• Recording Myths About Sample Rate and EQ



    Do you need a second mortgage for your home studio gear… or just better decisions? In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody take aim at some of the most stubborn recording myths floating around forums, YouTube comments, and that one friend who always says, “Yeah, but at 192k it just sounds better.”

    Let’s talk about it.

    Is the highest sample rate always the right move? Is that boutique EQ actually worth your rent money? Are you missing out because you’re not using “pro-level” converters? Or is the internet just really good at selling anxiety?

    Chris & Jody break down these recording setup tips with a mix of practical insight and dry humor. They’re not here to shame your gear choices, or worship them. They’re here to ask what actually matters in a recording setup and what’s just digital overkill.

    There’s some light shade thrown at gear snobbery. There’s perspective from industry names like CJ Vanston, Jeff Scott Soto, Eric Valentine, Dave Pensado, and even Sir George Martin. And there’s the quiet reminder that none of those legends built their reputations on spec sheets alone.

    If you’ve ever gone down a rabbit hole comparing amps, obsessing over EQ curves, or convincing yourself that one more plugin will fix everything, this episode is a gentle (and occasionally sarcastic) nudge back to reality.

    Because here’s the thing: great records don’t come from myths. They come from good decisions, solid fundamentals, and knowing when to stop chasing numbers.

    You’ll also get this week’s Friday Finds, because while we’re busting myths, we’re still discovering cool stuff.

    This conversation is for the home studio crowd trying to level up without lighting their bank account on fire. It’s for independent artists who want honest advice instead of marketing copy. And it’s for anyone who’s ever wondered if the rabbit hole has a bottom.

    Spoiler alert: it does. And it’s usually labeled “practice.”

    If you want practical recording setup tips without the hype, and maybe a little nonsense along the way, press play now.

    Subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s myth demolition.

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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

  • How to Deal with Artists in the Studio: Psychology for Producers and Engineers



    You can have the best studio gear, but if you can’t handle artists, you might as well be recording air.
    In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody turn the faders down on gear talk and crank up the discussion on people management—because the biggest noise in the studio isn’t feedback…it’s ego.

    From the control freak who wants to tweak every EQ band to the “just tell me when it’s done” type who ghosts halfway through the mix, our hosts dissect the psychological minefield of modern recording. Expect stories, sarcasm, and a few too-relatable moments for anyone who’s ever had to smile through the fifteenth vocal take “just to be safe.”

    You’ll get smart recording setup tips to diffuse tension before it ruins your vibe, plus learn how to assert your producer instincts without flipping the studio couch. Chris & Jody even share their secret methods for reading body language faster than your DAW loads plugins.

    Stick around for this week’s Friday Finds, because there’s something free—and time-sensitive—you don’t want to miss.

    So grab your coffee, mute that talkback mic, and prepare for a crash course in studio survival psychology. This one’s for the engineers who mix music and emotions.

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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

  • The Truth About Signature Sound in Mixing



    When you hit play on a track, should it sound like you — unmistakably branded with your sonic fingerprint — or should it morph seamlessly into whatever the song demands? In this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody dive headfirst into one of the most polarizing debates in audio engineering: the “signature sound” dilemma.

    For decades, producers and mix engineers have wrestled with the question: Is having a recognizable vibe a mark of mastery, or does it risk pigeonholing you into a single trick? Chris & Jody weigh the benefits of carving out a signature style that helps you stand out in an overcrowded market against the flexibility of becoming a sonic chameleon who adapts to every artist’s vision.

    Expect straight talk about industry myths, the hidden costs of always “sounding like yourself,” and why some of your favorite records do carry an engineer’s fingerprint even if you don’t realize it. This is a conversation that touches everything from home studio gear choices to recording setup tips that can push your mixes one way or another. They even uncover a few hidden features in studio gear that might be shaping your sound without you knowing it.

    Of course, it wouldn’t be an Inside the Recording Studio episode without a dash of humor. Whether they’re poking fun at one-trick ponies, laughing about the “magic plugin” myth, or getting sidetracked by unexpected audio interface troubleshooting stories, Chris & Jody keep it real, relatable, and relevant.

    And don’t miss Friday Finds, where the guys shine a spotlight on fresh tools, surprising workflows, and even a laugh or two about the gear rabbit holes we all fall into.

    If you’ve ever wondered whether your mixes should scream “this is me” or disappear into the artistry of the track, this episode is your permission slip to challenge your assumptions. Tune in, laugh a little, and leave with practical insight to level up your engineering game.

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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

  • The Truth About Gear Addiction: Do You Really Need All Those Plugins?



    Confession time: how many compressor plugins do you actually need? One? Two? Six? Let’s be real—you probably have a “go-to” compressor and five others you bought during a flash sale because someone on YouTube said it was life-changing. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Chris and Jody are right there with you in this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, tackling the hilarious, slightly painful truth about gear addiction in music production.

    Let’s paint the picture. You open your DAW, scroll through your plugin folder, and realize you’ve somehow collected enough EQs to start your own virtual museum. You tell yourself each one “has a different color” (translation: it’s slightly shinier than the last). Meanwhile, your mixes still hinge on the same three plugins you’ve used for years. And guitars? Don’t even start. That “backup” guitar? It has three backups of its own.

    This episode is all about calling out the obsession we all share—the need to collect, collect, and collect some more. Chris and Jody ask the uncomfortable but necessary questions:

    • Does more gear actually make you a better mixer or songwriter?
    • Why do we keep buying shiny new toys while ignoring the hidden features in studio gear we already own?
    • And when is “just in case” actually code for “I’ll never use this, but it looks cool in my rack”?

    They’ll swap stories about plugin overload, forgotten purchases, and the sobering reality of discovering licenses for tools they don’t even remember buying. (Yes, it happens.) They’ll also share practical ideas on how to prune your collection, focus on what actually improves your workflow, and get back to what matters most—making music, not scrolling menus.

    But don’t expect a lecture. This is Inside the Recording Studio, after all. You’ll get plenty of laughs, playful digs at gear addiction, and the kind of nonsense that makes self-reflection just a little less painful. After all, admitting you might be a gear hoarder is easier when Chris and Jody are joking right along with you.

    At the end of the day, this episode isn’t about shaming you for that seventh guitar pedal or your fifth reverb plugin. It’s about reminding ourselves that great music comes from skill, creativity, and intent—not the size of your plugin folder. Or as Chris and Jody put it: too much gear sometimes means too little music.

    So before you buy that next “essential” bundle, hit play on this brutally honest (and very funny) conversation. Your wallet—and maybe your mixes—will thank you.

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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

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