Recording music sounds romantic until you remember that someone has to actually make it work.

The band has to show up prepared enough to capture something real. The engineer has to understand the room, the microphones, the gear, the people, the time, the money, the tension, and the tiny psychological disaster that can happen when someone has to do the same take 47 times.

In this episode of Maxwell’s Kitchen, I talk with Adam Lee, an audio engineer at Jackpot! Recording Studio in Portland, Oregon, about recording bands, making records, studio life, and what actually happens on the other side of the glass.

Adam has worked with artists including Portugal. The Man, Sleater-Kinney, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Black Thought, Dame D.O.L.L.A, Built to Spill, Quasi, The Decemberists, Red Fang, and Jerry Joseph.

We talk about Adam starting on a four-track reel-to-reel, moving from Phoenix to Portland, getting into Jackpot!, learning Pro Tools, working on tape, recording bands, studio psychology, first takes, live performances, imperfect records, Radiohead, Kid A, the 27 Club, burnout, budgets, and why making records still feels like black magic.

In this episode:
• Recording bands in the studio
• Audio engineering and music production
• Jackpot! Recording Studio in Portland
• Tape machines, Pro Tools, and digital recording
• Moving from Phoenix to Portland
• Working with bands and artists
• Why engineers shape the final record
• Studio psychology and trust
• First takes vs. too many takes
• Live performances vs. perfect recordings
• Radiohead, Kid A, and music memories
• Budgets, burnout, and surviving in music
• Why making records still matters

Guest:
Adam Lee has been making records in Portland for over 10 years. Some of the bands he has worked with include Portugal. The Man, Sleater-Kinney, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Black Thought, Dame D.O.L.L.A, Built to Spill, Quasi, The Decemberists, Red Fang, and Jerry Joseph.

Adam moved from Phoenix to Portland in 2009 after studying audio at MCC, and landed at Jackpot! shortly after. Aside from engineering, he has also scored and mixed films, produced children’s audio books, and captured live performances around the city.

All production by Cody Maxwell.

Artwork by Cody Maxwell.

Opening graphic assets by sonorafilms.

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