• Project Handoffs Made Easy with Stems and Multitracks



    If you’ve ever been asked to “send the stems” and found yourself wondering whether that really meant stems or multitracks, this episode could save you from an awkward conversation and maybe even your next recording opportunity.

    In this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody tackle one of the most misunderstood topics in modern music production: stems vs multitracks. The two terms get thrown around as though they mean the same thing, but using the wrong one can create confusion, waste valuable studio time, and leave collaborators wondering whether everyone is speaking the same language.

    Chris and Jody break the subject down into plain English, explaining exactly when to send stems, when multitracks are the better choice, and why understanding the difference makes every project run more smoothly. Whether you’re sending files to a producer halfway across the world, preparing a session for remote mixing, or getting everything ready for mastering, knowing what belongs in the export folder can make all the difference.

    The conversation goes beyond terminology. Chris and Jody walk through practical recording setup tips for organizing your files before handing them off to another engineer or collaborator. They explain how proper preparation helps eliminate unnecessary back and forth, keeps projects moving forward, and gives everyone involved the information they need to do their best work.

    Of course, learning the technical side doesn’t mean the episode feels like a classroom lecture. Along the way, Chris and Jody share a few real world stories from their own experiences, highlighting situations where misunderstandings could have been avoided with better communication. Their usual mix of dry humor keeps things entertaining while reinforcing lessons that every musician, producer, and engineer can immediately apply to their own projects.

    The discussion also explores what clients and collaborators are usually asking for when they request “the stems.” Sometimes the request is exactly what it sounds like. Other times, what they actually need are multitracks. Understanding that distinction allows you to respond confidently, deliver the correct files, and present yourself as someone who understands professional studio workflow.

    As always, you’ll also get this week’s Friday Finds before Chris and Jody wrap things up with a few laughs and their trademark studio banter.

    Whether you’re recording songs in your bedroom, collaborating online with musicians around the world, or working inside a commercial studio, this episode offers practical advice you can use immediately. Clear communication, organized project handoffs, and knowing the right terminology can help you avoid costly mistakes while making every collaboration easier.

    Subscribe to Inside the Recording Studio and join Chris and Jody next week for another practical discussion designed to help you build better recording skills, work smarter in the studio, and keep making better music.

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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

  • George Leger III Shares Studio Workflow Advice



    You know an episode is going to be good when the guest, George Leger III, has worked on music you have definitely heard and the hosts openly admit that some nonsense will probably happen too.

    This week on Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody bring in George Leger III, and the result sounds like exactly what you want from a studio podcast that knows how to mix useful advice with a little chaos. George is a mastering and recording engineer whose career has moved through wildly different corners of music, from Frank Zappa to Barry Manilow. That is not a tiny footnote. That is the kind of resume that makes you sit up and say, “Okay, this guy has seen some things.”

    The fun part is that the episode does not stop at the name drop level. Chris and Jody dig into how George got started, what gear he trusts, and what kind of curveballs he has had to handle across decades in the studio. That makes this one especially good for listeners hunting for recording setup tips, audio engineering insights, and smarter ways to think about home studio gear without getting buried under tech talk that sounds like it was written by a robot with too many cables.

    George’s story is one of the strongest parts of the episode because it shows how a real career grows. Not in the fake motivational poster way. In the actual, messy, surprising, genre-jumping way. His path through unexpected styles and unforgettable moments gives the conversation more depth than a standard interview. For a home studio tinkerer or aspiring pro, that matters. It says that skill is not just about knowing the buttons. It is about learning how to react when the session turns sideways and still finding a way to make the work shine.

    Then there is the gear angle, which is where a lot of listeners will lock in. George shares the gear he swears by, and that gives the episode practical weight. It is one thing to hear broad advice. It is another thing to hear it from someone who has spent years behind the console making decisions that actually matter. If you care about studio workflow advice and want to hear what an experienced engineer values, this conversation gives you something solid to chew on.

    A big personality moment here is the way Chris and Jody set the whole thing up. They do not treat George like a museum piece. They bring him into the flow of the show, which includes a triple shot of Friday Finds and an extra voice in the mix. That added energy makes the episode feel alive. It is informative, sure, but it also has that Inside the Recording Studio feel where the listeners get real knowledge without the hosts acting like they are teaching from a stone tablet.

    So yes, there are laughs. Yes, there are legends. Yes, there are useful lessons for anyone building a better home recording environment. And yes, there is a pretty fair chance that some nonsense shows up too. Honestly, that is part of the charm. Subscribe for next week’s gear deep dive.

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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

  • 2 Minute Tuesday Tip: Prepping volume for Mastering


    In this tip we talk about the ideal volume level for your mix before it goes to mastering.

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