• Sample Libraries Uncovered: How to Manage Like a Pro for Efficiently Organizing and Future-Proofing Your Collections



    Sample libraries are both a blessing and a curse. They’re the lifeblood of modern production—massive collections of meticulously recorded instruments at your fingertips. But when those libraries start eating up terabytes of drive space, clogging file paths, and slowing down your workflow, they quickly become a headache. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody tackle the practical (and sometimes painful) subject of managing and storing sample libraries.

    This isn’t a “here are our favorite sample packs” kind of chat. Instead, the duo breaks down best practices for keeping your libraries tidy, clean, and future-proofed. You’ll hear about external vs internal drives, SSD vs HDD for different use cases, and strategies for spreading libraries across multiple disks without breaking your DAW’s ability to find them.

    Chris and Jody also share tips on folder structures, naming conventions, and why simply dumping everything into “Samples” is a recipe for chaos. They’ll cover backup strategies, how to prepare for inevitable drive failures, and ways to migrate your collection if you upgrade your computer system.

    And because this is Inside the Recording Studio, you’ll also get humor, war stories, and some playful jabs at the sheer absurdity of libraries so big they could rival NASA’s data servers. It’s practical, relatable, and entertaining—perfect for anyone whose home studio gear is groaning under the weight of too many gigabytes.

    By the end, you’ll have actionable recording setup tips to make your sample libraries faster to access, safer from disaster, and easier to navigate—so you can spend less time scrolling through endless folders and more time making music.

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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

  • Unleashing the Power of the AMEK Console: A Deep Dive into the Unique Audio Experience



    The AMEK consoles have long been revered for their pristine sound, engineering brilliance, and unmistakable vibe. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody dig deep into the history, technology, and emulation of this iconic piece of studio gear—specifically the Plugin Alliance AMEK 9099.

    They’ll start with the console’s origin story: designed by legendary engineer Rupert Neve, the AMEK line hit studios with precision EQs, wide dynamic range, and a sound that became synonymous with clean, high-fidelity mixing in the late ’80s and ’90s. Then, they’ll turn to today: how faithfully does Plugin Alliance’s AMEK 9099 capture that heritage? Is it a perfect mirror of the original desk, or did the developers take liberties to modernize and extend its capabilities?

    Chris and Jody compare hardware versus software—sharing their thoughts on what Plugin Alliance nailed, what feels different, and where the emulation shines (or stumbles). They’ll explore workflow, tone shaping, quirks that made the AMEK legendary, and even the little annoyances that come with translating a massive analog console into a plugin window.

    As always, it’s not just gear worship—it’s real-world perspective. They discuss how the AMEK 9099 fits into home studio gear setups, how to apply its features in practical mixing scenarios, and when it might outshine your go-to channel strips. Along the way, you’ll pick up recording setup tips, insider commentary, and a few laughs at the quirks of both the original console and its modern software counterpart.

    Whether you’re a die-hard analog purist, a plugin enthusiast, or someone curious about what makes AMEK so special, this episode is your backstage pass into one of recording history’s most respected consoles—and its digital reincarnation.

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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

  • Plugin Folder Management: The Simple Guide to Keeping Your DAW Organized



    Plugins. They’re the modern producer’s candy store—and also the source of endless clutter if left unchecked. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody crack open their plugin folders and share the realities of keeping things under control.

    From the moment you install your first compressor or virtual synth, your plugin library begins to grow. Fast forward a few months (or years) and suddenly your DAW is loading hundreds of plugins across multiple folders, formats, and drive locations. Sound familiar? Chris and Jody break down the best practices for plugin organization: when to prune the excess, how to prevent bloat, and how to structure folders so you can actually find what you need mid-session.

    They’ll discuss the quirks of different DAWs—Logic, Pro Tools, Cubase, Ableton, Studio One—and which organization strategies work best in each. You’ll hear about the pitfalls of plugins installed across multiple locations, why some manufacturers still insist on their own folders, and whether there’s a “right” way to keep everything streamlined.

    But this isn’t just a housekeeping lecture. Expect practical recording setup tips you can apply today—whether you’re creating custom plugin categories, uninstalling the 12 reverbs you never use, or discovering hidden features in studio gear that make workflow smoother. And of course, in classic Chris and Jody style, there’s humor and banter—because who hasn’t accidentally left that “freebie” distortion plugin installed since 2009?

    If your plugin folder feels more like a junk drawer than a toolbox, this episode will help you reclaim control and focus on making music—not hunting for that one EQ you swear you downloaded last year.

    ******************************

    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.

    ******************************

    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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