• Unlocking the Secrets of a Mix Vision: Expert Tips and Tricks!



    Every great mix starts with a vision. Before EQ tweaks or compressor settings, a mix engineer has to know where the song wants to go. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody break down the often-overlooked art of shaping a mix vision — how to hear the rough version of a track and imagine its potential.

    The process isn’t just technical; it’s creative. They explore how listening to a client’s rough mix provides critical clues, and how conversations with the artist about goals, influences, and emotional intent set the stage. Style and genre matter too—an EDM track, a country ballad, and an indie rock anthem each demand a different sonic treatment. Arrangement, instrumentation, and performance nuance all help define the roadmap.

    Chris and Jody share their strategies for interpreting those elements, from subtle panning decisions to layering reverbs, to making bold choices about dynamics. They explain how communication with the client is just as important as turning knobs: translating abstract ideas like “make it sound bigger” or “give it more air” into concrete mixing decisions.

    For producers and engineers working with home studio gear, this episode offers plenty of recording setup tips and practical wisdom. Even if you’re not mixing chart-toppers, you’ll learn how to establish a clear direction that makes your mixes intentional instead of accidental.

    And, of course, it wouldn’t be an episode with Chris and Jody without humor, banter, and a reminder that mixing is equal parts craft and art. If you’ve ever opened a rough mix and thought, “Now what?”—this episode is your guide to finding the answer.

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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

  • Writer’s Block? No Problem! Learn How to Conquer it Now!



    Writer’s block. The ultimate buzzkill in the studio. You walk in with your guitar, keyboard, or notebook ready to write the next smash hit… and instead you’re staring at a blinking cursor in your DAW like it’s mocking you. Hours go by. The coffee goes cold. The vibe evaporates. It happens to everyone, and yes—it sucks.

    This week on Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody roll up their sleeves and dive straight into the muck with 10 tried-and-true ways to break through writer’s block. No mystical “wait for the muse” nonsense here. We’re talking real, practical, sometimes ridiculous, but always effective strategies that can get you unstuck and back to making music.

    Tip one? Shake up your workflow. If you’re glued to the same chord progressions on guitar, ditch it and try the piano. If your DAW session is giving you the creative stink-eye, open a new one and start from scratch. Sometimes the fastest cure is tricking your brain into forgetting it was stuck in the first place.

    Tip two? Lean on your gear. That dusty pedal or soft synth you haven’t touched in months? Fire it up. Twist knobs until something weird happens. Experiment with hidden features in studio gear you never bothered with. You’d be surprised how often “happy accidents” turn into full-blown songs.

    Tip three? Change your scenery. Move your setup to another room. Or if you’re brave, the garage. Fresh air and a little chaos can shake loose ideas you didn’t even know you had.

    Other strategies include lyrical free-writing, co-writing with another musician (sometimes misery really does love company), or limiting yourself on purpose—like writing a song with only three chords or forcing yourself to finish a track in 30 minutes, no matter how messy. Constraints create freedom, believe it or not.

    And then there’s the infamous “producer tricks.” Chris and Jody share a story about a well-known composer/producer whose method of blasting through writer’s block is… well, stomach-turning. Let’s just say it’s one way to reset your system, but you’ll need a strong constitution. Consider yourself warned: this is the part of the episode that may literally make you gag.

    The point is, writer’s block doesn’t mean you’re broken. It just means your brain needs a nudge, a reset, or a laugh. And Chris and Jody are here to remind you that even the best writers, producers, and legends hit the wall sometimes. The difference is they don’t stop—they just get sneaky about how they climb over it.

    So if you’ve been staring at that blank page too long, this episode is your creative rescue kit. Ten ideas, plenty of laughs, and the reassurance that you’re not alone in the struggle. By the time you’re done listening, you’ll have more than a few tricks up your sleeve to send writer’s block packing.

    And hey, if all else fails? Take Chris and Jody’s advice and make noise anyway. Sometimes the worst idea in the room is the one that leads to the best song.

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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

  • Autotune Secrets Revealed: Inside Look at the Best Vocal Tuning Software and Plugins



    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.

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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

  • Production Candy: How to Use It For Professional Quality Music



    Sweetening Your Mixes with Production Candy

    Every great track has that little something extra—the sparkle, the ear-candy, the unexpected detail that keeps listeners coming back for another taste. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody unwrap the tasty subject of production candy: what it is, why it matters, and how to use it without overloading your mix with sugar.

    What Is Production Candy?

    Production candy refers to the small but powerful details that make a mix feel alive and exciting—things like ear-catching delays, unique percussion hits, reversed effects, synth flourishes, vocal doubles, risers, or even quirky one-off sounds. They aren’t the main ingredients of a song, but they’re the sprinkles that make the production pop.

    Chris and Jody dive into the elements that make up production candy, exploring both classic techniques and modern twists that give tracks personality.

    Why Think About It?

    Used wisely, production candy can:

    • Keep listeners engaged by adding moments of surprise.
    • Highlight transitions between sections of a song.
    • Reinforce the vibe of a track without overshadowing the core instruments.
      But as the duo point out, there’s a fine line between “flavorful detail” and “sugar rush overload.”

    Avoiding the Pitfalls

    Chris and Jody talk about overused elements of production candy, like riser effects, predictable vocal chops, or cookie-cutter sweeps that can make your track feel generic. They share tips for keeping production candy fresh, tasteful, and unique—so it serves the song instead of distracting from it.

    How to Implement It

    Listeners will also get practical advice on implementing production candy into their own workflow. From recording setup tips in a DAW, to layering ideas with home studio gear, to finding hidden features in studio gear that can generate creative sparks, Chris and Jody offer actionable insights that can instantly elevate your production.

    And, in classic Inside the Recording Studio fashion, there are plenty of personal stories, opinions, and a splash of nonsense to make the conversation as entertaining as it is informative.

    By the end of the episode, you’ll know not only what production candy is, but also when, why, and how to use it to take your mixes from solid to irresistible.

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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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