Chris and Jody get down and dirty with tactics for mixing lead vocals. The prep steps that should be taken. The EQ and compression techniques. The FX used. Plus there’s an extra bit end that helps to really blend a vocal into a song.
******************************
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
Vocal Tuning or Not Vocal Tuning – That Is the Question
Vocal tuning. Instrument correction. The mere mention of it can spark heated debates in studios and online forums alike. Is it cheating? Is it necessary? Or is it simply part of the modern DNA of music production? In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody jump headfirst onto the autobahn of decisions and tackle the hot-button issue: to tune or not to tune.
Why Talk About Tuning?
Because love it or hate it, tuning is everywhere. From polished pop vocals to subtle guitar intonation fixes, modern music often leans on tuning tools to achieve professional results. Chris and Jody bring an honest, balanced perspective to a subject many avoid, asking: What’s the line between correction and overcorrection?
Tools of the Trade
The duo break down what they personally use for tuning and when they decide to apply it. They talk through the major players in the tuning world, from industry giants like Auto-Tune and Melodyne to DAW-native solutions that make quick fixes possible. Along the way, they offer recording setup tips to help avoid problems at the source, so you’re not relying on tuning as a crutch.
More Than Just Vocals
While vocals usually grab the spotlight, Chris and Jody expand the conversation to other instruments too. Bass guitars, strings, horns—anything can drift out of tune, and sometimes subtle correction can save an otherwise stellar take.
Pitfalls and Possibilities
Of course, there are pitfalls to watch for: unnatural artifacts, “robotic” vocals when they weren’t intended, or even losing the emotional essence of a performance. Chris and Jody dive into how to avoid these traps and how to decide when tuning serves the song—or when it’s better to leave a little imperfection in for character.
Why You’ll Want to Listen
This episode isn’t a lecture—it’s a real conversation about a sensitive but vital part of music-making. With humor, honesty, and the occasional bit of nonsense, Chris and Jody give listeners a toolkit for making informed choices about tuning in their own work. By the end, you’ll understand not just how to tune, but when to tune, and why the decision is ultimately about serving the song.
******************************
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
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.
******************************
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
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.
******************************
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
