Unstoppable Recording Machine Podcast

JD (Ice Nine Kills) is back to answer your questions about orchestration.

Want JD to answer your questions? Send them to [email protected] with the subject line “Dear JD.” The more detailed the better!

“Just having that instinctual knowledge [of theory] changes your whole game, and it’s a learning process for me, and it always will be.” - JD

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

- Computer hardware options for running sample libraries

- How to make your orchestration cut through in a mix

- The different results you’ll get from various sample libraries

- JD’s recommended libraries

- Resources for becoming an orchestration pro

- How to handle reverb for orchestra samples

- And much, much more

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Joey Sturgis provides the answers to your most pressing questions.

Want Joey to answer your questions? Send them to [email protected] with the subject line “Dear Joey.” The more detailed the better!

“All we’re doing is making music, and anything that makes that easier is great.” - Joey Sturgis

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

- Joey’s motivational slogan

- When you should negotiate royalty rates

- Automating to make low end hits stand out

- What Joey thinks of plugins that do some of the heavy lifting for you

- How to fix vocal tracks that have background noises in them

- And much, much more

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Jay Maas is back, and he’s got some incredibly important things to say about the art of production that you need to hear.

Jay has an awesome perspective on the craft. If you're expecting to be told about the newest “magical” gear that will solve your problems, we've got some bad news for you. But if you actually want to be a great producer you should listen to what Jay has to say.

“The stuff that matters is: are you an artist? Are you committed to making something special at any cost?” - Jay Maas

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

- Developing while working under an established producer

- Intern goals

- Going where the clients are

- The importance of interpersonal and artistic elements of production

- How touring experience can help with recording in different locales

- Why gear isn't all that

- Being open to life experiences

- And much, much more

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You guys have questions, Eyal Levi’s got your answers.

Want Eyal to answer your questions? Send them to [email protected] with the subject line “Dear Eyal.” The more detailed the better!

“Since it’s 100% natural to feel the doubt, you can’t really stop that voice from coming at you; you have to learn how to overcome it and get over it.” - Eyal Levi

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

- Eyal’s suggestions for approaching school

- Special contributor Mike Mowery’s take on lyric videos and social media

- Confronting self doubt

- Eyal’s predictions about the future of analog and digital gear

- How to save a session when you’ve received disastrous drum tracks

- And much, much more

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We’ve enlisted John Browne (Monuments, Flux Conduct) to assist us in critiquing your mixes of Meshuggah’s “MonstroCity.”

“I find that if you over-listen to your mix while you’re mixing, you just get used to that sound. So, you have to put it away for a few days and come back to it.” - John Browne

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

- The value of mixing a variety of genres

- What happens when you miss the target with the balance in your mix

- Phase nightmares

- Why you need to make sure your kick and snare are solid

- Things to watch out for when handling a plethora of guitar tracks

- Avoiding ending up with a blanket over your mix

- And much, much more

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Joel Wanasek has the answers you need to make sure you stay #nosmalltime.

Want Joel to answer your questions? Send them to [email protected] with the subject line “Dear Joel.” The more detailed the better!

“Getting great at guitars is an art, and I mean ART, and it takes time. And if you want to master them then you have to put in the time to get great at them.” - Joel Wanasek

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

- How to approach telling a prospective employer that there are things you don’t know yet

- Getting amazing, wide, heavy guitar tones

- What tracking sessions usually look like for Joel

- Setting up your listening position

- How to mix fast

- Taxes, when should you start reporting income from audio work?

- And much, much more

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Live sound engineer and producer Steve Lagudi (Machine Head) joins us to talk about something that doesn’t usually get enough attention: live sound.

We’re all working on becoming better in the studio, but something a lot of mixers don’t spend enough time considering is live sound. Working live sound is a great way to boost your overall mixing skills. Just for starters, the discipline to commit to sounds is something all producers could stand to learn. Live sound is also it’s own beast in many ways. Steve Lagudi has a wealth of knowledge to share that’s going to help you tame that beast.

“Your work is what does it, it’s not about your resume.” - Steve Lagudi

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

- How to find your roadmap through live sound

- Steve’s method for EQing

- Getting kickass guitars in your live mixes

- How Steve handles guitar and bass for Machine Head’s live shows

- Handling DIs

- Why you shouldn’t be “that dick soundguy”

- And much, much more

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We’ve got JD, guitarist, screamer, and all around orchestral guru for Ice Nine Kills on board for some mind expanding discussion about integrating orchestration into the creative process.

It’s really difficult to figure out where to start with orchestration. It’s already a handful getting drums, bass, vocals, and guitar to sit happily together on the frequency spectrum. Add in a whole separate set of dozens of instruments and it seems like an impossible task. It’s not, and JD is going to get you on the right track to make it happen.

And if you have any questions for JD after listening to the podcast, send them to [email protected] with the subject line “Dear JD.”

“The thing that actually helped me learn the absolute most about my software and my ability to manipulate my software was making my 5000 track template.” - JD

THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

- How to begin to understand how to incorporate orchestration into your music

- What led JD to want to learn how to include orchestration in INK’s music

- Which sample libraries are go to’s for solid sounding productions

- The importance of a well done arrangement

- How to control and humanize a sample based orchestra

- Hardware suggestions for orchestration and what JD uses himself

- And much, much more

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Guitar god Keith Merrow (Alluvial, Conquering Dystopia) joins us to talk about his production techniques, being an entrepreneur, and what he’s learned while building his music career.

Keith has demonstrated over his years in the industry that he’s got the midas touch. From his guitar chops, to songwriting, collaborations with gear companies, and his Youtube success, the guy turns everything he lays his hands on to gold. Lucky for us, he’s game to share insight into how he’s managed such a prolific career. If you want to carve your own path, regardless of what might stand in your way, this episode is for you.

“There’s plenty of ways to get your music out there, and even get it distributed on any platform you could possibly imagine, without ever even contacting a record label.” - Keith Merrow

THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

- Keith’s thoughts on DIY vs. label support

- What it’s taken for him to get to where he is now in the industry

- The importance of being passionate about your craft

- Risks, and why you should take them

- The secrets to Keith’s amazing guitar tones

- When it’s ok to use an ISO cab

- Ways to create an effective space for creativity

- The importance of aesthetics

- Bass production tips

- And much, much more

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#party, people! It’s the podcast’s 2 year anniversary, and Josh Newell is back to celebrate with us.

It’s not all fun and games though. You’re in for some quality discussion about Josh’s experiences working with Linkin Park. We also take turns ranting about horrible assistants that live to make our lives harder and cheap equipment that does nothing but personify the spirit of “suck.” So, sit back, relax, and happy anniversary.

“I’m going to fight you on this; I actually like the St. Anger snare.” - Joel Wanasek

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

- The technical trials and tribulations of getting this podcast out to you guys

- Josh’s computer rig update guidelines for a big project like Linkin Park

- The potential for cabin fever when you work on a project for a year and a half

- Getting mad about getting mad at crappy assistants

- The pros and cons of big productions and small productions

- The importance of fresh strings and drum heads

- Why you don’t want to record cheap drum kits and how to avoid getting stuck having to

- The potential value of bad tones

- And much, much more

Links:

Josh's website

Josh's previous appearance on the URM Podcast

NRG Studios

Sphere Studios

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