• Get Your Gain Right — Everything Else Follows



    Gain Staging: The Unsung Hero of Clean Recordings

    In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody unpack the ever-important — and often misunderstood — concept of gain staging.

    What is gain staging, really? Where did it come from? And why does it matter whether you’re tracking vocals, mixing drums, or dialing in your outboard gear? Chris and Jody explain how proper gain structure helps avoid distortion, noise, headroom issues, and mix imbalances — and why it’s essential for anyone serious about producing professional-quality audio.

    They break it down in simple, usable terms: from preamps to plugins, converters to compressors, you’ll learn how to manage levels at each stage of your signal flow. You’ll also hear Jody’s personal “aha” moment with gain staging, and how it changed the way he works in the studio.

    Also in this episode: the latest Friday Finds, your chance to collect the Gold Star word of the week, and a teaser for the upcoming Tuesday Tip. And yes, as always, a dash of light-hearted nonsense rounds things out.

    So, if your tracks are too hot, too cold, or just a little too messy — this is the one to tune in for.

    Shoutout to: Aerosmith

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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

  • Mix Templates = Faster Sessions + Better Focus



    Mix Templates: Why You Need One (and What to Put in It)

    This week on Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody dive into one of the most overlooked but powerful tools in the recording and mixing workflow: the mix template.

    Ever feel like you’re wasting time setting up the same buses, plugin chains, or routing every time you open a session? Enter the mix template — your personal studio autopilot. Chris and Jody walk through how they build and customize their templates, what they include, and why these starting points help speed up the process while keeping creative momentum high.

    Whether you’re building a vocal template, a full-band starting point, or a recallable mastering setup, you’ll walk away with real-world insights into making templates that work for your gear, your style, and your sessions.

    They’ll also explain the balance between automation and intention — and yes, there will likely be a few tangents and some classic Chris & Jody nonsense along the way.

    Hit play and streamline your workflow — your future self (and your CPU) 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

  • Presets, Channel Strip Presets


    Jody’s talking presets in this Tuesday Tip. Specifically Channel Strip presets that he creates for Basses and Guitars. Using an example from a recent track done for a documentary. He explains why it’s a great thing for you to create your own presets for your workflow.

  • Are Plugins Making Engineers Lazy? The Truth About Modern Mixing Tools



    Are Plugins Making Us Lazy Engineers? Let’s Talk Tech and Discipline

    This week on Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody tackle a timely and slightly provocative topic: Has software made audio engineers lazy?

    With an ever-growing number of “one-click magic” plugins and AI-powered tools on the market, it’s easier than ever to let the computer take over. But is this convenience helping your workflow — or hurting your ears? Whether you’re a self-recording musician or a seasoned mix engineer, this episode encourages you to take a hard look at where your technical chops end and the plugin begins.

    Chris and Jody unpack the difference between using tools smartly and relying on them blindly. They share stories, strategies, and reminders about why understanding the fundamentals still matters — even in a world of AI mastering and instant vocal chains.

    Plus: this week’s Friday Finds might just sharpen your skills or spark some new creativity. And don’t miss the Gold Star keyword — your gateway to audio nerd bragging rights.

    And yes… some nonsense is definitely in the signal path.

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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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