Inside The Recording Studio – Details, episodes & analysis

A thought-provoking episode where Chris and Jody dive deep into the art of production balance! This time, we’re tackling the often-debated concepts of underproduced and overproduced mixes. What do these terms really mean, and how do they impact your final sound?

Join us as we explore:

• What makes a mix underproduced: How minimal arrangements can leave a song feeling flat or incomplete, and how to identify when more layers or production elements are needed.
• What makes a mix overproduced: When too much is happening in the mix—whether it's excessive effects, over-layering, or crowded instrumentation—and how this can drown out the song’s essence.
• Our first steps in dealing with both types of mixes: Learn how we approach both underproduced and overproduced tracks to bring them back to life. From stripping things down to building them up, we share our go-to strategies for achieving the perfect production balance.

Whether you're dealing with a mix that’s too bare or one that's bursting at the seams, this episode is packed with insights on finding the sweet spot that makes your music shine. Tune in and take your productions to the next level with Inside the Recording Studio! 🎧✨

Mixing, ProductionTips, UnderproducedMix, OverproducedMix, AudioEngineering, MusicProduction

In this insightful episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody tackle one of the most common challenges faced by audio engineers and producers: cleaning up unwanted noise in recordings. From vocal artifacts to background hums, noise can detract from the clarity and impact of your mixes if left unchecked. Join us as we explore the four main types of audio noise—non-musical noise, vocal noise, instrument noise, and audio editing noise—and dive into practical solutions for eliminating them before the mixing stage.

Episode Highlights:

1. Understanding the Four Types of Audio Noise: We break down the four main categories of noise that can creep into your recordings. Non-musical noise, like background hums or ambient sounds, vocal noise such as breaths and mouth clicks, instrument noise including squeaks and finger slides, and audio editing noise like clicks and pops from poorly executed edits. Learn how to identify each type of noise and understand the impact they can have on your overall mix.
2. How to Clean Up Non-Musical Noise: Discover effective techniques for reducing or eliminating non-musical noise in your recordings, from HVAC hums to environmental sounds. We'll discuss the use of noise reduction software, including the popular iZotope RX suite, and explore how spectral editing can help you surgically remove noise without harming the musical content.
3. Addressing Vocal Noise: Dealing with vocal noise like breaths, sibilance, and mouth clicks is a critical step in achieving a polished vocal performance. Chris and Jody offer tips for reducing vocal noise using both software solutions and manual editing techniques. Learn how to use tools like iZotope RX's De-click, De-breath, and De-ess modules, as well as manual editing in a DAW for more precise control.
4. Cleaning Up Instrument Noise: Instrument noise, such as fret squeaks on guitars or mechanical sounds from pianos, can sometimes add character but often need taming. We'll discuss when to keep or remove these noises and how to use tools like EQ, gating, and even destructive editing to clean up tracks while preserving the musicality.
5. Eliminating Audio Editing Noise: Poor audio edits can introduce unwanted clicks, pops, or abrupt changes in sound. We'll explore best practices for avoiding editing noise, from proper crossfading to using fade-ins and fade-outs, ensuring your edits remain seamless. Learn how to identify and correct problematic edits using iZotope RX’s Click Removal or traditional DAW tools like crossfades.
6. Destructive Audio Editing vs. Non-Destructive Editing: Delve into the debate between destructive and non-destructive editing in audio restoration. We discuss when destructive editing (editing the original file) can be useful for deep noise removal, and when non-destructive editing (editing with the option to revert) might be safer. Find out which workflow suits your projects best, based on the level of noise and the complexity of the session.

Whether you’re an experienced audio engineer or just starting out, this episode provides invaluable insights and techniques for cleaning up your recordings before mixing. From software tools like iZotope RX to manual DAW workflows, we’ve got you covered. Tune in now to Inside the Recording Studio and make sure your mixes are noise-free and professional-sounding from the start!

Audio noise reduction, iZotope RX tutorial, Vocal noise removal, Destructive vs. non-destructive editing, Cleaning up instrument noise, Spectral editing for noise, Click and pop removal, De-noising audio recordings, Noise cleanup techniques, Audio editing tips for clean mixes

In this exclusive episode of Inside the Recording Studio, we sit down with the legendary recording engineer and producer, Adam Mosley, to take a deep dive into his illustrious career. Join hosts Chris and Jody as they explore Adam's journey through the world of music production, from his early days in the studio to working with some of the biggest names in the industry.

Discover the stories behind the scenes as Adam shares his experiences of recording and producing iconic albums. Learn about his unique approach to capturing the perfect sound, his favorite gear and techniques, and the creative processes that have shaped his remarkable career.

In this candid conversation, Adam reflects on the challenges and triumphs he has encountered along the way, offering invaluable insights and advice for aspiring audio engineers and producers. From his work with legendary artists to his contributions to groundbreaking projects, gain a rare glimpse into the life and career of one of the most respected figures in the recording industry.

Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out in audio production, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical wisdom. Don't miss out on this fascinating journey through the recording career of Adam Mosley – tune in now to Inside the Recording Studio and be inspired by one of the best in the business!

Adam Mosley, Recording engineer, Music production, Iconic albums, Audio engineering career

Chris and Jody divide and conquer the subjects of corrective EQ and sweetening EQ. What is the definition of each? Where do we approach each style of EQ? What is the process value of each style of EQ? All this is discussed and more. Don't forget the Friday Finds that we found this week for you!

Chris and Jody weigh in on the concept of knowing music theory. Should a producer, a musician, a mix engineer know music theory? Will it help or hinder the situation in the studio? How about the writing process? Are there pitfalls to dealing with artists that don't know music theory? It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

Chris and Jody (with their kinda fun podcast) sit down to chat with songwriter, producer, VI maker extraordinaire - Mike Greene. You've likely heard Mike's handiwork on "bad" TV shows or some artist's records. Or maybe you've heard of his VI company Realitone. We go deep with Mike and find out what makes him tick. Plus we learn a rather interesting connection between him and David Bowie. Find out what we learned!

Chris and Jody open up some windpipes on the methods of learning how to hear what compression is doing. Covering the controls of a normal compressor, to extreme settings that should really accentuate what it's doing to a signal. Plus a few more little tricks to the trade that we've used to learn to hear what a compressor is doing and use it to your advantage. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.

Chris and Jody delve into the depths of side chaining. We discuss what it is, and various ways it can improve your mix. Plus what types of methods we make use of to effectively incorporate side chaining to create movement and change in a mix.

Chris and Jody are filling the pool with warmth. Diving into the subject of how to get warmth in your mixes. Should you get warmth in your mixes and what methods do we use to achieve that warmth. From mics, to plugins, to mojo, we cover it in here. Put your swim suit on and follow along.

Chris and Jody unfold the murky waters of Mid-Side EQ. Talking about where concept stems from and what is different about now in the modern DAW world. We explain the nuts and bolts of how it works in stereo. Why we might want to use Mid Side EQ and some possible pitfalls from using it. We even talk about some of our favorite plugins to use for EQing Mid Side situations. It's also not unlikely that there will be some nonsense discussed.