• The Right Time to Update Your Studio Computer: A Musician’s Survival Guide



    There’s a moment every recording musician dreads: that blinking notification screaming “System Update Available.” Should you click it or keep your studio machine frozen in time? In this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody dig deep into the art and science of staying current—without crashing your creative flow.

    From plugin compatibility nightmares to the hidden risks of updating mid-project, they unpack what every producer, engineer, and musician should know before overhauling their studio system. You’ll hear firsthand from one host who just survived a full OS upgrade—complete with tales of backup strategies, driver drama, and the surprising benefits of starting fresh.

    Whether you’re rocking a Mac or PC, this episode arms you with recording setup tips and audio interface troubleshooting wisdom to keep your rig running like a pro. Chris & Jody also dive into the “clean install vs. incremental update” debate, explore when it’s actually time to wipe your drive, and share how to safeguard your home studio gear from digital disaster.

    Expect real-world experience, plenty of laughs, and another round of Friday Finds that just might inspire your next sonic upgrade.

    So before you hit that update button, hit play. Your DAW 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

  • Studio Monitors vs Headphones: Which Tells the Truth About Your Mix?



    Mix engineers have battled this question for decades: studio monitors vs headphones — who reigns supreme? In this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody slice into the science, psychology, and practicality of monitoring. Whether you’re mixing in a treated control room or a spare-bedroom studio, knowing when to trust your ears (and which ones) can make or break your mix.

    They start by unpacking what accuracy really means—from frequency response and stereo imaging to phase alignment. You’ll hear how different listening environments influence decisions, why headphone mixes can sound “bigger than life” yet betray you on speakers, and how monitors reveal the true midrange where most mixes live or die.

    Then, it’s time for some real-world recording setup tips. Expect talk about calibration, room treatment, and even some lesser-known hidden features in studio gear that can help you get a more neutral picture of your sound. The duo also touch on audio interface troubleshooting and the underrated role of gain staging in perceived mix balance.

    By the end, you’ll have a toolkit for knowing when to reach for headphones, when to trust your monitors, and how to balance both for consistent translation across playback systems. Naturally, there’s some humor, a little gear lust, and the ever-popular Friday Finds to top it off.

    Because in the end, it’s not about which tool you use—it’s about how well you 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

  • Saturation vs. Distortion: How to Enhance Your Mix With Grit



    Who says distortion is just for shredders in leather pants? This week, Chris & Jody are here to spill the beans on how creative distortion in mixing can spice up any track. Think of it like hot sauce: a little goes a long way, but sometimes you just want to drench everything.

    They start by serving up the obvious—guitar tones that roar and scream—but then they ladle distortion all over the mix. Bass that rattles, vocals that snarl, even drums that sound like they’re trying to escape the speakers. It’s chaos, but the good kind.

    Along the way, you’ll get recording setup tips for pulling this off with your home studio gear without blowing up your interface (unless you want to). They’ll also expose a few hidden features in studio gear that can surprise you when you push them past polite levels.

    And of course, no episode is complete without their signature nonsense, wisecracks, and a Friday Find that will have you itching to experiment the moment you hit stop.

    This isn’t “Distortion 101.” This is distortion with swagger.

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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

  • Sculpting Silence: Side-Chaining Secrets from Inside the Recording Studio



    Duck. Breathe. Pulse. Repeat.

    The beat hits, and everything else steps aside. In this episode, Chris & Jody journey into the hidden choreography of sound—where one signal controls another, and side-chaining becomes more than a trick. It becomes feel.

    What starts as a lesson in DAW setup and MPC Live integration quickly morphs into a deconstruction of space, impact, and the rhythm behind rhythm. Compression is the hammer. Side-chaining is the sculptor. Basslines yield to kicks. Pads inhale and exhale.

    You’ll learn the how, sure. The routing. The thresholds. The tools. But more importantly, you’ll learn the why—the artistic intent behind the technical choices.

    Oh, and the usual chaos? It’s there. Along with Friday Finds that might just blow a few fuses (in the best way).

    Plug in. Tune out. Let the side-chain lead.

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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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