• Encore Episode: CJ Vanston on Creativity, Gear, and Great Recordings



    Chris and Jody are hitting rewind and bringing back a special encore presentation of one of the most beloved conversations in Inside the Recording Studio history: their in-depth interview with CJ Vanston.

    And honestly? This one was worth rerunning anyway.

    CJ Vanston isn’t just a producer or keyboard wizard, he’s a musical storyteller who’s been behind the curtain of some truly iconic recordings. In this episode, Chris and Jody revisit their captivating conversation with CJ, unpacking how great records actually get made, why vibe matters more than gear lists, and what decades in the industry teach you that no plug-in manual ever will.

    Behind the Curtain: CJ’s Creative Process

    This encore gives you another chance to soak in CJ’s refreshingly grounded approach to music production. He talks openly about creative decision-making, how he chooses sounds that serve the song (not the ego), and why less technical obsession often leads to more emotional impact. If you’re deep into home studio gear, chasing better recording setup tips, or endlessly tweaking instead of finishing songs, this conversation might gently (or not-so-gently) reset your priorities.

    CJ also dives into how he listens: stripping sessions down to the essentials, focusing on feel before fidelity, and trusting instincts over specs. It’s a powerful reminder that great records aren’t built by hiding behind menus or obsessing over hidden features in studio gear, but by committing to musical choices that communicate something real.

    Musical Wisdom That Still Hits

    Whether you’re an aspiring producer, a seasoned engineer, or a musician building tracks at home, CJ’s insights hold up beautifully. He shares hard-earned lessons about collaboration, keeping sessions human, and why the best studios, regardless of budget, feel safe, playful, and honest.

    Along the way, Chris and Jody keep things firmly grounded in Inside the Recording Studio fashion: smart questions, practical takeaways, and just enough nonsense to remind you that making music should still be fun. Expect laughs, side comments, and the kind of conversational detours that make it feel like you’re hanging out in the control room rather than sitting through a lecture.

    Why This Encore Matters

    If you missed this episode the first time, welcome, you’re in for a treat. If you heard it before, you’ll likely catch new details this time around, especially if your studio skills (or frustrations) have evolved. From practical mindset shifts to subtle production philosophies, this rerun proves that the best advice doesn’t expire.

    So grab your headphones, fire up your DAW (or maybe… close it for an hour), and join Chris and Jody as they revisit a timeless conversation about music, production, and the art behind the hits.

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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

  • Mixing Faster or Just Fancier? The Truth About Control Surfaces



    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.

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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

  • Guitar String Materials & Gauges: What Musicians Need to Know for Better Recordings



    Ah yes… the moment every guitarist avoids until a string finally snaps mid-bend: string changing season. Chris & Jody decide enough is enough, time to start the next year with guitar string tone that isn’t corroded, crusty, or older than your last tax return.

    They tear into the eternal war between heavy gauges (“thicc tone, thicc fingers required”) and lighter sets (“bend like butter, intonate like a drunk ferret”). They talk nickel, steel, coated strings, and that mystery set you bought on sale and instantly regretted. Want to understand how string height and intonation sabotage your recordings? This episode spills the tea.

    Plus: simple recording setup tips, sneaky hidden features in studio gear, and why cleaning your strings matters almost as much as cleaning your bathroom. Almost.

    And as always, Friday Finds brings gifts, some useful, some weird, all inspiring.

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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

  • Reverb Explained: The Hidden Architecture Behind Every Great Mix



    Reverb isn’t just an effect, it’s the invisible architecture of every mix. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody step through the misty doorway where reflections, decay, and space become instruments of their own.

    Whether you’re mixing in a compact bedroom rig or a sprawling commercial facility, reverb shapes how listeners feelyour music long before they consciously hear it. And today, the guys take you far beyond the “insert plugin → turn knob” approach. They explore reverb as texture, story, emotion, and as one of the most important creative tools available to any producer.

    They kick things off with the math behind ambience: how pre-delay carves space between consonants, how decay time sketches the size of a hall, and how simple millisecond calculations create depth that even expensive hardware can’t fake. They break down why springs twang, why plates shimmer, and how digital tails can stretch into gorgeous infinity, even in a modest home studio gear setup.

    But theory is only half the fun. Chris & Jody dive into the moments where reverb transformed a track:
    – A snare hit turned into a swelling pad
    – A vocal wrapped in an ethereal halo
    – A guitar that dissolved into cascading shimmer
    – A room reverb that glued an entire mix together
    They even reveal the handful of go-to reverbs that never fail them, plus the oddballs that inspire unexpected ideas. If you’re looking for recording setup tips, subtle mix moves, or even “try this and break the rules” techniques, this episode hits all the marks.

    Of course, it wouldn’t be an Inside the Recording Studio episode without humor, side quests, and a few baffling tangents. Between reflections and decay tails, Chris & Jody squeeze in this week’s Friday Finds, uncovering everything from quirky stompboxes to software that solves those “why is my audio interface doing that?” mysteries. Yes, there’s even a shoutout to audio interface troubleshooting and the eternal struggle to keep your gear clean (and knowing when not to use Windex on your rack units).

    By the end, you won’t just understand reverb better, you’ll hear your mixes differently. You’ll recognize how space guides emotion, how ambience inspires performance, and how reverb becomes the connective tissue that defines a song’s world.

    Reverb isn’t noise bouncing around a room. It’s the air between moments, the breath of the mix. And in this episode, Chris & Jody show you how to shape that air with confidence, intention, and just enough mischief to keep the creative spark alive.

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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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