The Self-Recording Band

Here are three next steps for you to take:

1. Get our free video training & checklist, "Standout Mixes - The DIY Musician's Guide To Exciting Mixes That Stand Out And Connect":
theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
-
2. Apply for The Self-Recording Syndicate, our personalized coaching program!

It all starts with a free clarity call where we talk about your music, give you feedback and a step-by-step roadmap that you can then implement on your own, or together with us.

Best case: We end up working together and completely transform the sound of your music forever.

Worst case: You get an hour of free coaching, feedback and recommendations for what to do next.

Sounds fair? Cool. Apply now and book your free clarity call:
theselfrecordingband.com/call
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--

Episode show notes:

Have you ever been looking forward to having to go through 637 takes, trying to find the good parts after the recording session is done? Me neither.

How to avoid that? Learn to comp on the fly and commit as you go!

On this episode we're discussing comping on the fly vs "comp diving" after tracking, the pros and cons of each, and the skills you need to be able to pull this off without risking anything or ruining the flow of the session.


Here's why this matters:

• It saves you time later in the process
• It gives you a better idea of the final product
• Moving fast and committing helps avoid getting too close to it and losing perspective
• It prevents you from recording unnecessary takes and wearing out singers/performers
  It will lead to a better end result, because you're not as likely to cut corners

And here's how to do it:

• Know your basic editing tools and hotkeys (scissors, different ways to move events back and forth, fades, etc.)
• Know the comping features of your DAW. You don't have to (and shouldn't) create a new track for each take, etc. 
• Make notes while listening to the performances
• Use breaks to quickly go through notes and adjust the comp
• Learn to listen for feel and emotion, rather than technical perfection (there are some exceptions, though)

Let's dive in!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/205
--

Send us Fan Mail

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

Here are three next steps for you to take:

1. Get our free video training & checklist, "Standout Mixes - The DIY Musician's Guide To Exciting Mixes That Stand Out And Connect":
theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
-
2. Apply for The Self-Recording Syndicate, our personalized coaching program!

It all starts with a free clarity call where we talk about your music, give you feedback and a step-by-step roadmap that you can then implement on your own, or together with us.

Best case: We end up working together and completely transform the sound of your music forever.

Worst case: You get an hour of free coaching, feedback and recommendations for what to do next.

Sounds fair? Cool. Apply now and book your free clarity call:
theselfrecordingband.com/call
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--

Episode show notes:

Jacob Hansen is joining us for this week's episode!

Jacob has worked with some of the biggest names in metal and alternative music. He's produced and or mixed records for bands like Volbeat, Arch Enemy, Amaranthe, The Black Dahlia Murder, Heaven Shall Burn, Evergrey, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Primal Fear and many many more. 

We're getting to pick Jacob's brain and talk about

• DIY recording
• getting amazing guitar tones
• mixing records remotely
• reamping
• the most common home studio pitfalls
• guitar tuning
• workflow and efficiency
• communication
• collaboration best practices
• the future of (home) recording
• evertune bridges
• amp sims and Kempers

among many other things.

Enjoy!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/204
--

Send us Fan Mail

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

Here are three next steps for you to take:

1. Get our free video training & checklist, "Standout Mixes - The DIY Musician's Guide To Exciting Mixes That Stand Out And Connect":
theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
-
2. Apply for The Self-Recording Syndicate, our personalized coaching program!

It all starts with a free clarity call where we talk about your music, give you feedback and a step-by-step roadmap that you can then implement on your own, or together with us.

Best case: We end up working together and completely transform the sound of your music forever.
Worst case: You get an hour of free coaching, feedback and recommendations for what to do next.

Sounds fair? Cool. Apply now and book your free clarity call:
theselfrecordingband.com/call
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--

Episode show notes:

We get dozens of applications every week now and many of you reaching out have asked us these things. So here are your answers!

Your questions:

• What is The Self-Recording Syndicate (our coaching program)? Is it an online course?
• How much does it cost?
• Why is there no price on the website?
• Why do I have to apply?
• Why do you offer a free first call and why are you asking for a budget, when the call is free?
  
  

Also, even before applying and booking their free clarity call, some people are afraid to even give it a shot because they assume it's gonna cost an arm and a leg to work with us.


So I wanted to record this episode (and write a blog post along with it) to give you all the answers.

Of course, we're doing our best to make things crystal clear on our website, the application form, etc. but I also realize that "coaching" is not something that people are very familiar with in our industry.

It's completely normal in other industries. And entrepreneurs, freelancers or businesses of all sizes use consulting or coaching of some sort to make sure they achieve their goals.

But I totally get that most people outside of that don't really know what it means and how the process works.

I'm all about transparency and I'm also about overdelivering and giving way more value than what you'd expect for the price that you're paying. So let me break it down for you in this episode.

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/203

Send us Fan Mail

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

Here are three next steps for you to take:

1. Get our free video training & checklist, "Standout Mixes - The DIY Musician's Guide To Exciting Mixes That Stand Out And Connect":
theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
-
2. Apply for The Self-Recording Syndicate, our personalized coaching program!

It all starts with a free clarity call where we talk about your music, give you feedback and a step-by-step roadmap that you can then implement on your own, or together with us.

Best case: We end up working together and completely transform the sound of your music forever.
Worst case: You get an hour of free coaching, feedback and recommendations for what to do next.

Sounds fair? Cool. Apply now and book your free clarity call:
theselfrecordingband.com/call
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--

Episode show notes:

It's the end of the year - time to do some planning and thinking about our goals as musicians and (DIY) producers.

When it comes to making the best record possible, there are really only 3 ways to accomplish that. Let's discuss and break it down for you, so you can make 2024 your best year ever.

First, it's important to know what you want and what kind of resources you have available. 

Ask yourself these questions: 

• Do you want to make a really great record for your band / yourself now?
• Do you want to make a really great record for your band / yourself some day?
• Do you want to become a producer / mixer and make amazing records for many different artists?
• What do you have more of - time or money?
• Which parts of the process do you really want to do and learn?
• Which kind of investment are you willing to make?

Then take one of the following approaches (or all of them):

1. Done for you - Hire professionals
2. Do it all yourself - With the help of YouTube, courses, books, trial and error and a lot of practice
3. Done with you - Get a mentor and speed up the process through personal guidance, feedback and avoiding common mistakes.

Some kind of effort, practice and investment is always required. A lot of it, to be honest. 

After all, producing music is a skill you don't just learn overnight. Highly skilled professionals have built their taste, technical abilities, workflows, confidence and ears over decades.

But you don't have to be afraid of it either. There's a right approach for every situation. 

And with this episode we aim to guide you toward the best fit for your project, keeping the spotlight on your unique artistic voice.

Your 2024 music resolutions aren't just dreams; they're blueprints for action. So tune in, fuel your musical fires, and step into a year of turning up the volume on your biggest goals.

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/202

--

Send us Fan Mail

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

Here are three next steps for you to take:

1. Get our free video training & checklist, "Standout Mixes - The DIY Musician's Guide To Exciting Mixes That Stand Out And Connect":
theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
-
2. Apply for The Self-Recording Syndicate, our personalized coaching program!

It all starts with a free clarity call where we talk about your music, give you feedback and a step-by-step roadmap that you can then implement on your own, or together with us.

Best case: We end up working together and completely transform the sound of your music forever.
Worst case: You get an hour of free coaching, feedback and recommendations for what to do next.

Sounds fair? Cool. Apply now and book your free clarity call:
theselfrecordingband.com/call
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--

Episode show notes:

Ever felt like your mixes are just a snowball's throw away from that nice, wide stereo image you crave? 

Sure, the basics like mic technique, panning, intentional EQ moves, among others are always the most important thing. But there is more. And we want to share one thing with you that you might have overlooked, so far.

Strap in, because we're whisking you up the sonic slopes to conquer the nuances of dual mono vs. stereo compression! 

This seemingly small detail can be the difference between a stable, solid center in your stereo image and a wonky center that won't provide the solid foundation that your groove needs.

Or between a wide, clear mix and a narrow one.

Being intentional about this will also give you extra clarity, separation and width for your rhythm guitars, toms or any other stereo source that you're dealing with in your mix.

First, we dissect when to pan mono sources and when to bask in true stereo glory, providing a roadmap through the complexities of creating a nice, wide stereo image. It's like choosing the right snowboard for the mountain – you need the proper technique to ride the sound waves to their fullest potential.

Finally, we're cranking up the dials on your DAW savvy, revealing the ins and outs of compressor plugins and their different channel linking modes.

Learn how to finesse your compressor settings to keep your mix wide open or dial in that cohesive, 'pumpy' feel when the track calls for it. 

So, tune up your audio kit, and let's hit the play button on this episode!

--

For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/201
--

Send us Fan Mail

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

Here are three steps for you to take:

1. Get our free video training & checklist, "Standout Mixes - The DIY Musician's Guide To Exciting Mixes That Stand Out And Connect":
theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
-
2. Apply for The Self-Recording Syndicate, our personalized coaching program!

It all starts with a free first call where we talk about your music, give you feedback and a step-by-step action plan that you can then implement on your own, or together with us.

Best case: We end up working together and completely transform the sound of your music forever.
Worst case: You get an hour of free coaching and feedback.

Sounds fair? Cool. Apply now and book your free coaching call:
theselfrecordingband.com/call
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--

Episode show notes:

Mario Radetzky is the vocalist and guitar player for Alt-Rock band Blackout Problems and he recently co-produced their forthcoming album "Riot".  PRE-ORDER HERE

In our 200th episode Mario tells us the story of how co-producing Blackout Problems' album came about. From getting the green light from the label to assembling the perfect team for the job. 

Dropping your ego is important when in the studio and Mario shares with us the importance of collaborating with other engineers even asking other producers for advice when unsure.

Blackout Problems are an evolutionary band and changing the band's sound is a daunting prospect when it ultimately leads to losing a few fans, but also gaining some new ones. 

Due to their intricate setup of synths and effects, as well as the traditional band setup, Malcom, Benedikt and Mario discuss the usefulness of possibly incorporating Ableton in to live Blackout Problems' live setup.

Mario also shares his appreciation for The Self Recording Band Podcast and tells us what gear he uses to achieve Blackout Problems' unique sound. 

Let's give a warm community welcome to Blackout Problems' very own Mario Radetzky. 👏👏👏

--

Blackout Problems - Website

For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/200

Send us Fan Mail

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

Click here to receive a special 10% Off Any Course Or First Month Of Membership At The Kohle Audio Kult Academy (Limited Time Offer Ending Late January 2024!)
As well as 2 free Self Recording Band Masterclasses by Benedikt & Malcom


And here are three more steps for you to take:

1. Get our free video training & checklist, "Standout Mixes - The DIY Musician's Guide To Exciting Mixes That Stand Out And Connect":
theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
-
2. Apply for The Self-Recording Syndicate, our personalized coaching program!

It all starts with a free first call where we talk about your music, give you feedback and a step-by-step action plan that you can then implement on your own, or together with us.

Best case: We end up working together and completely transform the sound of your music forever.
Worst case: You get an hour of free coaching and feedback.

Sounds fair? Cool. Apply now and book your free coaching call:
theselfrecordingband.com/call
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:

This week, we're honored to be able to sit down with the one and only Kristian Kohle.

Kohle is the founder of Kohle Audio Kult, a learning academy for heavy music production. 

Kohle is also known for his collaborative work with Warren Huart both on YouTube and in the Pro Mix Academy.

Kristian shares with us some priceless tips and advice on having a creative mindset and mentality that will maximise your output.  

We bumped in to Kristian recently at Studioszene 2023 which has led to not only this interview but a very exciting coaching partnership. 

Our listeners receive a special 10% Off Any Course Or First Month Of Membership At The Kohle Audio Kult Academy (Limited Time Offer Ending Late January 2024!)
As well as 2 free Self Recording Band Masterclasses by Benedikt & Malcom  You literally can't afford not to take this offer. 

As well as answering some listener's questions, Benedikt, Malcom & Kristian discuss a range of topics including how Kohle became a YouTube personality, the importance of learning how to create something and the brutal precision required for recording metal.

Ladies & gentlemen, let's give a warm welcome to Kristian Kohle. 👏👏👏

--

Click here to receive a special 10% Off Any Course Or First Month Of Membership At The Kohle Audio Kult Academy (Limited Time Offer Ending Late January 2024!)
As well as 2 free Self Recording Band Masterclasses by Benedikt & Malcom

For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/199

Send us Fan Mail

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

Here are three next steps for you to take:

1. Get our free video training & checklist, "Standout Mixes - The DIY Musician's Guide To Exciting Mixes That Stand Out And Connect":
theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
-
2. Apply for The Self-Recording Syndicate, our personalized coaching program!

It all starts with a free first call where we talk about your music, give you feedback and a step-by-step action plan that you can then implement on your own, or together with us.

Best case: We end up working together and completely transform the sound of your music forever.
Worst case: You get an hour of free coaching and feedback.

Sounds fair? Cool. Apply now and book your free coaching call:
theselfrecordingband.com/call
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:

In failing to prepare you are preparing to fail. Or at least in this context, you are likely gonna give yourself a few problems.  

Going into a recording studio that you've never used before can be a daunting and maybe even confusing prospect. 

It'd be nice if all producers had the same workflow and routing setup that you use in the recording studio, but sadly this aint the case.  

Who knows what the producer that used the recording studio before you was thinking? Only them, that's who. 

If an unconventional, un-labelled routing setup has been used and you're walking in there for the first time with the talent hoping to record, things could get pretty confusing and pretty exhausting, pretty fast. 

Benedikt and Malcom dealt with this situation like a couple of champs recently which was the inspiration behind this episode. 

There are a few things you can do beforehand that will ensure that you're not faced with a day of routing before even thinking about pressing the record button. 

Remember, in the recording studio, time is money and this episode will save you some $$$ and blushes if you follow the approach these two pros take when entering a new recording studio for the first time. 

Let's dive in!

--

For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/198

Send us Fan Mail

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

Here are three next steps for you to take:

1. Get our free video training & checklist, "Standout Mixes - The DIY Musician's Guide To Exciting Mixes That Stand Out And Connect":
theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
-
2. Apply for The Self-Recording Syndicate, our personalized coaching program!

It all starts with a free first call where we talk about your music, give you feedback and a step-by-step action plan that you can then implement on your own, or together with us.

Best case: We end up working together and completely transform the sound of your music forever.
Worst case: You get an hour of free coaching and feedback.

Sounds fair? Cool. Apply now and book your free coaching call:
theselfrecordingband.com/call
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:

As producers, deep down, if we're honest with ourselves and I mean completely honest, we'd all love to be using analogue gear, am I right?

Well, your man Martin Zobel used to work exclusively in the box. Using plugins was the only thing he knew. 

But Martin had an itch that needed satisfying. He wanted to use analogue gear, but didn't have the thousands of $$$ necessary to get in to this world. 

So one day Martin had an idea… "What if I build my own compressor?"

The only barrier was in his head. Building your own gear is a daunting task, but he persevered. Following schematics and asking the right people for advice, he soon discovered that it's as easy as painting by numbers. 

Jump forward to today and Martin is the man behind Analog Vibes. A platform that gives you everything you need to build your own hardware, at an affordable price. 

"Analog Vibes is about enabling and empowerment."  - Martin Zobel

Martin talks to Benedikt and Malcom about what models are hot right now, how anybody can safely build their own hardware and how sometimes literal crossed wires can lead to a happy accident. 

Also, let it be noted that Benedikt (having never built his own hardware before) has challenged himself to build a hardware unit from scratch in 2024.  Let's hold him to it. 

Wave your soldering irons in the air (safely) and let's welcome Martin Zobel.

--

For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/197

Send us Fan Mail

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

Here are three next steps for you to take:

1. Get our free video training & checklist, "Standout Mixes - The DIY Musician's Guide To Exciting Mixes That Stand Out And Connect":
theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
-
2. Apply for The Self-Recording Syndicate, our personalized coaching program!

It all starts with a free first call where we talk about your music, give you feedback and a step-by-step action plan that you can then implement on your own, or together with us.

Best case: We end up working together and completely transform the sound of your music forever.
Worst case: You get an hour of free coaching and feedback.

Sounds fair? Cool. Apply now and book your free coaching call:
theselfrecordingband.com/call
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:

It’s Jaycen Joshua. Hands down one of the hottest mix engineers in the industry right now. 

Benny and Malcom chat with Jaycen Joshua on the Studioszene Sofa. 

Jaycen has worked with Beyonce, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Michael Jackson… the list goes on and on.

Jaycen talks in detail about how the higher status jobs often equal higher stakes and higher pressure. 

But he never lets this tame his approach, he takes risks when mixing no matter how much pressure he’s feeling.

He talks about sometimes being brutally honest with clients when he suspects that demoitis may be playing a part in the artist's love for the shitty sounding demo track. 

How many revisions do you think Jaycen gets on average for his mixes? Here’s a clue. It’s a lot. 

The number one technique that Jaycen uses and absolutely couldn’t work without? Sidechain compression. This and his plugin The God Particle are an essential part of his template. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Jaycen Joshua. 👏👏👏

--

For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/196

Send us Fan Mail

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