• Top 5 Must Have Plugins For Writing, Tracking & Balance



    Stranded on a Desert Island… With a DAW? These Are the Plugins We’d Bring

    What if you could only choose five plugins for the rest of your music-making life? In this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody unpack their top 5 desert island plugins—the essential tools they swear by for writing, recording, and mixing, even if marooned in a remote, coconut-shelled control room.

    From amp sims to synths, channel strips to creative FX, they reveal which plugins make the cut and why. Expect heated debates, a few self-imposed rule bends, and some good ol’ fashioned plugin lust. Whether you’re building your own minimalist toolkit or just love a good showdown of gear opinions, this episode offers tons of recording setup tips and hard-earned wisdom.

    You’ll also catch the latest Friday Finds, and—as always—a healthy dose of lighthearted banter and probably some nonsense. Because if you’re stuck on a desert island with just a laptop and headphones, you might as well laugh while you’re EQing.

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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

  • Getting Started In The Recording World


    Keep things simple with getting started in the recording world. A laptop and an audio interface are two essential parts that you would need. You don’t need the latest and greatest laptop. You don’t need the latest audio interface. These two items along with a pair of headphones are what you need to get started.

  • How to Build a Recording Rig from Scratch



    Build Your Rig Without Losing Your Mind (or Wallet)

    Ever dream of building a home or mobile recording setup but don’t know where to start—or worse, where to stop? In this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody dive into the essential steps (and hilarious missteps) that go into crafting a recording rig that actually works. Whether you’re tracking at home, on the road, or from your van parked in front of a taco truck, this episode’s got you covered.

    From choosing the right audio interface to cabling conundrums and power supply pitfalls, they break down the gear and know-how you need to get up and running—fast and frustration-free. You’ll learn the do’s, don’ts, and recording setup tips that will save you time, money, and maybe even a little sanity.

    And yes, there’s some classic Chris & Jody nonsense thrown in, alongside this week’s Friday Finds to keep your ears (and studio) fresh.

    Plug in, press play, and learn how to record smart—not just hard.

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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

  • Answering A Listener’s Question: How to Track Guitars and Vocals with Just a Few Inputs



    Preamp Power: Making the Most of Limited Inputs in Your Home Studio

    When listener Ignacio sent in a question about preamp usage in small studio setups, Chris & Jody jumped in head-first—because let’s face it, getting pro sound with limited gear is a challenge we all face at some point.

    This episode is your guided tour through the practical, flexible world of preamp strategies for home studio gear. Whether you’re tracking vocals, guitars, synths, or the occasional tambourine of destiny—Chris & Jody break down what types of preamps can give you the most tonal bang for your buck. They explore clean vs. colored options, how to avoid input bottlenecks, and why preamp choice can make or break your signal chain.

    Expect smart recording setup tips, some real-talk gear recommendations, and—because it’s Inside the Recording Studio—a few sonic side quests, a Gold Star word, and a Friday Find inspired by a true guitar classic.

    So if you’re feeling boxed in by limited inputs, this episode delivers the know-how (and nonsense) to help you break out with clarity, punch, and pro polish.

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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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