Inside The Recording Studio - Unlock remarkable tips and tricks for improved recordings in your studio. Unusually great for beginners and professionals.

March 4, 2022

Podcast, Workflow

How To Create Punchier Mixes EASILY: 5 Ways To Make Your Mixes Punchier

What separates a flat, uninspired mix from one that jumps out of the speakers? Punch. In this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody break down five key approaches to achieving punchier mixes, giving you practical tools and fresh perspective to level up your productions.

They begin with the arrangement itself. Punch doesn’t just come from plugins—it starts with the instruments you choose and how they interact. Chris & Jody explain why smart arranging can do more for your mix than endless tweaking later on.

From there, they move into dynamics. Proper control of volume peaks and valleys keeps everything in the right ballpark, balancing energy without losing impact. You’ll get recording setup tips for using compression and automation to enhance clarity rather than squash it.

Next comes EQ, specifically the low end. Too much mud and your mix collapses, too little and it loses power. Chris & Jody share strategies for carving out frequencies so the bass and kick complement each other instead of fighting for space.

Of course, no conversation about punch would be complete without saturation—but not the gasoline kind. Learn how harmonic distortion can add excitement and perceived loudness, giving your mix grit and character without wrecking dynamics.

Finally, they cover phase checks—an often-overlooked detail that can make or break your low end and stereo image. You’ll discover how simple phase alignment can instantly make your mix feel more powerful and cohesive.

As always, expect humor, nonsense, and their signature banter, plus a fresh Friday Find to round out the session.

Whether you’re working with home studio gear or running a professional setup, these insights will help you build mixes that hit harder, sound clearer, and truly connect with listeners.

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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
February 25, 2022

Microphones, Workflow

MIC STRATEGIES: How to Get Amazing Audio with Abnormal Mic-ing

Sound doesn’t ask for rules. It bends, it escapes, it hides in corners where no mic was meant to go.

In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody step beyond the ordinary, exploring unusual mic’ing techniques that turn the act of recording into exploration. A guitar amp caught not just at its speaker, but at the breath of its resonance. A vocal captured through a mic not designed for voices, yet carrying emotion in unexpected ways. A drum kit reduced to three mics, sculpting rhythm with space rather than excess.

They tell stories of experiments—some glorious, some failures, all lessons. They hint at hidden features in studio gear, the overlooked angles, the magic in limitation.

Between the reflections come laughter, nonsense, and their Friday Finds—gifts tucked between the eccentricities of sound.

This is not just technique. It is curiosity, creativity, and the courage to place a microphone where convention says not to.

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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
February 18, 2022

Podcast, Workflow

How To Get Your Recording Environment Treated – What To Do When You Want Better Recordings

The best microphones, preamps, and plugins won’t save a mix if your room is working against you. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody break down the essentials of recording room treatment—helping you transform your studio space into an environment where your mixes actually translate.They start with the foundation: monitor speakers. Where you place them in the room matters as much as which brand you choose. Chris & Jody walk through optimal placement strategies and explain how speaker position interacts with your walls, ceiling, and even the furniture in your studio.Next comes the mirror test—a simple, practical method to identify reflection points in your space. The guys explain how to use it, why it works, and what it tells you about where treatment should go.But what about foam panels? Are they the budget-friendly fix we’re all tempted to buy, or are they overrated? Chris & Jody compare foam, fiberglass, and other materials, breaking down what works, what doesn’t, and where each should go in your room. From wall treatments to ceiling clouds, they share recording setup tips that will help you achieve better clarity, tighter low end, and more accurate monitoring.And because they’re Chris & Jody, it’s not just a lecture—it’s sprinkled with humor, personal anecdotes, and the usual nonsense. To wrap it up, they deliver a supersized Friday Find, spotlighting something that could make a big difference in your workflow.If you’re building a space around home studio gear, upgrading a professional setup, or simply curious about why your mixes don’t sound the same outside your studio, this episode is packed with actionable advice. Proper acoustic treatment isn’t about spending a fortune—it’s about knowing what to do and why it matters.

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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