In this special episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody sit down with Martin Seidl, the driving force behind Austrian Audio. Join us as we dive deep into the rich history of Austrian Audio, from its roots in Vienna to becoming a key player in the pro audio world. Martin shares the fascinating story behind their flagship microphone, the OC818, discussing its innovative features and how it stands out in a crowded market.
But that’s just the beginning – we also explore Austrian Audio’s range of high-quality microphones, headphones, and their unique approach to capturing sound. Learn about advanced miking techniques and discover how Austrian Audio’s pioneering work in spatial audio is reshaping the way we think about sound.
Whether you’re an intermediate or advanced audio engineer, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at cutting-edge audio technology, and will give you practical insights into making the most of Austrian Audio’s tools in your recordings.
Austrian Audio OC7070
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Gear we used: Jody’s Mic & Voice Chain: Telefunken C12 – Groove Tubes Vipre – Apollo – UA 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 – Apollo – UA – 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
Chris and Jody delve into the warm waters of Vocal Chains. Those oft talked about elusive orders of microphone to final product with vocals. What mic, what pre, what eq, what compressor, what order and so on, and so on, and so on. Never fear they’ve come here this week with an example of a lead vocal out of a chorus and discuss the finer points of each stage along the way. Then to make it even better, there are audio examples to hear the changes on each step.
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Gear we used: Jody’s Mic & Voice Chain: Telefunken C12 – Groove Tubes Vipre – Apollo – UA 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 – Apollo – UA – 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
Few things bring a session to a screeching halt faster than a microphone that suddenly refuses to cooperate. Bizarre noises, unexplained silence, or a performance that just doesn’t sound right can rattle even the most seasoned engineer. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody walk through a simple yet powerful checklist for troubleshooting mics—a must-have process for anyone working under pressure.
They begin with the obvious (but often overlooked) basics: checking cables, phantom power, and input channels. Then they move deeper into audio interface troubleshooting, gain staging, and hardware quirks that can throw off a session. You’ll hear real-world advice on how to quickly isolate whether the issue lies with the mic, the preamp, or the signal chain—so you can fix problems fast without derailing the creative flow.
But it’s not just a technical exercise. Chris and Jody also bring humor to the process, including a hilarious and slightly embarrassing personal story about a mic sounding terrible for the simplest (and most obvious) reason imaginable. It’s proof that even experienced engineers can miss the basics in the heat of the moment—and a reminder to always double-check.
The episode also emphasizes understanding your gear, from recognizing hidden features in studio gear to knowing when a strange sound is operator error versus actual failure. Whether you’re working in a professional studio or experimenting with home studio gear, this checklist will give you confidence to handle mic issues gracefully.
If you’ve ever been under the gun with a client staring at you while a mic refuses to work, this episode is the lifeline you’ll want in your back pocket. Practical, clear, and sprinkled with laughter, it’s all about getting back to making music as quickly as possible.
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Gear we used: Jody’s Mic & Voice Chain: Telefunken C12 – Groove Tubes Vipre – Apollo – UA 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 – Apollo – UA – 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
A voice enters the room. Unshaped. Untamed. Waiting. It carries the story of the singer, the weight of intention, the spark of melody. Yet, before it becomes the performance we hear through headphones or speakers, it must pass through a gatekeeper: the vocal mic.
The microphone is more than a tool. It is a character in the recording process—sometimes a gentle ally, sometimes a stern interrogator, sometimes a trickster exposing every imperfection. Choosing the right vocal mic is not simply about budget or brand. It is about the alchemy between human tone and mechanical translation.
Chris and Jody know this dance well. Over the years, they’ve sat across from countless mics, watching them either elevate a performance into something timeless—or crush it under the weight of incompatibility. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, they detail their own journey of learning how to choose the right vocal microphone. It’s not a story of always getting it right, but of discovery, adjustment, and listening deeply.
Each type of mic brings a distinct personality. The ribbon, with its soft and smoky embrace, can turn harshness into velvet but sometimes smothers the brilliance of an airy vocal. The condenser, precise and crystalline, reveals every crack, breath, and whisper—both blessing and curse. The dynamic, rugged and loyal, thrives in grit and punch, capturing soul without fuss. And then there are tube mics, warm and glowing, like analog storytellers humming beneath the surface of a track.
But this is not only about categories. It’s about connection. About how a mic pairs with a voice the way wine pairs with food—sometimes complementary, sometimes transformative, sometimes disastrous. Chris and Jody explore what happens when the wrong mic meets the wrong voice: the brittle highs that slice, the muddy lows that blur, the sterile mids that erase character. And they celebrate the moments when the perfect match occurs, when a singer leans into the capsule and magic arrives.
Modern technology changes the landscape. Today’s home studio gear offers options once reserved for major studios. Mic modeling systems allow us to audition legendary tones with the click of a mouse. Shootouts can be done virtually, letting us explore characters we may never physically own. Even hidden features in studio gear—like variable polar patterns or pad switches—become tools for sculpting the relationship between voice and mic.
Chris and Jody don’t just speak to engineers in multimillion-dollar rooms. They speak to anyone chasing authenticity in sound—whether you’re at a kitchen table with a modest interface or in a treated studio with racks of options. They share their approaches, their mistakes, their preferences, and the small details that make all the difference.
There is poetry in this process. A mic is not just hardware. It is a mirror, a filter, a co-writer of the song. Choosing the right one requires patience, curiosity, and humility. It asks us to listen not only to the singer, but to the relationship between singer and machine.
So what mic do you choose? The one that doesn’t just capture a voice, but reveals it. That’s the journey Chris and Jody unpack here. Imperfect, unpredictable, but endlessly rewarding.
The following are examples of what the ML-1 mic models sound like without EQ, compression or mic pres – just the raw audio and the type of mic model only. Best to listen in a good environment so you can hear how each mic changes the quality of the voice.
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Gear we used: Jody’s Mic & Voice Chain: Telefunken C12 – Groove Tubes Vipre – Apollo – UA 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 – Apollo – UA – 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
