Unstoppable Recording Machine Podcast

Welcome to #Mixcritmonday, the show where we critique YOUR mixes.

Make that #Songcritmonday, because in this edition the submissions are getting some specific attention to songwriting. A solidly written song is going to provide the foundation for a mix that stands to capture the ears and minds of listeners. You could be the best mixer in the world, but if your song isn’t captivating what are the chances anyone will notice? We’re going to help you make sure that doesn’t happen

“Even when the listener has a long attention span, they still like movement and dynamics.” - Eyal Levi

THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

- The importance of dynamic songwriting

- Making sure you’re not just throwing together a riff salad

- Balancing the technical and artistic sides of your music

- How to maintain listener interest

- And much, much more

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

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Sahaj Tocotin (record producer, vocalist of Ra) is with us in this episode to talk about fearlessly approaching the process of songwriting.

For many of us, songwriting is going to be a part of the production process at one time or another. A producer with serious songwriting chops will always go further in their career. Do you have what it takes to save a client from a shitty song? What can you do to keep your workflow running smoothly? Do you feel like you have the finesse to write hits? We’re going to give you a head start.

“On one side, you have to have the confidence to move on and not dwell on something for too long. On the other… you have to have the strength and courage to fight for a good idea, however many times you have to fight for it.” - Sahaj Ticotin

THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

- Effective time management and learning to move on

- How to make a living with songwriting

- The base elements of a healthy workflow

- What makes a hit song

- And much, much more

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

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Production powerhouse Kane Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, Papa Roach, In This Moment) talks about the process of writing chart topping hits.

For a producer, songwriting can be one of the most artistically and financially rewarding skills they can acquire. Kane Churko has written songs for various standout artists and delves into how to navigate that process.

Quote:

“Some people in life are starters, and some people are finishers” - Kane Churko

THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

- How to wear multiple hats in the studio

- The things that Kane feels make a great song

- The value of deadlines

- The importance of music theory

- How arrangement factors into the songwriting process

- How legality comes into play for producers with a hand in writing

- How not to end a song

- And much, much more

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

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Extreme metal production master Dave Otero joins us to discuss his prolific audio journey.

For over 15 years, Dave Otero has put his stamp on tons of seminal extreme productions (Cephalic Carnage, Cattle Decapitation, etc.). Dave’s story is a perfect example of how to dominate in a specific niche. You don’t just need to work on pop and country in order to have an amazing production career.

“What are you waiting for? Start doing it!” – Dave Otero

THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

- Investing in yourself

- Maintaining a fresh perspective with new clients

- Dave Otero’s Method for producing heavy rhythm guitar

- How to get blast beat production right

- Recognizing a musician’s strengths

- Micing up natural kicks to use in extreme metal productions

- When you’ve gotten the the right drum take

- When to retrack, and when to leave things as they are

- And much, much more

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

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Welcome to #Mixcritmonday, the show where we critique YOUR mixes.

These mixes pose some interesting challenges (and they’re not metalcore. Get us those unique mixes, guys). There’s tons of great info here, especially if you’re trying to solidify your vocal mixing.

“You gotta be on the same page to make relationships work.” - Joey Sturgis

THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

- The importance of establishing relationships with clients

- Recognizing the difference between what a client says they want and what they actually want

- A quick trick for de-essing

- Making sure timing and editing inconsistencies don’t throw off a whole mix

- Tuning vocals with a lot of vibrato

- Making sure that your bass tracks are solid

- How the quality of equipment like microphones factors into your end product

- And much, much more

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

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Gregory Scott of Kush Audio and Sly-Fi Digital joins us to discuss his philosophies about gear and how to use it musically.

Whether you’re interested in the process of developing analog hardware and plugins or you want to know what your own gear is actually doing to your mixes, Gregory Scott has all sorts of info for you to absorb.

“Ideas are a dime a dozen... What matters the most in any endeavor is having the resources, and by resources I mean the time, the money, the connections, to get stuff done.” - Gregory Scott

THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

- How Gregory’s tendencies as a mixer have led to his innovation as a gear designer

- What’s really up with the difference between analog and digital

- Why collaboration is often the key to success in any endeavor

- Getting connected to movement in a mix by pushing faders

- Techniques to better hear the effects of compression and eq

- And much, much more

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

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On this episode of the podcast, Jens Bogren joins us to discuss his experiences as a producer, from working with bands (Opeth, Katatonia, etc) to his practices for finding the right gear/sound for a mix when working on a project.

Get the chance to listen to a highly revered producer discuss some of his tricks of the trade. Check out what Jens has to say about go to microphones for capturing heavy vocals in different situations. You will understand why Bogren implements up to four SM57’s, amongst a handful of other mics to capture his tone.

“Run! Work really hard, and dump your girlfriend!” - Jens Bogren

THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT:

- Working hard and frequently at becoming a better producer

- Acquiring the right gear/workflow to minimize steps required to get a good sound

- Using early pro bono work that sounds great for starting your portfolio

- Jens’ technique for mixing snare drums

- Where Bogren searches for nerdy audio information

- And much, much more

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

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Kane Churko returns to share some of his most effective production tips and tricks.

We talk specifics about Kane’s essential plugins and how he uses them in his studio, along with some hardware tips for those not working completely in the box. Also: workflow, workflow, workflow. Do you have yours tweaked for maximum efficiency? If you doubt it in the slightest, then Kane Churko has some knowledge to drop on you.

“There's nothing more valuable than your own time” - Kane Churko

THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

- How Kane uses DF-Xcite

- How to use quick keys and Batch Commander to maximize your workflow

- Kane’s suggestions for nailing songwriting

- Snare drum tricks of the trade

- Hardware suggestions for vocals

- How to maximize the usefulness of amp modelers

- And much, much more

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

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On this episode of the podcast, we meet up with Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me, Scale the Summit, Wretched) and share studio experiences.

Jamie King teaches you critical conflict resolution and tips for handling large projects. You will also learn how King stayed relevant by making the jump as digital recording became the industry’s direction. Hear firsthand accounts of an individual discovering what works and what doesn’t through trial and error.

“I like a record to sound like a band on their very best day” - Jamie King

THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT:

- Dealing with internal band disputes

- Managing sessions rich with layers

- The pros and cons of a “trial and error” approach

- Utilizing the drummer to drive a performance

- And much, much more

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

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We just love hearing about success stories. Can’t get enough. We felt we had to share how far one of our students has come. This month's #Mixcritmonday, we talk with longtime subscriber Tiago Carvalho and check on his evolution as a producer/mixer.

Tiago gives you a walkthrough of the process he went through to build his studio effectively on a budget. We then talk about how Tiago has gone from a production hopeful to having international clients like Sony beating down his doors.

“S*** going in – s*** going out or gold going in – platinum going out” -Tiago Carvalho

THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT:

- Just how crucial the little details matter to the end result

- Tiago’s ability to craft DIY remedies

- Choosing the right Ozone algorithm to avoid clipping

- Cost effective, high quality acoustic treatment

- Ways to ensure your vocals aren’t “stuck in the past”

- What it’s like to work for major labels

- Automating Slate FG-X

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

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