Recording Studio Rockstars

My guest today is Matt McQueen a studio owner, recording engineer, music producer, and videographer who built his studio in 2013 in an abandoned church located in the mountains of a rural East Tennessee town. The building has a 30 x 50' live room with 24' high ceilings and large old wooden rafters.

Matt has recently gone full time with his studio having had plenty of experience creating music but also creating content as a videographer for other producers like Warren Huart and Glenn Fricker. This has led him to create his own video channel for his studio to help promote local artists and bands.

We live in a world where social media and YouTube channels can be an important part of our musical output. So I'm psyched to talk with Matt today about making the leap to go full time in music and also see what we can learn about creating content for our own studios and artists that we work with. And of course we will be digging into his process for recording and mixing too.

Thanks to our sponsors!

OWC - Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com

JZ Microphones - https://usashop.jzmic.com/ use coupon: ROCKSTAR at checkout for 50% off JZ vintage series microphones.

RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy

Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com

Hear more on Youtube

If you love the podcast then please Leave a review on iTunes here

CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/212

My guest today is Rolff Zwiep who moved to Nashville as a musician/songwriter, and small business owner founding Technical Knock Out Products, a musicians accessory sales and manufacturing business. Working his way through 'real jobs' in the industry as a cartage tech, freelance stage hand & stage manager, production manager with the Nashville Symphony, and working in and managing a number of music/entertainment based service businesses.

In 2004 Rolff launched Blackbird Studio's audio equipment rental business with John McBride and in 2015 assumed his current role as Blackbird Studio manager working with clients including major labels, publishing companies, indie artists and bands, film/video production companies and studio themed events.

I've known Rolff for nearly 25 years and he has even helped me put together my Hay Bale Studio at Bonnaroo before when we needed to rent lots of awesome gear.

I'm psyched to learn more about managing a professional studio and gain some business wisdom and insights today.

Thanks to our sponsors!

OWC - Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com

JZ Microphones - https://usashop.jzmic.com/ use coupon: ROCKSTAR at checkout for 50% off JZ vintage series microphones.

RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy

Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com

Hear more on Youtube

If you love the podcast then please Leave a review on iTunes here

CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/211

My guest today is Billy Decker originally from Nebraska. He studied criminal justice before following his calling in music to become one of the highest ranking students at Full Sail Center for the Recording Arts in 1992. Then in 1994, Decker moved to Nashville where he's been working ever since.

Billy has mixed 14 #1s to date - most recently, Chris Young's "Losing Sleep". He has mixed for Kenny Chesney, Darius Rucker, Jason Aldean. Jaime Lynne Spears, and Sam Hunt making history in July of 2014 when Sam Hunt became the most added new artist of all time. Billy had the honour to mix George Jones's last album before he died.

Billy also makes signature mixing plugins for Joey Sturgis Tones where you can find all in one tools for Drums, Bass, Guitars, Vocals that model Billy's tried and true methods for mixing quickly to get that hit country sound that he is so well known for.

Thanks to our sponsors!

OWC - Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com

JZ Microphones - https://usashop.jzmic.com/ use coupon: ROCKSTAR at checkout for 50% off JZ vintage series microphones.

RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy

Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com

Hear more on Youtube

If you love the podcast then please Leave a review on iTunes here

CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/210

My guest today is Colt Capperrune who for the past 18 years has been a FOH engineer, studio engineer, live guitarist, and songwriter. His focus these days is Producing, Mixing, Session guitarist, Artist Development, and Mastering. In the past several years you could add Social Media Influencer to that list too.

He produced his first record when he was 19, and has now charted Top 40 on Billboard, had #1's on iTunes, Amazon, and other radio charts. He has spoken at Belmont University, and is super passionate about developing artists so they make a living from their music. His website even makes a point of showing before and after examples of starting with a worktape for an artists and developing a finished production.

I connected with Colt recently through another guest on the show Daniel Ford, and I'm psyched to talk about producing awesome guitar records and whatever else we can come up with.

Thanks to our sponsors!

OWC - Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com

JZ Microphones - https://usashop.jzmic.com/ use coupon: ROCKSTAR at checkout for 50% off JZ vintage series microphones.

RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy

Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com

Hear more on Youtube

If you love the podcast then please Leave a review on iTunes here

CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/209

My guest today is Andy VanDette a mastering engineer who started his career interning at the legendary Masterdisk under Bob Ludwig. After completing his degree in Tonmeister Studies, he was hired full time. During the CD's explosion, he spent time with other mastering luminaries -Tony Dawsey, Howie Weinberg, Greg Fulginiti, Greg Calbi, and Vlado Meller.

He learned more than just how to Master and cut vinyl. He observed their perspectives on processing and musicality. By the time the MFiT standard was introduced, Andy had been Chief Engineer for 14 years and had mastered classic albums from the Beastie Boys, Uncle Kracker, Whitney Houston, David Bowie, Rush, Deep Purple, Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater, and more. Andy has spoken at audio schools, AES conventions. Interviewed for the New York times, Ars Technica, SonicScoop.com, MusicPlayers.com, and presented "Friends Don't Let Friends Press Bad Vinyl" at SXSW 2015.

Thanks to our sponsors!

OWC - Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com

JZ Microphones - https://usashop.jzmic.com/ use coupon: ROCKSTAR at checkout for 50% off JZ vintage series microphones.

RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy

Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com

Hear more on Youtube

If you love the podcast then please Leave a review on iTunes here

CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/208

My guest today is Tim Dolbear who cut his musical teeth playing live with people such as Sammy Hagar, and in the studio with his mentor, producer Keith Olsen. Currently, he works with both labels and independent artists, and receives projects from all over the world. Since 1999, He has owned and operated Eclectica Studios, originally located in Los Angeles, operations were moved to Austin TX in 2006. In 2019 Eclectica Studios moved to its current location in Nashville.

Tim is a guest lecturer for audio production at many colleges throughout N America including Blackbird Academy, NYU and SAE. Tim is also a published writer who writes for MIX, Sound on Sound, and Professional Sound Magazine.

I met Tim recently through Mark Rubel at Blackbird Academy. So thanks again Mark!

Thanks to our sponsors!

OWC - Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com

JZ Microphones - https://usashop.jzmic.com/ use coupon: ROCKSTAR at checkout for 50% off JZ vintage series microphones.

RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy

Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com

Hear more on Youtube

If you love the podcast then please Leave a review on iTunes here

CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/207

My guest today is Steve Albini musician engineer and owner of Electrical Audio in Chicago. Steve is known for his love of analog tape and extensive discography that includes artists like Nirvana, The Pixies, The Breeders, Robert Plant & Jimmy Page, The Stooges, Cheap Tick, and PJ Harvey to name only a few of more than a thousand records he has made spanning the past 40 years.

Steve has also been a previous guest on the podcast when we talked about his start in recording and creating Electrical Audio. So please check out that episode RSR078. He also makes time to speak publicly about music and recording and teaches as well through Mix With The Masters.

So on today's episode I thought I would focus more on mixing and see what we can learn about mixing records on analog tape through consoles and also how that might inform the decisions we make when mixing digitally in the computer as well (or not).

Thanks to our sponsors!

OWC - Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com

JZ Microphones - https://usashop.jzmic.com/ use coupon: ROCKSTAR at checkout for 50% off JZ vintage series microphones.

RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy

Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com

Hear more on Youtube

If you love the podcast then please Leave a review on iTunes here

CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/206

My guest today is James Ivey, the Technical Editor of Pro Tools Expert and owner and facilitator at Location Recordings in London UK.

James has been playing drums since the tender age of 7, performing his first paid gigs at the age of 8. From that moment on there was no stopping him. His parents brought him is first 4-track tape recorder (a Tascam Porta 01 costing well over £1000) at the age of 12 which gave him the bug for recording and ever since then he has been collecting and acquiring gear to make his studio and productions the best they can be.

James' first job in the audio industry was with a pop video production company where he learned what the term deadline really means and other audio skills which have stuck with him, like the importance of clock and sync. Since then he has worked for studio equipment suppliers and installers as well as companies like Sibelius and later Avid and a production demonstrator.

James or Jivey is officially the Production Expert gear junkie. If it makes a noise and you can play it or record it, he's interested.

Thanks to our sponsors!

OWC - Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com

JZ Microphones - https://usashop.jzmic.com/ use coupon: ROCKSTAR at checkout for 50% off JZ vintage series microphones.

RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy

Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com

Hear more on Youtube

If you love the podcast then please Leave a review on iTunes here

CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/205

My guest today is Sara Carter, a BBC trained, mixing and mastering engineer based in Basingstoke in the UK.

Sara started recording and mixing music in the mid-'90s from a small home studio as a hobby. In 2000, at the somewhat ripe age of 34, she decided to find out how to turn that hobby into a full-time career.

She studied at the SAE Institute in London gaining an Audio Engineering Diploma, then went on to work for the BBC in London as a Studio Manager. There she engineered many of the UKs most popular radio shows and live music sessions. Working from the BBCs Maida Vale Studios, she developed her critical listening skills by working with a wide variety of artists on numerous sessions and has been credited on records by Corrine Bailey Rae and KT Tunstall amongst others.

In 2009, Sara decided to take a break from broadcasting and left the BBC to explore a different career in brewing. However, in recent years, she has felt a strong calling back to music and returned with her online mixing and mastering business serving unsigned rock and indie bands from all over the world.

Thanks to our sponsors!

OWC - Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com

JZ Microphones - https://usashop.jzmic.com/ use coupon: ROCKSTAR at checkout for 50% off JZ vintage series microphones.

RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy

Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com

Hear more on Youtube

If you love the podcast then please Leave a review on iTunes here

CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/204

My guest today is Langston Masingale who started working in recording studios 25 years ago at age 16 in his uncle's studio in New Jersey. He went on to help start JJ Audio Mics in 2009. In 2014, he struck out on his own and invented what would become the core technology of his tape-emulation product, Zulu. He formed Handsome Audio in 2015 with his partner Tod Levine, and they released Zulu that same year.

Langston also owns a recording studio, Narrative Audio, in Syracuse, New York, where he produces and records artists.

He loves to create new and interesting tools for the modern recording engineers and producers. And his early exposure to analog tape has guided and shaped his sonic perspective in a world of digital audio.

A big thank you to Alan Evans for introducing us. And also make sure to check out Matt Boudreau's new book from Working Class Audio Jornal Volume 1 where you can read his interview with Langston too.

Thanks to our sponsors!

OWC - Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com

JZ Microphones - https://usashop.jzmic.com/ use coupon: ROCKSTAR at checkout for 50% off JZ vintage series microphones.

RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy

Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com

Hear more on Youtube

If you love the podcast then please Leave a review on iTunes here

CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/203