• Mixing Faster or Just Fancier? The Truth About Control Surfaces



    Control surfaces look cool. Like, really cool. Rows of glowing faders. Buttons everywhere. That unmistakable “I totally know what I’m doing” vibe. But are they actually useful—or just expensive desk ornaments?

    This week on Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody grab the nearest fader and ask the uncomfortable question: do control surfaces in music production actually make your life easier?

    They rewind to where these things came from (spoiler: some are older than your favorite plug-in) and why engineers wanted hands-on control in the first place. Then they fast-forward to today’s marketplace, where you can buy anything from a single-fader gadget to a spaceship-sized board that looks like it should launch satellites.

    You’ll hear honest takes on what works, what doesn’t, and what’s straight-up marketing fluff. Chris & Jody talk about the moments control surfaces genuinely shine—rides, automation, performance-based mixing—and the moments where grabbing a mouse is faster, cheaper, and far less annoying.

    They don’t dodge the awkward stuff either:

    • Why some control surfaces slow you down
    • Why setup can be more painful than audio interface troubleshooting
    • Why “more knobs” doesn’t always mean better mixes

    There’s real talk about budgets, desk space, ergonomics, and whether a control surface actually fits your workflow. Plus, they’ll name a few favorites they’d recommend without feeling guilty about it later.

    With jokes, tangents, Friday Finds, and a healthy dose of skepticism, this episode is perfect for anyone tempted by slick demo videos—or wondering why their friend’s studio looks like NASA.

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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

  • Guitar String Materials & Gauges: What Musicians Need to Know for Better Recordings



    Ah yes… the moment every guitarist avoids until a string finally snaps mid-bend: string changing season. Chris & Jody decide enough is enough, time to start the next year with guitar string tone that isn’t corroded, crusty, or older than your last tax return.

    They tear into the eternal war between heavy gauges (“thicc tone, thicc fingers required”) and lighter sets (“bend like butter, intonate like a drunk ferret”). They talk nickel, steel, coated strings, and that mystery set you bought on sale and instantly regretted. Want to understand how string height and intonation sabotage your recordings? This episode spills the tea.

    Plus: simple recording setup tips, sneaky hidden features in studio gear, and why cleaning your strings matters almost as much as cleaning your bathroom. Almost.

    And as always, Friday Finds brings gifts, some useful, some weird, all inspiring.

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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

  • Vintage Gear, Modern Sound: How to Use Lexicon 224 Emulations in Today’s Productions



    Some gear becomes famous. The Lexicon 224 became mythology. In this episode, Chris and Jody cannonball straight into the digital reverb that drenched the ’80s in shimmering glory and, honestly, made half of your favorite songs sound way cooler than they had any right to.

    They kick things off with the “how the heck did this thing happen?” history lesson because the 224 didn’t just show up; it crashed the party and told every plate, spring, and echo chamber to scoot aside. Suddenly studios had huge, glossy halls and silky plates without needing, you know… actual halls or plates.

    Then the boys take you on a tour of the 224’s delightfully bizarre controls. Some make perfect sense. Others feel like they were designed by a caffeinated time traveler. But Chris and Jody break it all down, how each control shapes your sound, how not to accidentally “blast your vocals into space,” and which settings make drums sound like Thor is doing sound design.

    They share the tricks they keep coming back to classic vocal treatments, impossible-sounding ambiences, drum magic and yes, the inevitable nonsense that sneaks into every episode. Plus, the weekly Friday Finds, because what’s an episode without a new toy to crave?

    If you’ve ever wondered why producers still chase this reverb like it’s vintage Pokémon, this episode will answer it… and probably make you want a 224 of your own (hardware or plugin, we won’t tell).

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

    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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