• Studio Gear Choices: When Too Much Slows You Down



    You absolutely need another compressor plugin. The other six are probably lonely.

    At least, that is the kind of logic Chris & Jody put under the microscope in this episode of Inside the Recording Studio. Because somewhere along the way, building a studio can quietly turn into collecting home studio gear like you are preparing for a recording emergency that may never happen.

    One guitar needs a backup.

    Naturally, the backup needs a backup.

    And apparently that guitar needs another backup because… reasons.

    Plugins are even easier. There is always another compressor, EQ, effect, or shiny new tool waiting to convince you that this one will finally make everything sound better. Meanwhile, buried somewhere in your existing collection are hidden features in studio gear you have never touched.

    Possibly because you forgot you owned the gear in the first place.

    Chris & Jody dig into that wonderfully ridiculous cycle of collecting more stuff while barely scratching the surface of what is already available. It is part gear obsession, part studio reality check, and part admission that musicians and engineers can be very good at finding reasons to acquire another toy.

    But there is a serious question underneath the jokes.

    Does having more gear actually make your mixes better?

    Sometimes it might. Having the right tool matters. But having twenty versions of the same basic tool does not automatically give you twenty times the ability. At some point, another choice is simply another choice.

    And choices add up.

    Instead of working on the music, you can end up searching through plugins. Instead of learning one tool deeply, you bounce between ten. Instead of discovering what your current recording setup can do, you start wondering what you should add to it.

    That is where Chris & Jody flip the question around.

    What if the next great addition to your studio is something you already own?

    Open that plugin you ignored. Look through the features on the gear sitting beside you. Find the tool you bought because it looked amazing and then somehow never learned. There may be more hiding inside your current setup than you remember.

    And yes, your wallet will probably appreciate the experiment.

    This is not an anti-gear episode. Gear is fun. Plugins are fun. Guitars are fun. The absurdity starts when collecting all of it gets in the way of the reason you wanted a studio in the first place.

    Making music.

    So before you buy compressor number seven, spend some time with compressors one through six. One of them might already do exactly what you need.

    Subscribe to Inside the Recording Studio for more recording setup tips, studio truths, gear talk, and occasional nonsense from Chris & Jody.

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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

  • Recording Setup Tips for Better Side Chaining



    Everyone talks about side chaining like it’s some secret club. Good news. There isn’t a password.

    This week Chris and Jody tackle one of the most talked about mixing techniques in music production and prove it isn’t nearly as scary as the internet sometimes makes it sound. Side chaining can make a muddy mix breathe, help your kick and bass stop fighting, and even add movement that makes a track feel more alive. Once you understand it, you’ll probably wonder why you waited so long.

    The fun begins with a simple explanation of what side chaining actually does. No confusing textbook definitions. No impossible engineering vocabulary. Just a straightforward conversation about how one signal can control another and why that matters when you’re trying to build a better mix.

    Then the practical part begins. Chris and Jody explain how to set up side chaining in a DAW so you can start experimenting immediately. They don’t stop there either. If you’re working with an MPC Live, they also cover how the same concepts translate into hardware so you’re not limited to one production environment.

    Along the way they share creative ways to use side chaining beyond the obvious kick and bass trick. Want a cleaner vocal mix? Looking for synth parts that pulse with the groove? Trying to make crowded arrangements feel less crowded? You’ll come away with several ideas that you can try on your own projects without needing a complicated setup.

    Naturally, no episode would be complete without Chris and Jody bouncing jokes back and forth while explaining the serious stuff. Their signature banter keeps the conversation light even while covering important recording setup tips. They also point out several common mistakes that producers make when learning side chaining so you can skip the frustration and get better results faster.

    And because no Inside the Recording Studio episode is complete without a little randomness, they also deliver the promised nonsense at absolutely no extra charge. It wouldn’t feel right otherwise.

    The episode closes with another round of Friday Finds, giving you another chance to discover something interesting that might become part of your own recording workflow.

    Whether you’re brand new to compression, trying to understand why side chaining is everywhere, or simply looking for fresh music production ideas, this conversation gives you practical techniques instead of complicated theory. Everything is presented in a way that’s easy to understand and immediately useful.

    Hit subscribe to Inside the Recording Studio and come back next week for more practical recording knowledge, useful studio tips, and whatever unexpected nonsense Chris and Jody decide to include.

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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

  • Recording Skills: Why Rules Help Beginners Mix Better



    The phrase “There are no rules, just use your ears” sounds freeing for recording skills, until it leaves you with no map, no clues, and a mix that quietly hates you.

    This week on Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody take aim at one of the most repeated lines in music productionadvice: “There are no rules.” It gets tossed around in forums, videos, and studio chats like it solves everything. But for beginners trying to build real recording skills, that phrase can do more harm than good.

    Because yes, your ears matter. Of course they do. But your ears work better when your brain knows what it is listening for.

    Chris & Jody break down why rules are not the enemy of creativity. In fact, basic recording rules can be the thing that helps creativity move faster. When you understand ideas like gain staging, monitoring, and audio interface troubleshooting, you are not boxing yourself in. You are giving yourself a better shot at making choices that actually work.

    This episode is for the newcomer who has been told to “just trust your ears” but still has no idea why their track is clipping, why their playback sounds weird, or why their recording setup feels like it was assembled by a sleep-deprived raccoon. It is also for the DIY producer who has enough experience to know that guessing is not a workflow.

    In classic Chris & Jody fashion, expect a few contrarian hot takes, practical studio talk, and a side order of well-seasoned nonsense. The goal is not to turn recording into a boring rule book. The goal is to show when rules matter, why they matter, and how learning the basics can make your creative choices stronger.

    You will hear real-world examples of where foundational principles can save a session, especially when dealing with gain levels, monitoring decisions, and interface issues. You will also get a clearer way to think about that famous phrase: when to trust your ears, and when to know better.

    If you have ever felt lost in forums, stuck in your home studio, or tired of advice that sounds cool but does not help, this episode is for you.

    Listen now, sharpen your recording skills

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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

  • Music Production Tips for Better Loop Arrangements



    Think loops are cheating? Chris & Jody are ready to challenge that idea head-on.

    This week on Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody dive into one of the most debated topics in modern music production: loops. From drum grooves and vocal chops to synth hooks and textured sound beds, loops have become a major part of how music gets made today. Yet despite how common they are, plenty of producers, musicians, and engineers still question whether using them is the creative shortcut some people claim it is.

    Chris & Jody break down the conversation from every angle. What exactly is a loop? Why have loops become such a powerful production tool? And perhaps most importantly, where does the line exist between creativity and convenience? The discussion explores how loops can help spark ideas, speed up workflow, and bring fresh inspiration into projects without replacing the creative decisions that make a production unique.

    Along the way, the guys tackle the classic question: “Are loops cheating?” As you might expect, the answer is not black and white. Their discussion offers practical perspective for musicians at every level, whether you’re building tracks from scratch, layering existing elements, or searching for new ways to keep your productions moving forward.

    The episode also explores real-world music production tips for working with loops effectively. Chris & Jody share creative strategies that help loops feel like part of a song rather than a copy-and-paste shortcut. They discuss ways producers can reshape, edit, and integrate loops into original arrangements while maintaining a personal creative identity.

    Of course, creativity isn’t the only concern. Legal and ethical questions come into play whenever loops, samples, and pre-recorded material are involved. Chris & Jody walk through important copyright pitfalls that creators should understand before dropping loops into a commercial release. Their straightforward explanations help demystify an area that often feels confusing for artists and producers.

    Whether you’re creating beats in a bedroom studio, recording bands with home studio gear, or simply looking for recording setup tips that improve your workflow, this episode offers practical insights you can put to work immediately. Beginners will gain confidence in using loops creatively, while experienced engineers may discover new perspectives on tools they’ve used for years.

    You’ll also catch this week’s Friday Finds, hunt for the elusive Gold Star Word, and enjoy a healthy dose of loop-induced nonsense that only Chris & Jody can deliver.

    Tune in, rethink what you know about loops, and discover how they can become a powerful creative tool in your next production. Subscribe now and join us next week for another deep dive inside the recording studio.

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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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