Chris Hellstrom’s Biggest Recording Lesson Learned



Split the Process, Save the Song: Chris’s #1 DAW Era Lesson

This week on Inside the Recording Studio, the roles reverse as Jody throws the big question at Chris: What’s the most important lesson he’s learned in today’s DAW-driven world?

Chris opens up about a deceptively simple but game-changing concept — never mixing and writing at the same time. You’ll hear how this practice can unlock your creativity, reduce burnout, and help your tracks actually get finished (instead of stuck in endless tweak mode). Who passed this wisdom down to him? What does this workflow look like in action? And how can you implement it without losing your groove?

Along the way, Chris and Jody share relatable studio anecdotes, workflow wins, and inevitable detours into delightful nonsense. If you’ve ever found yourself EQ’ing a snare drum when you should be writing a chorus, this episode is your wake-up call.

From recording setup tips to mental discipline behind the desk, this one is packed with practical advice for musicians, producers, and audio nerds alike.

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Gear we used:
Jody’s Mic & Voice Chain: Telefunken C12 – Groove Tubes Vipre – ApolloUA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA Studer A800
Jody’s Channel Strip: iZotope RX Spectral DeNoise – iZotope RX Mouth DeClick – UA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA 1176E

Chris’ Mic & Voice Chain: Slate ML1 – ApolloUA – Slate VMR (FG12, FG73, API Eq, SSL 4kE) – iZotope RX Voice – DeNoise
Chris’ Channel Strip: Eventide Precision Time Align – iZotope RX Spectral DeNoise – iZotope RX Mouth DeClick – UA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA 1176E

Master: Oek Sound Soothe 2iZotope Ozone Imager – iZotope Ozone Maximize.

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If you want to collaborate, sponsor a podcast, donate, or want us to review your product – contact us at: collaborate@insidetherecordingstudio.com