaining effects
The simple mix prep step Joe takes to have more control over gates and compressors
Why renaming tracks in your session can actually cause you trouble
Using Soundflow to save time on your mixes
A tool to easily convert your stereo tracks to mono
Streamlining your mix revisions process with a simple app

To learn more about Joe Costable, visit: https://www.joecostable.com/

To learn more about Soundflow, visit: http://links.masteryourmix.com/soundflow

Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?

Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:

https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?

For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/

Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/

Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:

The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Check out our Sponsors:

Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?

Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com

Please leave a rating and review:

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Thanks for listening!

Justin Perkins: Mastering Your Music Feb 02, 2022

Show notes

Justin is an audio engineer specializing in mastering music, as well as sweetening audio for short video productions.

After working at several recording studios around the state of Wisconsin including Smart Studios, Simple Studios, and a handful of others from the late 1990s to the early 2000s, he opened his own mastering studio Mystery Room Mastering in Milwaukee, WI in 2009. He also does a lot of mastering and metadata work for The License Lab, a music licensing company located in Milwaukee, WI. When time permits and inspiring topics arise, he writes articles for The Pro Audio Files.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

Why mastering there is so much more that goes into mastering than just adjusting the audio
Mastering DAWs: What makes them different than most software used for recording and mixing
How to set up a mastering session
Why it’s important to decide on track order before starting the mastering process
Why automated mastering services are not really mastering your songs
What is CD-Text?
Streamlining your customer experience to work more efficiently
How to optimize your website to get more clients
Time-saving apps for your studio
Loudness: how loud should your masters be?
What sample rate/bit depth should you record at?
What is dither? When should you use it?

To learn more about Justin Perkins, visit: https://www.mysteryroommastering.com/

Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?

Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:

https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?

For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/

Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/

Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:

The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Check out our Sponsors:

Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?

Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com

Please leave a rating and review:

https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!

Dusty Wakeman: Choosing the Right Microphones Jan 26, 2022

Show notes

Dusty Wakeman has worn a lot of hats – producer, engineer, musician, and owner/manager of Los Angeles based Mad Dog Studios. His work with Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, Roy Orbison, Michelle Shocked, Buck Owens and many other artists has helped generate a number of multi-platinum and Grammy-winning records.

Growing up in Texas, Dusty developed a love of the whole process of making music, from touring in groups to engineering records and designing his own studios. After moving to Los Angeles in 1977 to pursue a career as a bass player, he took a “temporary” gig at West L.A. Music, where he became store manager and stayed for three years. In 1980 he founded Mad Dog Studios, which he owned and operated for 28 years.

Dusty discovered Royer mics in 2000, caught ribbon fever, and picked up a number of Royers for Mad Dog Studios, leading to a close relationship with Royer Labs. Looking for a ‘lifestyle change’ after 25 years of constant engineering, producing records and touring, Dusty came across the prototype for the MA-200. His enthusiasm for the new brand led to Dusty joining Mojave Audio in September of 2005. His in-depth knowledge of recording, understanding of the importance of choosing the right microphone for the job, and his ability to share his experience make Dusty an invaluable asset to Mojave Audio. Dusty serves as President of Mojave Audio.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

Imposter syndrome: What to do when you’re feeling doubt in your abilities as an engineer
Mic combinations to get the ultimate guitar sound
When to use ribbon microphones instead of dynamics or condensers.
How to use low pass filters to create more clarity in your mix
What makes one microphone better than another
What to look out for when buying microphones
A great resource for being able to shootout hundreds of microphones
Tube mics: Are they worth the hype?

To learn more about Dusty Wakeman and Mojave Audio, visit https://mojaveaudio.com/

Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?

Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:

https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?

For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/

Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/

Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:

The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Check out our Sponsors:

Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?

Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com

Please leave a rating and review:

https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!

Don Gunn: Optimizing Your Creativity Jan 19, 2022

Show notes

Don Gunn is a freelance recording/mixing engineer, producer, and musician in Seattle, WA. who has worked with hundreds of artists over the years including Death Cab for Cutie, Peter Frampton, Soundgarden, The Lonely Forest, King Crimson, The Humans, and Fences.

Don started Gropius Mastering in 1997, but recently returned to the more creative side of producing, recording, and mixing. He primarily works at Two Sticks Audio in Seattle, a brand new room built by Jason McGerr from Death Cab for Cutie, but also Studio Litho and other fine rooms around Seattle. Don has also written an instructional book on Apple's Logic Pro DAW.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

Scheduling creative time
Compartmentalizing your work to optimize your creative focus
Batching tasks
How to edit your drums but keep a human feel
The challenges that come along with mixing live albums
Mixing King Crimson and Death Cab For Cutie
Mixing music in surround sound
How to clean up audio with clicks, pops, and noise

To learn more about Don Gunn, visit: http://dongunn.com/

Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?

Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:

https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?

For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/

Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/

Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:

The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Check out our Sponsors:

Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?

Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com

Please leave a rating and review:

https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!

Sean McLaughlin: Communicating With Artists Jan 12, 2022

Show notes

Sean McLaughlin is a producer, engineer, mixer and assistant professor in the Music Production and Engineering Major at Berklee.

He started his studio, 37’ Productions, as a means for musicians to achieve high quality, label-ready recordings routinely unavailable to unsigned artists.

Sean has worked with notable producers Andy Johns, Jimbo Barton, Carmen Rizzo, and artists Rush, Elliott Smith, Marilyn Manson, Death Row Records, and many others.

In 2013, 2018 and 2019, Sean had the honor of being named Producer of the Year by the New England Music Awards. In 2019, Sean became the first to win Producer of the Year for both the Boston Music Awards and New England Music Awards in the same year.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

Attended vs. unattended sessions: Which should you do?
How to use an artists’ rough mix to help make your mix sound better
How to get mix revision notes that make your life easier
Editing vocals and drums
Editing drums - using tempo mapping to create a more natural feel
The problem with using multiband compression
The # 1 question you should ask all artists before you start working with them in order to make sure everyone shares the same creative vision
EQ: Before or after compression?
Should you start a mix with drums or vocals?

To learn more about Sean McLaughlin, visit: https://www.37ft.com/

Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?

Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:

https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?

For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/

Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/

Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:

The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Check out our Sponsors:

Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?

Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com

Please leave a rating and review:

https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!

Val Garay: Stories From Over 100 Gold & Platinum Records Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

Val Garay is a legendary Producer/Engineer with a career spanning almost 4 decades when he started as a young singer/songwriter in the late 60’s.

He’s garnered over 100 gold & platinum records with total record sales over 125,000,000 worldwide.

He’s been Nominated for Grammy’s on 9 different occasions and won for the “Record of the Year & Song of the Year” with Bette Davis Eyes in 1981 and an Emmy Nomination for Neil Diamond’s TV Special, “Glad You’re Here With Me Tonight”.

He’s worked with such legendary artists as , Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Kim Carnes, The Motels, Jackson Browne, JD Souther, Sarah Brightman, Santana, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, Andrew Gold, Frankie Valley & The Four Seasons, Marvin Gaye, Dolly Parton, Eric Carmen, Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond, Joan Armatrading, Randy Meisner, Jennifer Warnes, Seals & Crofts, The Mama’s & Papa’s, Queensryche, Orleans, Donald Byrd & The Blackbyrds and the list continues.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

How to create a snowball of success in the industry
Balancing your “sound” with the vision of the artists you work with
Should you put songs out frequently or is it better to wait?
“Letting go” with your music
Giving back to younger generations
How to get a balance of all of your drum kit tracks (without even turning on your monitors)
The secret to getting drums and bass to feel balanced
The 6 different mixes he makes for every artist he works with
Reimagining songs in different genres

To learn more about Val Garay, visit: http://www.valgaray.com/

Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?

Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:

https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?

For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/

Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/

Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:

The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Check out our Sponsors:

Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?

Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com

Please leave a rating and review:

https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!

Geoff Daking: Choosing the Right Gear to Use Dec 29, 2021

Show notes

Geoff Daking got his start as a drummer in the band, Blues Magoos. Over time, he transitioned from performing music to working in the studio, where he worked with tons of great artists including Meatloaf on his “Bat Out Of Hell” album.

In 1994, Geoff started a company, Daking Audio, where he built a line of amazing, affordable mic preamps, EQs, compressors, and consoles designed to achieve pro-quality sound out of a home studio.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

How to get a job in a studio without any experience at all
Working with Meatloaf, Lou Reed, Luther Vandross
What makes gear better suited for home studios vs large format facilities
Choosing microphone preamps: What makes a good one
Mistakes you’re likely making with your preamp
How to achieve different types of saturation from your mic preamp
What to look out for when choosing a compressor
Compression types: How different models differ and what they sound like
Why using a stepped EQ is often better than parametric
Why HPFs are so critical in home studios

To learn more about Geoff Daking, visit: https://www.daking.com/

Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?

Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:

https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?

For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/

Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/

Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:

The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Check out our Sponsors:

Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?

Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com

Please leave a rating and review:

https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!

Josh Newell: Becoming a Master of Your DAW Dec 22, 2021

Show notes

Josh Newell is a Los Angeles based engineer, mixer, and producer known for his work with a wide range of artists, including Linkin Park, Intronaut, Nas, Avril Lavigne, Celine Dion P.O.D, and many more. He has gained a reputation for being a master with Pro Tools and being very thorough with his work.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

Mastering your DAW
Striking a balance between being thorough vs. being fast
Pro Tools certification - Is it worth it/necessary?
How to get in with bands that you want to work with
What makes a great assistant
Optimizing your recording environment in order to work fast and stay creative
The challenges of working with A-level artists
Tips for editing drums so that they sound tight but natural
The one track that you should be recording in order to make guitar editing easy

To learn more about Josh Newell, visit: https://josh-newell.com/

Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?

Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:

https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?

For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/

Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/

Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:

The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Check out our Sponsors:

Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?

Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com

Please leave a rating and review:

https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!

Jaimeson Durr: How to Build Trust With Artists Dec 15, 2021

Show notes

Jaimeson Durr is a San Francisco Bay Area recording engineer, mixer and producer that works on a variety of music genres from local legends like, Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Chickenfoot, The Circle, The Dead, Dan the Automator as well as many other new promising artists.

For the past 14 years Jaimeson has been primarily working out of his own studio Wally’s Hyde Out (formally Studio C) in the legendary Hyde Street Recording Studio complex where many well known artists recorded including Santana, Clearance Clearwater Revival, Jefferson Airplane,The Grateful Dead, Green Day, Train, and many, many more.

He has also performed on and mixed several songs for hit prime time TV shows and movie trailers 90210, The Mindy Project, Ugly Betty, Rango, Arthur, The Lorax, Tangled and many more.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

Analog summing: Is it worth investing into it?
How to build trust with artists so that they keep hiring you
Deciding how much to edit
The sweet spot for micing guitar cabinets
Getting guitar tones with Joe Satriani
How temperature can affect tuning
Creating efficiencies to work quickly
Recording records with iPhones

To learn more about Jaimeson Durr, visit: www.JaimesonDurr.com

To learn more about his studio, Wally’s Hydeout, visit: www.WallysHydeout.com

Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?

Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:

https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?

For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/

Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/

Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:

The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Check out our Sponsors:

Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show: