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…
Chris and Jody discuss some abnormal ways to mic instruments and voices. What is the most inventive way to mic a guitar amp? Is there a mic that isn’t meant for vocals that would work in a pinch? What about mic-ing drums with only 3 mics? All these ideas, and some way out there attempts, are brought to light in this episode. Plus the Friday Finds for this week and… It’s also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.
Phase Cancellation: What It Is and Why Your Mix Might Hate You
This week on Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody dive into one of the most subtle yet mix-killing topics in audio engineering: phase cancellation.
Whether you’re miking a guitar cab, tracking drums with multiple microphones, or layering synths, phase issues can sneak in and hollow out your sound — even when your levels and EQ look just right. Chris and Jody break down what phase cancellation is, how it happens, and what it actually sounds like when it’s ruining your tone.
They’ll walk you through the science behind waveforms clashing, show you how to recognize phase problems in your DAW or monitoring environment, and most importantly — how to fix or avoid them with smart mic placement, polarity tools, and good ol’ fashioned listening skills.
You’ll come away with real-world recording setup tips and insights into how phase impacts not just instruments but entire mixes. And yes — expect a bit of Chris & Jody humor and some light nonsense along the way.
This one’s a must-listen if your tracks sound thinner than expected or your snare suddenly vanishes when you solo the overheads.
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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
Master: Oek Sound Soothe 2 – iZotope Ozone Imager – iZotope Ozone Maximize.
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In this video, Chris shows the benefits of using Mic Modeling, and the flexibility it will provide.
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