control surfaces in music production - Inside the Recording Studio

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.

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

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

Control surfaces: lifesaving workflow boosters or just overpriced desk ornaments? Chris & Jody take a no-nonsense, slightly cheeky look at the world of control surfaces in music production in this week’s Inside the Recording Studio.

They’ll give you the lowdown on where these things came from (spoiler: some of them are older than your favorite plug-in), the types available, and the times they’ve actually found them useful. You’ll hear about single-fader toys that feel like glorified volume knobs all the way to massive boards that look like you’re piloting a spaceship.

But are they worth the cash? Chris & Jody argue both sides—pointing out the real workflow benefits, but also calling out when a mouse and keyboard might do the job just as well. And yes, they’ll name names on a few favorites they’d actually recommend.

Add in the usual dose of nonsense, laughs, and this week’s Friday Finds, and you’ve got an episode that makes even knobs and faders sound exciting. If you’ve ever been tempted by slick marketing videos for control surfaces—or wondered why your buddy’s studio looks like mission control—this one’s for you.

Mixing Faster or Just Fancier? The Truth About Control Surfaces

Control Surfaces: What They Are And Why You Need To Be Aware Of Them