Inside The Recording Studio

The Empirical Labs Distressor - Get A Ton Of Great Quality Sounds With This One Little Device

compressor that was designed from the ground up to emulate a couple other super classic compressors. The end result is a compressor that became a classic in it's own right. We delve into the history, the models, and breakdown the controls. Then we explain what it's good for. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

What is Headroom? (And Why It’s Important)

Chris and Jody squeeze into the subject of recording headroom. Talking about what it is and why it's important to be consciously aware of. They bring up what the ideal sweet spot of headroom is for a mix and how it is important to get right before sending a mix off for mastering. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

What Happens at NAMM Doesn’t Stay at NAMM

Chris and Jody give a recap and rundown of the NAMM Show 2022. If you're not familiar with what NAMM is, we explain. What did we see? What did we like? Who might we have bumped into? What gear blew our minds? What did we drool over? It's all in here for the 2022 edition of the NAMM Show. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

Neutron Explained: How To Get A Clean Mix In Minutes

Chris and Jody get a sneak preview look at Neutron by iZotope. We break down the modules involved in the new version and explain the nitty gritty of how this very modern channel strip can help your mixing. Very flexible and tons of permutations mean you have the means to really dial in a mix. Mix like a star, a Neutron Star! 

How to Use New Gear - Do You Need It?

Chris and Jody jump into the muddy waters of how to approach using new gear. Should you be using it on everything? Do sleigh bells belong in every song? Are you buying gear for a want or a need? All this is brought up and so much more. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

New EQ Technique for Electric Bass: How to Boost and Cut with your Ears!

dive into the world of EQ for your electric bass tracks. We walk thru the various areas of the audio spectrum. The sub, the fundamental low, the low mids, the upper mids and air. Plus we offer up various thoughts on each area on cutting or boosting and why. Don't forget our Friday Finds and… It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

Vocal Mic Distance: How Close is Close Enough?

Chris and Jody discuss what to consider when tracking vocals: How close to the mic should you get? What are the issues you may run into when not getting this right? What if the singer wants to actually hold the mic in hand? What is proximity effect? All this, plus our Friday Finds.

It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed...

Audio Masking: All the Tools You Need to Avoid It

Chris and Jody jump into the muddy waters of audio masking. What is it? What instruments can tend to mask each other. Things to watch out for when sifting thru a mix to find the masking. Why it's a good idea to listen and eliminate it. And finally sharing softwares that can help you "see" it. Don't forget our Friday Finds for this week and. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

Drum Programming vs Live Drums: How to Know When to Use Which?

Chris and Jody delve into the idea of drum programming vs live drums. What styles are prone to each. When is it ideal to record with live drums. Things to watch out for when programming drums. Why might you want to program drums. And finally enhancing live drums with programmed drums or samples. Don't forget our Friday Finds for this week and... It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

Layering Instruments: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

Chris and Jody discuss the pros and cons of layering similar instruments. We breeze thru using similar sounding synths, guitars, basses, drums and vocals. Plus we offer up various thoughts on each area on the good or bad and why. Don't forget our Friday Finds and… It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.