• 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

  • How To Enhance Vocals With Out of Time Delays



    A perfectly clean vocal can sometimes feel… sterile. That’s where delay comes in. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody take a focused look at vocal mixing with delay, showing you how this timeless effect can add depth, space, and character to your tracks.

    They start by explaining why delay isn’t just about echo—it’s about placement. A well-chosen delay can help a vocal sit naturally in the mix, creating contrast, rhythm, or space without burying it under reverb. The guys highlight why using unsynced delays can often produce more musical, human results than rigidly locked-in timings.

    From there, they explore different types of delay—slapback for retro vibe, ping-pong for movement, tape delay for warmth, and digital delay for precision. You’ll get recording setup tips on how to combine delays with EQ, filtering, and saturation for mixes that sound pro without clutter.

    Chris & Jody also share stories from their own sessions, including clever ways they’ve used delays to solve mix problems or create standout effects. True to their style, the episode balances technical know-how with personality, humor, and a dose of nonsense.

    And because no episode would be complete without it, they wrap up with this week’s Friday Find—and it’s a big one.

    Whether you’re experimenting with home studio gear or running a professional setup, this conversation will inspire you to rethink delay not as a background effect, but as a creative tool for enhancing vocals.

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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

  • Create a Presence with Reverb and How To Figure Out The Correct Reverb Time You Need For Your Song



    Reverb is space. It is air between notes, reflections bouncing off walls seen and unseen. It is the whisper of a room, the memory of a hall, the shimmer of a plate.

    In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody drift through the world of reverb—not as a utility, but as an instrument in itself. They calculate milliseconds like cartographers charting maps, showing how math gives shape to echoes. They speak of springs that twang, plates that sing, and digital halls that stretch into infinity.

    They share moments when reverb became more than effect: a pad sculpted from a drum hit, a vocal carried on a wave of decay, a guitar wrapped in endless shimmer. They reveal the reverbs they return to, the ones that never fail to spark ideas.

    Between their explorations lie laughter, nonsense, and the week’s Friday Finds—unexpected treasures tucked inside the reflections.

    Reverb, they remind us, is not just sound bouncing in space. It is texture, depth, story. It is the unseen architecture of a mix.

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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

  • MainStage 101: How To Get Started With The Best Live Audio Software On The Market!



    MainStage: not just another Apple logo slapped on software. Chris & Jody get their hands dirty with this live-performance beast, spilling the beans on why it’s the unsung hero of both touring rigs and bedroom setups. They cover what it’s best at, which instruments will thank you, and how to avoid a crash mid-solo (because yes, that’s a thing). You’ll also find out how MainStage sneaks its way into studio workflows like a ninja of hidden features in studio gear. Plus, our hosts throw in their signature Friday Finds—because you deserve a treat after geeking out over plugins and performance tricks. Buckle up: this isn’t your average sales pitch, it’s Chris & Jody telling you why MainStage might just be your new favorite sidekick.

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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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