• The Right Time to Update Your Studio Computer: A Musician’s Survival Guide



    There’s a moment every recording musician dreads: that blinking notification screaming “System Update Available.” Should you click it or keep your studio machine frozen in time? In this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody dig deep into the art and science of staying current—without crashing your creative flow.

    From plugin compatibility nightmares to the hidden risks of updating mid-project, they unpack what every producer, engineer, and musician should know before overhauling their studio system. You’ll hear firsthand from one host who just survived a full OS upgrade—complete with tales of backup strategies, driver drama, and the surprising benefits of starting fresh.

    Whether you’re rocking a Mac or PC, this episode arms you with recording setup tips and audio interface troubleshooting wisdom to keep your rig running like a pro. Chris & Jody also dive into the “clean install vs. incremental update” debate, explore when it’s actually time to wipe your drive, and share how to safeguard your home studio gear from digital disaster.

    Expect real-world experience, plenty of laughs, and another round of Friday Finds that just might inspire your next sonic upgrade.

    So before you hit that update button, hit play. Your DAW 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

  • Studio Monitors vs Headphones: Which Tells the Truth About Your Mix?



    Mix engineers have battled this question for decades: studio monitors vs headphones — who reigns supreme? In this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody slice into the science, psychology, and practicality of monitoring. Whether you’re mixing in a treated control room or a spare-bedroom studio, knowing when to trust your ears (and which ones) can make or break your mix.

    They start by unpacking what accuracy really means—from frequency response and stereo imaging to phase alignment. You’ll hear how different listening environments influence decisions, why headphone mixes can sound “bigger than life” yet betray you on speakers, and how monitors reveal the true midrange where most mixes live or die.

    Then, it’s time for some real-world recording setup tips. Expect talk about calibration, room treatment, and even some lesser-known hidden features in studio gear that can help you get a more neutral picture of your sound. The duo also touch on audio interface troubleshooting and the underrated role of gain staging in perceived mix balance.

    By the end, you’ll have a toolkit for knowing when to reach for headphones, when to trust your monitors, and how to balance both for consistent translation across playback systems. Naturally, there’s some humor, a little gear lust, and the ever-popular Friday Finds to top it off.

    Because in the end, it’s not about which tool you use—it’s about how well you listen.

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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

  • The Truth About Signature Sound in Mixing



    When you hit play on a track, should it sound like you — unmistakably branded with your sonic fingerprint — or should it morph seamlessly into whatever the song demands? In this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody dive headfirst into one of the most polarizing debates in audio engineering: the “signature sound” dilemma.

    For decades, producers and mix engineers have wrestled with the question: Is having a recognizable vibe a mark of mastery, or does it risk pigeonholing you into a single trick? Chris & Jody weigh the benefits of carving out a signature style that helps you stand out in an overcrowded market against the flexibility of becoming a sonic chameleon who adapts to every artist’s vision.

    Expect straight talk about industry myths, the hidden costs of always “sounding like yourself,” and why some of your favorite records do carry an engineer’s fingerprint even if you don’t realize it. This is a conversation that touches everything from home studio gear choices to recording setup tips that can push your mixes one way or another. They even uncover a few hidden features in studio gear that might be shaping your sound without you knowing it.

    Of course, it wouldn’t be an Inside the Recording Studio episode without a dash of humor. Whether they’re poking fun at one-trick ponies, laughing about the “magic plugin” myth, or getting sidetracked by unexpected audio interface troubleshooting stories, Chris & Jody keep it real, relatable, and relevant.

    And don’t miss Friday Finds, where the guys shine a spotlight on fresh tools, surprising workflows, and even a laugh or two about the gear rabbit holes we all fall into.

    If you’ve ever wondered whether your mixes should scream “this is me” or disappear into the artistry of the track, this episode is your permission slip to challenge your assumptions. Tune in, laugh a little, and leave with practical insight to level up your engineering game.

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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

  • The Truth About Gear Addiction: Do You Really Need All Those Plugins?



    Confession time: how many compressor plugins do you actually need? One? Two? Six? Let’s be real—you probably have a “go-to” compressor and five others you bought during a flash sale because someone on YouTube said it was life-changing. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Chris and Jody are right there with you in this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, tackling the hilarious, slightly painful truth about gear addiction in music production.

    Let’s paint the picture. You open your DAW, scroll through your plugin folder, and realize you’ve somehow collected enough EQs to start your own virtual museum. You tell yourself each one “has a different color” (translation: it’s slightly shinier than the last). Meanwhile, your mixes still hinge on the same three plugins you’ve used for years. And guitars? Don’t even start. That “backup” guitar? It has three backups of its own.

    This episode is all about calling out the obsession we all share—the need to collect, collect, and collect some more. Chris and Jody ask the uncomfortable but necessary questions:

    • Does more gear actually make you a better mixer or songwriter?
    • Why do we keep buying shiny new toys while ignoring the hidden features in studio gear we already own?
    • And when is “just in case” actually code for “I’ll never use this, but it looks cool in my rack”?

    They’ll swap stories about plugin overload, forgotten purchases, and the sobering reality of discovering licenses for tools they don’t even remember buying. (Yes, it happens.) They’ll also share practical ideas on how to prune your collection, focus on what actually improves your workflow, and get back to what matters most—making music, not scrolling menus.

    But don’t expect a lecture. This is Inside the Recording Studio, after all. You’ll get plenty of laughs, playful digs at gear addiction, and the kind of nonsense that makes self-reflection just a little less painful. After all, admitting you might be a gear hoarder is easier when Chris and Jody are joking right along with you.

    At the end of the day, this episode isn’t about shaming you for that seventh guitar pedal or your fifth reverb plugin. It’s about reminding ourselves that great music comes from skill, creativity, and intent—not the size of your plugin folder. Or as Chris and Jody put it: too much gear sometimes means too little music.

    So before you buy that next “essential” bundle, hit play on this brutally honest (and very funny) conversation. Your wallet—and maybe your mixes—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

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