248 avsnitt • Längd: 60 min • Veckovis: Onsdag
Produce exciting sounding music yourself and release songs that you’re proud of! Professional producers/mixers Benedikt Hain and Malcom Owen-Flood help you make your next DIY-recording session a success!
The podcast The Self-Recording Band is created by Benedikt Hain / Malcom Owen-Flood. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
🚀 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/246
--
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
🚀 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]
🚀 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]
🚀 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:
My guest on this episode is Manel Espinosa Berenguer, aka "Manelito". And I'm super stoked about this one!
Manel is a self-recording musician, songwriter and music producer, based in Madrid, Spain, who writes and records music as a solo artist, as well as for other bands and artists seeking his expertise, skills and perspective.
Since we first met about year ago in late 2023 a LOT has happened.
Manel has joined the Self-Recording Syndicate, our coaching program, has turned audio production into his career shortly after and then even joined the team here at theselfrecordingband.com, editing and mixing our podcast and other content.
He is doing fantastic work and got to the point where artists are flying across Europe to work with him 🤯.
So it’s about time to introduce him to you and tell his story.
PS: What are you waiting for? You could be the next success story to show up on our podcast. We generate these results for our Syndicate members all the time.
And there is zero risk. Just apply for coaching, jump on a free call with us and figure out if our program is a great fit for you.
We will create a roadmap for you and tell you exactly what we would do in your situation. If you don't LOVE this plan, you don't pay us anything and we just part ways.
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For links to Manel's pages and everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/244
--
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
🚀 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:
Have you ever wondered what separates successful self-recording artists from the rest? What makes some people thrive and create killer records while others stay stuck, endlessly tweaking, and second-guessing themselves?
In this episode, we pull back the curtain on The Self-Recording Syndicate, our coaching program designed to help bands and artists like you take control of their recording and mixing process.
After years of mentoring independent, passionate and driven music creators, we’ve noticed clear patterns among our most successful students. We’re breaking down the character traits, habits, and behaviors they share so that you can apply these lessons to your own music journey.
Spoiler alert: it’s not about being a genius or having the most expensive gear - it’s about how you approach the process.
What You’ll Learn:
•The exact things our most successful students do that others don’t.
•How these behaviors are different from the typical “hobbyist” mindset.
•Actionable takeaways you can apply today to improve your recording and mixing skills.
Why This Matters to You:
If you want to create records you’re proud of, these behaviors can fast-track your progress. Whether you’re in the middle of your first mix or have been at this for years, adopting these habits will transform your approach to music production.
We built The Self-Recording Syndicate to help artists like you go from overwhelmed to confident creators of pro-level records.
You don’t have to figure it all out alone - Our experience, expertise and the Syndicate community are here to guide you every step of the way.
Start by applying what you learn from these insights that we're sharing here. Then reach out to us if you are ready to supercharge your growth as a self-recording artist.
PS: We love hearing from you!
Please join the conversation and help us grow the show by leaving a comment, or a rating and review on your podcast app.
Again, if this episode helped you, leave us a review and share it with your friends and bandmates. This will help us reach more people like you who will benefit from this podcast and it will help us get more incredible guests that you can then learn from.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/243
--
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
🚀 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 the elephant in the room: The low end of your mix.
Get it right, and your mix will sound massive, professional, and tight. Get it wrong, and it’ll fall apart faster than your drummer at 3 a.m. on tour.
So, how do you actually nail it? That’s what we’re diving into in this episode.
We’re sharing our tried-and-true approaches to crafting a low end that’s not only solid and punchy but also consistent across every playback system - from crappy earbuds to a festival PA.
If you’ve been struggling with muddy bass, boomy kick drums, or a mix that just doesn’t hit hard enough, you’re not alone. This is one of the most searched and talked-about topics in mixing - and for good reason. We’ll break it all down step by step so you can stop Googling random tricks and start trusting your ears.
Whether you’re a bassist trying to lock in with the kick drum, a guitarist looking for a big tone without stepping on the bass, or a DIY producer piecing it all together in your home studio, this episode will help you make sense of the low-end madness.
PS: We love hearing from you!
Please join the conversation and help us grow the show by leaving a comment, or a rating and review on your podcast app.
Let us know what’s worked (or not worked) for your low-end struggles. And feel free to share your mix in the community, asking for feedback.
Again, if this episode helped you, leave us a review and share it with your friends and bandmates. Let’s make the world sound better - one punchy mix at a time.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/242
--
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
🚀 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:
We sat down with Moritz Enders to talk about analog mixing!
In case you're wondering:
If you've been listening to our show for a while, you know that we're not focusing on gear a lot. We believe that not having expensive gear should not hold you back. It is never an excuse and you can make exciting sounding records with the simplest setup if you have the necessary skills.
However, great analog gear is fascinating to many. Including ourselves. It is fun, it can be inspiring and it definitely sounds great. And there are still many people who swear by it.
To us it's not either or, it's not better or worse. We believe that analog gear and plugins are all just tools and whatever works for someone is what they should use.
And yes, if you have access to amazing sounding equipment and know how to use it (it is not exactly the same as using plugins), then by all means go for it and see if you can get better results with it. Many engineers do. And Moritz Enders is one of them.
His records sound fantastic and he is willing to share why his approach works so well for him.
In this interview, Moritz goes deep into his SSL mixing workflow.
What are the benefits of analog mixing? How does he handle recalls? What are the challenges compared to an in-the-box workflow?
We also talk about his general mixing philosophy and what you can take away from this to make your own mixes better.
And finally, Moritz answers questions from the live audience at Studioszene 2024.
Enjoy this conversation with one of Germany's greatest mixing engineers - Moritz Enders!
PS: Please join the conversation and help us grow the show by leaving a comment, or a rating and review on your podcast app.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/241
--
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
🚀 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:
Julia Borelli is our guest on this podcast episode!
We sat down with her at Studioszene 2024 to talk about her mixing workflow, her favorite plugins, her career, and how she got to where she is right now.
Originally from Brazil, Julia made her first experiences working as assistant engineer on latin Grammy-award winning recordings including Anavitoria and Tiago Iorc.
Then she moved on to working in well-renowned studios such as PostModernMastering and JRS Recording Studio.
Julia is now a Voting Member of the Recording Academy for the Grammy's and a Riverside Studios resident.
She's worked with artists from all over the world like Richie Hawtin, Elderbrook, Hayden James, Lie Ning, Anyma, Jon Hopkins, Mind Against, Korolova, Eli & Fur, Fideles, Stephan Bodzin, and Novaa.
Julia also contributed to the PRADA 2022 commercial + catwalk soundtracks in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Furthermore Julia is a multi-instrumentalist, a DJ, and half of the pop / dance duo BORELLI with her sister.
Needless to say we are beyond excited to have her on the show!
Enjoy!
PS: Please join the conversation and help us grow the show by leaving a comment, or a rating and review on your podcast app.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/240
--
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
🚀 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:
Warren Huart (Produce Like A Pro) is back on the podcast!
We sat down with him at Studioszene 2024 to talk about the art of mixing and how to keep creativity alive in the studio.
Known for his work with The Fray and Aerosmith, among many others, Warren shares insights on staying fresh and open to new ideas.
He talks about how he finds inspiration, brings fascinating stories to the conversation and proves once again what a brilliant educator he is.
If you're looking for ways to keep your own mixing sessions creative, this is a discussion you don’t want to miss.
Enjoy!
PS: Please join the conversation and help us grow the show by leaving a comment, or a rating and review on your podcast app.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/239
--
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
🚀 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:
We got this question from Fabian (Max im Parkhaus):
"Hello Malcom & Benedikt,
appreciating your latest episodes, thanks a lot.
I have a question regarding Benedikt’s solo episode 232 “Do this and your mixes will improve..."
How do I make sure I listen my favorite records (from Spotify e.g.) at the same level as my mixes? Because usually mixes are way quieter than mastered records.
I really want to build this listening habit so thanks a lot for a cue how I can solve this. It maybe could also be a question for another episode - who knows.
Thanks a lot 🤘🏼
Cheers
Fabian"
Well, here we are! Thanks for the great question, Fabian, and we hope this is helpful!
Enjoy!
PS: Please join the conversation and help us grow the show by leaving a comment, or a rating and review on your podcast app.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/238
--
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 a spot in one of our programs. Start working with us and get our personal guidance, so you can finally make your dream record!
It all starts with a free Clarity Call where we talk about your music, give you feedback and a step-by-step 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, feedback and recommendations for what to do next.
Sounds fair? Cool. Apply now and book your free Clarity Call:
theselfrecordingband.com
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
Meet the team behind theselfrecordingband.com!
After the amazing Studioszene 2024 event we sat down at our Airbnb to talk about our days at the conference, key takeaways for you and also to introduce the people to you who help us run this platform behind the scenes:
This is a completely unscripted, "behind the scenes" type of episode of us just sitting around a table and having a chat about what we learned at Studioszene 2024 in Hamburg.
Enjoy!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/237
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
"Don't mix with presets!! Every song is unique!"
"Always start with presets! And also create your own! It's so much faster!"
Confused about all the strong opinions out there on using or avoiding plugin presets?
We got you. ;)
Here's the truth about plugin presets. Not because we know better. Not because we have all the answers. But because it is not black or white.
Once you understand the concepts that we're sharing on this episode, you'll feel better about using presets - or avoiding them. Because you're gonna do it intentionally. While always serving the song.
Enjoy!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/236
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
Let's talk about being intentional with your recording decisions.
Yes, we talk about this all the time. But we also firmly believe that we need to be reminded more than we need to be taught.
The episode starts with the story of a band wanting to save money by recording their own vocals (which isn't a bad thing), but then setting up in a super unideal room for the wrong reasons. Just simply moving the mic stand 10 feet out into the hallway saved their record.
"The hallway? For vocals??" We hear you... But that's exactly what this is about. Sometimes what might seem like the wrong thing to do is exactly what the record needs. Sometimes following generally good advice can lead to bad decisions being made on a specific project.
Moral of the story: There are a lot of good things to know. But it doesn't really matter what you think you know, if doesn't serve the song in this specific situation. At the end of the day you have to listen. And have the confidence and skills to be able to trust your ears and intuition.
The knowledge is important. But what we KNOW only helps us make the right decision quicker and gives us a variety of options. We still need to use our ears. And the real skill is knowing when to use a certain technique you've learned and when to do something completely different.
Enjoy!
Mentioned on the episode:
Studioszene Tickets:
studioszene.de
Use code TSRB15 to get 15% off your ticket!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/235
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
This time we're answering an interesting listener question.
Tim asks:
"I have one question I would love to ask your advice on and I reckon you will know exactly what I'm asking:
I can sing fairly well technically, but I would love more grit and aggression in my tone.
In your experience, is trying to achieve this through training and technique even a thing? (Vocal Fry etc.)
Or should I just own what I have and accept that isn't my voice?
Also how much can you realistically achieve this tone through
pre-amps/gain reduction/distortion etc.?"
Tim, here comes your answer!
Enjoy!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/234
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
So, it happened. AI mixing is (almost) here.
Maybe you've heard about it. Mark "Spike" Stent, a very successful, amazing mixing engineer released "Spike AI". And it caused wild reactions and very emotional discussions in the pro audio community.
Here's what their website says about Spike AI:
"In a world where AI wants to steal your voice, our mission is to amplify yours like never before.
Spike AI is an ethical AI-driven platform that revolutionizes music mixing by providing every artist access to high-quality, professional-grade mixing services typically reserved for platinum-recording artists.
We don’t just harness the power of artificial intelligence; we amplify human creativity. Our mission is to ensure that artists maintain their unique voice in an industry where AI is often seen as a threat to individuality.
Driven by a commitment to ethical AI, we prioritize transparency, inclusivity, and creative empowerment, reshaping the future of music production for the better. With Spike AI, artists are free to focus on what matters most—creating their art."
(spike-ai.com on October 4th 2024)
So... is this the end of mixing engineers? Do you still need mixing skills?
Let's discuss.
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/233
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
This might be the shortest episode we've ever done. And one of the most important ones.
Just listen, do this one thing that the episode is about and watch your recordings and mixes improve.
Enjoy!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/232
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
When we give people feedback on their mixes before they join our coaching program, we're often talking about a lack of "size" and "depth".
Now what is that actually and what can you do now with that feedback?
We're all about helping you make exciting and unique sounding records. And you can only do that when you're able to make intentional decisions.
You won't get there with presets and things you copy from someone else. And knowing how to create size and depth is a big part of that. It's what's always lacking when people mix with presets or settings that they didn't choose intentionally.
In this Episode we're talking about:
And we're using real life everyday examples to explain these concepts.
Enjoy!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/231
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
My guest on this episode is the artist and producer Blake Beckmann.
Blake is a self-recording musician from California and he's the lead vocalist in a Nu Metal band called Stepa.
You might have heard of them, because in 2002 they've released a record that was pretty popular in the scene.
Blake joined our coaching program, The Self-Recording Syndicate in late 2023, with the goal of making a new Stepa record that is even better and more exciting than their major label debut from 20 years ago. Quite the challenge!
I think he and the band are definitely on track there and I'm beyond excited about the progress and the songs I've heard, so far.
So it’s about time to introduce him to you and tell his story.
Here's Blake Beckmann for you. Enjoy!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/230
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
Have you been putting off the recording or mixing of a song? Or an album?
Have you ever been in a situation where you just couldn't make yourself work on a record because every time you think about it it just feels overwhelming? You just don't feel motivated enough to finally figure out what's holding you back, practice your audio skills and get the project done?
Can you play music or practice an instrument for hours without a problem, but sitting down to finish that studio project just feels like this huge challenge and you don't even know where to start?
You are not alone. Even when we have all the resources, training, feedback and guidance, sometimes we just can't do a certain thing. We keep avoiding it and constantly do something else instead. And then we get frustrated about ourselves. Because, after all, we wanted it so bad, didn't we?
A coaching student sent us a message about exactly this, asking me for help. And I'm gonna share my answer to him with you now on the podcast.
Time to get real and ask ourselves some important questions.
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/229
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
On this episode I'm talking to the artist and producer Phillip Cronin.
Phillip is a self-recording musician, based in Rogers, Arkansas in the United States who writes and records indie rock and pop-punk music as a solo artist under the artist name "On The Radio".
We first met in late 2021, so almost 3 years ago now, when Phillip joined our coaching program, The Self-Recording Syndicate.
Since then he has levelled up his audio skills, writing and playing skills, as well as his overall knowledge and understanding of the whole record-making process significantly.
Earlier this year, I travelled to Arkansas to co-produce his first real record with Phillip at his home studio and boy, did I have a blast there.
The sessions were so much fun, I think the results speak for themselves, there is so much to learn from this for our community here and people just need to know about On The Radio and this upcoming record.
So it’s about time to introduce Phillip to you and tell his story.
Enjoy!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/228
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
Josh Rogosin created the iconic sound for the Tiny Desk series for over 800 recordings, collaborating with Fred Again, Yo-Yo Ma, Sting, Post Malone, Taylor Swift and countless others. He also introduced theater to the series, producing and engineering performances from Blue Man Group, Sesame Street, Wicked, The Lion King and more.
Tiny Desk Concerts has a massive audience and has turned into the holy grail and must-stop for every touring musician. It also hits the sweet spot for demographics featuring every kind of music you can imagine.
Josh says he's learned so much about what makes it work so well and we're so stoked that he's sharing some of those insights with us today.
And of course, we're talking about how you can apply these learnings to your home recording studio.
Now, after 10 years producing and engineering for Tiny Desk, Josh is starting his own show, called Global Sound Concerts, and his own production company.
Global Sound Concerts is a music discovery and travel show that finds musicians where they are from, to learn why being from the place inspires them to make music.
He's produced a couple of episodes already and he's planning to release them as a pilot season on his own YouTube page.
We've already been able to watch one of these episodes and can tell you it is totally amazing! So naturally, we had questions about this, too, and cover all of it on this episode.
So here's Josh Rogosin for you! Enjoy!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/227
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
Let's get technical! Today we're gonna talk about how to handle and reduce or remove noise from your recordings. And how to keep it out of your recordings in the first place.
Usually, everything we teach is about the music. About the song. About how we can serve the song and make it connect and resonate with your audience. We try to avoid getting too technical and we don't believe that gear or plugins are the solution to most of your audio problems.
But sometimes we have to do purely technical work to remove what is distracting from the music, so we can go back to the song and fully focus on that again.
Noise is one of those distracting things. And it comes in many different forms.
So on this episode we're talking about:
Let's dive into this!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/226
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
Ady Parzentny is back on our podcast!
If you've been following us for a while, you'll know that we've interviewed him at Studioszene 2023. Now he's back, this time joining us in our usual setting here.
We've asked our community to send us questions for Ady, so this is at least partly a Q&A episode.
But we also have our own questions and topics that we want to cover, because so much has happened since we last talked.
Ady was involved in starting a recording school in Morocco, which is such a cool project, and he also introduced us to a couple of really exciting people, which we're forever grateful for.
So we're very glad we met last year and super stoked to have him back!
Here's Ady Parzentny from Hit The Road Music Studio!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/225
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
Benedikt & Malcom mix a LOT of songs every year and therefore notice a fair amount of mistakes that home recording artists are making. With a little know-how and experience, these mistakes are entirely preventable.
The guys admit to having made many of these mistakes themselves in the past, and now, through their experience, you and other home recording artists don't have to.
Sometimes knowing what NOT to do is more valuable than being told what to do.
So let's look at the 5 biggest recording mistakes that Benedikt has seen and dealt with this week.
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/224
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
Let's go through the entire record making process, start to finish, step by step!
Here's why you need to hear this episode:
If you've never been to a professional studio to go through the entire process without compromise, then you probably don't know all the steps involved and everything that's necessary to get a great sounding result in the end.
So many self-recording artists are cutting corners and skipping important steps without knowing. Let's change that.
And if you've already done it all and know the process, then this is a great reminder to go the extra mile every single time and do whatever is required, even if it seems to be tedious and hard sometimes.
Let's go!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/223
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
Let's go through the entire record making process, start to finish, step by step!
Here's why you need to hear this episode:
If you've never been to a professional studio to go through the entire process without compromise, then you probably don't know all the steps involved and everything that's necessary to get a great sounding result in the end.
So many self-recording artists are cutting corners and skipping important steps without knowing. Let's change that.
And if you've already done it all and know the process, then this is a great reminder to go the extra mile every single time and do whatever is required, even if it seems to be tedious and hard sometimes.
Let's go!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/222
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
We're super stoked to have Brendan Dekora on the show today! Benedikt has been interviewed on his podcast and now it's Brendan's turn to answer our questions and share his expertise and knowledge with you, our people here at TSRB!
The "Friendly Sonic Sherpa"
Brendan Dekora is a Grammy-winning producer and mixer with over twenty years of experience in the industry, known for his passion for music, technical expertise, and laid-back attitude while working under pressure in the studio.
He has worked alongside some of the biggest names in rock, including Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Foo Fighters and Steven Wilson, and has contributed to numerous Platinum-certified projects by artists like Muse and Crosses.
Brendan knows that every artist, big or small, faces the same challenge: wanting to feel complete, content, and creatively fulfilled with the music you make.
So he specializes in working with artists who are committed to creating music with depth and intention. His focus is on elevating songs that feature thoughtful lyrics, unique arrangements, and a willingness to explore new territories.
By combining technical expertise with creative intuition, he aims to enhance the introspective and emotive elements of your music.
Brendan uses decades of experience working alongside some of the most creative and influential minds in the industry to guide you along your journey, becoming your sonic sherpa.
Be prepared for a true gem of an episode, with Brendan sharing his most valuable insights, as well as super inspiring stories from his sessions with some of the greatest of all time.
Let's go!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/221
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
This is part one of our "Back To Basics" Mini Series.
We're doing this because we believe that we need to be reminded more than we need to be taught.
And also because most self-recording musicians we talk to, even the more experiences ones, still ignore some of the super important basics. And by doing that, they are self-sabotaging. Holding themselves back from making truly exciting records.
So here's part I:
We thought about the term "DIY-Recording" quite a bit and we think it is misleading. It doesn't work. At least not the way that many people think it does.
Most self-recording artists / bands are actually doing themselves a disservice by DIY-ing everything.
And we know this sounds weird for a podcast that teaches you to do exactly that. The thing is, so many people have a wrong understanding of the record-making process and completely wrong expectations when it comes to this stuff.
So we think this is an important message and it's time for some real talk, telling you the truth here.
In this episode we're asking each other a few very interesting questions. A little thought experiment.
Then we show you the different ways you can approach your next (DIY-)record. And what to realistically expect from each.
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/220
--
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
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
This is the most personal episode we've ever done and I (Benedikt) was honestly pretty afraid of doing it. But I just had to.
As you might have noticed, we've been taking a break from the podcast. And there are many reasons for it.
I've been quiet about most of those reasons for a long time now and feel like it's finally time to talk about it all.
I've learned a LOT during those last couple of months and I want to share this with our community, because I know that many of you are struggling, as well.
And I also know that, for many of us, art, music and community are what's getting us through these times.
So here's what this episode is about:
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/219
--
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Get our free video training & checklist, "Standout Mixes - The DIY Musician's Guide To Exciting Mixes That Stand Out And Connect":
theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
-
Apply for The Self-Recording Syndicate, our unique, personalized coaching program and jump on a free clarity call with us to see if it is a great fit for you:
theselfrecordingband.com
-
Get our in-depth video course "Mix-Ready: The Band Recording Essentials":
theselfrecordingband.com/mixready
-
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
I had the honor of being interviewed on Brendan Dekora's podcast "Pro Audio Perspectives".
On this show Brendan dives into the heart and soul of the music industry through candid conversations with professionals from across the pro audio field. Each episode explores the deeper emotional connections and the artistry behind the music, moving beyond the technical aspects to uncover what truly inspires great performances.
And you know, Brendan Dekora is the real deal. He has won a Grammy Award and has worked with artists like the Foo Fighters, Trent Reznor, Steven Wilson, Nine Inch Nails, and many more.
So, needless to say, I felt very excited and honored when he invited me to be a guest on his show.
We talked about pre-production and about how I work with artists that hire me to mix their songs. About how I guide them through the production process, so that they are actually ready to send me their files for mixing.
We also talked about my personal preferences in terms of music and my style, aesthetic and approach to mixing.
And I shared my story of how I actually got to be a mixer and producer.
I think what we discussed there is very, very relevant and helpful for you. Those are pretty much the things that I also teach in great detail inside the Self-Recording Syndicate.
All the things that are so important to me, like
So I just had to share it on our show, as well!
Thanks for inviting me and for letting me share this with our people here, Brendan.
Enjoy!
--
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment on YouTube, a rating and review on your podcast app, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/218
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Get our free video training & checklist, "Standout Mixes - The DIY Musician's Guide To Exciting Mixes That Stand Out And Connect":
theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
-
Apply for The Self-Recording Syndicate, our unique, personalized coaching program and jump on a free clarity call with us to see if it is a great fit for you:
theselfrecordingband.com/call
-
Get our in-depth video course "Mix-Ready: The Band Recording Essentials":
theselfrecordingband.com/mixready
-
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
Dan Korneff is a producer, mixer & engineer.
His credit list includes some of the biggest names in new rock. Like Pierce the Veil, Paramore, Papa Roach, Breaking Benjamin, Sleeping With Sirens, or My Chemical Romance.
And Dan not only has the creative and music skills, but also a deep technical understanding of the electronics of the equipment.
He started his journey towards plug-in development by repairing and modifying his own gear, rebuilding consoles and vintage compressors and equalizers, designing circuits and eventually making custom outboard equipment. This led naturally to the design of plug-ins.
If you've seen any of my mixing tutorials, courses, or playbooks inside our coaching program, you've probably also seen Korneff plugins. Especially the Amplified Instruments Processor has been one of my absolute go-tos for years now.
So Korneff Audio plug-ins are basically taking Dan's workflows, solutions and ideas developed on real-world projects and tuning them into software tools.
Luke DeLalio has an extensive background in just about anything to do with creativity.
He started in music as a guitarist, then moved into engineering and production, working on records in multiple genres through the late 80s into the mid 90s.
Then he pivoted into theatre, directing plays and musicals, teaching acting and somehow becoming a sought-after photographer.
Ever fleeing boredom and the same old thing, Luke took up design and fine art, and now spends his time with Dan developing all things Korneff, writing on all things cultural, consulting on marketing and web projects, and coaching creative people who are sick of it all and want to change things up.
Luke and Dan met almost 30 years ago, when Luke was freelance engineering and took on Dan as an assistant. Now Dan is the master and Luke is the padawan. How cool is that!
Dan, Luke and Benedikt met for the first time at NAMM 2024 in LA and they had an amazing chat which just needed to be continued on this show.
As always, we want to feature only the products that we use and love ourselves, tell the inspiring stories of engineers and producers that we admire and the people behind the products are just as important to us as the products themselves.
So here are Dan Korneff and Luke DeLalio - Enjoy!
--
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment on YouTube, a rating and review on your podcast app, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/217
--
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Get our free video training & checklist, "Standout Mixes - The DIY Musician's Guide To Exciting Mixes That Stand Out And Connect":
theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
-
Apply for The Self-Recording Syndicate, our unique, personalized coaching program and jump on a free clarity call with us to see if it is a great fit for you:
theselfrecordingband.com/call
-
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
Ken Lewis is a Mixer & Producer with 114 gold records under his belt. On his credits list you'll find BTS, Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Drake, Bruno Mars and many more.
Dom Rivinius is a producer, writer and mix engineer with credits on projects for artists like Eminem, Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift or BTS.
So both got quite the list there and now they also own a plugin company together. It's called Mixing Night Audio and offers really unique tools that you won't find anywhere else! So powerful and fun to use!
KEN LEWIS CALLS HIMSELF A MIXER, PRODUCER AND "FINISHER".
And he also says he has the weirdest resume in the music industry. So, naturally, we needed to hear more about that.
DOM RIVINIUS MET KEN A FEW YEARS AGO AND BECAME PART OF HIS TEAM.
First as an assistant and then he got involved more and more on big projects for artists like Eminem, Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift or BTS.
Dom started out as a drummer, and after he started working with Ken he got to play drums on a few Taylor Swift songs, for example.
A FEW YEARS INTO WORKING TOGETHER THEY'VE STARTED THEIR PLUGIN COMPANY, MIXING NIGHT AUDIO.
We had a chance to play with their tools and use them on a few projects. And wow! These are really powerful and so much fun to use! And... a little different in many ways. 😉
On this episode, Ken & Dom share details about how they came up with those plugin ideas, the philosophy behind them and why they are a great addition to your mixing tool kit.
AND FINALLY, THE TWO HAVE BUILT AN ONLINE COMMUNITY DOING FREE MONTHLY LIVE STREAMS ON YOUTUBE STRAIGHT FROM KEN'S STUDIO.
So overall, we thought this was such a cool partnership between Ken and Dom that we wanted to know everything about how they met, how they got to where they are, what it takes to get that kind of projects and how they balance their insane work loads with other areas of life.
And the answers were super interesting, although not surprising if you've ever met one of them in person.
We hung out with Dom at Studioszene in Hamburg last year, then again at Namm in LA earlier this year and we immediately knew we had to introduce him and Ken to our audience.
So here we are!
And this episode is only the beginning:
ON APRIL 16TH 2024 KEN AND DOM WILL DO A "VOCAL MASTERY" WORKSHOP FOR OUR COMMUNITY!
It's going to be a free live event and if you are not on our email list or in our Facebook group, yet, please sign up or join now because you don't want to miss this!
(Getting our emails is as simple as downloading any of our free guides and tutorials.)
--
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment on YouTube, a rating and review on your podcast app, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Get our free video training & checklist, "Standout Mixes - The DIY Musician's Guide To Exciting Mixes That Stand Out And Connect":
theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
-
Apply for The Self-Recording Syndicate, our unique, personalized coaching program and jump on a free clarity call with us to see if it is a great fit for you:
theselfrecordingband.com/call
-
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
"Your song is your baby - and everyone on your team should care as much as you." - Carl Bahner.
Carl is an emotion-focused mix engineer with a hands-on approach, who helps artists and producers from all over the world to build their own sonic dream team.
He has an open-minded, collaborative approach with artists and producers, exploring the jungle of sounds to make each song as unique, memorable, and emotionally impactful as possible.
Carl also calls himself a co-producer. Because even though most people come to him for mixing, one of his biggest strengths is helping artists and producers with that final 3% of the production that keeps you banging your head against the wall.
And finally, Carl helps passionate studio pros become irresistible to their ideal clients by teaching them to communicate their unique passions and perspectives.
Why does he do that? Because he loves being part of magical teams who create magical art. And through helping other producers find their perfect artist and make them happy, Carl can have an even greater impact and change even more lives through the music that's being created.
And why is it all about communicating? Because when you clearly communicate what makes you, YOU - aligned with exactly what your ideal clients crave - your inbox fills with serious inquiries.
That’s why Carl uses his two decades of music industry experience to help producers, engineers, and session musicians find and attract the perfect artists to work with.
And he really cares. It comes through in everything he says.
Here comes Carl Bahner, on The Self-Recording Band Podcast. Let's dive in!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment on YouTube, a rating and review on your podcast app, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/215
--
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Get access to our super detailed DIY-recording course "Mix-Ready: The Band Recording Essentials" and our "Everything Bundle" that also includes our mixing courses (feat. Wet Future):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/mixready/
Get our free video training & checklist, "Standout Mixes - The DIY Musician's Guide To Exciting Mixes That Stand Out And Connect":
theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
-
Apply for The Self-Recording Syndicate, our unique, personalized coaching program for those who are taking this seriuosly and jump on a free clarity call with us to see if it is a great fit for you:
theselfrecordingband.com/call
--
Episode show notes:
Wet Future return to the podcast to share details about recording their record, "Under the Weather", DIY-style versus hiring a producer and renting a big high-end recording studio to produce their upcoming new material.
They made both methods work very well and on this episode they explain why that is and what went into it. They talk about the pros and cons of each process and also discuss their current hybrid approach that they are looking to refine in the future.
This is an incredibly valuable episode because it makes a few things very clear that many DIY-musicians are not fully aware of:
The importance of pre-production:
Why most professional records get fully recorded and planned out during this demo process before the actual recording session starts and everything gets recorded again.
What it takes to make great records, DIY or not:
Great songs, great performances, lots of practice and preparation, perfectly set up guitars with great intonation, great rooms, etc.
Why making a DIY record still often means hiring professional mixing and mastering engineers:
Production and engineering is hard enough to do yourself. Most artists are simply not capable of also doing the mixing themselves and are therefore much better off focussing on being musicians.
Unless you are putting in the many hours required to learn mixing properly and with professional guidance, your mixes will not sound professional. Period.
That's why bands like Wet Future record themselves, but hire pros for mixing who can also guide them through the self-recording process and therefore get them a better end result.
Their records and their progress as DIY-producers speak for themselves.
The biggest challenge with DIY-productions:
Someone still needs to produce! Can you do that?
Let's dive in!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment on YouTube, a rating and review on your podcast app, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to:
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
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 unique, personalized coaching program and jump on a free clarity call with us to see if it is a great fit for you:
theselfrecordingband.com/call
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
Sam Pura is a record producer and audio engineer from Fremont, California. He owns and operates the Panda Studios and is the founder of Purafied Audio, a plugin company turning Sam's ideas and analog workflows into digital mixing tools that will inspire your creativity.
Sam Pura and his team at The Panda Studios are not just about immaculate results. Working with them is an experience.
At The Panda Studios you'll find a great live room, multiple mixing rooms / control rooms, and an amazing collection of gear, combining the best of both analog and digital. Plus a great collection of instruments and amps.
Sam Pura's discography includes breakthrough albums by Basement, The Story So Far, State Champs, Hundredth, and The Dangerous Summer, just to name a few.
He's known for his work on a lot of modern pop punk, punk rock and heavy records. But has also worked on many projects outside of these genres.
And finally, Sam also makes plugins! Purafied is the name of his company there and on this episode we talk about those tools for a bit, as well.
Because those are some really unique and interesting ideas that Sam has turned into these plugins.
From Sam Pura's website:
When you work with Sam, it becomes immediately apparent that he will relentlessly push your record to be the best he’s ever done, but for those who come prepared, the environment can be as inspirational as that feeling on release day. And, along with your record, you’ll leave The Panda Studios with a new best friend and a love of Topo Chico.
Let's dive in!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment on YouTube, a rating and review on your podcast app, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/213
--
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
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 unique, personalized coaching program and jump on a free clarity call with us to see if it is a great fit for you:
theselfrecordingband.com/call
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
We interviewed Lars Deutsch on the podcast and the result is a masterclass in songwriting and sync licensing. Is your song telling a story?
This was our exclusive opportunity to pick the brain of a super successful songwriter and sync-licensing expert.
Lars Deutsch currently lives in L.A. and has worked with brands and artists like Adidas, Amazon, Brett Gelman (Stranger Things, The Other Guys), Budweiser, FOX, Ghostface Killah (Wu-Tang Clan), Katie Melua, Mercedes-Benz, and many more.
The two-time Emmy winner is self-recording his music, but also collaborating with other engineers, depending on the project.
He went from heavy metal guitarist, to singer, to songwriter, to a Masters in classical composition, to international performances of his classical works, to lecturing in composition and audio production to scoring three hundred films / commercials that have collected over one hundred awards.
His songs are in high demand and Lars is a producer at Built To Last Music, a company that features multiple Oscar nominees and Grammy winners.
Recent projects include: Stephen King’s “The Passenger”, “Future Proof” with Keke Palmer, a commercial with James Earle Jones (Darth Vader), plus live mixes and an Intel commercial with the Higher Brothers.
If you're interested in the sync licensing world and want to know how to get started in this industry, this is for you.
You'll learn how high the bar actually is when it comes to the quality of your music and what Lars does to keep his chops and creativity fresh.
And if just want to improve your songwriting skills for your own projects, this is your chance to learn from a true master of the craft.
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment on YouTube, a rating and review on your podcast app, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/212
--
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:
Surprisingly, some of our subscribers are telling us that they are using standalone multitrack recorders instead of computers.
We actually get these kinds of messages pretty regularly.
So, is it a good alternative? Are there any advantages to using a device like that? Or should you just get an interface and a DAW and start using a computer to produce your music?
Let's discuss!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/211
--
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:
Casual NAMM 2024 recap episode from Benedikt's LA hotel room, giving Malcom an update on who he met and what he discovered at the conference.
Also, if you ever go to an event like this (highly recommended!), this episode includes a few mindset-related principles and takeaways, so you'll have an incredible time and make new friends in the industry.
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/210
--
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:
Casual NAMM 2024 recap episode from Benedikt's LA hotel room, giving Malcom an update on who he met and what he discovered at the conference.
Also, if you ever go to an event like this (highly recommended!), this episode includes a few mindset-related principles and takeaways, so you'll have an incredible time and make new friends in the industry.
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/209
--
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:
>>Please go back to part one of this mini series (episode 207) before you listen to this one!<<
You're not mixing kick drums, you're mixing songs. And the kick drum sound has to serve the song. Here's how to get this right in your mix.
We go through our kick drum chains and show you the tools we use, why we use them and how we use them in the context of the mix.
It's not just about EQ moves or compression techniques. It's about how it all works together to create the sound you want for your song.
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/208
--
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:
You're not mixing kick drums, you're mixing songs. And the kick drum sound has to serve the song. Here's how to get this right in your mix.
We go through our kick drum chains and show you the tools we use, why we use them and how we use them in the context of the mix.
It's not just about EQ moves or compression techniques. It's about how it all works together to create the sound you want for your song.
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/207
--
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:
This is a purely speculative episode on the current state and future of A.I. (artificial intelligence) in (rock) music.
We're talking about what it can and can't do (yet), where we think things might be going and whether or not we all need to be afraid of it.
Again, we don't know nearly enough about this subject and the tech under the hood to make any serious predictions here. Hardly anyone does.
But we are already using A.I. tools on a daily basis. In our personal lives, in our businesses and when working on music or other audio & video projects, like this podcast. So we have some experience and have done enough research and testing to at least have an opinion.
And we're hoping for certain tools to be released soon, so that artists, producers and engineers can be even more creative with even less friction.
Let's dive in!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/206
--
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:
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:
And here's how to do it:
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
--
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
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
--
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:
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
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:
Then take one of the following approaches (or all of them):
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
--
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
--
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
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
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 $$$ and blushes if you follow the approach these two pros take when entering a new recording studio for the first time.
Let's dive in!
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/198
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Here are three next steps for you to take:
1. Get our free video training & checklist, "Standout Mixes - The DIY Musician's Guide To Exciting Mixes That Stand Out And Connect":
theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
-
2. Apply for The Self-Recording Syndicate, our personalized coaching program!
It all starts with a free first call where we talk about your music, give you feedback and a step-by-step action plan that you can then implement on your own, or together with us.
Best case: We end up working together and completely transform the sound of your music forever.
Worst case: You get an hour of free coaching and feedback.
Sounds fair? Cool. Apply now and book your free coaching call:
theselfrecordingband.com/call
-
3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Episode show notes:
As producers, deep down, if we're honest with ourselves and I mean completely honest, we'd all love to be using analogue gear, am I right?
Well, your man Martin Zobel used to work exclusively in the box. Using plugins was the only thing he knew.
But Martin had an itch that needed satisfying. He wanted to use analogue gear, but didn't have the thousands of $$$ 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
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
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:
What an episode we’ve got for you this week. Benny & Malcom sit down on the Studioszene Sofa with Ady Parzentny .
Ady Parzentny travels the world, helping locals and displaced people make and record music with his business Hit The Road Music Studio.
About 5 years ago, Ady started out by travelling around in a van with a basic studio setup. Supporting local artists by helping them record their tracks and even making music videos.
Visiting places like Morrocco, Albania and Greece has taught Ady that music is the gateway into a place’s culture.
Ady’s work also extends to helping bring some normality back to the lives of the displaced people he works with at refugee camps.
Welcomed wherever he goes, Ady talks about how the generosity of communities has made this possible.
We hear fascinating insights from Ady about how the most expensive mics are not suitable for recording out in the wild, working on a very tight budget and pigeon problems.
Let’s hear Ady’s journey and help spread the joy.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/195
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:
Chris Yetter, the owner of Audioscape joins Benedikt & Malcom in the second of our series of interviews from Studioszene 2023.
Chris and his team at Audioscape hand make analogue hardware without compromising on anything. Astonishingly with an extremely affordable price-tag.
The guys discuss what to listen for when choosing your hardware and how no two units will ever sound exactly same.
Audioscape know that there are minute differences in sound from model to model and celebrate the fact that this is what helps create your own unique sound.
Chris touches on the riddle that has troubled humankind for millenia… "Plugins or Hardware?" The answer might surprise you.
Two faders you can touch and move with your hands simultaneously might not sound like much, but this level of control that you don't get with a plugin can completely change the way you work.
Chris also shares with us a few details about an Audioscape reverb plugin that they're working on.
"A hardware company releasing a plugin? Are Audioscape outside of their minds?" I hear you ask.
Nope. It's going to be incredible.
Enjoy.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/194
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:
This is the first of our live interviews from Studioszene 2023 in Hamburg. This week, Malcom & Benedikt are chatting with legendary producer and educator Warren Huart. (Produce Like A Pro)
Warren has worked with Aerosmith, The Fray, Ramones... to name but a few. He was one of the highlights of Studioszene 2023 where he hosted a masterclass.
Warren shares with us details about how he went from musician to producer to educator and how he eventually ended up laying his hat in the USA.
Building a career as a producer these days isn't a linear path and Warren discusses how doing a bit of everything is the norm now.
He talks about mastering and how it shouldn't be the stage at which things are fixed. He also answers some questions from the audience regarding analogue desks and polishing 💩💩💩
Warren has new book out >>>>>>>>> Home Studio Recording: The Complete Guide
You'll be hard pushed not to take something valuable from this interview with arguably the most passionate man in the industry.
Ladies & Gentlemen... Mr. Warren Huart.
Marvellous.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/193
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:
Benedikt & Malcom further explore the common mistakes that self-recording artists are making in this continuation of last week’s episode.
They see a lot of re-occurring errors when working with self-recording artists. So they made these episodes so that you don't have to make these same mistakes.
Everybody makes mistakes and if you find that you have made some of these mistakes, go easy on yourself. We all have at some point!
Hopefully though, by listening to this episode, you can prevent any future mishaps.
So here is our list of recent home recording mistakes that we're discussing on the show:
· Songs lacking layered vocals
· Creating tight and harmonious vocal layers
· Arranging your songs in an efficient way. ie: intentionally placing doubles & harmonies in places that serve the song
· Comping on the fly
· Drum comping
· Creating seamless overdubs by punching in/out
· Why it’s not a good idea to send just the MIDI files or DI tracks to your mixing engineer
So, let’s put the learning van into 6th gear and hurtle down the highway of knowledge, with the windows down. (aka let’s listen to this week’s episode) 😊
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/192
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:
Benedikt & Malcom notice a fair amount of mistakes that home recording artists are making. With a little know-how and experience, these mistakes are entirely preventable.
The guys admit to having made these mistakes themselves in the past, and now, through their experience, you and other home recording artists don't have to.
The first topic covered this week is recording overheads. Arguably the most important layer of recording a full kit.
If your overheads aren't sounding good, your whole drum sound is gonna sound off.
"Overheads should generally sound like a really great drumkit just by themselves" - Malcom Owen-Flood
There are several things home recording artists need to watch out for when recording overheads. Things that can be easily overlooked leading to phase issues and an unbalanced stereo image.
Also covered is clipping. Home recording artists are sometimes unaware that they are clipping but it's not as straightforward as just watching for the meter in your DAW turning red.
This is the first of a two-parter, so buckle up and let's get up to date with what's going wrong in the world of home recording.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/191
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:
Have you ever asked yourself this question while recording or mixing?
What is your song about? How is it supposed to feel? How did you come up with it?
These are important questions to ask yourself. And if you find the answer to it, it might transform your mixes and productions.
We’ve received a lot of messages lately from people who are saying things like:
"My demos sound cool, but when I'm done mixing, I feel like something got lost along the way"
Or…
"I know exactly what I want my music to sound like, but I can't seem to make it come out of the speakers."
This is a common problem among Self Recording artists and Malcom & Benedikt take a more philosophical approach rather than a technical approach to this topic.
This isn’t something that can be fixed by adjusting a plugin setting. This is a mindset thing.
We’ve heard many songs lately that have incredibly dense arrangements. It's like people are feeling the need to add a lot of stuff to their songs to make them sound exciting and big.
While that can be a good idea sometimes, it’s often not the best approach. You may actually be taking away from your song by continually adding new elements.
So let’s jump in to this weeks episode and find out exactly why your demo is currently sounding better than your final recordings.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/190
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:
A very special episode this week ladies & gentlemen, as Benedikt welcomes the one and only Warren Huart.
Warren is a seasoned multi-platinum producer having worked with artists such as Aerosmith, Ace Frehley, The Fray, Ramones, James Blunt, Colbie Caillat… to name but a few.
He is the founder of the highly popular Youtube Channel “Produce Like A Pro” and a mentor on the educational platform “Pro Mix Academy”.
Check out Warren’s new book “Home Studio Recording”. If you’re looking to sharpen your knowledge as a producer then it’s targeted specifically at you.
You can catch Warren at Studioszene Event - Hamburg 2023
-- (Book Tickets Here) -- where he will be running a masterclass session.
Warren shares some little known facts about his time as a DJ and how his love of electronic music drew him to Berlin in the late 80s, before becoming a full time producer.
Naturally, a producer with so much experience has some priceless advice to offer for self recording artists.
"Work fast! If you’re working fast, you get the idea and the inspiration down. That’s more important than anything else."
Warren covers a range of topics, including how he keeps his guitar skills sharp, how a broad taste in music has helped him as a producer and what sort of impact AI generated music will have on the music industry.
So let’s jump in and see how “marvelously well” Warren is doing today.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/189
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:
A special episode this week as Benedikt sits down with Self-Recording Syndicate graduate Dewi Thompson.
Dewi is a songwriter from the UK who also produces and mixes his own material as a solo artist and collaborates with another artist under the names Altered States and Brave New World.
Dewi felt that there were some holes in his audio production knowledge and after aimlessly watching hundreds of hours of conflicting YouTube content (we’ve all been there) on how compression is the most important thing to have ever existed, he decided to reach out to Benedikt for some personal feedback and coaching.
It was clear the Dewi was a talented musician and songwriter but there were some blind spots and a lack of direction.
During Dewi’s 18 months in the Self-Recording Syndicate he has developed systems and a reliable process to get amazing results consistently and with confidence.
This journey goes all the way back to the 90’s when Dewi began recording on an Atari ST with some outboard gear including the coveted Alesis QuadraVerb GT.
These days Dewi prefers a more modern setup and is a proficient Cubase user.
Now that Dewi has the knowledge and skills he needed, he has some very exciting projects in the pipeline. So watch this space.
Let's welcome Dewi and hear about his fascinating journey from where he was to where he is now.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/188
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:
Are you mixing into a compressor? I mean mixing with a compressor on your mix bus from the beginning and not just slapping a compressor on at the end and then hoping for the best.
These guys are, and in this episode, Benedikt & Malcom talk about how they’re doing it and why they’re doing it.
Every compressor has its own unique ‘flavor’ and is often used as the glue that brings all of your song’s individual elements together.
Remember, though, your mix bus has EVERYTHING going through it, so you’ve got to be careful. Any changes you make on there will affect the whole song, for better or for worse.
Where do you start with mix bus compression, though?
Do you know which type of compressor to use for mix bus compression? You have options…
You could reach for a VCA compressor if you’re looking for a transparent glue. Maybe you’re feeling extra fruity and want to risk destroying your mix, so why not reach for an 1176?
Then there are the settings. Benedikt and Malcom compare notes on their go-to “safe” settings when using mix bus compression.
“It sounds complicated, but once you get the core concepts, it’s not that complicated at all.” – Benedikt
Mix bus compression can be a complicated subject, but it’s also a fundamental skill that you need to get your head around if you want to make professional-sounding mixes.
“Learning is sucking, until you don’t.” – Malcom Owen-Flood
A real deep dive episode here, so hold on to your threshold knobs and let the learning begin.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/187
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:
This week, we're looking at external mic preamps and helping you decide if you actually need one or if the answer you're looking for lies elsewhere in your recording setup and process.
External mic preamps are no doubt a useful tool and can sometimes be the component that lifts your recording from sounding good to great.
Specific models of external mic preamps can offer a unique coloration to your recordings and help squeeze an extra 10% of quality into your recordings. However, preamp choice will likely never be the single factor that miraculously saves a recording.
Wanna record some gentle acoustic guitar with some soft, intimate vocals but the noise floor is making it a pain in the ass? Then maybe an external mic preamp is the answer.
There's one thing however, that always trumps gear choice, and that is performance. Nail your performance, and a phone recording could beat even the most expensive recording chains.
Microphone choice is always an important factor too, and do you know what you're doing with your audio interface when putting that external mic preamp into it?
Also covered is whether it's worth splurging on an expensive external mic preamp or simply hiring one. Not many of us are recording frequently enough to justify the cost, so hiring might be your best bet if you only do this a couple of times a year.
Malcom & Benedikt discuss how using one high-end preamp in one killer-sounding chain can ultimately be a game changer. It's better to have one exceptional-quality chain than several average-sounding chains, right?
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/186
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:
Sometimes, a single guitar tone just won't cut it. It sounds weak and out of place; no matter how we EQ and process it, something is still missing. What's the answer to this? Well, it's more guitars.
Maybe you love the bottom end of one amp or pedal but also crave the mid-range of another. Well, guess what? You can have both by combining guitar tones.
This topic is broad and there are countless approaches to combining guitar tones and doubling guitar tracks. It's easy to become overwhelmed and throw everything at it, but this can lead to a "more is less" result. Fear not, Benedikt and Malcom discuss their go-to methods in detail so that you can record with intention.
The subtle differences between a double and a copied performance may seem insignificant, but they are crucial in shaping the overall sound.
A double is a second performance of the same thing, not a copy and paste of the original performance. This distinction, while seemingly minute, will drastically affect the final tone.
What you'll learn from this episode:
In conclusion, creating a unique guitar sound is a blend of understanding your tools, practising different techniques, and experimenting with various combinations.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/185
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:
Something different this week as Benedikt walks us through his newly updated mixing template. Showing us the tools he uses to nail a mix, we take a peek behind the wizard's curtain.
A mixing template is a very individual thing, tailored to suit the workflow of the engineer, no two are the same.
This deep dive into Benedikt's mixing template will give you all the knowledge you need to create your very own custom mixing template setting you up for maximum creativity when it comes to the mixing stage.
Mixing templates are an ever-evolving thing of course and all of these decisions are made over time and with a lot of trial and error. But If you pay attention and understand the "why" behind Benedikt's decision-making here, you only need to do this once. Benefiting from the thousands of hours that Benedikt has spent at the mixing desk.
Follow along with the accompanying YouTube video to jumpstart your path to creative godliness. (AKA a good, functional mixing template)
In this deep dive episode Benedikt not only gives you insights into the tools he uses, but why he uses them. See an industry professional cover these topics:
So grab yourself a pen & notebook and get ready to learn as Benedikt walks us step by step through his mixing template.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/184
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 this episode, we delve into a fundamental aspect of music production that holds the key to professional-quality tracks: basic audio editing. Whether you're a novice producer or a seasoned veteran, honing your proficiency in these essential techniques is pivotal for creating exceptional music and getting your songs mix-ready.
But we're not just talking theory here. Our discussion extends to the ins and outs of actual cleanup - the nitty-gritty of identifying and eliminating those pesky issues like hums, distracting noises, headphone bleed and pre-rolls that could mar your perfect track. Even seasoned producers can overlook these, so whether you're a newbie or a veteran, you're sure to find some insightful takeaways.
Why Proficiency in Basic Audio Editing Skills is Essential:
Impeccable Mix Integration: Properly edited tracks, free from unwanted noise, clicks, and pops, seamlessly integrate into your mix, preserving its sonic integrity.
Distinction from Mixing: Basic audio editing is distinct from the mixing process. Neglecting this step can lead to confusion and misunderstandings, impacting both individual projects and collaborations with mixing engineers.
Time and Cost Efficiency: Collaborating with a mixing engineer becomes more efficient when tracks are meticulously cleaned. Minimized cleanup requirements can save valuable time and potentially reduce costs.
Enhanced Performance: By removing noise and artifacts, your computer's processing capacity is optimized, leading to smoother production and mixing workflows. We explain how your VST3 plugins can be draining resources even when you think they're not doing anything.
Focused Mixing: Proficient audio editing allows you or your mix engineer to concentrate solely on refining sonic elements during mixing, free from the distractions of unprocessed tracks.
By mastering these foundational audio editing skills, you can elevate your production quality, fortify collaborations with mixing experts, and experience a more streamlined mixing process. Whether you're a burgeoning DIY producer or an enthusiast aiming to enhance your production prowess, this episode equips you with actionable insights to ensure your tracks are primed for exceptional sound before entering the mixing phase.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/183
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 this episode, we explore drum limiting and how it can transform your drum sound. Join us as we dive into the world of limiters, clippers, and saturation to achieve an impactful drum mix that stands out.
Malcolm & Benedikt discuss the significance of using clippers and limiters to shape the perfect drum sound. Discover how these techniques can level up your music by adding punch or addressing inconsistent playing. They also delve into hard and soft clipping, explaining the difference and why and when you’d use them.
Understanding the differences between hard and soft clipping and when to use limiters versus clippers can lead to significant improvements in your music production skills.
In terms of practical application, we explore how to use limiters and clippers on drums to best benefit the overall drum sound. For example, limiters can fix inconsistent playing and reduce the snare bleed in overheads. In contrast, clippers can create headroom and increase the punch of the drum hits. It's also essential to understand how the type of limiter or clipper used affects the sound of the drums in different ways.
There is a clipper that is always on my snare channel right when I import. I know I'm going to want it every time. It just lives there. So for me, clippers are the priority on drums. - Malcom Owen Flood
Part of the discussion centres around hard and soft clipping. The differences between them are significant, and understanding these differences is key to effectively using limiters and clippers on drums. Additionally, we explore how saturation-based clipping and limiting can be applied to a mix and how these tools can control dynamics and add harmonic color.
To sum up, mastering drum processing through techniques like clipping and limiting can dramatically enhance your music's sound quality. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a DIY enthusiast, gaining knowledge in these areas can provide you with valuable insights and practical tips to get those drums hitting right!
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/182
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:
This week we have the pleasure of chatting with the esteemed audio engineer and producer, Hans-Martin Buff. Join Benedikt & Wayne as they delve into Hans-Martin's illustrious career, from his time working with music legends like Prince and Chaka Khan to his current pioneering work in 3D audio creation.
Hans-Martin talks us through his journey, recounting his experiences in iconic studios like Pachyderm, Paisley Park and Real World Studios.
In this conversation, Hans-Martin shares his unique perspective on technology's transformative impact on music production. As a seasoned audio engineer and educator, continuously pushing the envelope, he shares some of his engaging anecdotes from his work in world-famous studios to his exploration of the shift from stereo to 3D production.
The future of audio technology comes into focus as Hans-Martin explores the exciting potential of 3D music production for artists. He provides invaluable advice for DIY artists, emphasizing the accessibility of 3D music creation. It’s more accessible than you think.
Hans-Martin tells us how he is presently working with 3D audio more than stereo and how his collaboration with Peter Gabriel came about.
“He (Peter Gabriel) stood me up for Brian Eno, and I said, you know what? I'd stand myself up for Brian Eno.”
Hans-Martin Buff will conduct a masterclass at the upcoming Studioszene Event - Hamburg 2023 (Book tickets here). Learning from one of the industry's stalwarts is a golden opportunity.
So let’s uncover the brilliance of Hans-Martin Buff’s career and his impact on the ever-evolving music industry.
--
Studioszene Event - Hamburg 2023 (Book tickets here)
Hans-Martin Buff's Website
Hans-Martin Buff's Discography
Current work with Peter Gabriel
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/181
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:
We’re thrilled to introduce you to the brilliant audio engineer, Jill Zimmermann. In this episode, Jill shares her journey in the world of audio engineering and offers invaluable insights into what it takes to be a successful audio engineer.
Jill's accomplishments are awe-inspiring, having engineered on 2 Gold Singles and a Gold Record, as well as working on Juno award-winning albums by AlexIsOnFire and July Talk. Other bands Jill has worked with are Three Days Grace, Alice Cooper, City and Colour, and so many more.
Jill tells us how her unrelenting work ethic and passion for sound and music have led to her not only making a career as an audio engineer but flourishing in the music industry.
Jill has a unique approach to pitch and explains how her skill as a violinist informs her approach to tuning vocals. As well as giving some solid gold advice on the best starting points for creating vocal harmonies.
Jill Zimmermann is going to be a speaker at this year's Studioszene Event - Hamburg 2023 (Book tickets here), showing how she produced vocals for the hard rock band "Rise in Vein". Her masterclass will cover the remote-recording process on that record, insights on vocal editing, how to create great vocal arrangements and how to coach and guide singers in a studio session.
This episode also explores her experiences as an audio engineer adapting to the industry during Covid, particularly in remote recording. Jill discusses the importance of a good, consistent set-up, and talks about building a vocal booth in somebody’s home out of necessity.
So, let’s dive into this episode packed with life lessons, personal experiences, and professional advice from one of the industry's most talented and committed audio engineers.
--
Jill Zimmermann's Website
Jill Zimmermann's Discography
Jukasa Recording Studios
Studioszene Event - Hamburg / (Book tickets here)
For full show notes go to:
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 this episode, Benedikt Hain & Malcom Owen-Flood are diving deep into the world of snare compression and exploring how you can use this powerful tool to bring out the best in your snare drum recordings.
The snare is the heartbeat of your music, and getting it to cut through the mix with clarity and impact is essential. That's where compression comes in.
Join Benedikt & Malcom as they unlock valuable insights and techniques they use to harness the power of snare compression and elevate your drum sound to new heights.
Here's what’s covered in this episode:
Parallel compression and advanced snare compression techniques.
Malcom and Benedikt also discuss their go-to compressor types and plugins for the job:
You’ll also find useful tips on how to avoid the pitfalls and overcome common compression mistakes that can hinder your sound when using snare compression.
By the end of this episode, you'll have the knowledge and confidence to apply snare compression effectively in your recordings. Whether you're an experienced producer or a self-recording musician, these techniques will help you take your snare sound to a whole new level.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/179
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:
Ever feel like your snare tone is just a little bit off? Like, it's close, but no cigar? That's where we step in.
We all know that the snare drum is a crucial element in any recording, and getting it to sit just right can make or break your mix. So join us as we uncover some valuable insights and techniques to help you achieve that perfect snare sound.
In this episode, Malcom & Benedikt dive deep into the world of using EQ on your snare drum (s) and explore how you can use EQ to make your snare drum fit perfectly and sound amazing in your mix.
Making the snare work in the context of the mix is 90% of the battle.
Benedikt & Malcom go over these crucial points to make sure you get that killer snare sound:
This isn't a case of just throwing techniques at you. This is helping you understand the why and the how, so you can apply these insights to your own mixes.
So whether you're a seasoned producer or a self-recording musician looking to improve your snare drum recordings, this episode has something valuable to offer. Tune in and discover how you can take your snare drum sounds to the next level through the power of EQ.
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/178
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:
I sat down with Wayne Coulson, a producer, engineer and musician from England.
Wayne primarily works with Indie Rock and Indie Pop artists and frequently releases his own music. He also joined the team here at theselfrecordingband.com in 2022, where he is editing and mixing our podcast, as well as creating content for our social media accounts and our coaching program.
Ever since we first met in 2021, Wayne has significantly improved his audio skills and deepened his understanding of the entire process of creating records.
His growth has made him an indispensable asset to our work here.
So it’s about time to introduce him to you and tell his story.
He does everything himself: Writing, arranging, producing, engineering, performing (every instrument & vocal), editing, mixing, mastering.
Wayne is an amazingly talented musician. He plays guitar and releases indie/alt rock, as well as lofi/indie pop songs under his artist name "Glam Hock". So he knows both sides of the studio window very well and speaks the same language as the musicians he's working with.
When he joined the Self-Recording Syndicate it was clear that he was very talented and passionate. But he also had some blind spots and was lacking good systems and processes to get truly amazing results consistently and with confidence.
He also wanted to start his studio business, get into creating content and find more artists to work with. After all, he wanted to make sure that he can keep doing this for a long time. Because he loves it.
Wayne is a rather quiet, relaxed and very kind person, which makes working with him incredibly easy and enjoyable. But the passion he has for music and audio comes through in everything he says and does.
And because Wayne is an action taker with a clear vision and dream, he immediately joined our coaching program after we had a conversation about it.
He wanted a new perspective, real pro tips from someone actively working in this industry, insights into how to run a studio, guidance and feedback, as well as a community of dedicated people to learn from.
He offers a perfect package to bands and artists that are looking for a unique, dirty and vibey aesthetic and don't want to sound like everyone else.
Super stoked to share Wayne's story with you!
Let's go!
-Benedikt
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:
Recording your live shows is a great idea for many reasons.
It shows you the honest and brutal truth and the recordings can be used as great content in between your actual releases.
But unfortunately, most bands do it in a less-than-ideal way.
So let us help you out and show you a few proven approaches to capturing your live performances, so you can get exactly the results you want.
When I was still doing live sound, artists would come to me all the time and ask:
"Hey, can we just get the main outs from the board? We have this recorder/thumb drive/etc. and we'd love to capture our show tonight!"
Not a good idea. At least in most cases. And on this episode we'll explain exactly why that is.
And we'll show you better ways to record your shows.
There are a few different approaches that could work for you, depending on what you want and why you're recording your live show:
We'll discuss all of those and more on the show and walk you through how to set it all up. After listening you'll know the pros and cons of each method and can pick the one that works for you.
And finally, we're giving you a few extra pro tips to get the most out of these recordings and make them sound as exciting as your actual live shows:
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/176
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:
Do you need more inputs or outputs but don't want to buy a new interface?
Let us help you expand your current setup and save money! :)
You might have heard about ADAT or SPDIF and maybe you've seen those ins and outs on your interface - here's why they exist and how to use them
Many of us have started with a small interface that only has a few inputs and outputs. But what do we do if want to track live drums or give everyone in the band their own headphone mix?
Time to get a bigger interface? Not necessarily. There might be a better and more affordable alternative.
On this episode we show you how to add more ins and outs to your existing setup
This is what we cover on the show:
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/175
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:
Have you ever asked your mixing engineer to send you the finished, mixed multitracks?
Or did you try and export every single track after mixing, so you can use them for backing tracks, remixes, etc.?
Let's talk about which types of files you really need in the end.
The one thing everyone needs is the final mix/master of their song.
But what about stems, multitracks, etc.?
What's the difference between those and what do I export or ask for when I want backing tracks for my live shows, for example?
In this episode, we give you the answers:
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/174
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:
I've built a page that offers simple explanations for the most common terms in audio, as well as all the common features and functions found on recording studio equipment. It is completely free, super awesome, and today we're gonna introduce it to you on the podcast.
Making and recording music is about the art. About creativity. When you write or record, you want to be in the zone. You want to be in flow state.
And nothing is more distracting and annoying than having to google seemingly complicated terms, features or functions that you come across while you’re creating.
So here's the resource to find your answers quickly and end the confusion.
The good news is: Most of that stuff is not complicated at all and you don’t have to understand all the technical ins and outs of every piece of gear, in order to make or record a great song.
And once you find out what the important terms mean, you don’t have to be afraid of making a mistake, anymore. You can finally focus on the art and what comes out of the speakers. Because ultimately, that’s all that matters.
To know the right terms and their meaning also helps in situations where you collaborate and communicate with others. Because sometimes people say one thing and actually mean something completely different. We don't want that happening to you.
So, to save you from that frustrating waste of time and energy, I’ve put together categorized lists with short, simple explanations of all those things. Boiled down to what really matters and already filtering out the stuff you don’t necessarily need to know to get started.
On this episode we'll explain some of the most confusing, important and common audio terms. And then you can look up the rest on this page when you need to.
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/173
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:
I just finished Rick Rubin's book "The Creative Act". A fascinating and very inspiring read that made me want to talk about it on the podcast because there are so many interesting things to discuss and unpack in what he says.
In this episode, I want to highlight one specific, very important concept that is at the heart of the book.
In "The Creative Act", Rubin discusses the phases of any creative project, which he calls the Seed phase, the Experimentation phase, the Craft phase, and the Completion phase.
From working with so many artists, I know that many people find it hard to "plan" art. To follow a process and to be intentional.
I always ask people to tell me why they are making a record, what they want it to sound and feel like, what they are trying to achieve and how they are going to make that happen.
But it's important to understand that not every part of making a record has to be planned. Not every decision needs a "why" behind it, especially not in the early phases.
I realized that the way I used to explain and teach it can easily be misunderstood, so "The Creative Act" provides a perfect opportunity to make this more clear and straightforward.
At every stage of the record-making process there's a bit of both creation and craft involved, so let's have a look at that.
The writing never stops.
As artists, we are constantly inspired by things happening around us, our emotions, stories we hear, people we meet, things we go through, etc.
Just observe, pay attention and capture (the seed)
Then we take these notes and develop them into drafts.
No rules. No limitations. No plan. We create what we feel like creating and let our intuition and inspiration guide us. Whatever comes out becomes the art. Some things will be good, others not so much. We just keep creating and experimenting.
If we separate the craft and creation, we can show up to do either or, focus on the task at hand and will get the most out of both, instead of constantly doing it all at the same time.
Let's discuss!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/172
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:
I sat down with Flo Reithofer, a producer, engineer and musician from Austria. He was one of the first people to join the Self-Recording Syndicate and I've been working with him for about a year and a half now, helping him refine his audio skills, as well as grow his studio business.
During that time Flo has not only worked on many projects with different bands and artists, but he also produced two songs completely from scratch.
He did everything himself: Writing, arranging, producing, engineering, performing (every instrument & vocal), editing, mixing, mastering.
Flo is a true multi-instrumentalist and still plays drums for different bands. So he knows both sides of the studio window very well and speaks the same language as the musicians he's working with.
Since joining the program, Flo has always been open for new ideas and new things to try, produced super exciting records for the artists he's working with and got more projects for his studio.
He has improved the acoustics in his live room, optimized his recording and mixing rigs, created a better workflow for himself and now produces and mixes with much more confidence, compared to just a few months ago. And his artists are loving the results he gets them!
His skillset and network lets him offer a perfect package to bands and artists that are looking for an energetic and raw production aesthetic that still sounds modern and punchy, but always in a very authentic way and true to the artist's vision.
Super stoked to share Flo's story with you!
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/171
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:
I sat down with Clint & Robin, two amazingly talented producers, engineers and musicians from Hamburg, Germany. I've been working with them for about a year now, helping them refine their audio skills and guiding them through the process of starting their own studio.
During that time I was constantly blown away by the conversations we had on our coaching calls and the music they submitted for feedback.
When they joined the Self-Recording Syndicate it was clear that they were very talented, but they were also lacking focus, systems and a reliable process to get amazing results consistently and with confidence.
So they took it seriously, put in the work, were always open for new ideas and things to try, produced super exciting records and started getting their first paid projects in their studio, Roobey Records.
They have built out their studio rigs, created processes and a better workflow for themselves and feel so much more confident about their work now, compared to just a few months ago.
Clint & Robin both also play in Snakes In The Pit, a hardcore band from Hamburg, and Clint is an experienced touring drummer. His credits include playing drums for ZSK (a huge German punk band) on their tour with Rise Against.
Their combined skillset and network lets them offer a perfect package to bands and artists that are looking for a big, modern and polished production aesthetic, while still sounding like a real band.
Super stoked to share Robin's and Clint's story with you!
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/170
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:
Listen to this episode if you want to know what's keeping your recordings from sounding professional.
Here's what we cover in this episode:
· We debunk some common myths around music production and around the modern tools used to enhance performances
· We show you a solution that will help you speed up your music creation process significantly
· We introduce a system that helps you get professional sounding results with confidence and without killing the vibe
There's no need to write out more detailed show notes for today's episode, because it's all there for you on this page:
theselfrecordingband.com/deadondrums
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/169
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:
Lucas McKinnon is an artist, multi-instrumentalist, session drummer, record producer, owner of Silverside Sound (a beautiful recording studio) and inviting him to the podcast was long overdue!
So let's talk session drums (and all things drum production, actually)!
If you got our Mixes Unpacked - Vol. 2 course, you've seen Malcom dissect his mix of "Dark Ice" by Skov.
The drums on that song, which many of you loved, have been played and recorded by Lucas McKinnon.
So we wanted to talk to Lucas about what goes into recording drums remotely for other artists.
What are the challenges, how do you collaborate effectively, how do you make sure to get the vibe right and understand the artist's vision? Those were some of the questions on our minds.
Also things like setting up, choosing the right setup and keeping the drums in good shape for every session.
Because, let's be honest, your typical remote drummer that you hire online is likely to leave the same drum skins on the kit forever, always use the same setup and not really put serious effort into creating and capturing the perfect tones for your song. From scratch. Every single time. Which is exactly what Lucas does. And how it should be done.
And his job doesn't end there. Sure, you can just get the raw multitracks and drag them into your session. But depending on what the project needs, people like Lucas can edit or even mix the drums in the context of the song, so you can get a finished product, even if you're not an engineer but a writer and musician.
Specialized, professional drummers and engineers like Lucas McKinnon or our very own "Dr. Drums" Thomas Krottenthaler bring a level of expertise to every project that is truly invaluable.
They solve the biggest problems DIY-producers and musicians have: Drum production and getting the groove right. This is by far the hardest thing to do on your own, especially if you're not experienced and don't have a great room to do it.
Malcom and Lucas have collaborated on many records over the years and have a professional relationship and friendship that is the perfect foundation for an inspiring and insightful conversation like this.
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/168
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 a follow-up to last week's episode on bus processing, we want to introduce and explore the idea of top-down mixing today.
Top-down mixing can make your mixing workflow more efficient, intuitive and creative.
It's less destructive and leads to decent results quickly.
It helps you not overthink things, and you'll find yourself mixing with your ears more than reacting to meters and graphics.
It's dangerous if you not done "correctly".
"Top down mixing is probably the easiest way for beginners to get started, but beginners also will probably really overdo it since they haven't trained their ears for what they SHOULD change, not CAN change. So it's also a great way to fail fast. 😄" -Malcom Owen-Flood
In this week's podcast episode we're gonna explain how we implement top-down mixing it in our own mixing workflows every day and also talk about potential downsides and things to watch out for.
There's actually a benefit to combining "bottom-up" and "top-down" approaches in one mix, especially when it comes to balancing.
How to implement top-down mixing in your mixes
· Practical examples
· How to approach a mix from a top-down perspective and how to prioritize elements in the mix
· Advice on using bus processing and other techniques to shape the overall mix (listen to previous episode)
· The importance of referencing to make sure that the details are correct, as well. It's easy to overlook things and to be content too early in the process.
· Do a quick "bottom up" rough mix first to really learn the song and arrangement.
· Compare your bottom-up and top-down balances. They will likely be different and hearing both will help you get things in the ballpark.
Now go and try out top-down mixing in your own mixes and experiment with different techniques!
Remember that top-down mixing is just one approach to mixing. It should be used in conjunction with other techniques to achieve the best possible results.
For some people this is their main approach, others can't seem to make it work.
But almost everyone can benefit from switching perspectives, seeing the big picture again and rebalancing a mix with a different focus and approach.
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/167
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 the episode on piano recordings and sparse arrangements we briefly talked about using bus processing to glue things together and keep things a little more organic. Today we want to explore this further.
Let's discuss what bus processing is and how it can help you achieve a more cohesive and polished sound in your mixes!
On this episode, we explain exactly how we use bus processing in our own mixes. Routing, plugins, plugin order, settings and, of course, the reasons behind our decisions, based on the context of the mix.
Bus processing is just one tool in your mixing toolbox, and it should be used in conjunction with other techniques (clean up, shaping of important individual tracks, etc.) to achieve the best possible results.
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/166
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:
I got a message from one of our coaching students and it really made me think.
This is what he wrote:
"I just wanted to say thank you. It's great to have someone who is so unrelentingly positive and upbeat as part of this. Whether we are talking on zoom, group chat, your video messages or even the podcast. Your positivity comes through all of it and makes it feel like what we're doing (music) is possible, and maybe even fun sometimes!"
While I love and appreciate this message, it also made me think and reflect on the whole topic of music being fun.
A lot of artist and DIY producers that I work with and talk to seem to forget their "why" sometimes. Why they even got into this. Why they wanted to write and produce music in the first place.
And I've been there, too! When we get ambitious and dive deep into learning something, improving our skills and trying to reach the goals that we set for ourselves, we can get disconnected from the art.
It all turns into projects, tasks, deadlines, schedules and a long list of to-dos.
So how can we separate the to-dos from the process of actually creating art and make sure we enjoy making music?
Malcom and I explore this on the podcast and discuss a long list of ideas on this week's episode.
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/165
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:
Recording actual drums is not an option for many people, so naturally a lot of people are programming MIDI drums.
But have you considered playing your MIDI drums instead?
You can program MIDI drums grooves by drawing MIDI notes with a mouse, using a small MIDI controller/keyboard or using pre-made MIDI loops that you can adjust to taste.
But what if you want to still play the drums?
Maybe you've even tried using an electronic kit, but it just didn't work out. We know there's a learning curve and there are pros and cons to using e-drums. And there are definitely a lot of things to watch out for.
If you can make it work, however, it can be the perfect solution to your drum problems.
So we invited our "DR Drums" again, Thomas Krottenthaler, and asked him to share insights from his experience recording professional albums with electronic drums.
Thomas has been working as a freelance engineer at Benedikt's mixing studio, Outback Recordings for a few years now. Together, they've helped bring hundreds of songs to life. Many of them include MIDI drums that they had to refine or re-program from scratch, depending on the project and what the artist delivered.
And Thomas is freaking AWESOME at that. In fact, he's awesome at all things drums. So here we go, this is what we cover on the episode:
Why people choose to use MIDI drums:
· No big room with good treatment required
· Acoustic drums are often too loud
· No good drum kit & no frequent drum setup required (drum tech & tuning skills, etc.)
· No expensive mics required no multichannel interface and good preamps required
· Acoustic drum recording is hard and takes a lot of experience
How to record drums using an electronic kit:
· Different ways to record E-drums (Stereo out/ Multi out on module/ MIDI)
· Which E-drum kit to get and how much to spend on it
And much more....
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/164
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:
Jack, a podcast listener, commented the following on one of our episodes:
"A problem i've been having lately isn't so much with getting good sounds or mixing as it has been with having a good process for tracking.
Having a great rhythm track can sometimes be 80% of having a great recording, especially when recording on my own (tracking a band makes things more obvious for me).
Getting a tightly played and edited rhythm track is so time consuming for me that I usually sub-consciously rush it just to carry on with recording the song, to speed up the process to get to mixing it and fun stuff quicker. The result is me having to go back and do a lot of this in mixing and editing tracks that are played to other tracks poorly."
This is why it's bothering him (it's not just time, but the end result):
"When tracking, I can play super tight eventually with a warm up but I sometimes cant get the feel totally right, even if it's tight, without editing and I'm not entirely sure how to do this properly sometimes. This is more strictly talking about recording demos.
When I try do a more serious recording of a fleshed out tracking I will usually spend way too long on this and edit it within an inch of its life or rerecord too many things that could be perceived as great characterful mistakes. The end result is usually pretty lifeless and static. "
"I would love to hear you guys wax lyrical about a checklist for making a great rhythm track, with what needs to be ticked off before moving forward. Getting the feel right - ie. The pocket.
Thank you for those great questions, Jack!
Of course, we're happy to roll up our sleeves and answer them all! 💪🙂
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/163
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 this episode we’re taking a dive into something we don’t talk about often… recording piano.
Mark sent us a message asking if we could talk more about recording piano. Solo piano, piano with vocals and sparse acoustic mixes generally.
Despite working in heavier genres a lot, both Malcom and I have years of experience playing, recording and mixing pianos so we’re stoked to be answering Mark’s question on this episode.
We’re discussing these important things to consider when capturing a piano:
Pianos aren’t going anywhere and maybe it’s the component that’s missing from your arrangement that you hadn’t considered.
Or maybe you’re a singer songwriter that works exclusively on piano, in this case you’ve got to take recording your instrument very seriously. It has nowhere to hide!
We cover it all in this episode, so come on in.
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/162
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:
And this time, it's not about pre-production or working on your songs and arrangements. It's about how to prepare yourself, physically and mentally, for the recording session. How to practice, so you can make the most out of your studio time and deliver what is needed to make a great record.
Practice to a click track.
Malcom starts by emphasizing the importance of practicing with a click track, both as a band and individually. And how practicing to a click enables you to record great takes, even if you end up tracking without a click.
But tempo and meter are not everything. There is more that needs to be practiced and prepared for the recording session.
The interaction within the band is super important. When playing as a band, it's essential to pay attention to each other's mistakes and gently address them.
Recording scratch tracks during pre-production rehearsals can help identify issues that need to be resolved before recording.
Now that the band can play it all well together and everybody knows what they're doing, you need to practice your individual parts on your own, without other instruments and record them to a click track. Just for practice.
This allows you to notice small mistakes and analyze your performance with the help of a DAW.
It's crucial to pay attention to dynamics, tone, overall feel and cleanliness when practicing and recording.
At this stage, get ready to try some cool, unique tricks that Malcom is suggesting on the episode. 😎
And lastly, be prepared to leave your ego at the door if you want the best possible result.
Proper studio preparation, rehearsal and problem-solving ahead of time can prevent roadblocks during recording.
So listen to this episode and adopt these effective practicing techniques to become world-class studio musicians.
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/161
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:
Today we're going all the way back to day one of the home recording journey and talk about how to get started recording your own music.
We've been covering some pretty advanced topics, lately, so let's take a step back and discuss what we would do if we were to start over.
There's so much that goes into recording your own music that it can seem pretty overwhelming. And many people really don't need to hear about the advanced stuff everybody seems to talk about.
They just want to know: "How do I start? What gear do I need, how do I set it up and how do I get those first recordings onto my hard drive?"
This is part three were we cover how to navigate your DAW and help you learn the most important tools.
The goal is to create a good first workflow for you, focussing on what really matters. This lets you make your first recordings quickly, without overwhelm or going down the wrong rabbit holes.
Here's a step-by-step plan for you:
1. Figure out the internal routing of your DAW (panning, groups, busses, sends/returns)
2. Figure out your basic editing tools
3. Learn how to work with MIDI
4. Learn how plugins work and get familiar with the basics first (EQ, compression & reverb/delay)
5. Create a simple folder structure and backup system that ensures you quickly find your songs and never lose the results of your
hard work
6. Have fun and practice!
On the episode we talk about exactly what to do at each step, of course.
Let's walk you through this!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/160
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:
Today we're going all the way back to day one of the home recording journey and talk about how to get started recording your own music.
We've been covering some pretty advanced topics, lately, so let's take a step back and discuss what we would do if we were to start over.
There's so much that goes into recording your own music that it can seem pretty overwhelming. And many people really don't need to hear about the advanced stuff everybody seems to talk about.
They just want to know: "How do I start? What gear do I need, how do I set it up and how do I get those first recordings onto my hard drive?"
This is part two were we cover how to set up your DAW and interface, so you can start recording and avoid the most common mistakes
Here's a step-by-step plan for you:
1. Set up the DAW & interface (Sample rate, I/O, interface control software, etc.)
2. Understand basic functionality and layout of DAW (editing window & mixer, project folders, file locations)
3. Make sure signals go in and out of your computer and interface
4. Avoid clipping and use the correct inputs of your interface
5. Figure out how to record without latency
On the episode we talk about exactly what to do at each step, of course.
Let's walk you through this!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/159
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:
Today we're going all the way back to day one of the home recording journey and talk about how to get started recording your own music.
We've been covering some pretty advanced topics, lately, so let's take a step back and discuss what we would do if we were to start over.
There's so much that goes into recording your own music that it can seem pretty overwhelming. And many people really don't need to hear about the advanced stuff everybody seems to talk about.
They just want to know: "How do I start? What gear do I need, how do I set it up and how do I get those first recordings onto my hard drive?"
This is part one were we cover the always important big picture things to keep in mind and of course everyone's favorite topic: Gear!
Here's a step-by-step plan for you:
1. Remember and always keep in mind what you are making and why you are making it. This will help you stick with it and overcome the roadblocks that will inevitably come up.
2. Make it less overwhelming by breaking your big goal down into smaller chunks
3. Start with your songs, arrangements, instruments and playing technique
4. Only get the gear you really need
Knowing what we know now, this is the gear we'd get and what we would do with it:
· Interface (there's better options than Scarletts, these days 😉)
· Microphone(s)
· DAW
· Headphones / Monitors
· Basic room treatment
· Supplies (strings, drum heads, picks, etc.)
On the episode we talk about specific choices, of course and explain what really matters when it comes to gear, so that you get the best return on your investment without frustration and headaches.
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/158
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:
Sometimes knowing what not to do is more helpful than learning a new trick.
So in this episode, I (Benedikt) want to break down the biggest home recording mistakes I've seen from working with self-recording bands this month. So you don't have to make these same mistakes.
I get to work on a lot of different songs every month and many of them are home recordings. So, naturally, the source tones often have problems. I always try to optimize at the source and coach the artists I'm working with, so that we get the best results and so that they can deliver better recordings more easily next time.
This week we start sharing these things with you, too, because that will increase the overall quality of self-recorded records and hopefully make producing your next DIY record an easier and more enjoyable process for everyone.
By the way:
These things are not only important when you're working with someone else. If you mix yourself, you don't want to self-sabotage, but give yourself the best chance of creating an awesome mix and make it a more creative, straight-forward, less frustrating experience.
Also: Note that none of these have to do with not having expensive gear, or anything that would cost you lots of money. They are all things you can control and fix with the tools you already have.
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/157
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:
Do you know what music producers like Rick Rubin actually do and get paid for?
CBS News just released a 60 minutes piece, featuring Rick Rubin, which caused some pretty wild discussions on the internet.
Rubin explained his role and said things like
· "I don't know anything about music"
· "I can barely play a few instruments"
· "I don't know how to operate a mixing desk"
Let's discuss this.
On this episode we're answering questions like:
· What do we think about the statements Rick Rubin made there?
· Is he just being modest?
· What does he get paid for if he doesn't know any of these things?
· Aren't those things exactly what a producer typically does or needs to know?
· And if you really don't have to know any of these things to be a legendary producer, what is it that a producer actually does?
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/156
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:
How loud does my music need to be and how do we measure it in 2023?
We got a very interesting question on Instagram.
An experienced engineer who does great work but took a relatively long break from music production was wondering about how we measure loudness today, whether RMS was still relevant now that we have LUFS, and whether we can still master as loud as we did years ago, without negative consequences when our songs are played next to others on streaming platforms.
And he's definitely not alone. Many people seem to be confused about different ways of measuring loudness and also the always changing trends and opinions on the topic.
To answer the question directly, we also explain the difference between RMS and LUFS:
RMS:
“Root mean square”. The average level of your audio signal, measured over a longer period of time, and close to what your ears perceive as the loudness of your audio.
LUFS:
“Loudness units relative to Full Scale”. This is a loudness standard designed to enable the matching of perceived audio levels. So that different signals (or songs) will sound equally loud, no matter what the dB meter says.
Loudness Units (or LU) is a unit that describes loudness by taking into account how our hearing perceives volume. Not just pure sound pressure or amplitude, like “dB” does.
And again, “FS” means “relative to full scale”. So, for example, -18 LUFS means “18 LU away from the maximum of 0”. The difference between -23 LUFS and -18 LUFS, for example is 5 LU.
Then we're sharing how we do it in our own projects:
And one final word of caution:
Be careful about different RMS settings on your meters! AES-17 on/off makes a 3dB difference. One RMS value doesn't necessary equal another RMS value.
Be careful when comparing anything, basically. There's many different ways to measure loudness and volume and it's easy to get confused and compare different things without noticing.
More details on that in the episode.
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/155
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 this episode, we're going to take a deep dive into the anatomy of a rock bass guitar tone. We'll explore the different components that make up the sound of a bass guitar and how they can be manipulated to achieve the desired tone.
This episode on bass guitar tone was inspired by a message that we got from our long time listeners in a band called Stepa.
They were fascinated by a particular bass pedal that we're talking about on this episode, too, the Darkglass Microtubes Infinity.
Stepa suggested doing a breakdown of its features and a deep dive into the pedal, while also mentioning alternatives that we all have available in our DAWs.
Because we agree that this pedal is pretty phenomenal, we thought we should do an episode on what it is that makes tools like this so valuable, what we're actually able to manipulate with it and what makes up a great bass tone in the end.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/154
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:
Many people record and mix on headphones, because most rooms suck, treatment and speakers are expensive. And because mobile recording or mixing rigs are becoming more and more popular, as we can do almost everything on laptops now.
The problem is: While the room is not an issue anymore when you're on headphones, working without speakers comes with a completely different set of challenges.
If you want your songs to translate well, you need to be aware of the flaws, inaccuracies and characteristics of your headphone system. And you need to know how to deal with those.
So let's talk about how you can optimize your headphones (and entire monitoring chain), so you can get predictable, high quality results anywhere!
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/153
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:
I sat down with one of my favorite coaching students, Greg Bohemen.
Greg is a musician & songwriter from Canada who is recording his own music and also building a community for musicians and bands in his area.
When we started working together he was a very talented musician but he was in the very early stages of learning how to record, produce and mix, working from an untreated room with minimal gear.
Since then Greg put in a shit ton of work, turned into a sponge, soaking up advice and knowledge, and was always open for new ideas and things to try.
Now he has built out his home studio, created processes and a better workflow for himself and keeps sending me mixes that I think are phenomenal and a night and day difference from where he was not too long ago.
This interview was recorded in June 2022, but his journey didn't stop there. Not at all. He was just getting started.
At the end of 2022 Greg officially released two singles, "Virtual Christmas" and "Live For Today"
And throughout the year he re-arranged and re-recorded an entire album 🤯 that he had already released a while back because he knew that those songs could sound and feel so much better with the setup and skills he has now.
The difference is unbelievable. Night and day. Through passion, hard work and the guidance and confidence he got from The Self-Recording Syndicate (our coaching program), he was able to transform his music.
Super stoked to share Greg's music and story with you!
Let's go!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/152
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:
If you're struggling with getting your reverbs to sit right, or you feel like you're not quite getting the effect you want, listen to this episode.
Using reverbs is an essential part of mixing.
But as great as they can sound, they can also completely ruin your mix or get in the way of more important elements of your arrangement, if you use them the wrong way.
There are quite a few reverb mistakes that we hear all the time in a lot of songs and that we are trying to avoid when we work on our own mixes.
And of course, there's always a solution and a better way, which is exactly what we're talking about today.
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/151
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:
To celebrate 150 episodes of The Self-Recording Band Podcast 🤯, we're sharing the replay of our Mixes Unpacked - Vol. 2 Q&A session with you!
We got amazing questions on things like drum samples, saturation/distortion, gain staging, routing, acoustic guitar processing, channel strip plugins, panning, side-chaining, limiting, distorted guitar tones, vocal stacks… - and we answered them all!
This was part of the early-bird deal, when we first launched the course. Students could leave questions and comments for us below each video and we promised to reply to all of them in a live session, so they would get the most out of the course.
When it was time for us to answer, we decided to turn the Q&A session into a public event for our community, so that everyone could benefit from their peers' questions, get detailed mixing advice and discover what's waiting inside Mixes Unpacked!
What a fun, end-of-the-year meetup that was!
Listen to the full session now on the podcast.
Thank you for another year of listening to this show, thank you for being a part of our community and thank you for making music. Your art matters and the world needs it.
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/150
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:
Are you a cave dweller? A lone studio wolf, always figuring things out on your own?
Too many musicians, engineers and creatives in general, are working and creating in isolation.
Many of us are introverts. When given the choice between leaving home to go to a social event, or working on our latest track some more, we often choose the comfort of the home studio.
And instead of reaching out, we just consume and watch. We're lurkers in the online groups that we're in, instead of participating. Not good. :)
Malcom and I have both been part of countless social events, communities and conversations , that have changed our lives and careers.
We often didn't feel like going to a meetup, party or show, offering our opinion or advice on a forum, or replying to a comment and starting a conversation that way.
But almost every single time we did it anyway, it was 100% worth it.
Opportunities seemed to show up out of nowhere, lasting relationships have been built as a result, collaborations happened, our skills improved way quicker because of the help from various communities, etc.
So on this episode we share our stories, talk about how you will benefit from connecting with your peers, and what you're missing out on, if you don't.
Let's dive in!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/149
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
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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
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3. Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
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Episode show notes:
2022 is coming to an end and so we want to take a look at the music production landscape and how it's going to evolve in 2023 and beyond.
The question is: How can you make your songs stand out and resonate with an audience?
Recording and releasing music is more accessible than ever. More than 60,000 songs are uploaded to Spotify every day 🤯. The tools and knowledge are out there and if you are just a little talented and tech savvy there's zero excuse for having a bad sounding record out.
Your music matters and it deserves to sound great, so your message can be heard.
So, in this week's podcast episode we're discussing what you can do to make that happen.
Let's dive in!
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/148
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH COACHING CALL TO GET FEEDBACK AND A STEP-BY-STEP PLAN TO TURN YOUR SONGS INTO PRO QUALITY RECORDINGS:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
On this show, we always talk about how to blend drum samples transparently with your real kit. Or how to program natural sounding MIDI drums.
But what about the opposite approach?
You can use static, one shot samples in your drum mix to either make it explode, or to enhance your real, authentic sounding drums in a different way.
Here's why and when you might want to use one-shots:
· Consistency - Many performances are just too inconsistent and dynamic. If you want a steady pulse and groove that hits hard throughout the whole part or song, one-shots are your friend.
· One-shots give you huge professional sounds instantly, when you might not have access to an environment that could provide that.
· Self-made one-shot drum samples from your session can be a life-saving replacement (as a last resort) if the performance was a complete disaster.
· Creative effects (adding a huge room samples for just one part of the song, for example).
And here's how to do it and what to watch out for:
· Have an organized folder structure on your computer where you store your samples. Keep it organized, and remember your session references this folder (so you can’t change computers without bringing these along!)
· Choose your sampler (or copy/paste manually, using tab to transient or something similar, depending on your DAW)
· Learn how the detection circuit of your trigger plugin or audio to MIDI tool works: Sensitivity, threshold, retrigger pad, etc.
· Learn how to set your sampler's dynamic response
· Learn how to manipulate the envelope (attack & sustain) of your one-shots being played
· Tune your sample to suit the original drums in the song
· Set it all up so you can audition and change samples quickly
· Make intentional and logical routing decisions: Do you only trigger close mics or a blend of everything, including rooms or effects? Is it a mono or stereo sample? Based on those things, where does it go? To the drum bus? To your kick/snare/toms groups? To the mix bus? Does your group need to be stereo then?
Let's dive into this in full detail and discover the power of one-shot drum samples!
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/147
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH COACHING CALL TO GET FEEDBACK ON YOUR RECORDINGS AND A STEP-BY-STEP PLAN TO TURN YOUR SONGS INTO PRO QUALITY RECORDINGS:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
"The pros never don’t do the basics." I love this quote, because reminds me every day that I shouldn't skip essential steps in the mixing process, even though they might seem trivial or less exciting than more advanced techniques.
In fact, if you take this seriously and get those seemingly basic things right, your mixes will already sound better than 90% of all DIY-mixes out there, because NOBODY is really doing that.
The perfect balance for every part of the song, including transitions, is the most important thing in any mix. More important than any individual tone.
Nobody cares about tiny EQ moves or a slightly different compression setting, if the balance is off. But everybody notices when the vocals are buried or the kick drum is too loud.
When every part of your mix is well balanced, it will translate well and (most importantly) connect emotionally. Nobody will question the mix.
Plus, your EQ moves, compression and other decisions will be much easier if you keep a good balance and proper gain staging throughout in your session.
It will help you make better mixes instantly, by focusing on what really matters.
It's a guide for the self-recording musicians who also want to mix themselves, that leads to more effective mix moves, more confidence, less tweaking and ultimately - better mixes.
So get this FREE resource now and do what most amateur mixers don't do:
Focus on the most important mixing concepts and techniques that really matter.
On this episode we give you an overview, show you what’s inside Standout Mixes and outline the process that is described in-depth in the actual video and checklist.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/146
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH COACHING CALL TO GET FEEDBACK ON YOUR RECORDINGS AND A STEP-BY-STEP PLAN TO TURN YOUR SONGS INTO PRO QUALITY RECORDINGS:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
This is part two of us answering a great question from our community member Jesse Crawford (Loma Roses)
Jesse sent us the following question on building arrangements:
“I was wondering if you would have input about arrangement concepts. Specifically about how to produce your songs to where the instruments/tones can be clearly defined from one another. I’m interested in hearing how other people approach this idea. To me, one of the main challenges is making tones that play well together.”
Now you might be asking: "Why is that even important? Can't you just shape the tones in the mix?"
The answer is: You want to write and arrange your songs so that they already work, even raw, before mixing. That way the mix will be easier, more fun and faster. You don’t want to fight your song in the mix.
So, in this second part of it (it's a two-part episode) we address:
· Lead Parts
· Vocals
· Pads & Synth Layers
· Closing Thoughts And Arrangement Recap
Let's go!
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/145
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH COACHING CALL TO GET FEEDBACK ON YOUR RECORDINGS AND A STEP-BY-STEP PLAN TO TURN YOUR SONGS INTO PRO QUALITY RECORDINGS:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
This week we answered a great question from our community member Jesse Crawford (Loma Roses)
Jesse sent us the following question on building arrangements:
“I was wondering if you would have input about arrangement concepts. Specifically about how to produce your songs to where the instruments/tones can be clearly defined from one another. I’m interested in hearing how other people approach this idea. To me, one of the main challenges is making tones that play well together.”
Now you might be asking: "Why is that even important? Can't you just shape the tones in the mix?"
The answer is: You want to write and arrange your songs so that they already work, even raw, before mixing. That way the mix will be easier, more fun and faster. You don’t want to fight your song in the mix.
So, in this first part of it (it's going to be a two-part episode) we'll address:
GENERAL, BIG PICTURE ARRANGEMENT DECISIONS AND QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
DRUMS & BASS - THE GROOVE
RHYTHM TRACKS - GUITARS, SYNTH, KEYS, ETC.
LET'S GO!
Mentioned On The Episode:
Here are the detailed PDF slides from our Academy that you can use as a checklist when you're working on your next arrangement!
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/144
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Book a free in-depth coaching call to get feedback on your recordings and a step-by-step plan to turn your songs into pro quality releases:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join our free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH COACHING CALL TO GET FEEDBACK ON YOUR RECORDINGS AND A STEP-BY-STEP PLAN TO TURN YOUR SONGS INTO PRO QUALITY RECORDINGS:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
There are no dumb questions. Period. And it’s never a problem if you don’t know something.
But that doesn't mean you can't figure it on your own, or shouldn't try to.
Think About It That Way:
When you ask more experienced people for a solution to a relatively simple problem that you could easily solve yourself, you’re wasting your time.
Because you won't move on and make progress until you have their answer and you’re missing out on a chance to ask really good questions that you just can’t quickly find an answer to yourself.
Overall, it will take you much longer to improve your skills and results that way.
Listen now to discover a better way to ask questions and make progress faster!
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/143
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Book a free in-depth coaching call to get feedback on your recordings and a step-by-step plan to turn your songs into pro quality releases:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join our free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH COACHING CALL TO GET FEEDBACK ON YOUR RECORDINGS AND A STEP-BY-STEP PLAN TO TURN YOUR SONGS INTO PRO QUALITY RECORDINGS:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
We got the following question from our coaching students:
“How do you identify (drum) time signatures and note values? I want to get better and faster at figuring this out mainly for drum editing and adjusting my grid. Sometimes it takes me a while to identify if something is in triplets, for example."
We love the question, because this (and music theory in general) is something that isn't talked about a lot, but many struggle with it.
And it's absolutely necessary as a producer to know at least the basics here.
Without that basic knowledge, even simple tasks can be super time consuming and frustrating. Think editing, programming drums, getting delays right, importing multitracks into a session and setting it up properly, etc.
But, to be honest, at first it was kind of hard for us to give good advice here. It comes pretty natural to us, so we didn’t really have a process for it, other than some tapping and counting that we do automatically.
So we invited Thomas Krottenthaler to the show!
Thomas is our podcast editor, but more importantly, he has been working as an engineer with Benedikt, at his studio Outback Recordings, since 2019. Thomas has done a phenomenal job editing countless songs there AND he's a professional drummer / drum teacher, too!
So, we couldn't think of any person more skilled and better equipped to help us on this topic than Thomas.
Let's go!
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/142
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH COACHING CALL TO GET FEEDBACK ON YOUR RECORDINGS AND A STEP-BY-STEP PLAN TO TURN YOUR SONGS INTO PRO QUALITY RECORDINGS:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
We've said it before on the show and we'll say it again:
It’s not about the tools you have, it’s about your ability to get the most out of them.
Here's a very common mistake we see DIY-producers make over and over again:
Many people buy a new plugin (or other tool) in hopes that it will solve the problems with their sound, when they don’t even know how to use what they already have!
Or they go through their plugin folders, try 10 different options without really knowing what exactly to reach for and just hope that one of them will work.
There is a better way that will lead to better mixes, a faster workflow and faster progress when it comes to improving your skills.
That's why today, we have a challenge for you (and ourselves). Inspired by two of the greatest mixers of all time.
We think it is a fantastic idea and we can't wait to see who's going to take us up on this and report their results!
Episode artwork photo taken from PureMix and the "Andrew Talks To Awesome People" podcast, because this episode was inspired by that show.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/141
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH COACHING CALL TO GET FEEDBACK ON YOUR RECORDINGS AND A STEP-BY-STEP PLAN TO TURN YOUR SONGS INTO PRO QUALITY RECORDINGS:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Let's debunk 5 audio myths that we're still hearing about all the time. Almost daily we see people sabotage themselves without knowing because they follow bad advice based on these myths.
If any of these have been holding you back, now's the time to change that.
We hope this episode inspires you and makes you feel empowered to just do whatever serves your song.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/140
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH COACHING CALL TO GET FEEDBACK AND A STEP-BY-STEP PLAN TO TURN YOUR SONGS INTO PRO QUALITY RECORDINGS:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Sibilance in recordings needs to be controlled. The top end needs to be balanced and appropriate for the song. Period. You have to get it right at the source and in the mix. And sometimes additional refinement has to be done in mastering.
Whatever it takes to get a clear, bright, but smooth and pleasant sounding top end.
An overly sibilant recording/mix is a dead giveaway that you're listening to an amateur production, unless it's intentional.
It's worse than a slightly dull/dark production in most cases, because it's distracting at best and even painful to listen to in some cases.
In this episode we're talking about different ways to do this at every stage of the process:
Here's to a bright but smooth sounding future!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/139
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Check out Collidastate:
https://collidastate.com
--
On this Episode I'm talking to Graham and James from the Australian Rock Duo Collidastate.
Yes, they are duo, but also yes, they sound like a full band! They started with only drums and acoustic guitar (of all things), and soon they were creating full arrangements around these two instruments that really sound unique and exciting. All from their home studio.
Their music has been described as "Australian rock storytelling", which I think is a perfect description for what they do.
We're talking about their Ep "Resilience" that came out in 2022, and specifically about one song that's called "Out of Time" because that one is featured in our "Mixes Unpacked - Vol. 2" course that we did here at the Self Recording Band.
Mixes Unpacked is a series of mixing courses where we walk you through exactly how we've mixed real songs, that have been released, and transformed them from basically raw DIY recordings to finished, radio-ready, professional sounding productions.
I'm not gonna claim, though, that it was whatever I did in the mix that made this particular record sound cool. Because it all starts with a great song that Graham and James definitely wrote. It all starts with their friendship, their influences, everything that goes into the music they're making and the way they captured it. That is what makes the song and the record great and what made the whole thing work.
Based on that foundation we were able to refine it all and bring out the essence of the band and their vision.
On this episode we're talking about that and we're also talking about the future, things that are coming up in the Collidastate camp, how they are preparing for future recordings and what has changed over the course of last year.
We've been working together for a while now, I've been their coach and I've helped them prepare for the next record and set them up for success so that their future releases will sound even better and better each time.
If you enjoyed this episode, please check out Collidastate and their music!
Also, check out our Mixes Unpacked courses and if you're interested in leveling up your recording skills, so you can make your own dream record, book a free first call with me and let's talk about how we can help you do this!
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/138
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Get 10% off your first month of Maastr:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/maastr
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Jay Maas has made some of the most iconic, influential and important records in punk, hardcore and indie music.
He's worked with bands like Have Heart, Bane, Counterparts, State Champs, The Story So Far, Verse, Propagandhi, Somos, No Trigger, Polar Bear Club, Title Fight, Carpathian, Strike Anywhere, Drug Church, Make Do And Mend, the list goes on and on and on...
Almost 20 years into his career he started to work on a new project, called Maastr.io.
Maastr is an automatic online mastering software, that allows musicians and engineers to master their songs and collaborate efficiently in one place.
Knowing that existing automatic, AI-based mastering tools get a bad rep (often for good reason), Jay and Maastr set out to transform the audio mastering process forever.
So they built a new kind of intelligent mastering engine, constructed with the expertise of the industry’s very best talents to help you achieve sonically beautiful masters and professionally elevated audio in minutes.
And they didn't stop there. Maastr has a built-in collaboration platform that allows engineers and artists to easily communicate and iterate, all in one place.
I've been talking to Jay about it for a bit on my other podcast (Outback Recordings Podcast - Episode 54), when he had just started it (among many many other things, so go listen to that episode), then later I became a Maastr subscriber myself, mainly out of curiosity.
I've been testing it thoroughly over the past couple of months and had lots of questions about this fascinating tool, Jay's personal approach to mastering, how he uses Maastr and how it can help the self-recording artists out there.
So I just had to reconnect with Jay and bring him on this podcast, which was an absolute blast. He's not only brilliant at what he does, but super fun to talk to and an open book when it comes to his knowledge and what he believes in.
Enjoy this deep dive into AI-mastering, mastering in general and of course Maastr.io.
-Benedikt
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/137
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Room Sound Premium Drum Samples:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/roomsound
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Dave Piatek and his company Room Sound set out to make the ultimate, realistic, authentic sounding, premium drum sample libraries.
I've been using them for years and keep recommending them for this exact reason. They are my favorite drum sample company in the world, absolutely sound like a drum kit and blend really well with your recorded drums. It's mind-blowing.
So, we were always wondering what they might be doing differently. What's the secret? How the hell do you make a library like that? Are there best practices for us to follow, when we create our own drum samples? Or when we use those samples?
This episode gives you the answers and boy, did we underestimate what goes into all of this. 😅
Dave talks about the mind-numbing, insane amount of tedious detail work that's part of creating these libraries, as well as the incredible process that they came up with to make sure they get it absolutely 100% right every single time.
He explains how they made the new Kurt Ballou Vol. 2 library that just came out (this is late summer 2022), how they kept the drums perfectly in tune, how they captured and cut 36000 (!) hits accurately and how they created a super versatile kit that combines multiple world class rooms (Steve Albini's Electrical Audio), mic configurations, processing chains and even recording mediums in one plugin.
This one got me really excited and I'm stoked to share it with you now!
-Benedikt
PS: Sorry again, Dave, for completely butchering your name! What an embarrassing way to start an episode 😅
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/136
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
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Wilson Harwood of soundproofyourstudio.com built his dream home recording studio in his backyard.
Now he wants to teach you how to build a soundproof recording studio.
We brought him on to talk about this on the podcast, because soundproofing is a complicated process that only an expert who's done it can properly explain.
It's a topic that is very relevant for many DIY producers, bands and home studio owners, trying to keep sound from going in and out of the studio or jam space.
There is tons of information on the internet, but how do you know what to believe?
Have you read books and watched endless youtube videos, but still feel confused?
Do you wish someone who has already built a soundproof studio could guide you through every step of the process?
Well, you can stop searching and start right here with this free, in-depth conversation about all things soundproofing before you continue your journey by diving deeper into the amazing resource that Wilson Harwood has built for you.
Enjoy!
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/135
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Room Sound Drum Samples (The best in the game)*:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/roomsound
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
When we ask "who's your audience?", most people don’t have a great answer. And many think that it doesn’t matter, because they just make the music they want to make anyways.
Let’s discuss this.
We believe that having an audience in mind and creating music you personally love are not mutually exclusive. And we also believe that your songs (and ultimately your band / project) will absolutely benefit from writing and producing for an audience.
Asking yourself the right questions will help you figure out who this audience is, it will help you find or refine your unique style and sound, and it will help you overcome writer’s block. And it absolutely doesn’t mean that you’re gonna have to “sell out” or enjoy it less!
Only if you don't want anybody ever to listen to your music, you can stop thinking about an audience.
Listen now, find out who your audience is and learn how this will help you make better records that people actually care about, while staying 100% authentic.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/134
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
*affiliate link
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Room Sound Drum Samples:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/roomsound
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Last week we talked about the importance of a good headphone mix for a singer. And that included using reverb and delay to make the vocals sound good and sit in the mix better immediately.
Now let’s talk about what kinds of reverb, delay and other FX plugins we use on the vocals we record and mix. Let’s also discuss why we chose those and what we typically use them for.
There are many different reasons to use effects like reverb and delay. And, as always, being intentional and knowing what to reach for in any situation is critical. At least as a starting point.
We’re explaining the thought process and “why” behind our plugin choices and the settings we start with or use most often.
So you’re gonna have great starting points to achieve some of the common and popular vocal sounds or to just make things sit better in the mix, as well as some creative approaches that might inspire you to come up with something unique and exciting for yourself.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/133
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
This episode is about going the extra mile to make sure your vocalist feels as good as possible when its time to perform.
The performance matters more than anything. The best mic and vocal chain in the world doesn’t matter if the delivery doesn’t cut it. What you record has to resonate with the listener, there’s gotta be a vibe, it just has to feel right. So we need to make sure that a singer we’re recording can do his/her best job when it counts.
This is true for every instrument, by the way. But the vocals are such a personal, intimate thing and they are also the thing that listeners care about the most, so that we think it’s especially important to get a good performance here.
Besides making sure that the room has a vibe and the whole communication/psychology/coaching thing, there’s one major element that you as the engineer have control over: The headphone mix.
You want to make the artists you're recording and their songs sound as good as possible on their headphones, so that they feel like a star and perform like one.
So let’s go through what you can (and should) do to make that happen!
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/132
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Recording a band can be done by capturing a live performance where everybody (or parts of the band) is playing together in real time, or by recording overdubs, which means one player at a time.
But which is better and how do you pick the right approach?
There’s an ongoing and probably never ending discussion out there on this topic.
Purists say you need to record live in order to capture the right feel and vibe. Others appreciate the flexibility and control you get from doing it piece by piece.
Maybe you find this confusing and are unsure about what to do. So let’s analyze were these opinions are coming from and what the pros and cons are!
Once you understand the pros and cons, potential pitfalls and technical requirements for both methods, you can make an educated decision and pick the right approach for your next project.
And this episode will help you do exactly that.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/131
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Parallel compression is one of those advanced techniques, similar to multi-band compression, side-chaining, etc. that sound like a magic bullet or secret ingredient to pro mixes.
Let’s explore if this is true and when and how to actually use it.
Parallel compression is very powerful, but also dangerous (if not done correctly) and definitely not necessary. It’s another tool at your disposal that some people swear by and others don’t use at all. Understanding it properly will help you make a decision about whether it fits your workflow and style or not.
So let’s talk about if, why and how we use it, what to watch out for and which tools we use.
Let’s also explore some other techniques you could try that didn’t work for us, but are being used by other mixers successfully.
--
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/130
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Do you need different files for different streaming services and physical mediums or is it one master to rule them all?
Which other deliverables do you need to create (or ask for, in case you're working with other engineers)?
Two things are for sure:
So in this episode we explain how we set up our mixing and/or mastering sessions to be able to print all necessary deliverables and what exactly we actually deliver to the artists we’re working with.
There are 100 different ways to do it and definitely 100 different opinions out there, so let’s try and explain what really matters and what you as a DIY producer/engineer need (or don't need) to worry about.
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/129
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
We're super stoked to have Chris Eriksen as our guest on this week's episode!
Chris is the artist behind "Skov.", a multi-genre project that blends Rock & Blues roots with RnB & Electronic elements to create a unique Dark Pop vibe.
Skov.'s single "Dark Ice" is featured in our online mixing course "Mixes Unpacked - Vol. 2", where Malcom Owen-Flood opens up his original session and walks you through every move he made while mixing the song.
In this episode Malcom and Chris explain how they built the perfect team and used a hybrid approach of both pro studio sessions and DIY-recordings to produce "Dark Ice".
They are talking about breaking rules, making bold moves, using elements of different genres, things they've learned along the way, engineering tricks and all the little bits and pieces which ultimately lead to the song that's now released.
Check out "Dark Ice" on your favorite streaming service and get Mixes Unpacked - Vol. 2 to learn exactly how Malcom mixed the song!
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/128
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
We're super stoked to have Myk Robinson as our guest on this week's episode!
Myk is an audio engineer, producer and content creator from West Tennesse, USA, who started a YouTube channel to begin sharing his love for all things REAPER, and also to begin teaching himself to edit video.
His audience on that channel, Let's Talk About REAPER, quickly grew to thousands of subscribers. Viewers tend to appreciate his laid back delivery method, with each video being short and to the point, but also packed with information and entertaining.
Myk has the heart of a teacher and absolutely loves connecting with other REAPER users. To be able to do that better, he also started The Unofficial REAPER Users Group on Discord, which took off pretty quickly, too.
Myk is primarily a guitarist and bassist and has played in several regional punk, rock, and metal bands for over twenty years. It's been said that you can always find a singer and a guitar player, but reliable drummers and bassists are a hard find for many. This concept lead to Myk learning to play the drums after having a drummer from one of his bands move out of state.
Of course, learning to play the drums lead to wanting to learn to record drums. So Myk has spent the past few years refining the art of tracking live drums, as well as editing multi-mic drum performances with multiple takes. He takes a light handed approach to editing and has an old school "get it right at the source" attitude, but also understands that technology is here to help, and ultimately desires to blend the conveniences of modern technolgy with some of the concepts taken from traditional "old school" recording methodology.
Myk is happily married, with three adult children and a rather large Brazilian Mastiff named Belle.
Some of the things we're talking about on this episode:
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/127
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
If you want to make your life easier when mixing, give yourself more quickly available options in the mix without headaches and tedious setup work, or make sure that your mixing engineer can get the most out of the tracks you deliver, then you need to prepare and export your MIDI tracks correctly.
Unfortunately some DAWs make it pretty difficult to export MIDI properly and it’s also different for every DAW. Plus, exporting and importing MIDI is often not as straight forward as doing the same with audio tracks, which can lead to all kinds of errors in the process.
As a result of that, mixers like us often get MIDI files delivered that we can’t easily use. Sometimes they’re not usable at all and other times we spend a lot of time to get them to work, only to figure out that there’s still some mix-up somewhere in the files.
It’s very hard to tell you how to exactly export and prepare things in your DAW, because they’re all different, but we can tell you what to watch out for and what mixing engineers typically expect you to deliver. It's gonna be pretty easy for you then to figure out the specifics of your DAW, once you have that info.
This will also be super helpful if you’re mixing yourself, because there are a few concepts and techniques around using MIDI that will drastically improve your own mixing workflow and give you more creative options quickly, such as triggering phase accurate drum samples off of MIDI, opening gates, creating key spikes, etc.
Some of the things we cover in this episode:
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/126
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
In this episode we’re showing you what to look for in a vocal mic and how to find the right mic for your room and voice.
Picking the right mic is crucial because if you choose the wrong one, it’s very hard (if not impossible) to make it sound great in the mix. We’re explaining the reasons for this and give you examples of the most common problems.
Things we cover in the episode:
Here are 3 reason why we often recommend good dynamic vocal mics to self-recording bands:
At the end of the day, you'll have to try and find out what works best with your voice, your style of music and in your room. Just don't think you have to use a condenser, even if that's what you see in most studio pictures.
Google "records made with an SM7" and you'll probably feel a lot more comfortable about using a dynamic mic.
For full show notes go to: https://
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Multiband compression is very powerful, but also pretty dangerous. Most of the time you don’t need it and you definitely shouldn’t be using it on everything. But once you understand it, you have a great tool at your disposal that does things, other tools just can’t do.
Multiband compression is also one of the most popular topics people ask us about. For some reason a lot of beginner engineers and mixers think it’s a magic bullet or the secret to pro mixes. That is not true. In fact, every pro mixer we know uses it only on a few things (if at all) and only in very intentional, specific ways.
So let’s talk about when and how we like to use it and what some typical use cases look like for many mixers.
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/124
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Frequency Chart Cheat-Sheet here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
It doesn’t matter what your guitar (or any instrument) sounds like on its own, it’s about whether or not it serves the song and fits into the perfect mix for the tune.
But when we talk to artists about their sonic vision for the project, so many people mention the guitar tone they like, or how they love or hate bright guitars, scooped midrange, or a dark, “full” sound.
While personal preference is obviously a thing and very important, many people completely ignore the fact, that the tone has to work within the context of the mix and the arrangement.
And sometimes this means that what they think would be a great guitar tone, ends up being a very bad choice for the project.
So Iet’s discuss how to actually figure out a great tone that also fits in!
We're approaching this from three different angles:
1. Song (intention, message, vibe)
2. Arrangement
3. Mix
1 & 2 have a lot to do with writing and arranging with the final sound in mind, as well as understanding the importance of choosing the right instruments, key, tuning, etc.
All 3 have a lot to do with understanding the frequency spectrum. Understanding where each instrument typically lives, where the typical problems are and how each part of the spectrum “feels”.
And of course we're doing a deep dive and we're giving you a detailed explanation of what we mean here:
1. Does the tone create the intended feeling? Does it cause the right emotional reaction?
2. Does the tone play well with the other elements in your arrangement? What’s the purpose of the instrument or part and does the tone help achieve that?
3. Will the tone work in the mix? How well do the different sounds interact? Are there overlaps or gaps in the frequency spectrum? If so, are they intentional? Where should the bass be taking over the low end? Where should the cymbals be taking over the top end? Where will the vocals fit in? How much treatment will be necessary in order for it to sit well? Where can the guitar itself cut through and really shine?
And finally, we're discussing our individual "tone-hunt" processes that help us get the right tones quickly and consistently.
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/123
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Out-of-tune vocals, guitars, bass or really any instrument are super common in amateur productions. It's a dead give away.
Often it's subtle, sometimes it's so bad that it makes the song really hard to listen to. In many cases it can't be fixed by simply editing and tuning in the DAW. And even if it can be fixed, the results are going to be much better if you can get it right at the source!
That's why we decided to make this episode for and show you how to make sure your source tracks are in tune, so you won’t run into problems in the editing and mixing phase.
The reality is:
People send us out-of-tune tracks all the time and no matter what we do in the mix, they will never sit right and sound great. Even if it’s subtle it can be a distraction, hurt the overall quality of the mix and make everything sound amateur.
We don't want your songs to have these kind of problems, so here are 10 hacks for you to avoid it all in the first place!
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/122
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Benedikt heard indie-pop producer Mark Eckert talk about this in an Instagram video and thought it’s a really cool and important thing to talk about.
Here's why:
A lot of people don’t know what they should write about or get stuck in the same topics over and over again. Many try to force ideas or try to force a switch in their style or genre, because they feel like they have to reinvent themselves and their sound.
We think authentic art is what resonates with people and that is always art that comes from your personal experiences, from how you see the world, from speaking your truth.
These are some of the actionable things we talk about on this episode:
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/121
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Last week we explained the concept of mixing into a mix bus chain and how to get the most from applying mix bus processing. This week we’re giving you examples and walking you through our own mix bus chains, as well as the thought processes behind them.
We’re mixing into these chains for good reasons and have made some mistakes / not so great decisions before we arrived at the chains that we use now. We want to help you avoid those same mistakes, give you some inspiration for starting points and share exactly why we use what we use today.
We're sharing the exact plugins/tools we use, the order we use them in and how we use them, depending in the mix we’re working on.
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/120
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
On this episode we explain the concept of a mix bus chain, tell you why we use one and compare mixing into a mix bus chain vs applying mix bus processing at the end of the mixing process.
Here's why you should care:
You don’t have to use mix bus processing, but if you choose to (and most people do), there’s a right and a wrong way to do it.
If done wrong, you can completely mess up your balance, destroy everything you’ve worked hard for in your mix, or make it very hard for you to make good decision throughout the process.
If done right, however, it can save you time, create the perfect energy for the song, glue everything together and assist you in your mixing decisions.
This is what we cover on the show:
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/119
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
My guest on this episode is Trevor Reilly, the guitar player, (co-)producer/recording engineer and main songwriter in the band A Wilhelm Scream.
I got to nerd out with Trevor on my other show, the Outback Recordings Podcast. We were talking about recording, building a studio, songwriting and all those things that I love to talk about. So I just had to share it with you here! :)
We're also discussing their new record "Lose Your Delusion" and Trevor is sharing lots of cool stories, behind the scenes insights and and details about the making of this record.
He talks about how they've built their own studio to make this record, their songwriting process, his writing and production philosophies, the history of the band, the story and message behind "Lose Your Delusion", their friendship and how they manage to stay focussed and organized during the process of making a great (DIY-)record without real deadlines and time pressure.
So without further ado, here's my conversation with Trevor Reilly for you!
Enjoy!
Benedikt
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/118
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Mic Placement Cheat Sheet here (just scroll down on the main homepage): https://theselfrecordingband.com
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Find the sweet spot in no time!
It all starts at the source. So put your microphones in the right place quickly, easily and with confidence, using this mic placement quick start guide.
Yes, it pays off to move mics around and experiment until you find the right balance. I'd suggest you always do that because even small mic placement changes just make such a big difference.
But what if you don't even know where to start? What if you want to capture an idea quickly and need something really fast that just works?
These tips serve as great starting points to get you there so much faster. You'll find a great spot and angle in no time and if you want to refine it more, you can always take it from there.
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/117
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
We have both worked with many people who know a lot. Like a LOT. Often more than we do (and we're obsessed with learning). Yet their records still don’t sound great. Let’s explore the reasons for this.
Because here's the thing:
We don’t want you to be held back by something that could be a huge advantage. Of course knowledge is important, but for some people it can be detrimental to their success as an engineer/producer, especially when combined with a certain mindset.
Here are some examples of that (we discuss those on the episode):
Here's how to avoid or overcome this problem:
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/116
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Have you ever fought a bass guitar (or any bass instrument) in your mix that was just not big enough?
Here's what you can do to compensate for a lack of low end in your recordings and add weight to otherwise thin sounding tracks.
In this episode we're walking you through different methods of creating extra bottom end (or the perception of it) if the tone you have just doesn’t have enough of it.
This is why you should know about these techniques:
You can’t bring out with an EQ what is not there at all. If your track never had any content below a certain frequency, there's nothing you could boost, right? So you need to add new low end instead of featuring what's already there.
Maybe you’ve recorded a small amp, or your playing high up on the neck all the time but still want the "weight", maybe your instrument is not a real bass, at all, but you want to make it sound like one, maybe your low end is there from time to time, but not consistently.
There are all sorts of situations and reasons for why you should know how to add extra weight and low end to your bass tones.
These are the methods we're discussing on the episode:
- Plugins like RBass, MaxxBass or bx_subsynth
- Multiband-Saturation tools like FabFilter Saturn or Steinberg Quadrafuzz
- Other software/hardware tools and how to combine them to add low end
- layering MIDI bass below the actual performance
- Dealing with a too dynamic, inconsistent low end and how to lock it in place to make it sound bigger
- How to avoid the whole issue in the first place
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/115
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
A lot of people are asking us about how many mics they should use on a cab, or whether or not they should blend multiple amps/cabs. Benedikt just had this conversation on a masterclass that he did for a German Audio magazine.
Our answer is almost always:
Start with one amp, cab and mic, learn everything about it and make it sound as good as you can. Only then add more, if you really need to.
And most importantly: Learn your cab!
The speaker(s) and cabinet are one of the most (if not THE most) important parts of the guitar chain. That's why we've dedicated this entire episode to helping you get the most out of your cab or your IR/virtual cab.
Here are some of the things we cover:
And again, this also applies to IRs/virtual mics!
If you know the ins and outs of recording a cab with a mic, you can choose the right IRs quickly, pick and position your virtual mics with confidence, you'll finally know what to listen for and you'll know how to solve any tone problem.
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/114
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
When it comes to guitar tone, we’re always talking about strings, setup, amps etc. This time we address the playing technique and specifically how it affects the sound of your recordings.
Things we cover in this episode:
Right Hand:
The attack, definition, groove/timing and presence is all in the right hand.
Left Hand:
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/113
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community
Listen and subscribe to Your Band Sucks At Business:
https://www.yourbandsucksatbusiness.com
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
This week we are sharing an episode of Malcom's other podcast "Your Band Sucks At Business" because we really care about your art and therefore want to help you make sure that people actually hear it.
We'd love to see you reach your audience and your goals as an artist/band.
But, unfortunately, so often we see people put so much effort into creating their music and then when it's time to show it to the world...they completely half-ass the release.
The results: Missed opportunities, no hype, no buzz, no growing fanbase.
Instead: disappointment and a slowly dying motivation to put out more music in the future.
We don't want this to happen to you and we get asked all the time about how releasing music actually works, so this is why we're excited to share this episode with you!
In case you're wondering whether or not you want or need this:
This is not really about promotion or marketing strategies, because there's a million different ways to market and promote your music that can't all be covered in a single episode. But regardless of the strategy you choose (if any), there are just some things that you have to do no matter what, if you want the release to go well.
And this episode is all about exactly that:
Generating the assets you need before any music release! All the things you need to collect, create, take care of and think of when you're planning your next release.
If there was ever an episode to take notes to while listening, this is it. Make a checklist and make sure you tick these off each and every time!
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/112
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Get Access To Our Mixing Course, "Mixes Unpacked - Vol.1":
https://theselfrecordingband.com/mixesunpacked
Get Some Of Our Favorite And Most Natural Sounding Drum Sample Libraries (Affiliate Link):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/roomsound
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
This is something we get asked all the time, something we see people fail at all the time and something we think we're both pretty good at:
Using drum samples in a way that sounds organic and not like we're actually using samples, while still adding all the punch, control, size, vibe and consistency that the raw tracks might be lacking.
In this episode you'll learn the process and specific techniques we use to do that, including:
And even more ideas on how to use drum samples without sucking the life out of the performance.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/111
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Hello friends and loyal listeners!
As you hopefully know, this week, we've launched our first ever mixing course, Mixes Unpacked.
It will be available at an absolute no-brainer of a price during our early-bird offer (goes away March 30th).
We have zero doubt that this is gonna get you results, BUT since we've opened the doors, we got a couple of questions from people who want to make sure this course is a good fit for them (or not). So we'll do my best to answer them right now.
Can we buy this as a band and share the costs between the band members?
Yes of course! The program (and everything we do) is designed for self-recording artists and bands! Our goal is not to squeeze as much money as possible out of every single person, but to help as many bands/artists, as possible.
However, if you buy as a band, you'll still get one account and only that one account can access the program. But you can consume the content together and you can bring your bandmates to the Q&A session. We won't kick anyone out for doing that and we just trust you that you will only share it with your bandmates and not anyone else.
So, sure, be smart about that. If you split the costs between all the band members, each of you will pay less for this course than you've probably spent on coffee or pizza last week.
---
I'm busy and it's gonna be a while until I record or mix again. Should I still join now?
Well that's up to you. Just know that prices will go up next week and we might even close the doors entirely for a while after that.
You will need some time anyway to go trough all the material, prepare and implement everything and you have lifetime access, including future updates or additions.
Also, the live Q&A session will be recorded, so you don't have to be there if you can't make it. You can leave questions in advance, so we can answer them and even if you don't, you'll get insane value out of the replay and our answers to all the other questions.
So you can go through it at your own pace and there's no risk if you decide to jump on the opportunity right now.
---
How much time do I need to set aside for this?
You can go through the video course at your own pace. The Q&A is the only scheduled thing, but there's going to be a replay. How long the Q&A takes, depends on how many questions we get.
Again, if you can't participate live, don't worry. You can submit questions in advance and watch the replay of the meetup later.
There's a lot that we show you in this course and it's pretty dense, so it will take you at least a few days until you've watched everything and took notes and then it's up to you to practice and implement everything.
Whether you do it in real time, or binge through and then implement step-by-step is up to you. However you end up doing it - In the end you will make better records. Period.
---
There is some more questions we answered, but you'll have to listen to the episode to hear them!
---
Hopefully these answers help you determine if Mixes Unpacked is the right fit for you.
You can get all the details (including what sweet bonuses you get) right here.
And remember you can try out the program risk free for 30 days to make SURE you love it and that it's the right course for you.
See you on the inside!
-Benedikt & Malcom
P.S. Join before Mar
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
What exactly are you doing when you're "demoing" or doing pre-production?
Are you capturing ideas? Working on the songs? Refining the arrangements? Recording scratch tracks?
All of that is fine and important, but the time you spend working on the songs and recording demos is actually still part of the writing process, while pre-production is a whole other step on the journey to a final record.
The songs and arrangements should be finished (or close to finished) at this point, because there's still a lot more to do and to focus on in pre-pro than just capturing scratch tracks.
So let's chat about the real reason(s) to doing pre-production, as people tend to either treat it as a part of the writing process or just as being about laying down tracks to record to.
Let's go!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/110
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Are you feeling overwhelmed every time you're starting a mix? Do you go back and forth a lot, constantly questioning your decisions?
For a lot of self-recording artists the answer to those questions is "yes".
Do you know when the mix is actually done? Do you know what needs to be corrected in the raw recordings you're working on? And do you know what needs to be done first, second, third, etc.?
The answer to these questions is often "no".
Malcom and I (Benedikt) give you a break down of our “mixing systems”, telling you exactly how we approach our mixes. Step-by-step.
This is all about having a good process and knowing what you're trying to achieve in each phase. So that you can then be creative, completely focus on the task at hand and consistently make progress towards you desired end result.
Understanding the whole mixing process better and coming up with a system or some kind of repeatable approach for yourself will help you
And of course your mixes will sound better, too.
Let's go!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/109
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
We got a listener request with some great questions and did this episode because of that!
Stephan sent us an email, saying that he loved our episodes on editing and that he now understands it’s absolutely necessary in most cases.
He says, he just doesn’t quite know how to actually do it.
Especially how to do it "on the fly", while he has to do all these other things.
Also, he said he’d love to hear us talk more in-depth about how to know whether or not something needs to be corrected and which techniques to use.
So we also discuss discuss time-stretching vs slip editing, among other actionable things.
Let's jump in!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/108
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Let’s assume you’ve already written a song and you can play it. Alone or as a band. How long does it typically take from there until you have a finished, mastered product that you can release?
We will tell you how long we think each step could or should take you. We’ll also compare doing it all yourself vs outsourcing the mixing and/or mastering.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/107
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
In this episode we’ll help you figure out how much your music is really worth to you. How much you can and should spend on making and promoting your music, your gear, improving your skills around music making or any external services to help you achieve your goals.
Why we recorded this episode and why we think you should listen:
We’re here to help you help you reach your goals. To help you succeed as artists. We're super passionate about that. That’s our why. And if you're super passionate about your music or your career as an artist, we wholeheartedly believe that your actions, including your spending habits and how you make use of your limited time, need to reflect your goals and priorities.
Here's what we see over and over again:
Many people can’t answer the questions:
“What’s your budget?”
"How much time and effort are you willing to put into this?"
“What are you willing to spend?”
"Are you willing to do what it takes and go the extra mile to make something really amazing?"
“Here's what it takes, would that be worth it to you?”
"How much time have you set aside for this?"
"Have you blocked those dates on your calendar?"
“Can you find the time and can you find a way to come up with that amount of money?"
Instead they just ask:
“What does it cost?”
"How long does it take?"
“Do I have that kind of time and money right now?”
They are looking at their current situation as if it couldn't be changed. They don't think about the potential, the return on investment and the value of something, they only see the cost and their currently limited resources, expecting some magic change to happen some day.
All while they get very creative when they need to find time or money for other things they want in their life, although they claim those are less important.
So you need to be very clear about the value and the ROI you’re getting in return for what you’re spending. And you need to be honest with yourself when you're defining what your true priorities are. You probably can't have or do it all.
So what can you do? How do you change your mindset and behaviour if this is what's holding you back (it's exactly what's holding back most people)?
Here's what we're doing in this episode:
We give you questions to ask yourself that will help you define your goals, set priorities, figure out the value of a certain service or product (ROI) and calculate a budget that you can justify spending on your next music project based on all of that.
In fact, you should be happily spending that if you do the exercise correctly. It’s like a mini coaching session that will help you discover your true “why” and show you a path to actually achieve what you claim is important to you.
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Big, amazing sounding tracking rooms are a luxury you don’t always have access to. So you need a way to get a great drum sound, even if the room was small and not ideal.
“Great drum tone” is usually a combination of the punchy transient you get from close mics and the size, length, sustain, width, depth and character you get from overheads and room mics.
On this episode we're discussing different techniques that you can use to get the most out of your close mics and overheads and then we're explaining how to create “fake room mic tracks” to make your drums sound as massive as you want, even if there are no "real" room mics in your session at all!
Things we cover:
Let's go!
Click here to get The Room Sound drum samples we've mentioned on the episode (Affiliate Link - This means support for us at no extra cost for you, yay!)
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/105
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
We show you how to use software (your plugins) like a hardware chain, so you can commit on the way in or track both processed/clean signals without expensive analog outboard gear.
Why would you want to do that?
Committing as you go and not leaving all the decisions for later will
We'll show you how to do that, what to watch out for and you'll get some examples of chains you can build immediately to start experimenting.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/104
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
On this episode we'll explain how to pick the right type of guitar amp for any production.
People often use whatever they currently have or pick the "wrong" one because they don’t fully understand the differences between all the available amps and categories of amps. And even if they do, they are often not really sure which of those differences actually matter.
We’ll break it all down into some basic, broad categories, explain the main tone and distortion characteristics of each of them and give you great starting points, as well as ways to figure out whether or not a certain amp is appropriate for what you’re trying to accomplish.
We discuss:
Let's go!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/103
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Benedikt has just joined/co-started a new band and they’ve gone through the process of setting up a simple system that lets them collaborate well (remotely). We decided that we should share that with you!
We discuss:
Let's dive in!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/102
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
If you've been trying to compensate for a lack of width in your mixes by using magical ‘widening’ plug ins on your mix bus, this episode is for you.
What we talk about on this episode:
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/101
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
There's not much to say this time. Except that we are insanely grateful for our community and the fact that we got to do 100 episodes of this podcast, which has helped so many people from all around the world.
In this episode we're hanging out with artists from our community, our listeners. You'll learn about their projects, bands, main takeaways from the podcast and their answers to the ultimate question: Pizza or burger?
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/100
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
This is a meme at this point, as you probably know. Everybody is struggling with their snare sound and we remember how we just couldn’t figure out how to make a snare sound amazing when we started producing and mixing.
So we wanted to talk about what it actually is that causes a snare to sound “bad” or amateur and tell you what to do instead.
Here's what we cover in this episode:
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/99
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Benedikt made some experiments at the end of 2021, mostly comparing analog gear to plugins (among other tests he did), trying to figure out where he can make things more efficient without sacrificing quality. Ideally even improving the quality of his work while also moving faster and more intuitive.
We wanted to talk about it and share his findings, as we think it will be encouraging and empowering to you.
And there's more to this:
If you've been listening for a while, you know how much we love efficiency. But we thought about it again and decided that we really wanted to talk about the importance of setting a high quality standard for yourself, going the extra mile and not sacrificing anything for convenience.
Art is not convenient. But creating art can be more efficient and frictionless than a lot of people believe.
So the questions are:
Where's the line? When are you starting to compromise the quality of your work? And when is a supposed "quality upgrade" not really worth it or actually a downgrade?
Let's discuss!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/98
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Should my room be small or big, dead or live?
Can I use the spare bedroom I have available?
Do I need to rent a big, massive sounding space for my recordings?
How can I optimize my space and make it work, so that I can get the desired results and exactly the ambience I want?
These are questions we constantly hear from our listeners and the artists we're working with.
Yes, a great sounding room is a beautiful thing and probably a big part of the sound of your favorite records. But what if you don't have access to that kind of space? Should you just give up? Or can you make it work and get the room sound otherwise?
And what if your space is too big and live? Can you control it? Can you still get an upfront, direct sounding recording? Do you need to build a vocal booth?
We thought about all of that and wanted to talk about what really matters when it comes to your home studio room.
Let's discuss!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/97
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Let's talk editing again!
Specifically: Elastic Audio, Flex Time, Vari Audio, etc.
These are tools that let you stretch or compress time. Not time in general (that would be dope, right?), but the length and tempo of your recordings, without affecting the pitch. Also pretty cool, if you ask me!
This is super useful in cases where slip editing (cutting and moving parts/notes) is just not enough.
Here are some of the things we discuss on the episode:
Enjoy!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/96
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
We said it before and we'll say it again: We LOVE gear!
But, gear is probably not the thing that's holding you back. In fact, researching and buying new gear might actually hold you back get in the way of you reaching your goals.
Here's a couple of reasons why:
There are many more reasons, so make sure you listen to this episode, as it will make your future purchase decisions easier and give you more clarity about what (not) to buy and why (not).
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/95
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
We are lifelong learners and we believe you should never stop educating yourself (hence why we created this podcast).
However, there is an inherent problem, actually multiple problems, with consuming YouTube channels, blogs, podcasts or any type of information, especially free content.
If you're completely honest, how many hours have you spent on YouTube trying to solve a problem? How many articles have you read? How many other pieces of information did you consume?
And how much of it was actually what you needed? Did you get side-tracked? Went down an endless rabbit hole?
What else could you have done in that time that would actually have gotten you results?
Then, when you've stumbled across something truly useful, how do you make sure you won't forget and remember it when you need it? And how can you be sure this is the only way, or the right way to do it? Is it really the right thing to do in your specific situation? For your specific song? Is there an easier way or a better way to achieve what you want to achieve?
Are you still open for other ideas or are you following blindly because you think that's the way and you're ignoring the context?
What if the person you're following doesn't really have a clue or is giving you bad advice?
And finally, what do you actually apply? And when? Which technique/strategy in which situation? How much of it will never be implemented at all, because you only have so much time and you can't do all the things?
We could go on and on. But enough with the questions for now. Let's give you some answers, show you how we do it and hopefully inspire you to find a good balance between consuming just what you need and taking massive action.
If you've paid attention, you'll realize that our approach is probably not the only one. But it definitely works for us and maybe it helps you, too.
Here's how to make the most of what you're learning.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/94
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
November 2021 - Q&A - Part 3!
These are some of the questions and struggles from our community members that we've covered on the show:
"I think the problem is trying to do a reasonable job on less than ideal equipment and in an untreated space. I’m sure a lot of people are in the same situation… you find a spare corner of the house to put your desk and your gear and your small monitors for recording, but trying to master on small speakers in a weird shaped room is a bit of a nightmare. I always use references and try not to get sidetracked by loudness, but hearing the low end properly on tiny speakers sucks. I mostly use headphones for recording and mixing (rightly or wrongly it’s what works best for me and the rest of my household) but obviously mastering on headphones isn’t really ideal."
-
"Not a 100% recording related issue, but maybe still OK to be discussed: How do I place and set up an internal kick drum mic for a live (recording) session with sending the mic to the p.a. and preventing it from low frequency feedback? We have this issue in our rehearsal space, that the kick is always close to annoying feedbacks. We record the sessions live while rehearsing. And yes, we are loud and yes, the kick needs balls. But maybe you have some "hacks" (TM) what we can try to reduce that? Mic is a Sennheiser 602. No compressor / gate but semi parametric eq on the mixing desk available, that I already tried noodling around with a lot. And we had the same issues with a D112."
-
"Whats a good way to achieve humbucker style guitar tones with a single coil guitar? (Without buying a humbucker guitar) Ha ha"
-
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/93
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Live Recording Setup Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/live-recording-setup
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
November 2021 - Q&A - Part 2!
These are some of the questions and struggles from our community members that we've covered on the show:
"If I’m recording at home, my recordings end up sounding not as “full” as I’d like them to be. Is it because I struggle with using compression properly? Or is it my gear (SM57 + Scarlett interface)? Whatever it is, how do I get the most out of my recorded tracks?"
"What I’m struggling with is the final order of things. I do a static mix, then tweak till I have a better recording. But then what? The final mix-flow plan is what I'm missing. Not sure when it's ready for mastering. I just seem to keep tweaking. Never committing, knowing I can always change it."
"We are recording demos of our next album right now and for some of the songs we have our singer singing into the p.a. and then we mic the p.a.. This results in that "vocal" track being more like a room mic for the drums than the vox. Also because it's recording the speaker it’s incredibly muddy. I know you usually advise against recording vocals live, but for these demos its really helpful to know where the vocals come in and out."
"Why do you double mic the snare? I’ve done it before, but it didn't really work because i don't understand why you would double mic the snare in the first place on a fundamental level."
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/92
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
It's time for another Q&A episode!
These are some of the questions and struggles from our community members that we've covered on the show:
"How do you know what decisions to make after you have a basic rough mix?"
"What do you do if you have to work in an untreated room? People have traditionally said to not mix on headphones, but it’s 2021 so maybe that’s not true anymore?"
"I understand some of the basics for balance and gain staging, but I’m sure there's more than just that. I know topics such as “side chain compression” might not be the game changer for a mix, but is there something else people should consider after the balance and gain staging to really make their mix stand out?"
"How do you get the vocals to sit 'in' the mix, but also be clear? And what about the push/pull of compression vs reverb/delay and EQ (I’m using LA2A and 1176 compression as inserts, then reverb and delay as FX channels in Cubase)"
"I'm struggling with getting drum levels right, as I'm not a drummer"
"I have no idea where to start at all, when it comes to mastering. At the moment I just have a mastering vst on the stereo out."
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/91
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
We love simple, classic band arrangements. Some of our favorite bands in rock and heavy music only use drums, bass, guitars and vocals and that's it...or do they really?
Some of them, sure. But you might be surprised by how many raw and organic sounding bands are actually using additional elements, tastefully added to their arrangements, to create some extra impact, size, excitement or depth.
Then there are the ones who don't even hide it but make it part of their sound, creating a cinematic experience or just massive, larger than life productions. They hit hard and use tension and release, build-ups and breakdowns to keep listeners engaged throughout the songs.
And finally, there are people who don't want to use ready-made samples or synths, but instead create their own unique sounds and special effects, manipulate their instrument recordings in crazy ways to create unique textures or find other ways to enhance the live takes they've recorded.
At the end of the day you have to do whatever it takes to make the song feel right. To make it sound as good and exciting as it can and to get your message across.
If you're already pulling that off perfectly with just your instruments - great!
If you're not sure about whether you've maximized your musics potential - go listen to this episode!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/90
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Hiring amazing session musicians can take your productions to the next level or even save sessions that would otherwise lead to very poor results.
Also, as a self-recording musician you're in a perfect spot to offer playing on other people's records! If you're a great player AND a skilled recording engineer, maybe a session musician career might be a path you'd want to explore.
Here are some of the things we cover in this episode:
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/89
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
I get it. You've heard countless times that you should "use your ears", and "not mix with your eyes". And it makes sense. All that matters is what comes out of the speakers.
But are you aware that this well-intended advice might actually be slowing down your progress?
In this episode we discuss why we think that it's not only perfectly fine, but actually a really good idea to use analyzers and other metering tools throughout all the different phases of music production.
We explain how we use them in our mixes, as well as as during recording and even arranging.
Listen now and learn how you can become faster and more confident in your decision making, as well as develop your ears and taste much quicker, if you start using analyzers and certain metering tools the right way.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/88
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Part 2 is about mixing "hacks". If you find these helpful and are a sucker for hacks and tricks like we are, we might even do a third one. We'll see. (Hint: Your feedback, reviews, etc. are helpful here. ;-))
Listen now, take notes and use these super hacks in your next session!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/87
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Find your vocal range in 3 simple steps with Matt's free web app:
https://rangefinder.ramseyvoice.com
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
A great vocal recording is all about the performance. Emotion, energy and vibe are so much more important than microphones, plugins or recording techniques.
But how do you learn to sing with confidence? How do you write songs that fit your natural voice? How do you know what you're even capable of, so that you can really give it your all in the recording session? And what can you do to make sure your voice will last and you won't hurt yourself even after days of full-on recording or touring?
Well, there are a couple of great exercises, habits and things you can implement right away. Great starting points that are available to everyone who's willing to put in some effort.
And if you're serious about it and really want to take your vocal technique to a new level?
That's where a voice teacher comes in. Vocal lessons are so underrated and so many artist don't take advantage of this opportunity to drastically improve their songs and recordings.
For this episode we sat down with vocal coach Matt Ramsey of ramseyvoice.com to talk about all of this, give you plenty of actionable advice that you can implement right away and to get answers to our burning questions on how to improve our vocal recordings.
Matt is a voice teacher and YouTuber with over 170,000 subscribers who's helped thousands of people find their natural singing voice and level up their vocal game.
Now he's here to help you and your band, too!
Let's go!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/86
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Let's start with recording hacks in this episode. If you find these helpful and are a sucker for hacks and tricks like we are, we'll do another one on mixing. And maybe another one. We'll see.
Listen now, take notes and use these super hacks in your next session!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/85
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
What does your typical project layout look like? Which colors do you use on which tracks? What about the routing and your bus structure? How do you make sure you never lose any takes? How do you keep track of all the magic moments happening in a session, so that you can move on quickly and then reliably come back to find them? How do you navigate your session quickly and switch between tasks? What about going back to previous stages of the session, archiving files and accessing mixes, stems, masters, demos etc quickly and everywhere?
If you don't have a good answer to any of these questions, this episode is for you.
Listen now and learn to set up your session and workflow like a pro!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/84
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
This episode is an interview and a real world, DIY-recording case study with the band "Offset Vision". Hosted by Benedikt Hain.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/83
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
This episode is an interview and a real world, DIY-recording case study with the band "Wet Future", hosted by Malcom Owen Flood.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/82
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
APPLY FOR A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 COACHING CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core
--
Are your mixes static? Chances are, things are not moving enough. And by "moving" we mean automatic changes in volume, pan, or plugin settings throughout your song.
This is called "automation" and it is a technique that is absolutely essential for creating exciting mixes. And even if you don't mix, understanding this concept will definitely help you make better engineering decisions and communicate better, because you will understand what is (hopefully) going to happen in the mixing stage.
Using automation, you basically tell your DAW (or desk with built-in automation) to make automatic real-time changes in order to bring certain parts up or down, highlight or hide things and create or enhance the dynamics from part to part, as well as within a part.
With automation you can guide a listener through your song, put the focus on the most important element at any time and turn a static mix into an emotional, dynamic experience of an artistic performance.
As always, there are best practices and common methods but there are no rules. Automation opens up wonderful creative opportunities and we're talking about all of that on this episode to help you make more exciting, less static mixes.
Let's dive in!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/81
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
The vocal sells the song, right? It carries all the energy and emotion. And it's the one thing we really have to get right because we humans are so used to the sound of a voice that we immediately notice when something's wrong.
At least as listeners we immediately notice it.
As engineers, however, it's actually pretty hard to get it right. For whatever reason people overcook their vocals all the time, using huge vocal chains without really knowing why.
Or they don't do enough because they are afraid of messing things up and what they end up with is a flat, amateur sounding vocal.
We've been there. And over time we've built vocal chains that work for us and help us deal with all kinds of different vocalists and situations now.
Our chains are different from session to session, of course. But they are still consistent enough for us to talk about them and share them with you. The why behind what we do is consistent and knowing the reasons why we use certain things in our chains over an over again is more valuable than the actual settings.
In this episode we talk about what we are using to record and mix vocals, why we use these specific plugins and pieces of gear and how we use it in different situations.
Let's dive in!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/80
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Almost every DAW lets you create MIDI data from audio files. And if not, there are plenty of plugins that can do it.
But why would you want to create MIDI notes when you have a "real" performance? What are the benefits and typical use cases? And how do you do it properly, so that the MIDI actually represents the original audio accurately?
Let's discuss!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/79
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Right after balancing, which we've covered in episode 75, panning is the second most important thing you need to get right in your mixes. Again, this seems trivial but it's crucial to spend some time diving deeper into the subject. There's more to it than most people think.
There are no rules, but there are definitely best practices, proven techniques and a couple of different approaches that everyone should experiment with to fully understand the concept and idea behind panning.
And then there's the fun part: Beyond the basic stuff there are endless ways of using panning creatively to add excitement, movement and dynamics to your mixes.
Listen now, take notes and then figure out what works for you to give your songs exactly the width and clarity they need!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/78
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
You've probably heard about Apple Spatial Audio or Dolby Atmos. And you've probably heard the marketing message, telling you you're missing out if you're still listening to music in stereo. Is this true, though? And does that mean we need to upgrade our home studios and build expensive immersive audio rooms? Or switch to headphones exclusively? Is your stereo setup becoming useless?
Let's discuss!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/77
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
It's Q&A time again!
This question came up in our Facebook community:
"Saturation. What is it? I have an idea of what it is from my king gizzard addiction, but i have no idea what it really is or how to use it."
Well, let's discuss!
(We also answer a couple of follow-up questions around the topic, covering mastering/mix bus saturation, parallel saturation and a couple more.)
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/76
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
There's one thing that we immediately pick out as listeners, even if we don't have very trained ears and even if we're not very experienced or familiar with the genre: We immediately notice when something is way too loud or way too quiet.
And we subconsciously notice when the song doesn't feel right, maybe because it's hard to make out the bass line, or the drum groove is just not hitting hard enough, or there's this weird, buried thing in the background that's distracting us, while something else is jumping out too much.
We might not be able to put it into words, but we definitely notice when there's something wrong with the balance.
So there is one skill that we have to learn and constantly improve as engineers and mixers if we want our music to translate well and deliver all the emotion and energy with minimal distraction: Balancing. Simply finding the right levels for every track in every part of the song and every mic on a every source that we record.
Technically it's super simple, but it's also incredibly difficult to get right. If you get it right, however, assuming that your source tones are good, you're 80% there. Without touching an EQ, compressor or effect.
Let's discuss!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/75
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
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, 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
among many other things.
Enjoy!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/74
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
In this episode we talk about the critical five things you need to get right if you want your drums to sound "professional".
And by "professional" we mean exactly spot on for your project. The way your favorite records sound.
Whether you want massive, modern rock drums or tight, dry 70s drums, you need to get these 5 things right. No matter what. And they are much more important than mics, preamps, etc.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/73
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Today we have a challenge for you that will help you learn and grow faster than ever before:
Write a new song each jam. Record what you have at the end of the jam, no matter what. That's right: Schedule your next 5 practice/jam/writing sessions with your band or alone, then write a brand-new song after every session and record a demo version of it.
Don't give yourself too much time to refine and overthink it. Keep the sessions short and force yourself to come up with something. The goal is not to write the best song ever, but to write and record five songs no matter what, set the foundation for a new writing and productivity routine and then reflect on the challenge to see what you have learned, what worked, what didn't work and how you can make writing and demoing a habit that sticks.
If there's any great stuff in those demos in the end that you can actually use: Great! If not: Absolutely no problem at all. Trust us, you'll benefit greatly from it, regardless of the immediate results.
Why all of that?
Bonus points (and the best learning experience) if you do this:
Put the demos in an online folder and share your results with The Self-Recording Band Community and us.
Are you in?
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/72
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Reamping used to be a problem solving technique. You recorded a DI as a safety net and when you later found out that the guitar tone didn't fit the song as well as you thought, you could just change it, or enhance it by blending it with another amp or pedal.
These days, reamping has become a standard practice and is part of the plan for many records, right from the beginning. Especially when things are recorded at home and then sent to a studio for mixing and mastering.
We believe you should always try to commit to a tone and you should at least take the time to play with whatever you have available, try to reamp yourself until you're happy and then see if your mixing engineer can do any better.
Also, if you have some cool amps and pedals, why not use them to create unique signal chains and ultimately a unique guitar tone? That is fun! Especially if you don't have to play while dialing in the amp.
In this episode we dive deep into reamping with hardware amps and answer questions like:
Let's go!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/71
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Are you making this record all by yourself? No? Good. You need this episode. If you are working on it alone now, will you at some point bring others in? Maybe on future projects? If the answer is yes, this episode is absolutely for you.
If you have more than one band member working on your songs and arrangements, if you want guest musicians to contribute to you record, if you're working as a session musician for others, or if you're hiring a mixing engineer - you need to make sure that those other people can actually work on your songs (or that you can contribute to theirs)!
And if you truly want or need to be a lone wolf, then you can make your own life easier by following the principles and best practices described in this episode. Because better organization and clearly defined processes for consolidating, exporting, labeling or archiving audio files make you faster, prevent mistakes and boost your creativity by freeing up that "brain RAM" for the things that really matter.
And as soon as an opportunity presents itself, you're ready to jump on it because you know how this all works and you'll be such a pleasure to work with.
Let's discuss!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/70
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Let's talk gear! Here comes our totally incomplete recording studio gear recommendations list for 2021. We go through the different categories of audio gear and give you options in the low, medium and upper price ranges, so you can pick and choose whatever fits your budget.
This list is totally subjective and there's much more out there, of course. But if you listen to this, you're going to get an idea of what to watch out for and why we like and recommend certain pieces of gear.
We're not sponsored by any of the brands mentioned (as of May 2021) and we hope this helps you get started with or finally complete your home studio rig.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/69
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Essential Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Let's talk gear! Here comes our totally incomplete recording studio gear recommendations list for 2021. We go through the different categories of audio gear and give you options in the low, medium and upper price ranges, so you can pick and choose whatever fits your budget.
This list is totally subjective and there's much more out there, of course. But if you listen to this, you're going to get an idea of what to watch out for and why we like and recommend certain pieces of gear.
We're not sponsored by any of the brands mentioned (as of May 2021) and we hope this helps you get started with or finally complete your home studio rig.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/68
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Equalizers are the most important audio tools right after faders and pan knobs. This episode is here to help you understand how they really work and how to get the most out of your EQ plugins or hardware.
You'll discover when to use the different filter types, how to use surgical EQ moves to solve problems or how to polish your recordings using broad, colorful strokes.
Understanding EQs is a crucial skill you need to have, whether you're recording, mixing or mastering. They can even serve as an analyzing and practice tool to help you develop your hearing and your general audio production skills.
How? Listen now and find out!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/67
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Have you ever wondered whether you chose the right settings in your recording software? Do you fully understand what they all mean?
Which sample rate is recommended? What about the bit depth? How do you make sure the signal flow and routing are correct? And of course, how do you achieve the lowest latency while recording without killing your CPU?
We've answered all those questions and a couple more for you in this episode. And we tried to keep it simple and not confuse you even further. Did we succeed? You decide.
Listen now and learn how to set up your DAW correctly, once and for all!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/66
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
It's probably the biggest challenge we're all facing when we're starting out making records and we can almost think of it as the audio engineer's job description. A problem you need to solve over and over again for every single record you're working on: Translating the sound in your head into a recording.
As some of the most frequently asked questions we get are also about this exact challenge, we decided to talk about it on the podcast and help you get there faster.
Listen now and find out how to make your recordings match your vision.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/65
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Recording a whole band live is one of the hardest but also most fun things to do. There are a lot of challenges that come with it and plenty of problems to solve, especially if you are in a small room.
Should you isolate everything as much as possible? If so, how? Should you try and keep the room out of the recording or make the sound of your room a big part of what you're capturing? Is it about the sound or about the vibe of playing together as a band?
Listen now as we answer these questions among others and dive deep into the topic of live recording.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/64
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Sidechaining is one of those things that get talked about a lot these days. Using the sidechain input of a compressor to create pumping or ducking effects has become a standard technique in modern music production. And not only in electronic music!
But there's more to it. The sidechain can be used to solve problems, create more space in the frequency spectrum, trigger gates to open or to gain more control over how a compressor reacts to the incoming signal.
But...should you care as a self-recording musician? Isn't that a mixing-only thing? Why would you want to understand this?
Let's discuss!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/63
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
This is another episode covering a basic audio concept and tool. Or rather a whole category of tools, as gates come in many different forms with different feature sets these days.
While most people interested in audio probably have an idea of what a gate is, many still don't fully understand it. And using gates without really understanding them can be dangerous. It might cause damage to your recordings that can not be fixed anymore. Also, when you're recording yourself and working with a mixing engineer it's really helpful to know what a gate can and can't fix later in the process.
And finally, gates can not only be used to get rid of unwanted noise, but to shape the sound of your recordings creatively. Drums are a great example for this.
We use them all the time in mixing and we sometimes do it in ways that are a little more advanced or rather uncommon for some people, so we thought we'd share it with you to help you get a better understanding of gates and also to show you some techniques that you maybe haven't thought of before.
Let's go!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/62
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Whether you're recording, mixing or mastering your music, compression is one of those basic (but seemingly complicated) audio concepts that you just need to understand.
Even if you're just demoing or writing with your computer/DAW and hire someone else to produce it, you'll find it very helpful to know what compression can actually do to your music as a whole and to specific individual tracks, what it can and can't fix and how you can use it creatively.
You'll be able to communicate better, understand the whole process better and develop a sonic vision that can be brought to life. You'll also gonna be able to avoid unwanted side-effects and address problems that might have been caused by using too much or the wrong type of compression.
Let's jump in!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/61
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
You've probably heard us talk about MIDI before. We use it all the time for many different things. Even in songs and genres that have zero virtual instruments. It's commonly used in writing, recording, editing and mixing music, as well as live music performances and lots of other applications.
Have you used MIDI before? Probably. Did you know you used it? Not necessarily. MIDI is working under the hood of many audio tools without us even noticing. And then there's the obvious stuff like drum programming or using other virtual instruments, where we write, edit and see the actual MIDI events directly.
It's a relatively simple, but super powerful tool that has been used since the early 80s and that is not going anywhere anytime soon.
If you feel like you're not 100% sure what you're doing when you're dealing with MIDI, this episode is for you. If you want to know what the various values and parameters actually do, this is for you. If you just want to get a better understanding of the concept, routing, MIDI maps, keyswitches, articulations, etc., this episode is also for you.
Let's jump in!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/60
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Ok, real talk:
What's actually good enough when it comes to DIY recordings? Is there a "good enough"? If so, what are the minimum requirements? What are the boxes you need to check to make sure your record will sound awesome in the end?
The best indicator for "good enough" is when people don't even think about the production when they hear our songs. That's what we aim for. As a DIY band we don't want people to notice right away that it's a DIY production, right? We want them to love our music!
If they find out afterwards and can't believe how great it sounds - even better! But we definitely don't want the "this song would be great, if only (insert sound issue)..."
That's why we've decided to do a series of episodes on common pitfalls, mistakes to avoid, minimum requirements and standards to aim for.
Here we go - grab a notepad and listen to part 3 of our checklist!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/59
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Ok, real talk:
What's actually good enough when it comes to DIY recordings? Is there a "good enough"? If so, what are the minimum requirements? What are the boxes you need to check to make sure your record will sound awesome in the end?
The best indicator for "good enough" is when people don't even think about the production when they hear our songs. That's what we aim for. As a DIY band we don't want people to notice right away that it's a DIY production, right? We want them to love our music!
If they find out afterwards and can't believe how great it sounds - even better! But we definitely don't want the "this song would be great, if only (insert sound issue)..."
That's why we've decided to do a series of episodes on common pitfalls, mistakes to avoid, minimum requirements and standards to aim for.
Here we go - grab a notepad and listen to part 2 of our checklist!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/58
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Ok, real talk:
What's actually good enough when it comes to DIY recordings? Is there a "good enough"? If so, what are the minimum requirements? What are the boxes you need to check to make sure your record will sound awesome in the end?
The best indicator for "good enough" is when people don't even think about the production when they hear our songs. That's what we aim for. As a DIY band we don't want people to notice right away that it's a DIY production, right? We want them to love our music!
If they find out afterwards and can't believe how great it sounds - even better! But we definitely don't want the "this song would be great, if only (insert sound issue)..."
That's why we've decided to do a series of episodes on common pitfalls, mistakes to avoid, minimum requirements and standards to aim for.
Here we go - grab a notepad and listen to part 1 of our checklist!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/57
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
How much does it cost to make a record?
It's kind of like the old question: "How long is a piece of string?"
These are both questions with no clear answers to them. In the case of making a record we could say: "anywhere between $5000 and $500000" or we can get to an answer that actually helps you if we clarify a few things first:
Wait, you haven't defined a budget? Or answered all the other questions in detail? This episode is definitely for you! And you're not alone. Many artists don't plan enough, underestimate what the whole process costs or simply haven't defined how much the desired outcome is worth to them or what that desired outcome even is.
Let's jump in to talk money, value and budgeting!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/56
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Join The Self-Recording Band Academy Waiting List Now:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/academywaitinglist
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Join us, as we walk you through the complete, proven, step-by-step system to capture exciting recordings and deliver pro-quality, mix-ready files to your mixing engineer.
Without the headache, the endless back and forth and without the fear of getting back just another amateur sounding product in the end.
Of course, this can't be done in detail in a single podcast episode, so we give you the breakdown of all the steps that you'll find in our in-depth online course, The Self-Recording Band Academy.
But don't worry, this is not just a commercial in podcast form, this episode itself is absolutely valuable, of course! We want to give you a framework that you can follow right away after listening to this and of course we can't wait to tell you about the Academy. Because we believe it will help self-recording bands like no other program before.
Because here's the thing:
In order to make a killer record, you don't need a recording degree or understand all of the science and tech behind recording music. And you don't need tons of money or years of time to spend, either. Experience always helps, of course, but all you really need for now are your songs, your creativity, your ears and the passion to actually put in the work, implement stuff and make it happen.
Join the waiting list now and get the best launch deals as soon as it goes live!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/55
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Many people think of referencing mainly as a mixing tool. But referencing other songs should actually be part of your process right from the start. Even during writing and arranging, proper referencing will make a huge difference.
I say "proper" referencing, because choosing the right reference tracks and using them to your advantage is a skill that needs to be learned and trained.
You want to reference the right songs for specific reasons, without ever trying to perfectly copy something (that will always go wrong, no matter how hard you try).
Listen know and learn when to use reference tracks, what to listen for and how to choose the right songs! We even give you a list of songs we use and explain why we chose these.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/54
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Many people seem to be confused or unsure when it comes to why, when and how to record doubles.
Listen know and learn how to properly record guitar and vocal doubles, so your choruses can be big, your guitars wide and thick and your vocal arrangements as exciting as possible.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/53
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
"Have y’all talked in detail about using impulse responses? "
This question came up in our Facebook community (which you should absolutely join) and as we thought about it, we realized...no, we haven't.
So here we go! This is the episode you've been asking for, as we talk about:
Please know that this is not a scientifically correct explanation or technical deep dive into what's going on under the hood of convolution reverbs and IR loaders. It's also not a tutorial on how to make IRs, although we touch on that briefly.
We're trying to give you practical advice, share our real world experience from using IRs on actual records and help you get started using IRs yourself. As always, all that matters is what's coming out of the speakers in the end. So please excuse our simplified way of explaining this and take it as hopefully helpful, actionable advice.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/52
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download Malcom's free 5 Steps To A Successful Music Release Guide here:
yourbandsucksatbusiness.com
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Alright, let's tackle the question of all questions:
Why are you making this record? What's the point of all that?
Have you ever really thought about your goals, what you're actually trying to achieve, when you're going to achieve it and what it will take to achieve it?
If the answer is "no", then this episode is definitely for you. And to be honest, most of us have not put enough thought, planning, strategy and effort into coming up with good goals and actually going after them. Let's face it: We, as musicians and creatives in general, are notorious for being dreamers, or being delusional, or being lazy, or wanting everything but not doing nearly enough to actually achieve it.
And I'm not just talking fame, money, hit records, or becoming a superstar. Whether you want a #1 single, play your first show, release your first record, change the world through the message you put out, express your feelings to people who care, or impress your friends - You'll only achieve whatever you set out to achieve, if you know exactly what you're actually going for and then act on it.
Listen now, as we share a proven goal setting framework along with real-life examples and then ask yourself these questions:
What's the point of making that record? Will you achieve, what you're trying to achieve? When? How? What will it take? Why are you putting so much effort, time and money into this? Or maybe, if you feel like you're not putting enough into it: Should you? Do you have to?
Here's to you and your music goals! You got this!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/51
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
You might be saying "I'm doing it all on my own, don't have hard deadlines and I enjoy the process, so why would I need to speed up?"
Well, wouldn't it be great to be able to spend all that time and energy you have working on the creative things that really matter and never again let that moment of inspiration go by without taking advantage of it?
Imagine how focussed you would be and how that would benefit your end result and also the satisfaction you'd get from it! You could be 100% in creator mode, just doing the things necessary to get your art out without having to think about them.
That flow state is what we all are going for when doing creative things. We want to free up as much mental capacity as possible, make intuitive decisions and just go for it.
That's why we made this episode for you. We're sharing a pretty comprehensive list of things we do to speed up our workflow and make creating cool stuff easier for us. Some of it is pretty basic, some things are pretty advanced. Some will save you time and energy directly, some will take a little more work, but will make it easier for you to get to the desired end result.
It's not just about shortcuts, hotkeys, or productivity apps. It goes much deeper than that. And it's definitely not about cutting corners or compromising anything. Not at all. Quite the opposite, actually.
Listen now to supercharge your creativity, speed up the process and discover new approaches to recording your band.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/50
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download Jesco's 5 Steps To Recording Room Acoustics On A Budget here:
https://www.acousticsinsider.com/selfrecordingband/
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Jesco Lohan is running acousticsinsider.com, an amazing resource on all things studio acoustics. He's got amazing articles, guide, tutorials and online courses on how to measure your room, build absorbers, etc.
Jesco is also:
Listen to this episode and learn how to make your home studio room(s) work, so that you can capture great sounding source tones, trust what's coming out of your speakers and gain confidence instead of constantly doubting your decisions.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/49
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
If you've been listening to this show and implementing all the things we keep talking about here, you've put a lot of effort into creating an amazing piece of art. Now you want people to actually hear it and take notice of you as an artist, right?
You want to create awareness for your band, you want to build a following and, most importantly, you want to connect with people. Your art, your message, your vibe needs to resonate with your audience and make them feel and experience something.
And while doing all of that, you want to be authentic, have fun and also not spend your whole day on the internet. After all, you're a band, not a marketing agency!
There is a way and John McLucas is here to show us how he's doing it! John is a music producer, artist and content creator who is using platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok successfully to help artists, grow his own business, help build other businesses and connect with people around the world on a daily basis.
He's a perfect example of a modern music creator and he is here to share with us what he has learned and implemented successfully since starting his music journey.
Listen to this episode and learn how to grow your audience, communicate with your fans, deepen the relationship with your followers and present yourself online through valuable content.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/48
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Diego Casillas is a killer guitar tech, a very smart person, a really cool dude to hang with and now the first guest on our show! He's worked with bands like Underoath, Chromeo, SmashMouth or Buzzcocks, among many others, as well as with amazing producers, such as Colin Brittain for example.
He helps bands set up and break down their live rigs and makes sure the right instruments are equipped with the right strings, perfectly set up, in tune and ready to go at all times in the studio.
So Diego really knows a thing or two about setting up guitars in general and also specifically for recording situations. And by the way, if you want to learn more about this after listening to this episode, Diego was kind enough to do an even more in-depth live webinar for my The Self-Recording Band Academy beta testers. I've added that to the course as a free bonus workshop for you and you'll get access to that, as soon as you join the program.
In case you're not familiar with the terms "guitar tech" or "guitar setup": That means setting intonation, setting action, muting techniques, setting relief, calibrating pickups, proper restringing technique, gauge selection, cleaning/repairing guitars, pick selection, tuning stability, etc. All absolutely crucial things if you want to get a great tone and feel.
For this podcast episode we focus on instrument selection, string selection (gauge, material, brand), as well as setting intonation, action and neck relief. And on top of that Diego is throwing in so many stories, insights and knowledge bombs that you'll probably want to listen to this more than once, so you can catch all the little nuggets of wisdom.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/47
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Have you ever struggled to finish a song, album or any recording project? Does it take you forever to create your record, or have you ever abandoned a project and never finished it at all, because you got frustrated along the way? I'm pretty sure you have. We all have.
The question is, what can we do about it? And what causes this issue in the first place?
If you want to move forward, release more music and get things done in 2021, this episode is for you.
And this time we're not doing it alone. We asked the people who have witnessed more musicians get frustrated and struggle to finish their projects than anyone else. People who are observing and helping thousands of bands and DIY artists on a daily basis - The admins of big, popular (home-)recording Facebook groups:
Those 4 experts are not only engineers and producers themselves, but also know the typical problems that keep coming up inside their huge forums. And they were generous enough to share their experience and advice with us, so you can overcome whatever is holding you back!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/46
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Happy holidays!
Thank you for listening and for supporting us throughout this year!
In this episode we reflect back on the train wreck that was 2020, focus on the positive things that happened to us (turns out there were plenty, also thanks to you) and give you an overview of what to expect next, now that we're moving into 2021 and year two of our podcast.
We're super grateful for all the opportunities and connections this show brought us and of course we're super grateful to have you as a listener. Every message, every post, every tag, every review, every thread in our Facebook group, etc. We don't take that for granted and we will continue doing our best to offer you the worlds best education platform for self-recording bands.
Thank you!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/45
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
In our last episode we’ve helped you find out how tight things need to be and what you can do to improve your performances. But it doesn’t end there.
If you’re brutally honest with yourself, while comparing your best raw takes to your favorite records, you will probably still notice quite a big difference in the quality of the performance.
Chances are your timing and intonation are still not 100% where they should be. And besides the fact that you’re probably comparing yourself to outstanding, world class musicians, the main reason for that is called editing.
Now, most people have at least some idea of what editing is, but they either
We want to debunk that theory, demystify editing and explain why it is such a crucial step, no matter if your music is supposed to sound organic or super accurate and polished. If you want to end up with a professional sounding record that resonates with people you need to understand the importance of editing.
You gotta understand how powerful it is as a tool to ENHANCE the feel and vibe of your songs, not destroy it.
In this episode we explain what editing can do for you, the different ways it can be used and we give you some practical, real world examples that might or might not surprise you.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/44
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
The second most important thing (after the song itself and the arrangement) is the performance. The timing, intonation and vibe have to be spot on to create the perfect feel for the song.
And “Spot on” doesn’t necessarily mean “perfect”. But what does it mean? Many people seem to struggle with deciding whether something is good enough or maybe already “too perfect”.
And it's a really good question! Here's why this matters:
As artists, we want to evoke emotions, we want our music to connect and resonate with people. This happens through the quality of the performance more than through the sound quality. Yep, it's true.
Tune in as we explain how to actually find out whether your takes are good enough or not and what to do to improve your performances, as well as the ability to properly assess them.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/43
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
The show notes to this one are rather short. We just thought it would be cool to share some of the unconventional, crazy and fun things we've done over the years, in order to capture exciting, unique tones.
These stories should serve as an inspiration more than anything. Feel free to try all of these for yourself and then take what worked and refine it, so that it's your unique thing. Or even better, come up with your own creative ideas!
Techniques like these are not for everyone or for every production and they certainly don't work every time. But sometimes they do and if that happens, everyone in the room has a bright smile on their face, knowing that magic has just happened.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/42
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Have you ever lost an important file, or worse, an entire project that you've been working on for weeks? Yikes! I guess most of us have been there and never want to experience that feeling again, right?
The solution is a proper backup system and if you've learned about it the hard way, you probably already have one now. But how do you actually do it, so that it's safe, efficient, convenient and affordable?
There are different types of backups and archiving systems that are typically used for different purposes. And then there are different options for each of those.
In this episode we talk about why this whole topic is SO important (beyond the obvious reasons) and we show you how we do it for our studios, businesses and personal lives.
If you think this isn't for you, because you've been lucky and have never experienced what it means to lose important data, you have two options:
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/41
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Click vs No Click - Find the Best Approach For Your Project And Learn The Different Ways To Use A Click Track
There was a time when a click track was simply a tool to sync up different players and get them to play together easily in the right tempo for the song, especially when doing overdubs.
Then there was a time when using a click track was frowned upon and almost seen as "cheating", especially in certain rock genres.
And then it became the standard, people were expected to be able to play to a click and most modern music was expected to be quantized and to be perfectly on the grid all the time.
Now, of course, we're seeing a trend of going back to natural feel and not using a click track again. As so many other things, it comes and goes in waves.
Now what does that tell us?
Well, there doesn't seem to be THE ONE right approach. And in fact, it's not just yes or no. If we choose to use a click track, there are many different ways to use it.
So what do we do? What's right? What's the best way for our project? And is it cheating? Does music really suffer from using a click track? Can we have both the click track and an organic, natural feel at the same time? How do the pros approach it and why?
Let's discuss!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/40
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the free Frequency Chart / Spectrum Overview (Cheat Sheet) here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/frequencychart
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
Get Your Low End Right From The Start (It's Not Just A Mixing Issue)
“Low end” in music production is a very vague term that seems to leave people confused and uncertain.
And even if you understand what it is, getting it right can be super challenging. But it doesn't have to be!
The key is to be intentional and strategic about it. And you need to start thinking about it right at the beginning of the whole process - during songwriting, arranging and recording.
Don't assume your low end is going to magically come together in the mix!
Sure, there's a lot a great mixer can do, but it starts way before that. If you are putting in the work, creating a great foundation right from the start, the results you'll get after mixing and mastering will be SO much better. And in case you're mixing yourself, your life will be so much easier.
Listen now to find out what "low end" actually means, why it is so important (and difficult) to get it right and what you can do during writing, arranging, production and recording (before the mix) to get exactly the size, weight and energy you want in your songs.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/39
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the Essential DIY-Recording Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community" ):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
"What Should I Buy - Digital Mixer Or Dedicated Interface?"
This is one of the most popular questions. People are wondering if a digital mixer with a lot of channels and all the bells and whistles can be a great alternative to the common, dedicated audio interfaces on the market.
It's not an easy question to answer, as they're designed for different tasks (or combinations of tasks). But it's true that both can theoretically be used as a recording interface. So let's break down the features, pros and cons and see if we can find a clear winner for your situation!
Bonus Content: Get Featured On The Podcast!
I'll start this with a question:
What’s the best thing about DIY-recording?
The obvious answer:
It enables musicians to put their music out fast, regularly and on a budget. It removes barriers and makes great sounding productions something everyone can have for their band now.
But there is more to it:
A whole new community and movement has developed around the topic. Passionate DIY-engineers and home recording musicians from all around the world are exchanging ideas, helping each other out and sharing their knowledge, experience and, of course, their music!
It has become a social experience, an opportunity for people to get to know like-minded peers and form friendships. Which makes for even better music, because people get inspired by each other, help each other, collaborate and grow together.
We believe that the creative freedom, the diversity in today's music, the fresh ideas and the community that came with DIY-recording are the best things about it. And we don’t believe in competition. At all. We believe in collaboration. A rising tide lifts all boats.
That’s why we want to make the podcast and this whole project less about us and more about you, the community, the self-recording bands out there. We want to give inspiring people a voice and a platform. We want you, your ideas and philosophies on recording to be heard. And we want your music to be heard! We want to talk to experts and professionals and hear their advice, just as much as we want to talk to passionate hobby recording enthusiasts.
So here are four things we’ll be doing from now on:
Listen now to hear how this will work and how you can be a part of it!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/38
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the Essential DIY-Recording Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community" ):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
--
You can absolutely learn how to mix. We’ve done it, lots of people have done it.
The questions you need to ask yourself are:
“What is my goal? Where am I right now? Where do I want to go? Who do I want to be? What’s the priority right now?”
There are basically three different scenarios:
In this episode, we're talking about each of these three scenarios and about what to do in those situations. We're also talking about how to choose a good mixer for your project and we're showing you the fastest way to get better at mixing yourself!
We want you to get results, that’s all that matters to us and this episode is the perfect example of that. No BS, no fluff. The truth.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/37
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the Essential DIY-Recording Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community" ):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Gain staging is one of the most overlooked topics and, when done wrong, most common problems in DIY productions.
People either don't fully understand it, think it's boring, or underestimate the dramatic consequences for the sound of their records.
The problem is that much of the information on the internet about gain staging is misleading, confusing and mostly black or white. That's why we're telling you the truth about it, why it is so important to pay attention to it and why it's all about intentionality, rather than aiming for "correct" or "healthy" levels.
In order to be intentional about your gain staging, you need some basic knowledge and understanding of how different levels at different stages affect your audio. It's not complicated, though. Once you put in the time and understand the principles behind it, it will all make sense to you quickly. And from that moment on, you will never have to guess about the right levels going in and out of your gear, or wonder why something sounds bad when there seems to be nothing obviously wrong.
Join us as we help you understand the principles behind and the benefits of proper, intentional gain staging.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/36
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the Essential DIY-Recording Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community" ):
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Many people think of drum overheads as “cymbal mics” - but they are (or can be) much more than that.
Overheads are super important for the overall drum sound and if you are not aware of their impact on the drum tone, depth, width and stereo image, you might choose the wrong approach for the result and vibe you’re going for.
In this episode you'll discover:
Listen now and up your drum production game big time by using your drum overheads' full potential - no matter if you're recording acoustic drums or using programmed MIDI drums.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/35
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Download the Essential DIY-Recording Gear Guide here:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
Join the free "The Self-Recording Band" Facebook community:
theselfrecordingband.com/community
„Should I Record Flat And Dry Tracks Or Compress And EQ On The Way In?“
This is a very common and valid question and we're not sure if it can ever be answered completely. But we definitely have an opinion on it and we are going deep into the topic in this episode.
We explain:
And finally, we'll talk about some example scenarios to show you our thought process behind those decisions.
Listen now, so you can save yourself some money, invest wisely, make confident decisions, create exciting art and choose your approach strategically, rather than just hoping for the best.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/34
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free "The Self-Recording Band" Facebook community:
theselfrecordingband.com/community
There are a lot of different ways to capture a bass guitar and to dial in a great bass tone. And there are a ton of options to choose from when it comes to gear.
"Do I need an amp? If so, tube, solid state, class d? Which cab? Which mic? Preamps, pedals? Is a DI enough? DI box or DI out of amp? And most importantly: Why all of that? What exactly happens to my bass signals in the mix? How do I make sure I get my dream tone in the end?"
Don't worry, we got you!
In this episode we break down the different methods of capturing a bass guitar, our favorite approaches for different scenarios, the gear we use to get the tones we want and the "why" behind all those decisions.
Join us for another deep dive into the dark, muddy waters of bass guitar land.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/33
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free "The Self-Recording Band" Facebook community:
theselfrecordingband.com/community
"I've tried using amp sims but they just don't sound like the real thing."
Is this you? Do you feel like amp sims are great for writing, but you'd always choose a "real" amp for your actual record? If only you had access to a couple of great amps, cabs and mics... If only recording these real amps was as quick and convenient as recording a DI into plugin... If only amp sims would sound as good as the real thing...
Good news: They do! Not the same, but just as good.
As always, it's not about the gear you use, it's about the sound in your head, your vision, your creativity. And there are always multiple different ways and different tools to get there.
When it comes to guitar tone, modern amp sims (virtual guitar amp plugins or Kemper profiles) can definitely get you there. That being said, we can see why you are feeling like they're lacking. There are reasons many people seem to love analog gear (and specifically analog guitar amps) more than their digital counterparts. But luckily, there are ways to make them work just as well as the classic amps we all love.
In this episode we're discussing what it actually is that makes an amp sound great and "real", then we're talking about if, where and why amp sims might be lacking and finally, we're giving actionable advice on how to make them work on a professional, exciting record.
Don't let your lack of gear hold you back!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/32
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free "The Self-Recording Band" Facebook community:
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Do you know the feeling when the chorus kicks in and you're like "YES, HOLY SH*T, THIS IS HUGE!"? Goosebumps, emotions, energy, excitement - it's just a perfect moment that immediately makes you love the song and want to sing along.
A great vocal production and arrangement can create that feeling and make a chorus really stand out. It can turn it into the catchy, memorable highlight of the song.
If you don't put enough thought into this, you really miss out on the biggest opportunity to catch the listener and make the song sound and feel like a hit! A great vocal melody and lyrics obviously help, but in most cases it's just not enough.
The chorus needs to POP and deliver the message and emotion of the song in the best possible way!
Join us as we're breaking down 5 vocal arrangement and production tricks that you can implement right away to create songs that stick and make your listeners lose it, as soon as the chorus kicks in!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/31
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free "The Self-Recording Band" Facebook community:
theselfrecordingband.com/community
This is probably the most asked question of all. It's also one of the most important ones and, unfortunately, quite difficult to answer.
What we consider a "good sound" or "great production" is highly subjective and even if you look at more objective criteria, it takes quite some experience to be able to listen for the right things and make informed decisions.
Nevertheless, we sat down and tried to tackle the question in the simplest and most helpful way possible.
We took a look at our own favorite productions and analysed what we liked about them and why. We also wrote down what we're typically aiming for when producing or mixing music ourselves, depending on the genre, of course.
That said, with "production" we mean the whole thing: Recording, editing, mixing, mastering. So we're looking at the final thing, dissect it and find out what makes it awesome. So that you know what to listen for and where you are standing compared to a great sounding, finished record. No matter where you are in the process
Then we made a list of the most important, overall things, explained why these are so important, and threw in some advice on how to achieve those.
And finally, we went into the specifics and details that are easier and quicker to apply.
Let us know what you love about your favorite songs and productions!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/30
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free "The Self-Recording Band" Facebook community:
theselfrecordingband.com/community
We got a well thought-out, long email from one of our email subscribers, asking a great question:
"How Do You Develop A Unique Drum Sound?"
This one got us thinking, because it's such an important question to ask. Not just "how do you record drums" or "how do you make drums sound good" but "how do make them UNIQUE".
We don't want to sound like everyone else and the records we love most have exactly that: Unique sounds.
So we did our best to answer this question and took a deep dive into what makes a unique drum sound, how to define a vision in your head and finally all the different ways to make that vision a reality.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/29
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free "The Self-Recording Band" Facebook community:
theselfrecordingband.com/community
In order to stay motivated and keep pushing your project forward, you need to track your progress. You need know where you are, what you've already accomplished, what's ahead and what to do next.
Every second spent thinking about those things before you can be creative again and move on with the project is a minute wasted. And, more importantly, mental energy wasted that you could have used to work on your music.
Add to that, that we are incredibly forgetful creatures who get distracted easily and you'll quickly realize that there's no way around tracking your progress properly, if you want a completed project, well thought-out songs, an inspiring, detailed production and happy bandmates.
Join us as we discuss the mindset, strategy, tactics and tools we use to manage our studio projects and let us give you some ideas and practical advice on how to implement a seamless system for your band.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/28
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free "The Self-Recording Band" Facebook community:
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Are you the type of person who loves the technical aspect of recording? Are you fascinated by gear and all the cool things you can do with it? Do you have high standards and a clear vision of what the performances should be like? Are you willing to spend hours to get the perfect take or refine a tone? Are your bandmates joking about how obsessive you are while tracking? Or, even worse, are they annoyed by your approach and your obsessive ways? I mean, it's clearly their fault, right? They just don't understand how important this all is.
Well, think twice. Recording music and making records should be fun and lead to an exciting result, not a perfect one. You can hear it if it was a pain to create and that is not good. Yes, there are technical details to take care of and non-creative steps in the process. And yes, you need to take it seriously and put in a lot of effort. But while working with countless artists over the years we found ourselves in many situations where we needed to help the band get back on track, prevent damage to the relationships within the band and make sure they still had the goal and big picture in mind.
We've seen relationships being destroyed, bands breaking up and records turning out uninspired or never getting finished at all, because of one or multiple bandmembers being overly obsessive while tracking, being too hard on themselves and their bandmates and, while having great intentions, ultimately putting the whole project at risk.
That's why we felt the need to make this episode to help you finish your projects, get exciting results, strengthen your relationships within the band and, most importantly, have fun while you're doing it.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/27
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free "The Self-Recording Band" Facebook community:
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Troubleshooting and solving problems are just part of making records. Things will go wrong at some point and we need to be able to deal with those issues fast, so we can continue working on the art, stay in the zone and keep the creative energy and vibe up at all times.
Have you ever felt the frustration kicking in after hours of searching the internet for a solution to some seemingly trivial problem? Has making a record ever seemed like a tedious and difficult process to you? Have you ever been wondering why something just doesn't sound like it's supposed to and you are kind of stabbing in the dark trying to get it right?
We've been there and want to make your life a little easier by sharing a whole list of solutions to common "audio problems", so you don't need to go through the same frustrating process of figuring it all out on your own. Instead you can apply the advice right away and continue focussing on what really matters.
This is a two part series, as there's really a lot that can, and will, eventually go wrong. Let's jump into part two, where we discuss "tone problems" as well as typical arrangement/songwriting issues that you need to overcome if you want to capture exciting sounding songs.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/26
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free "The Self-Recording Band" Facebook community:
theselfrecordingband.com/community
Troubleshooting and solving problems are just part of making records. Things will go wrong at some point and we need to be able to deal with those issues fast, so we can continue working on the art, stay in the zone and keep the creative energy and vibe up at all times.
Have you ever felt the frustration kicking in after hours of searching the internet for a solution to some seemingly trivial problem? Has making a record ever seemed like a tedious and difficult process to you? Have you ever been wondering why something just doesn't sound like it's supposed to and you are kind of stabbing in the dark trying to get it right?
We've been there and want to make your life a little easier by sharing a whole list of solutions to common "audio problems", so you don't need to go through the same frustrating process of figuring it all out on your own. Instead you can apply the advice right away and continue focussing on what really matters.
This is a two part series, as there's really a lot that can, and will, eventually go wrong. Let's start with part one, where we discuss technical issues and "tone problems" that you need to overcome if you want to capture exciting sounding tracks.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/25
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free "The Self-Recording Band" Facebook community:
theselfrecordingband.com/community
This is the master episode. The episode of all episodes, if you will. Because we're walking you through the entire process of how records are made, explain every step along the way and talk about how to best approach each step, depending on what you're going for and what situation you're in.
There's so much that goes into making a record that the actual process of recording it is just a small piece of the puzzle. Join us as we're breaking it down step by step, so you can create your own master plan for your next release!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/24
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free "The Self-Recording Band" Facebook community:
theselfrecordingband.com/community
When you hear "checklists and templates", creativity is not the first thing that comes to mind, right? It sounds like the exact opposite and we as typically right-brained artists tend to avoid those things like the plague. But the truth is, they enable you to be truly creative, because if you use them to your advantage, your brain doesn't need to waste energy on the non-creative, repetitive tasks anymore and is free to focus on what really matters: The art.
In this episode we talk about three main benefits of checklists and templates in music production, we explain why and how they help you save time, be more creative, have more fun producing, and avoid mistakes, as well as give you specific examples of checklists and templates that you can implement right now to 10x your productivity and creativity.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/23
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free "The Self-Recording Band" Facebook community:
theselfrecordingband.com/community
One of the most common issues we run into, when we get tracks from self-recording bands, are out of tune guitar and bass tracks. And it's one of those things that immediately scream "AMATEUR PRODUCTION!".
When the tuning is off, even if it's subtle, the song won't connect as well and the mix won't sound as good as it could have if the intonation was spot on.
Especially in modern productions where there are multiple layers of guitars, bass, keys, vocals, etc., even the slightest tuning issues can cause the whole thing to sound weird and unprofessional. And it will definitely distract the listeners and take them out of the song.
Listen as we walk you through three main concepts and lots of simple, specific tricks and tactics that you can use to get the guitar tuning spot on and nail the intonation every single time you record.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/22
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free "The Self-Recording Band" Facebook community:
theselfrecordingband.com/community
"Everyone uses the same samples and amp sims", "everything's quantized and edited to perfection", "modern productions have no soul", "So many bands sound basically the same" - Well, here's the cure: Make your records sound special and exciting by using and creating sounds that are unique to your production and fit your vibe perfectly.
There are things that you can do during the actual recording, of course, but usually you need to focus on the performance, capture great takes and you don't want to paint yourself into a corner too early in the process.
That's where "creative reamping" comes in. It's the process of taking an already recorded signal, running it out of the computer into a pedal, an amp, a PA system, some weird sounding box, etc. and then capturing it again.
This can be done after the recording, without destroying the original file. And experimenting with it is almost a must, when you are self-recording. Because you have all the time to do this without having to pay for an expensive studio, you can go absolutely bananas here, if you want!
Run your vocals through guitar pedals, send your drums through a PA system into some crazy sounding room, use a boombox or kids toy as a guitar amp, use headphones as microphones, there are endless options to try.
In this episode we'll talk about some ideas and about how to actually do this. Stop making boring records and let's get wild!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/21
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free "The Self-Recording Band" Facebook community:
theselfrecordingband.com/community
An acoustic guitar is a complex thing to record and there's so many things that can go wrong. The instrument, the strings, the performance, the room, the microphones and placement, noise issues and finally the question: How do I get this to work in the context of my song? Most of the time the acoustic guitar serves a specific purpose. Either on its own, or in a dense, full rock band arrangement. In this episode we'll walk you through the process of recording an acoustic guitar and cover all the details, as well as different methods and approaches, so that you can start your next session with confidence.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/20
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Join the free "The Self-Recording Band" Facebook community:
theselfrecordingband.com/community
In a typical home recording situation, what we can do is often limited by the amount of inputs and mics that we have. And when we think of modern drum production we think of complex multichannel setups with 20 or more microphones carefully positioned around the drum kit.
Sure that's often the way to go, if we have the gear, room, expertise, etc. But what if we only have four inputs available and still want all the punch and clarity? Don't let that stop you! There are ways to make situations like this work and we're gonna show you exactly how. Join us in our discussion about minimalistic drum recording techniques that can make your drums hit hard, regardless of the limitations.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/19
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
When you record a guitar or bass, you should always record a clean DI signal in addition to your amp (or amp sim, Kemper, etc.). There are plenty of very good reasons for it - and just no reason not to.
In this episode we talk about the many ways your next record will possibly benefit from having DI tracks and sending those to mixing along with your amp tones. Editing will be much easier, more effective and transparent, the final tone (the end result) will probably be a lot better and there's a lot of creative, fun things you can do with a DI that can really bring your record to the next level.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/18
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
What comes to mind when you think of Auto-Tune? Probably not organic sounding, "real" rock music, right? The word screams "FAKE!" The truth is, though, that on most modern, professional records, even the very natural sounding ones, you'll hear some sort of pitch correction or tuning that happened in post-production or even in real-time during recording.
It's not at all about creating funny, robotic sounding effects (although you can do that if you want) and it's also not about making bad singers appear as if they could actually sing (although you can definitely do that to an extent).
It's mostly about taking an already great performance, that has the perfect feel and energy and getting the intonation just right, so that the vocal sits beautifully in the mix and connects with the listener.
Sometimes that means it needs to be just a little off, sometimes it means it needs to be 100% accurate. And sometimes nothing at all is needed. It totally depends, but if it could really help the song and make a greater impact on the listener, would you still refuse to do it? Let's discuss!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/17
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
What order should you record your tracks in? And why? Does it even matter? We think it does matter! Unfortunately, it's not as simple as a list that you could follow every time you record.
Listen to this episode and learn what really matters when it comes to the order of recording things, the philosophy behind it, how to find out your perfect order and how to get the most out of your recording sessions by approaching them the right way.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/16
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Pre-production is critical to the success of your record. It's an essential part of preparing yourself, your songs and your setup for the actual recording process.
Only after pre-production will you really know if your arrangements work, if the songs are ready, if your music connects and has the desired emotional impact, if everyone can play their parts well and if the individual tones you're dialing in work together well.
If you skip this part you miss out on the biggest opportunity to get your record to that pro level, the recording process will be more tedious and less fun and the final result will likely be less than ideal.
In this episode we talk about the importance of pre-production in much more detail and give you actionable advice on how to do it properly, so you get the most out of it.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/15
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
Getting a decent sounding recording is not enough anymore. It's not enough to record clean signals, avoid hum and noise and make it technically flawless. Not at all. The last thing the world needs are more perfect but boring records. Making something really impactful requires bold moves, committing to stuff early on in the process and most of all:
A clear vision of the thing you want to create.
And this is especially hard to do if you record your own music. Because you have to be aware of the fact that you are the artist, the engineer AND the producer in one person (or as a group of people, your band).
The differences between those roles are the following:
The producer is the one who has the creative vision, who guides everyone involved through the project. He/she never loses sight of the goal and he/she's always looking at the bigger picture, the 10000 foot view on the project. Think of this role as the role a movie director has. He/she doesn't operate the camera, but is in charge of the creative decisions and knows exactly how everything will work together in the end. In a traditional recording studio situation there was this producer and then there was one or more engineers. The engineers are the people who actually turn the knobs and set up the microphones. They know exactly how to bring this vision to life, how to capture the sound that the producer and artist are going for.
If you have to combine all of this in one person, it's VERY difficult to stay objective and to not get lost in the details, but instead focus on the big picture.
That's why you need a "producer", someone in your band who can take on that role and who is responsible for the big picture, the songs and the vision (creatively and sonically). Ideally, that person or group of people is also responsible for the project management, timeline and making sure everyone is working towards that common goal. So that the engineer can focus on the details and making sure that everything is captured perfectly. And so that the musicians can perform freely and can completely be in the zone while doing so.
Listen to the episode and learn more about why this is so important, how to go about it and how to actually avoid the common mistakes we've seen so many self-recording bands make.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/14
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
What does this knob on my recording gear actually do and how does this all work? When do I need to push which button? What are "pad" and "48V" actually? Find out why, when and how to use all the controls on your interfaces and microphones!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/13
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Bass Tone is not just about getting the low end right. The bass has to cut through the mix, serve as an anchor for the song, add growl and "teeth" to the guitars and we need to make it audible on small speakers. Here's how.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/12
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
The vocal almost always is the most important part of a song. But what is actually most important when it comes to recording it? Let's discuss and find out what to do if you want to capture that magical take.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/11
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Why is there an additional step when my music is already mixed? What's the difference between mixing and mastering? Should I master myself? Can the mixing engineer master it? The difference seems so subtle, is it even worth it? We try to demystify the "dark art" of mastering, explain what it actually is and talk about why your music needs it.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/10
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Using triggers and drum samples is a no-no? You want to keep your "real, natural drums" at all cost? You might want to think twice about that. Because drum sample enhancement (or replacement) can even sound MORE NATURAL than using your live drums only. In this episode we talk about why that is, why you don't need to be afraid of samples and what you can do to make sure your mix engineer can actually use as much of your live drums as possible.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/9
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Programmed drums sound fake to you? You love the control, the instant punch and the freedom you have with programmed drums, but it just doesn't sound realistic? We got you!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/8
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Not sure whether you should record your drum kit, or program drums for your record? Are you afraid MIDI drums will sound fake? Wondering if you can really achieve great results recording the "real" thing? We help you see clearer and talk about when and why to choose each of these options.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/7
Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Stop wasting money! In this episode we talk about how to make the most out of a limited DIY recording budget. We talk about the things that really matter and where to spend your hard earned money, so that the investment will actually get you results.
Gear is not the most important thing, but it's certainly necessary to get some equipment and you probably want to do that without burning money. That's why we've put together the free "Essential DIY-Recording Gear Guide" for you that you can download here: theselfrecordingband.com/gearguide
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/6
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
We all love a great guitar tone, right? In this episode we talk about the 5 most important things you need to get right, if you want your guitars to sound great. We talk about what those things are in our opinion and what the order of importance is for each of us.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/5
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
In this episode we talk about the unpopular but super important topic of phase and polarity. And especially how it affects your drum recordings.
Want big, punchy drums? Want your snare to hit hard? Want your kick drum to have all the rich, full low end? Get your phase and polarity right!
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/4
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Benedikt Hain shares his story and explains how to move your band forward faster, avoid mistakes and why you should absolutely learn to record yourself.
From crappy practice space recordings through years of learning the hard way and dropping out of college twice to mixing label projects full time.
For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/3
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
Malcom Owen-Flood shares his story and how he went from touring and recording in his living room to making billboard hits, mastering for clients from all around the world and working on Netflix documentaries.
For full show notes go to: www.theselfrecordingband.com/2
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
In this episode we discuss the pros and cons of making DIY recordings, talk about some DIY success stories, the challenges self-recording artists are facing and explain what it takes to make a great record on your own. Can you actually do it? How do you get started? Can't you just buy some gear that will help you sound like a pro? Let's discuss!
For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/1
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.