• Vocal Mic Distance: How Close is Close Enough?



    Tracking Vocals Like a Pro

    When it comes to making a song connect, few things are more important than the vocal. But capturing a great vocal isn’t just about a good singer—it’s about technique, mic handling, and knowing the quirks that can make or break a performance. On this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody dig into the practical (and sometimes overlooked) details of tracking vocals.

    How close should you actually be to the mic? Too close and you risk plosives, boominess, and overwhelming proximity effect. Too far and the vocal loses intimacy, presence, and clarity. Chris and Jody talk through these issues and share recording setup tips to help you find the sweet spot for every singer and every song.

    But what about the singers who insist on holding the mic in their hand? It might feel natural on stage, but in the studio it introduces handling noise, inconsistent distance, and a whole lot of headaches. The guys weigh the pros and cons, offering strategies for dealing with this common request without sacrificing quality.

    And then there’s the proximity effect—a powerful tonal shift that happens as singers move closer to directional mics. Sometimes it’s a problem to manage, other times it’s a creative tool you can embrace. Chris and Jody explain how to recognize it, control it, and even use it to your advantage.

    Along the way, you’ll get clear advice that applies whether you’re working with high-end gear or just starting out in a home studio gear setup. Expect to hear about the issues you run into when the basics aren’t right, practical fixes, and how to avoid wasting takes on problems that could have been solved before hitting record.

    Of course, it wouldn’t be Inside the Recording Studio without a little Friday Finds, where Chris and Jody share cool tools, plugins, or resources to spark your creativity. And yes—some good-natured nonsense makes an appearance too.

    By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to position singers for better recordings, how to avoid the most common tracking pitfalls, and how to make sure your vocal takes sit in the mix with authority.

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

  • MIC STRATEGIES: How to Get Amazing Audio with Abnormal Mic-ing



    Sound doesn’t ask for rules. It bends, it escapes, it hides in corners where no mic was meant to go.

    In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody step beyond the ordinary, exploring unusual mic’ing techniques that turn the act of recording into exploration. A guitar amp caught not just at its speaker, but at the breath of its resonance. A vocal captured through a mic not designed for voices, yet carrying emotion in unexpected ways. A drum kit reduced to three mics, sculpting rhythm with space rather than excess.

    They tell stories of experiments—some glorious, some failures, all lessons. They hint at hidden features in studio gear, the overlooked angles, the magic in limitation.

    Between the reflections come laughter, nonsense, and their Friday Finds—gifts tucked between the eccentricities of sound.

    This is not just technique. It is curiosity, creativity, and the courage to place a microphone where convention says not to.

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

  • What Is Phase Cancellation? How It Affects Your Mix and How to Fix It



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

  • Tuesday Tip: Using Mic Modeling Software


    In this video, Chris shows the benefits of using Mic Modeling, and the flexibility it will provide.

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