• 10 Thing Studio Checklist When You Go Into A Session



    Studio Checklist for Musicians, Artists, and Bands

    Every musician dreams of stepping into a studio, but the reality is often more stressful than glamorous. What should you bring? What should you avoid? How do you find the right studio fit—and how can you make sure the people on the other side of the glass can do their best work for you?

    In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody cross over to the artist’s side and lay out a studio checklist for musicians, artists, and bands preparing to record. Whether it’s your first time in a professional studio or you’ve booked dozens of sessions, these tips will help you walk in prepared and walk out with better results.

    Do’s and Don’ts Before You Hit Record

    Chris and Jody dig into the must-do’s like practicing your material until it’s second nature, making sure your instruments are in good repair (strings, drum heads, cables—don’t forget them!), and arriving on time with realistic expectations. They also highlight the don’ts, like showing up with half-written songs, expecting the engineer to “fix it in the mix,” or failing to communicate your vision clearly.

    How This Helps Everyone

    This checklist isn’t just for musicians—it’s also for studio owners and engineers. By knowing what artists need to prepare, studios can better serve their clients and build trust. A prepared artist means smoother sessions, fewer delays, and ultimately a more professional final product.

    Real-World Stories

    To keep it lively, Chris and Jody share a few personal examples—moments when artists nailed their prep and sessions flew by, and other times when poor planning led to chaos (and more coffee than anyone should drink in a day). As always, there’s plenty of humor and a little nonsense sprinkled in to keep the conversation fun.

    Why Preparation Matters

    By the end of the episode, listeners will see that walking into a studio isn’t just about talent—it’s about preparation, respect for the process, and being ready to collaborate. With the right mindset and a simple checklist, you’ll get more out of your time in the studio, and your recordings will thank you for it.

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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

  • Time Management For A Better Studio Schedule, To Help You Be More Productive.



    Mastering Time Management and Studio Scheduling

    In the world of recording, time isn’t just money—it’s creativity, productivity, and sanity rolled into one. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody pull into the station on a listener request to tackle one of the most overlooked yet critical aspects of running a studio: time management and scheduling.

    When you’re juggling recording, mixing, mastering, and all the behind-the-scenes prep work, it’s easy to swing to extremes. One week you’re drowning in deadlines, the next you’re scrambling for projects. Chris and Jody share strategies for building a studio schedule that keeps you busy but not burned out, flexible but not fragile.

    Staying Balanced

    The duo dig into how to set realistic booking schedules, block out creative time, and avoid the trap of overscheduling. They also cover why being under-booked can hurt more than your wallet—it can lead to stress, rushed decisions, and underpricing your work.

    Tracking Your Time

    Chris and Jody highlight the importance of tracking how long tasks actually take. From setting up mics to bouncing final mixes, understanding your true time investment gives you two big wins:

    • Better scheduling accuracy—so you can say “yes” or “no” with confidence.
    • Smarter pricing—knowing what your time is worth so you can charge appropriately.

    They even share hints on using calendars, timers, and digital tools to simplify this process. And yes, they sprinkle in recording setup tips and workflow hacks that save precious hours in the studio.

    The Studio Life Reality Check

    It’s not just about fitting in clients—it’s about fitting in your life. Chris and Jody remind us that time management also means carving out space for rest, family, and yes, even nonsense. Because no matter how efficient your home studio gearsetup is, burnout kills creativity.

    And since this is Inside the Recording Studio, expect laughs, tangents, and a few ridiculous asides to keep it all from feeling like a lecture.

    By the end of the episode, you’ll know how to:

    • Build a balanced schedule that supports creativity.
    • Track and value your time effectively.
    • Avoid common time-wasting pitfalls.
    • Approach scheduling as part of your overall professional growth.

    If you’ve ever wondered how to manage your hours without losing your mind—or your inspiration—this episode is a must-listen.

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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

  • Productivity Hacks – How To Have Productive Downtime



    How to Have Productive Downtime

    Every studio professional knows the rhythm: one week you’re slammed with sessions, bouncing between recording, mixing, and mastering, and the next you find yourself staring at a blank DAW screen with no projects on the calendar. What do you do when things get quiet? In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody unload their best strategies for staying productive during downtime—so that when the work ramps back up, you’re sharper, faster, and better prepared than before.

    They break it down into three categories of ideas designed to keep both your workflow and your creativity in top shape:

    1. Sharpen Your Skills

    Downtime is the perfect opportunity to dig into tutorials, revisit techniques, or practice mixing and mastering on old projects. Chris and Jody talk about how even simple exercises—like revisiting EQ decisions or exploring hidden features in studio gear—can level up your confidence and speed when deadlines hit.

    2. Optimize Your Setup

    When’s the last time you gave your studio some TLC? Whether it’s updating software, tackling audio interface troubleshooting, reorganizing your file system, or literally doing some spring cleaning, downtime is ideal for tightening up your recording setup tips. Chris and Jody share what they do to make sure their studios run smoothly, including those “why didn’t I do this sooner?” tasks like labeling cables or learning how to clean music gear the right way.

    3. Refuel Your Creativity

    Being productive doesn’t always mean grinding. Sometimes it’s about recharging. Chris and Jody talk about ways to step back from the console—reading, listening, exploring new music, or even leaning into a little nonsense—and why this mental reset is just as valuable as technical practice.

    Throughout the episode, expect the usual mix of real-world anecdotes, humor, and a touch of nonsense. Plus, don’t miss this week’s Friday Finds, where Chris and Jody share tools and ideas that can inspire you when things feel slow.

    By the end of the episode, you’ll walk away with practical steps for turning downtime into growth time—whether you’re working in a full pro facility or a home studio gear setup.

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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

  • 10 Common Mastering Engineer Mistakes Most People Make And How To Fix Them



    Mastering Engineer Mistakes to Avoid

    Mastering might seem like the final polish on a track, but if you’ve ever tried your hand at it, you know it’s not just about loudness and EQ. It’s a delicate art—and when you’re new to the craft, there are plenty of ways to stumble. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody break down 10 of the most common mastering engineer mistakes, and more importantly, how to avoid them.

    From over-EQ’ing to leaning too heavily on presets, Chris and Jody lay out real-world pitfalls that derail beginners and explain how to move past them. With humor, insight, and some nonsense sprinkled in for good measure, they map out a path that will help you develop better ears, smarter workflows, and a more professional approach to mastering.

    Here’s a sneak peek at some of the mistakes they tackle:

    • Overusing EQ or compression and squashing the life out of a mix.
    • Chasing loudness over clarity, falling into the trap of the “loudness wars.”
    • Ignoring monitoring environments—because if your room lies, your master lies.
    • Not understanding the role of reference tracks in calibrating your ears.
    • Skipping fundamentals, like proper gain staging and file prep.
    • Leaning too hard on gear or plugins instead of trusting your ears.
    • Failing to step back, losing perspective by mastering in a vacuum.

    Alongside these cautionary tales, Chris and Jody offer recording setup tips that apply whether you’re in a big studio or working with home studio gear. They also reveal a few hidden features in studio gear and plugins that can make mastering more efficient and accurate.

    The takeaway? Mastering isn’t about chasing perfection with endless tweaks. It’s about making intentional, transparent moves that translate across playback systems. And yes—it’s also about learning when not to touch the knobs.

    By the end of this episode, you’ll know the 10 mistakes to avoid, plus the mindsets and habits that set real mastering engineers apart. You’ll laugh, you’ll nod in recognition, and you’ll leave with fresh tools to refine your approach to mastering—whether you’re polishing your own tracks or prepping music for the world to hear.

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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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