podcast for music producers - Inside The Recording Studio

Recording Advice: Why No Rules Is Bad Advice

Why “There Are No Rules in Recording” Might Be Hurting You

This week, Chris & Jody tackle one of the most overused phrases in music production: “There are no rules—just use your ears!” Sound familiar? While the sentiment may seem freeing, it can be confusing—or downright harmful—for beginners trying to improve their recording skills.

In classic Inside the Recording Studio style, Chris & Jody dissect why this advice misses the mark, especially for those who actually want to learn the craft, not just “wing it.” They’ll share real-world examples of when rules do matter—like gain staging, monitoring, and audio interface troubleshooting—and how understanding foundational principles can actually make your creativity more powerful.

Expect thoughtful insights, a few contrarian hot takes, and as always… a side order of well-seasoned nonsense.

Whether you’re a newcomer lost in forums or a DIY producer trying to level up, this episode will help you understand when to trust your ears—and when to know better.

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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

Chris Hellstrom’s Biggest Recording Lesson Learned

Split the Process, Save the Song: Chris’s #1 DAW Era Lesson

This week on Inside the Recording Studio, the roles reverse as Jody throws the big question at Chris: What’s the most important lesson he’s learned in today’s DAW-driven world?

Chris opens up about a deceptively simple but game-changing concept — never mixing and writing at the same time. You’ll hear how this practice can unlock your creativity, reduce burnout, and help your tracks actually get finished (instead of stuck in endless tweak mode). Who passed this wisdom down to him? What does this workflow look like in action? And how can you implement it without losing your groove?

Along the way, Chris and Jody share relatable studio anecdotes, workflow wins, and inevitable detours into delightful nonsense. If you’ve ever found yourself EQ’ing a snare drum when you should be writing a chorus, this episode is your wake-up call.

From recording setup tips to mental discipline behind the desk, this one is packed with practical advice for musicians, producers, and audio nerds alike.