Secret Sonics

Philip Weinrobe is a record producer, mixing engineer, and the owner of Sugar Mountain Recording in Brooklyn, NY, USA. He's worked with talented artists such as Adrianne Lenker (Big Thief), Theo Katzman (Vulfpeck), Alanis Morissette, and many others! In our conversation Philip and I go deep on the following:

Accidentally getting into recording by building studios for people including Shahzad Ismaily
How record making is a series of thousands of decisions and how he tries to simplify the process
Why he’s against playback of recorded takes
How he uses short bursts of audio to get a bigger picture of the sonic landscape
Avoiding headphones at all costs
Working within the constraints of the human brain
Recording for bleed
Off-axis mic coloration
Room Treatment
Never referencing other mixes on studio monitors
Never bouncing files pre-mix!
Keeping consistent but limited work hours
Saying yes to opportunities
And so much more!

You can learn more about Philip at https://www.philipweinrobe.com/

You can follow Philip on Social Media
IG - https://www.instagram.com/ithinkimphil/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Safari Pedals (Promo Code secretsonics20 at checkout) - https://safaripedals.com/collections/all

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources


Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t


***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References:



Theo Katzman - https://open.spotify.com/album/4LsFjd6Se6lEsughB7sXhF?si=whtT3wViTceTxPH0AqhXsQ
Shahzad Ismaily - https://pirecordings.com/artists/shahzad-ismaily/
Figure 8 Recording - https://www.figure8recording.com/
Adrianne Lenker - https://open.spotify.com/album/2Qt8Z1LB3Fsrf6nhBNsvUJ?si=YKYo5ZQ6Q3yWrj8S_PHRaQ
Sugar Mountain - https://sugarmountainrecording.com/
Susan Rogers - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Rogers
Jan Jelinek - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Jelinek
Thinking Fast & Slow - https://amzn.to/3MopPIp
Mixing with Your Mind - https://amzn.to/3Mn7gV0

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.


Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for editing this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!


-Ben

Mix_Notes are a chance for Ben to talk about the topics on his mind and share what's been happening in his studio - beyond the scope of the usual interviews that take place on Secret Sonics.

Here's a link to the video version - https://youtu.be/EOhQzrS2BaA

Here are some links based on what I referenced:
Black Box HG2 - https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/black_box_analog_design_hg-2.html
Decapitator - https://www.soundtoys.com/product/decapitator/
Virtual Tape Machines - https://slatedigital.com/virtual-tape-machines/
BB Tubes - https://www.waves.com/plugins/bb-tubes
Gorilla Drive (coupon code: secretsonics20 at checkout) - https://safaripedals.com/products/gorilla-drive-vst-plugin

Website - https://www.benwallick.com/
Ben's IG - https://www.instagram.com/benwallickmusic/
Secret Sonics IG - https://www.instagram.com/secretsonics/

Enjoy!

To listen to this and all episodes of Secret Sonics please visit https://www.benwallick.com/podcast/

Scott Hull is a 40-year veteran Grammy award-winning mastering engineer and the owner of Masterdisk based in Peekskill, NY, USA. In our conversation Scott and I go deep on the following:

Landing a Masterdisk internship and working with Bob Ludwig
Leading an interdisciplinary life
Striving for excellence
The role of the engineer
His approach to mastering
Avoiding overprocessing and doing more with less
Becoming familiar with your monitoring
Human hearing and perception are malleable
Mastering is a perspective
Analog vs. Digital mastering
Mastering and cutting for vinyl
Amazing Steely Dan and John Mayer stories
Rolling with the chaos
Decision-making and having a successful mindset
And so much more!

You can learn more about Scott at https://www.masterdisk.com/scott-hull

You can follow Scott on Social Media
IG - https://www.instagram.com/masterdisk_nyc/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Safari Pedals (Promo Code secretsonics20 at checkout) - https://safaripedals.com/collections/all

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources


Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t


***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References:



Bob Ludwig - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Ludwig
Masterdisk - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masterdisk
Bobby Owsinski - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/7/5/secret-sonics-151-bobby-owsinski-birds-eye-view-of-the-audio-industry
Sam Moses - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/1/30/secret-sonics-130-sam-moses-finishing-records
Two Against Nature - https://open.spotify.com/album/2MJc2N3eFVT0ZabBN4zc32?si=oTCQgW0nQtGNwdqdxI3J2g
Room for Squares - https://open.spotify.com/album/3yHOaiXecTJVUdn7mApZ48?si=_CJKTf92RGyXDvM2oJE2wg

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.


Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for editing this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!


-Ben

Mix_Notes are a chance for Ben to talk about the topics on his mind and share what's been happening in his studio - beyond the scope of the usual interviews that take place on Secret Sonics.

Here are some links based on what I referenced:

Epiphone Viola Bass - https://www.epiphone.com/en-US/Electric-Bass/EPIPSM729/Vintage-Sunburst
Khruangbin - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khruangbin
Mitch Friedman - https://www.instagram.com/mitchthebassplayer/
Ampeg SVT - https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/ampeg_svtvr_classic.html
Fernando Lodeiro - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/1/1/secret-sonics-126-fernando-lodeiro-nurturing-relationships-in-the-studio

Website - https://www.benwallick.com/
Ben's IG - https://www.instagram.com/benwallickmusic
Secret Sonics IG - https://www.instagram.com/secretsonics/

Enjoy!

Joe Gilder is a music producer, mixing engineer, musician, and songwriter based out of Nashville, TN, USA! He's also the owner of Home Studio Corner and is now the content creator for The Recording Revolution. In our conversation Joe and I go deep on the following:
Getting started at Sweetwater as a sales rep
Creating value for clients
Working efficiently
How he streamlines making great video content
Being fast and in the flow while recording and producing
Getting it right at the source
Stock plugins as guardrails
Top-down mixing
Tracking guitars
Collecting ideas to stem creativity
It’s ok to have imposter syndrome
We can do hard things
And so much more!

You can learn more about Joe at https://www.homestudiocorner.com/about

You can follow Joe on Social Media
IG - https://www.instagram.com/joegilder/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources


Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t


***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References:



Home Studio Corner - https://www.homestudiocorner.com/free
Recording revolution - https://www.recordingrevolution.com/
Start by John Acuff - https://amzn.to/41OIhz5
In Rainbows From the Basement - https://youtu.be/DWuAn6C8Mfc
Staredown EP - https://open.spotify.com/album/3oTnYerScs0AK35swgBRvu?si=RGDygQW9THCvWRhhp6JRzQ

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.


Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for editing this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!


-Ben

Mix_Notes are a chance for Ben to talk about the topics on his mind and share what's been happening in his studio - beyond the scope of the usual interviews that take place on Secret Sonics.

Here are some links based on what I referenced:

Youtube video - https://youtu.be/Ll9b8R2n0tw
Townhouse Compressor - https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/bx_townhouse_buss_compressor.html
VU Compressor - https://purafied.com/products/purafied-audio-vu-compressor
Virtual Mix Rack - https://slatedigital.com/virtual-analog-bundle/

Website - https://www.benwallick.com/
Ben's IG - https://www.instagram.com/benwallickmusic
Secret Sonics IG - https://www.instagram.com/secretsonics/

Enjoy!

Luis "Lu" Moreno is a mixing and mastering engineer, the co-founder of In The Mix Studios, and the founder of MidSide Sound, based in LA, CA, USA! In our conversation Lu and I go deep on the following:

Work/life balance
Becoming an audio engineer
Creating community and being a "Go-Giver"
How Lu and Dee Kei met
Low end theory
It’s the ear, not the gear
Revisions
How he masters his own mixes
Monitoring
Pokemon cards as an incentive to grow
Prioritizing your relationships over your career
And so much more!

You can learn more about Lu at https://www.midsidesound.com/about-lu

You can follow Lu on Social Media
IG - https://www.instagram.com/masteredbylu/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References:
Dee Kei Waddell - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/4/17/secret-sonics-141-dee-kei-waddell-the-way-of-the-mixer
Bob Horn - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2023/1/1/secret-sonics-172-bob-horn-perceptive-and-adaptive-mixing
The Go-Giver - https://amzn.to/3U2a8ZK
Sekou Bunch - https://www.tcelectronic.com/artists/artist.html?artistId=sekou-bunch#:~:text=Sekou%20Bunch%20is%20an%20accomplished,of%20music%20during%20his%20career.
Voice of God - https://www.uaudio.com/uad-plugins/special-processing/little-labs-voice-of-god.html
Strauss NF3 - http://www.strauss-electroacoustics.com/produkte-en/mastering-monitors/se-nf-3/se-nf-3
Beyerdynamic 770s - https://amzn.to/3JVR0I4

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.


Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for editing this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!


-Ben

Mix_Notes are a chance for Ben to talk about the topics on his mind and share what's been happening in his studio - beyond the scope of the usual interviews that take place on Secret Sonics.

Here are some links based on what I referenced:

Rick Rubin's book - https://amzn.to/3z4HKfY
Arnob Bal - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2021/12/5/secret-sonics-124-arnob-bal-the-creative-practice
Mikko Gordon - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/10/23/secret-sonics-163-mikko-gordon-establishing-an-aesthetic
Progressions episode with Ebonie Smith - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/episode/ebonie-smith
Ebonie Smith on Secret Sonics - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2020/6/14/secret-sonics-050-ebonie-smith

Website - https://www.benwallick.com/
Ben's IG - https://www.instagram.com/benwallickmusic
Secret Sonics IG - https://www.instagram.com/secretsonics/

Enjoy!

Luke Fiadino is a music producer, mixing engineer, and composer based out of Philadelphia, PA, USA! In our conversation Luke and I go deep on the following:
Getting work in metal
Writing with artists
Composing guitar parts
Lessons from Alan Shacklock
Programming Drums
Producing vocals
Templates and routing
Avoiding the solo button
How metal is moving online
Writing regularly and putting in the reps
Writing things that make you laugh
Getting management
And so much more!

You can learn more about Luke at https://www.statesidemgmt.com/luke-fiadino

You can follow Luke on Social Media
IG - https://www.instagram.com/lukefiadinosound/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources


Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t


***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References:



Carl Bahner - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2021/10/10/secret-sonics-116-carl-bahner-serving-and-nurturing-artists
Alan Shacklock - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Shacklock
Getgood Drums - https://www.getgooddrums.com/
Cape Kong - https://www.instagram.com/capekong_official/
Sam Pura - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/10/30/secret-sonics-164-sam-pura-launching-bands-with-impactful-records
Alex Crescioni - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/8/14/secret-sonics-156-alex-crescioni-bringing-heavy-records-to-life

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.


Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for helping edit this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!


-Ben

Mix_Notes are a chance for Ben to talk about the topics on his mind and share what's been happening in his studio - beyond the scope of the usual interviews that take place on Secret Sonics.

The episode of the Mixing Music podcast where I wax poetic on this with Dee Kei - https://youtu.be/2HoT-AS-43M

Website - https://www.benwallick.com/
Ben's IG - https://www.instagram.com/benwallickmusic
Secret Sonics IG - https://www.instagram.com/secretsonics/

Enjoy!