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

March 11, 2022

Podcast, Vocals, Workflow

How To Enhance Vocals With Out of Time Delays

A perfectly clean vocal can sometimes feel… sterile. That’s where delay comes in. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody take a focused look at vocal mixing with delay, showing you how this timeless effect can add depth, space, and character to your tracks.

They start by explaining why delay isn’t just about echo—it’s about placement. A well-chosen delay can help a vocal sit naturally in the mix, creating contrast, rhythm, or space without burying it under reverb. The guys highlight why using unsynced delays can often produce more musical, human results than rigidly locked-in timings.

From there, they explore different types of delay—slapback for retro vibe, ping-pong for movement, tape delay for warmth, and digital delay for precision. You’ll get recording setup tips on how to combine delays with EQ, filtering, and saturation for mixes that sound pro without clutter.

Chris & Jody also share stories from their own sessions, including clever ways they’ve used delays to solve mix problems or create standout effects. True to their style, the episode balances technical know-how with personality, humor, and a dose of nonsense.

And because no episode would be complete without it, they wrap up with this week’s Friday Find—and it’s a big one.

Whether you’re experimenting with home studio gear or running a professional setup, this conversation will inspire you to rethink delay not as a background effect, but as a creative tool for enhancing vocals.

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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
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