• 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

  • How to Build a Recording Rig from Scratch



    Build Your Rig Without Losing Your Mind (or Wallet)

    Ever dream of building a home or mobile recording setup but don’t know where to start—or worse, where to stop? In this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody dive into the essential steps (and hilarious missteps) that go into crafting a recording rig that actually works. Whether you’re tracking at home, on the road, or from your van parked in front of a taco truck, this episode’s got you covered.

    From choosing the right audio interface to cabling conundrums and power supply pitfalls, they break down the gear and know-how you need to get up and running—fast and frustration-free. You’ll learn the do’s, don’ts, and recording setup tips that will save you time, money, and maybe even a little sanity.

    And yes, there’s some classic Chris & Jody nonsense thrown in, alongside this week’s Friday Finds to keep your ears (and studio) fresh.

    Plug in, press play, and learn how to record smart—not just hard.

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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 EQ that Changed the World – API 550a



    EQ Legend Unplugged: The API 550A Breakdown

    In this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody twist the knobs and roll back the decades for a deep dive into one of the most iconic EQs in pro audio: the API 550A. Whether you’ve seen it on a vintage console or recreated in your favorite plugin, the 550A is a classic that helped define the sound of records for decades—and it’s still going strong today.

    You’ll get a guided tour through the history of the 550A, from its invention at Automated Processes Inc. to who bought the first units. But we’re not stopping there. Chris & Jody unpack the inner workings of the 550A, demystify its EQ bands and frequency points, explain why its proportional Q design matters, and share real-world insights on when and how they use it in the studio.

    Expect a mix of tech savvy, real talk, and some light gearhead banter (plus Friday Finds, of course). If you’re serious about understanding your tools—or just love a good piece of hardware history—this episode is for 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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