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? 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
--

Get Eugen's "4 Week Guitar Songwriter" guide for free:

lava-boots.com/4weeksongwriter

--

Eugen's website (Lava Boots):

lava-boots.com

--

Episode show notes:

I sat down with one of our Self-Recording Syndicate members Eugen Ruzickij.

Eugen is a self-recording musician, songwriter and guitar teacher, based in the USA, who writes and records music as a solo artist and also collaborates with other artists on various projects.

Since we first met in 2023 a LOT has happened. Eugen has improved his production and mixing skills a lot and seeing him make progress has been really impressive. 

He is now starting a new service where he is teaching guitar players online and he is frequently releasing new music that he has written and produced. 

We even have a free gift for you that you'll find in this description. Grab it if you're a guitar player and want to learn how to write your own songs or get better at it.

It's been so much fun to be on this journey with Eugen and help him achieve his goals. And it's even better to now see him help others achieve theirs.

So it’s about time to introduce Eugen to you and tell his story.

Enjoy!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/254
--

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? 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:

Compression can not just make things more consistent, it is also a really powerful tool to shape transients.

This means it can add more punch to your drums or make the attack harder or softer.

It can make a drum performance sound more energetic and add to the groove and feel of the drums. 

So on this episode we're going to show you how to use a compressor to manipulate the punch and attack of your drums and we're giving you audio examples and some listening exercises to help you hear these differences.

Finally, we're explaining the compression settings we've used, so you can recreate those effects yourself!

Enjoy!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/253
--

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 mentoring by Benedikt and the team: theselfrecordingband.com
--
➡️  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:

Things are changing for us this year. And you'll benefit from it. Here's what is going on, what we're changing about the podcast, what we're currently offering (free and paid) and what you can expect in the coming months.

Enjoy!
--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/252
--

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 mentoring by Benedikt and the team: theselfrecordingband.com
--
➡️  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
--

Ollo Audio:
link.olloaudio.com/tsrbxollo

Episode show notes:

If you're mixing on headphones or looking to get a good pair of cans anytime soon, this episode is for you!

We sat down with Rok Gulič, founder of Ollo Audio, to talk about all things headphones.

Ollo Audio is a brand that we stand behind because Benedikt has been using Ollo headphones for years now and is extremely happy with them.

But this is not supposed to be a commercial for their brand. Not at all. It is a deep conversation about headphones, mixing on headphones, mixing in general, personal taste, and even gets philosophical as we're trying to figure out what a good monitoring system actually is. 

Rok answered our questions in a very open, smart way and challenged us with interesting questions, as well.

We covered:

• Mixing on headphones vs speakers
• Mobile recording/mixing
• Reliable portable rigs
• How to choose the right headphones for you
• Open vs closed back
• Calibration software
• Frequency response
• What matters besides frequency response
• Sustainability
• Support and repair
• Pricing and economics behind making and selling headphones

And more.

Enjoy!
--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/251
--

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 mentoring by Benedikt and the team: theselfrecordingband.com
--
➡️  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:

Limited resources can force you to get creative.

Limitations don't have to be obstacles - they can be opportunities.

The Myth of “Needing More”

There's a common misconception that better gear and more plugins = better music. And there's the feeling of “gear envy” that most artists and producers experience at some point. So we're sharing examples of records made with minimal setups. Or simple songs and arrangements that turned out really great.

Why Limitations Can Be a Superpower

We explain how fewer options force you to focus on what really matters -songwriting, arrangement, and performances. We talk about decision fatigue and how too many options can kill creativity. And we highlight how limitations encourage problem-solving and innovation. 

Practical Examples and Tips

In this episode you'll find actionable tips for embracing limitations:

1. Stick to a few go-to plugins and learn them inside out (we have an entire episode dedicated to this: 141)
2. Get the best out of what you already have. Only then expand and buy more.
3. Limit track counts to prioritize strong arrangements.

And we tell stories about artists or bands who thrived by keeping things simple. 

Closing Thoughts

We recap the main points and reinforce the idea that limitations are a gift, not a curse. And finally, we encourage you to embrace you home studio setup and get creative with what you have.

Enjoy!
--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/250
--

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 mentoring by Benedikt and the team: theselfrecordingband.com
--
➡️  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:

There is a challenge that comes with being your own producer. It's pretty much the same thing that can happen when you go to the same producer over and over again:

How do you keep things fresh and exciting? How do you avoid repeating yourself?


Here's why this matters:

Many artists love to have full creative control. That's often why they get into recording in the first place.

But the problem is: If you write the songs, arrange the songs, play the songs, produce the songs, record the songs, mix the songs and master it all, you're gonna get a lot of…you! :)

In this episode we want to share a few ways to keep it fresh while still being in control of the creative process and the result.
 

This is what we're covering on the episode:

• Stories from bands that we've worked with over and over again
• The benefits of outside feedback (objective and honest, not just friends and family)
• Outsourcing certain parts of the process. Even if it is just for the feedback.
• Using different studios/jam spaces/locations
• Experimenting with instruments and gear
• Write a lot and challenge yourself to leave your comfort zone. Test the extremes even if you don't like it at first.
• Think about all the things you're listening to and what you like about those records. Is there anything you can use as inspiration that is not super common or that you haven't done before?
  
  

Enjoy!
--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/249
--

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 mentoring by Benedikt and the team: theselfrecordingband.com
--
➡️  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:

Let's talk about mixing workflow!

Not the specific techniques and tools, like EQ, compression, etc. but how to get in the flow state and how to stay there for as long as possible, so that you can focus on the things that really matter.

Most people spend way too much time on repetitive, non-creative tasks and most people also take way too long to mix songs. 

This means they lose objectivity and waste a lot of brainpower on things that they shouldn't even have to think about.

In this episode we're gonna show you six ways to improve your mixing workflow. You can immediately apply this and get more mixes done at a much higher quality. 

This is the recording of a live workshop we did at Studioszene 2024 in Hamburg. We went on stage there to do this talk in front of a live audience and now we share it with you, so you can benefit from it, as well.

Enjoy!
--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/248
--

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 mentoring by Benedikt and the team: theselfrecordingband.com
--
➡️  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:

So many people think mixing is their biggest problem. In reality, it's often the recordings that are the real issue.

It all starts at the source. And in this episode we show you how to get it right before you even start worrying about the mix.

This is the recording of a live workshop we did at Studioszene 2024 in Hamburg. We went on stage there to do this talk in front of a live audience and now we share it with you, so you can benefit from it, as well.

Enjoy!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/247
--

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 mentoring by Benedikt and the team: theselfrecordingband.com
--
➡️  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:

This episode is all about one of the most crucial elements in your mix: the snare drum. Whether you’re trying to make it cut through a wall of guitars or wondering how to dial in just the right amount of ring and body, getting the EQ right on your snare drum can make or break your mix.

We’ll break it down step by step:

🎙️ The Basics: What does EQ even do to your snare and why does it matter?

🎛️ Frequency Focus: We’ll explain the key frequencies you need to know – from the fat punchy bottom that you can feel in your chest, to the crack and stick attack that cuts through heavy guitars.

⚡ Common Problems: Boxy, "cheap" sounding snare? Too much ring (or not the right kind of ring/shell sound)? We’ve got practical fixes for you.

🎸 Mix Context: How your snare works with the rest of your kit and the entire arrangement – because, let’s face it, the snare doesn’t live in isolation.

💡 Pro Tips: Tried-and-true techniques we’ve learned from working on countless rock and heavy tracks.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a much better understanding of how to shape your snare drum to fit your music. No more guessing, no more frustration – just better mixes.

So grab your headphones and get ready to give your snare drum the love it deserves. Let’s make it punchy, powerful, and perfect for your next banger!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/246
--

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 mentoring by Benedikt and the team: theselfrecordingband.com
--
➡️  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:

This episode is all about one of the most crucial elements in your mix: the kick drum. Whether you’re laying down fast grooves for a punk track or dialing in a massive low-end for your heavy riffage, getting the EQ right on your kick drum can make or break your mix.

We’ll break it down step by step:

🎙️ The Basics: What does EQ even do to your kick and why does it matter?

🎛️ Frequency Focus: We’ll explain the key frequencies you need to know – from the deep lows that shake the walls to the clicky attack that cuts through heavy guitars.

⚡ Common Problems: Boxy, "cheap" sounding kick? Too much click (or not the right kind of click)? We’ve got practical fixes for you.

🎸 Mix Context: How your kick works with your bass and guitars – because, let’s face it, the kick doesn’t live in isolation.

💡 Pro Tips: Tried-and-true techniques we’ve learned from working on countless rock and heavy tracks.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a much better understanding of how to shape your kick drum to fit your music. No more guessing, no more frustration – just better mixes.

So grab your headphones and get ready to give your kick drum the love it deserves. Let’s make it punchy, powerful, and perfect for your next banger!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/245
--

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