• How to Get Live Sound Gigs and Survive the Road with Special Guest Raymond Gronvall



    Studio Walls or Stage Monitors? A Veteran’s Take on Sound That Travels

    This week on Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody are joined by live sound maestro Raymond Gronvall—a seasoned vet whose resume stretches from high-decibel tours to finely tuned studio sessions.

    Together, they pull back the curtain on the real-world differences between live sound engineering and studio production. From the adrenaline-fueled chaos of mixing FOH (front-of-house) to the meticulous precision of crafting mixes in controlled studio environments, Raymond breaks down what separates the two—and where they overlap in unexpected ways.

    Plus, hear firsthand how Ray lands high-profile gigs, adapts on the fly, and still finds ways to keep it fun on the road. Whether you’re just building your home studio gear, navigating recording setup tips, or secretly eyeing that live FOH board at your next gig, this episode has something to level up your audio know-how.

    Oh, and as always… expect a touch of nonsense. It’s how we roll.

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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

  • Top 5 Must Have Plugins For Writing, Tracking & Balance



    Stranded on a Desert Island… With a DAW? These Are the Plugins We’d Bring

    What if you could only choose five plugins for the rest of your music-making life? In this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody unpack their top 5 desert island plugins—the essential tools they swear by for writing, recording, and mixing, even if marooned in a remote, coconut-shelled control room.

    From amp sims to synths, channel strips to creative FX, they reveal which plugins make the cut and why. Expect heated debates, a few self-imposed rule bends, and some good ol’ fashioned plugin lust. Whether you’re building your own minimalist toolkit or just love a good showdown of gear opinions, this episode offers tons of recording setup tips and hard-earned wisdom.

    You’ll also catch the latest Friday Finds, and—as always—a healthy dose of lighthearted banter and probably some nonsense. Because if you’re stuck on a desert island with just a laptop and headphones, you might as well laugh while you’re EQing.

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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

  • You Received Tracks To Mix, Now What?



    From First Email to Final Mix: Chris & Jody’s Client Mixing Workflow

    So, you got hired to mix someone else’s music—now what?

    In this episode, Chris & Jody crack open their personal workflows and walk you through exactly what they do when taking on a client mix. From the very first conversation (what questions you should ask, and the red flags you shouldn’tignore) to preparing the final mix, this is the ultimate behind-the-console guide for anyone stepping into client mixing.

    Whether you’re freelancing your first EP or tightening your process for better efficiency, you’ll gain pro-level mixing setup tips, gear prep advice, communication strategy, and insight on how to keep both artists and your CPU happy along the way.

    Expect a blend of hands-on tactics, personal anecdotes, a few cautionary tales, and the usual dose of Chris & Jody-style banter. And yes—Friday Finds is back with gear picks and plugins worth checking out.

    This one’s for engineers, producers, and home studio heroes ready to level up their client game. Hit play and learn what it really takes to mix like a pro—start to finish.

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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

  • Mastering ≠ Mixing. Know The Line.



    Mastering vs. 2-Bus Processing: What’s the Real Difference?

    In this week’s episode, Chris & Jody dive deep into a frequently misunderstood corner of music production: the difference between mastering and 2-bus processing. Both may share the same highway, but they’re driving very different cars—and heading to distinct destinations.

    Ever wondered why you’d slap a compressor on your 2-bus during mixing, but hold off on multiband limiting until mastering? This episode breaks it all down: the philosophical and practical distinctions, what goes where and why, and how to avoid common pitfalls that trip up even experienced engineers.

    Expect a quick detour through the history of mastering, tips on signal chain decisions, and a dash of good-natured nonsense—because hey, it’s Chris & Jody.

    Stick around for their latest Friday Finds (one’s a game-changer, the other might raise an eyebrow), and see if you catch this week’s Gold Star word.

    Whether you’re polishing your mix or prepping for the master, this episode clears the fog between the two—and helps your tracks shine on both sides of the fence.

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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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