Send us a text

Your next step:

Figure out if you are a great fit for The Self-Recording Syndicate! 

theselfrecordingband.com

Our coaching community and platform is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever. 

• Grow your audience on Spotify with songs that don't sound "demo-y".
• Be taken seriously by your peers, fans and other musicians.
• Make records that sound as good as your favorite songs in your playlist.

You have two options to get there:

1. Apply for unlimited, personal 1-on-1 mentoring (results guaranteed) - This is by far the fastest and best way to achieve your goals. Your gonna be working 1-on-1 with an experienced studio pro until your project is done. On your own songs, from your (home) studio and in your DAW of choice.
   
   
2. Sign up for any of our video courses on recording, editing, or mixing. All of the video courses include 90 days of group coaching and community access inside the Syndicate. You can upgrade the courses to 1-on-1 mentoring anytime.

 If you apply for personal mentoring, we'll first jump on a completely free call so we can give you feedback, build a custom plan for you and help you figure out the best way forward.

🚀 Here are all the details, let's go:

theselfrecordingband.com

--

Episode show notes:

Benedikt and Manel discuss the critical role of lyrics in music production, exploring common challenges artists face when writing lyrics. 

They talk about Manel's songwriting journey, share a framework for improving lyric writing, and give you specific tools for that. Like perspective, rhyme, rhythm, rhetorical devices, object writing and many more, which will help you craft expressive lyrics and overcome writer's block. 

And finally, Manel and Benedikt also touch on the mindset required to finish songs.

Key takeaways:

• Bad lyrics are a common issue in DIY productions.
• Improving lyrics can significantly impact a song's success.
• Songwriting quality is crucial in the recording process.
• Everyone struggles with writing lyrics at some point.
• Lyrics connect deeply with listeners' experiences.
• Changing perspectives can unlock new songwriting avenues.
• Rhyme and rhythm play essential roles in lyrics.
• Metaphors and rhetorical devices enhance lyric expressiveness.
• Tension can be created through the absence of rhyme.
• The structure of lyrics affects the song's flow and impact. Experiment with rhetorical devices to enhance your lyrics.
• Descriptive writing can evoke stronger emotions than simple statements.
• Avoid clichés to maintain originality in your songwriting.
• Develop a habit of object writing to stimulate creativity.
• Overcoming writer's block can involve changing your writing environment.
• Songs are never truly finished; they are just abandoned at some point.
• Writing your truth leads to unique and relatable lyrics.
• Fear of success can be just as paralyzing as fear of failure.
• Creating a writing routine can help generate more material.
• Every song has the potential to be good with enough effort.

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/268

--

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us a text

Your next step:

Figure out if you are a great fit for The Self-Recording Syndicate! 

theselfrecordingband.com

Our coaching community and platform is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever. 

• Grow your audience on Spotify with songs that don't sound "demo-y".
• Be taken seriously by your peers, fans and other musicians.
• Make records that sound as good as your favorite songs in your playlist.

You have two options to get there:

1. Apply for unlimited, personal 1-on-1 mentoring (results guaranteed) - This is by far the fastest and best way to achieve your goals. Your gonna be working 1-on-1 with an experienced studio pro until your project is done. On your own songs, from your (home) studio and in your DAW of choice.
   
   
2. Sign up for any of our video courses on recording, editing, or mixing. All of the video courses include 90 days of group coaching and community access inside the Syndicate. You can upgrade the courses to 1-on-1 mentoring anytime.

 If you apply for personal mentoring, we'll first jump on a completely free call so we can give you feedback, build a custom plan for you and help you figure out the best way forward.

🚀 Here are all the details, let's go:

theselfrecordingband.com

--

Episode show notes:

Our guest on this episode is Matt Boudreau. Matt is an Audio Engineer, Mixer and Producer, based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.

His credits list includes bands and artists such as Green Day, Alanis Morrisette, Deafhaven or Death Cab For Cutie. 

He's also the host of a fantastic podcast, called Working Class Audio. 

I (Benedikt) have been a guest on his show just a couple of weeks ago and it was a dream come true for me. I've learned an incredible amount from Matt and his guests over the years and highly recommend you check out Working Class Audio if you don't already know it.

Now we are super excited that we got to pick Matt's Brian for a bit here and can't wait for you to dive in, as well!

Some of the topics we covered on the episode:

• What's top of mind for Matt right now?
• "Identity crisis" (podcaster vs engineer)
• Thoughts on self-recording
• Dolby Atmos & Matt's Atmos studio
• Planning for the future
• Becoming a better person every day
• Lifelong learning
• The old-school approach (pre-pro, full production)
• Lessons learned from talking to so many great people - Any common threads?
• Mental health, taking care of yourself and having your shit together. Both inside and outside of the studio.

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/267

--

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us a text

Your next step:

Figure out if you are a great fit for The Self-Recording Syndicate! 

theselfrecordingband.com

Our coaching community and platform is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever. 

• Grow your audience on Spotify with songs that don't sound "demo-y".
• Be taken seriously by your peers, fans and other musicians.
• Make records that sound as good as your favorite songs in your playlist.

You have two options to get there:

1. Apply for unlimited, personal 1-on-1 mentoring (results guaranteed) - This is by far the fastest and best way to achieve your goals. Your gonna be working 1-on-1 with an experienced studio pro until your project is done. On your own songs, from your (home) studio and in your DAW of choice.
   
   
2. Sign up for any of our video courses on recording, editing, or mixing. All of the video courses include 90 days of group coaching and community access inside the Syndicate. You can upgrade the courses to 1-on-1 mentoring anytime.

 If you apply for personal mentoring, we'll first jump on a completely free call so we can give you feedback, build a custom plan for you and help you figure out the best way forward.

🚀 Here are all the details, let's go:

theselfrecordingband.com

--

Episode show notes:

In this episode, Benedikt and Manel dive deep into the world of snare drum sound and EQ, discussing 

• the importance of snare sound in music production
• how to choose the right snare drum
• the role of phase and mic placement
• balancing the different drum mics with a focus on the snare drum tone
• the significance of mixing in context
• EQing a snare drum in the mix

They emphasize that a snare drum's sound is not just about the close mic but also about the overheads and room mics that contribute to its character. 

The conversation is filled with insights on how to achieve a great snare sound and the subjective nature of snare preferences in music. 

Manel and Benedikt also discuss innovative approaches to music production, focusing on creative drum sound design, particularly in the use of unconventional sounds and field recordings. 

They talk about intentional mixing decisions and applying EQ with confidence. 

As always, it's about listening critically and making informed decisions to achieve professional results in music production.

You'll hear all those concepts applied in sound examples throughout the episode, as well.

Enjoy!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/266

--

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us a text

Your next step:

Figure out if you are a great fit for The Self-Recording Syndicate! 

theselfrecordingband.com

Our coaching community and platform is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever. 

• Grow your audience on Spotify with songs that don't sound "demo-y".
• Be taken seriously by your peers, fans and other musicians.
• Make records that sound as good as your favorite songs in your playlist.

You have two options to get there:

1. Apply for unlimited, personal 1-on-1 mentoring (results guaranteed) - This is by far the fastest and best way to achieve your goals. Your gonna be working 1-on-1 with an experienced studio pro until your project is done. On your own songs, from your (home) studio and in your DAW of choice.
   
   
2. Sign up for any of our video courses on recording, editing, or mixing. All of the video courses include 90 days of group coaching and community access inside the Syndicate. You can upgrade the courses to 1-on-1 mentoring anytime.

 If you apply for personal mentoring, we'll first jump on a completely free call so we can give you feedback, build a custom plan for you and help you figure out the best way forward.

🚀 Here are all the details, let's go:

theselfrecordingband.com

--

Episode show notes:

In this episode, we explore the complexities of music genres, personal taste, and the influence of cultural experiences on our artistic identities. 

We discuss the use of AI as a creative tool, share insights from the Superbooth event, and reflect on the emotional core of music creation. 

The conversation emphasizes breaking free from genre limitations and embracing a broader perspective on music-making. 

So, in this episode, we get into the complexities of artistic identity, the emotional core of music, and the challenges of navigating genre boundaries. We discuss the importance of self-discovery in music, the role of tools and techniques in the creative process, and the value of collaboration. 

It's about the need for artists to explore their unique sound and vision while remaining open to new influences and experiences.

Enjoy!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/265

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us a text

Your next step:

Figure out if you are a great fit for The Self-Recording Syndicate! 

theselfrecordingband.com

Our coaching community and platform is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever. 

• Grow your audience on Spotify with songs that don't sound "demo-y".
• Be taken seriously by your peers, fans and other musicians.
• Make records that sound as good as your favorite songs in your playlist.

You have two options to get there:

1. Apply for unlimited, personal 1-on-1 mentoring (results guaranteed) - This is by far the fastest and best way to achieve your goals. Your gonna be working 1-on-1 with an experienced studio pro until your project is done. On your own songs, from your (home) studio and in your DAW of choice.
   
   
2. Sign up for any of our video courses on recording, editing, or mixing. All of the video courses include 90 days of group coaching and community access inside the Syndicate. You can upgrade the courses to 1-on-1 mentoring anytime.

 If you apply for personal mentoring, we'll first jump on a completely free call so we can give you feedback, build a custom plan for you and help you figure out the best way forward.

🚀 Here are all the details, let's go:

theselfrecordingband.com

--

Episode show notes:

I (Benedikt) want to make a super transparent episode, breaking down all the courses, coaching, seminars, events etc. I've bought over the years. 

How much I've spent on them and what I got out of them.

Here's why:

I want to let you know that I practice what I preach. And that investing in my skills has impacted my life, my bands and my audio career in a massive way. 

I wouldn't offer education to others if I didn't believe in it myself. And I wouldn't be a good coach if I had never experienced great education myself.

And Manel has invested heavily in his education, as well. Which is what brought him here. It has enabled him to have a full time career in audio

So, in this episode Manel and I are breaking it all down. The good, the bad, the ugly. Including the cost and the return on it.

We're sharing the key to getting a return on those things and our philosophy going into any type of education.

I'm also sharing what I've done when I was broke.

And I'm sharing different types of education and mentoring. Not just coaching and courses.

It's mainly focused on music and audio education, of course. But I'm also sharing examples outside of that.

Enjoy! 

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/264

--

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us a text

Your next step:

Figure out if you are a great fit for The Self-Recording Syndicate! 

theselfrecordingband.com

Our coaching community and platform is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever. 

• Grow your audience on Spotify with songs that don't sound "demo-y".
• Be taken seriously by your peers, fans and other musicians.
• Make records that sound as good as your favorite songs in your playlist.

You have two options to get there:

1. Apply for unlimited, personal 1-on-1 mentoring (results guaranteed) - This is by far the fastest and best way to achieve your goals. Your gonna be working 1-on-1 with an experienced studio pro until your project is done. On your own songs, from your (home) studio and in your DAW of choice.
   
   
2. Sign up for any of our video courses on recording, editing, or mixing. All of the video courses include 90 days of group coaching and community access inside the Syndicate. You can upgrade the courses to 1-on-1 mentoring anytime.

 If you apply for personal mentoring, we'll first jump on a completely free call so we can give you feedback, build a custom plan for you and help you figure out the best way forward.

🚀 Here are all the details, let's go:

theselfrecordingband.com

--

Episode show notes:

Picking the right key for your song is not just a technical decision — it can completely change the vibe, energy, and emotional impact of your track. 

In this episode, we break down how the key of a song affects:

• Vocal performance and emotional delivery
• The feel and tone of your instruments
• Songwriting choices and arrangement
• Technical implications, like capo placement, alternate tunings, or switching to baritone or 7-string guitars

We talk about how to find the key that brings out the best in your vocalist, how to avoid songs that feel flat or strained, and why pushing a singer slightly outside their comfort zone can sometimes make a good performance great.

And the best part: We're not only talking about it, we're also showing you audio examples, so you can experience it yourself.

Whether you’re just writing a new track or preparing to record vocals, this episode will help you make better key choices and get a more powerful result.

Enjoy! 

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/263

--

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us a text

Your next step:

Figure out if you are a great fit for The Self-Recording Syndicate! 

theselfrecordingband.com

Our incredible coaching community and platform is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever. 

• Grow your audience on Spotify with songs that don't sound "demo-y".
• Be taken seriously by your peers, fans and other musicians.
• Make records that sound as good as your favorite songs in your playlist.

You have two options to get there:

1. Apply for unlimited, personal 1-on-1 mentoring (results guaranteed) - This is by far the fastest and best way to achieve your goals. Your gonna be working 1-on-1 with an experienced studio pro until your project is done. On your own songs, from your (home) studio and in your DAW of choice.
   
   
2. Sign up for any of our video courses on recording, editing, or mixing. All of the video courses include 90 days of group coaching and community access inside the Syndicate. You can upgrade the courses to 1-on-1 mentoring anytime.

 If you apply for personal mentoring, we'll first jump on a completely free call so we can give you feedback, build a custom plan for you and help you figure out the best way forward.

🚀 Here are all the details, let's go:

theselfrecordingband.com

--

Episode show notes:

This is an episode about the importance of choosing the right tempo for your songs and getting the timing and feel right.

Here's why this matters:

Way too many artists neglect this during their songwriting and preproduction process. But this affects the overall feel and impact of the song more than any plugin or mixing technique ever could.

And we're not just talking about the importance of choosing the right tempo. We're also showing you what we mean with timing and feel.

You'll be hearing different audio examples on the episode:

• Pulling vs pushing
• To grid or not to grid
• Adding a bit of a swing feel

We're also gonna talk about the difference between genres and styles, how to create tempo maps and a couple of interesting tips and tricks that we've learned over the years.

Enjoy! 

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/262

--

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us a text

🚀 Apply for personal 1-on-1 mentoring by Benedikt and the team (including access to all of our programs): theselfrecordingband.com
--

Don't need 1-on-1 coaching (yet)? Here are our individual programs (video courses plus access to group coaching inside The Self-Recording Syndicate):

➡️  Get Access To "Mix-Ready: The Band-Recording Essentials": theselfrecordingband.com/mixready
➡️ Get Access To "Mixes Unpacked": theselfrecordingband.com/mixesunpacked
➡️ Get Access To "Dead-On Drums": theselfrecordingband.com/deadondrums
➡️ Get Access To "Guitar Setup Masterclass - With Diego Casillas": theselfrecordingband.com/guitarsetup
--
🎁 Free video guide + checklist "Standout Mixes": theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
--
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community

--

Episode show notes:

A while back we did an episode on how we EQ kick drums. Now we're doing it again, but this time even more in-depth and with audio examples.

So you can actually hear what we're talking about and how it all sounds when applied.

You're gonna learn how the different frequency ranges sound and feel when it comes to kick drums and how you can then apply this knowledge to make intentional decisions in your next mix.

You'll be able to:

• get the low end right
• shape the midrange and top end to work with the style, genre and context of your song
• make it cut through a dense mix if necessary
• identify frequency issues and fix them quickly with EQ 

Enjoy!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/261

--

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us a text

🚀 Apply for personal 1-on-1 mentoring by Benedikt and the team (including access to all of our programs): theselfrecordingband.com
--

Don't need 1-on-1 coaching (yet)? Here are our individual programs (video courses plus access to group coaching inside The Self-Recording Syndicate):

➡️  Get Access To "Mix-Ready: The Band-Recording Essentials": theselfrecordingband.com/mixready
➡️ Get Access To "Mixes Unpacked": theselfrecordingband.com/mixesunpacked
➡️ Get Access To "Dead-On Drums": theselfrecordingband.com/deadondrums
➡️ Get Access To "Guitar Setup Masterclass - With Diego Casillas": theselfrecordingband.com/guitarsetup
--
🎁 Free video guide + checklist "Standout Mixes": theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
--
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community

--

Episode show notes:

We needed to do another AI episode.

So many things have happened since the last one. So many new "intelligent" tools came out. AI audio news are posted almost every day now. 

And some of these new products, even the ones made by big established audio brands, are being marketed as "autonomous" mixing tools. That "will do the same things you would do - but faster and better." 

Wow. Pretty bold claim. But is it true? 

And is everything we do here now irrelevant? 

Do we no longer need audio skills, because mixing and mastering are now (or soon) happening fully automatic? 

And if that really works, what do we then focus on? 

Maybe it won't be that different, after all...

Let's discuss! 

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/260

--

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us a text

🚀 Apply for personal 1-on-1 mentoring by Benedikt and the team (including access to all of our programs): theselfrecordingband.com
--

Don't need 1-on-1 coaching (yet)? Here are our individual programs (video courses plus access to group coaching inside The Self-Recording Syndicate):

➡️  Get Access To "Mix-Ready: The Band-Recording Essentials": theselfrecordingband.com/mixready
➡️ Get Access To "Mixes Unpacked": theselfrecordingband.com/mixesunpacked
➡️ Get Access To "Dead-On Drums": theselfrecordingband.com/deadondrums
➡️ Get Access To "Guitar Setup Masterclass - With Diego Casillas": theselfrecordingband.com/guitarsetup
--
🎁 Free video guide + checklist "Standout Mixes": theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
--
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community

--

Episode show notes:

We want to address 2 common things that we get from self-recording artists.

Whenever they join our Facebook group or when they sign up for our emails that we send out, we ask them what they are struggling with the most.

Here's what they say (it's almost always one of two things):

1. I don't have / don't understand the gear (or plugins)
2. Mixing

So we wanted to make this episode because both of those things are almost never their real problems. Or at least not their biggest ones.

A couple of things we cover in this episode:

• Don't let a lack of money or lack of equipment hold you back. And don't waste money on the wrong things.
• Understanding the equipment is only a very small part of it.
• You're struggling with mixing because you are fighting your recordings and because you're focussing on the wrong parts of the process.
• You haven't developed your ears, taste and vision, yet.

Enjoy!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/259

--

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]