Unstoppable Recording Machine Podcast

Clifton Miles of Dead Room Recordings joins us to talk about how he’s persevered and built an audio production career after losing his hearing in one ear. Everyone faces some form of adversity in their life. Audio production can be an especially tough path for a variety of reasons. After hearing Clifton’s story I think we’ll all be able to agree though that if he can overcome hearing loss, stay positive, and build a successful audio career there’s no reason for anyone to feel like the adversity they’re facing in their own lives is insurmountable. “I just don’t like stopping doing something that I said I was going to do until I feel like I accomplish what I need to accomplish.” - Clifton Miles ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Clifton’s hearing loss, and how he kept going in spite of it - Staying positive through adversity - How Clifton has adjusted his process - Why it’s the results that matter - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Vis

On this episode we talk to John Maciel, Miami Dolphin, and Tyler Rodriguez about how they’ve gotten awesome internships, the skills you need and how to adapt to opportunities like these, and how to not screw it up. Internships can seriously supercharge career progress for individuals that are able to capitalize on them. Knowing how to walk into an established studio and really prove your worth can be a scary prospect though. Tyler, Miami, and John really get into detail in this discussion about what you need to be prepared for and what skills you need to have in order to be successful. “If you want to go big, you’ve got to put yourself around people that are already doing it.” - Eyal Levi ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Internship life hacks - What DAW knowledge you should have if you want to intern for a studio - How each guest got their internship - Adapting to the situation you’re given, rather than trying to change reality - Recognizing opportunities that you didn’t specifically envision - Why you

Ryan “Fluff” Bruce is back with us for a talk about being reliable, incorporating new skills, and the 2017 URM Academy Summit. There are few guys out there right now that are putting in as much work to blaze their own path in the audio industry as Fluff. He exemplifies the creativity that it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. You can’t just copy what he’s already done (seriously… don’t be the person that makes that mistake), but there’s work ethic lessons galore in this discussion. “How many young people really can grasp and adequately take advantage of a good opportunity, because I certainly couldn’t when I was 22 or 23.” - Ryan “Fluff” Bruce ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Diversifying - The reality of coming to the game when you’re older - Developing the ability to recognize good opportunities - Taking risks - 2017 URM Summit lecture details - How Fluff learned video production, and why you should too - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your

Sam Pura (The Story So Far, Hundredth, The American Scene) joins the show to talk drum tones, workflow, and the weird way he tracks guitar DIs. Sam is known for producing amazing sounding punk albums. After listening to the depth and precision he uses to craft his workflow and gear it’s going to be a bit more clear why that is. He really brings it from both the technical and artistic sides. Whether you’re looking to nerd out on gear talk or you’re looking for some inspiration this episode is one to pay attention to. “Everyone’s just like, ‘Well, how do I make this sound good right now?’ Well, you fucking figure it out. You fucking try, try, and try again until you get a fucking result that you’re fucking stoked on and then you move the fuck on.” - Sam Pura ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Why Sam takes a “plug and play” approach to his studio - Enjoying the process - Recording guitars as just DIs - The importance of the drum room - Creating your own personal workflow - And much, much more Thanks for lis

The living legend, Daniel Bergstrand (Meshuggah, Devin Townsend, Soilwork), comes on board to talk his process, experimentation, and his passion for organization. What can we really say about the influence Bergstrand has had on the industry that hasn’t already been said? He’s had a hand in some of the most well regarded heavy albums of the past couple decades. He absolutely killed it recently on Nail the Mix, and here he is sharing more secrets with us. There are some things about his approach to audio that are likely to surprise a lot of you. “Every channel should sound good. You should be able to solo everything, and it should sound good. I don’t like covering things in the whole mix.” - Daniel Bergstrand ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Daniel’s very early start in audio - The recording of Meshuggah’s Destroy Erase Improve - Making sure soloed tracks sound great - Experimenting to find new solutions - How recording lackluster musicians can actually be good - And much, much more Thanks for listening!

Eric Guenther (The Contortionist, From Exile) sits in on this episode to shed some light on songwriting, collaboration, and being an effective keyboardist in rock/metal genres. It seems like more rock and metal bands than ever are incorporating some sort of keys or synth in their music. Of course, that also means that there’s a lot of bands doing it without really having any idea how to not make a mess of things in the process. There are few people that we’d feel are as qualified as Eric right now to provide some guidance on the subject. “I kind of like that ability to use a wide variety of different toys on every record, so that each record has its own character and place in time in a way.” - Eric Guenther ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Using new tools to distinguish records from each other - Getting keys to live peacefully with other instruments in a mix - Finding creative ways to use pedals that “suck” - Effectively working with collaborators to craft balanced arrangements - How Eric uses Ableton f

Joel Wanasek has the answers you need to make sure you stay #nosmalltime. Want Joel to answer your questions? Send them to Joel@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Joel.” The more detailed the better! “Small time is when you have really big dreams, but you don’t have the balls to go out and go after them.” - Joel Wanasek ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - The importance of setting yourself apart, and how to do it - Small time behaviors to avoid - Why you should always be open to help - What to do about a lack of motivation - Navigating past scene drama - Diversifying businesses - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re happy to have producer and engineer Richard Chycki (Aerosmith, Dream Theater, Rush) on the show to impart wisdom that he’s gained working at the industry’s top tier. Richard’s discography reads like a who’s who of all time amazing musicians. There’s so much information to mine from this discussion it’s crazy. From the process behind getting amazing guitar tones from guitar gods to how to communicate in a manner that maximizes creativity to the benefits he sees when looking back on his path into the industry, if you want to hear the mindset of one of the all time greats, you’re going to want to pay close attention to this one. “The biggest attribute that I could give to the majority of artists I work with in the ‘upper echelon’ is that they are not chasing success, they’re being creative, and they’re doing what they want to do to express their musical outlet at that time in their lives.” - Richard Chycki ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Communicating effectively with artists - The common traits of

Trevor Strnad of The Black Dahlia Murder joins us to discuss his undying love for metal, what it takes to keep a band running at peak performance, and learning lessons about what to do (and what not to do) from the bands around you. Trevor is undeniably one of the great metal frontmen, and anyone looking to be successful in an extreme metal band stands to learn a lot from what he shares in this episode. The Black Dahlia Murder has always done things their own way and they’ve done it well. They’ve faced adversity and roadblocks along the way, but they’ve excelled due to tenacity and skill. “That’s the ultimate goal. To be a tight band. To be a good band. To make good records that resonate. To make songs that are dynamic. To make songs that emote, despite being a fast band, despite being a death metal band.” - Trevor Strnad ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Trevor’s metal obsession - Why it’s ok for musicians to be open about enjoying what they do - Focusing on work ethic and professionalism - How bringing

Finn Mckenty has the life and career answers you crave. Want Finn to answer your questions? Send them to Finn@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Finn.” The more detailed the better! “Is it really true that bands make decisions based on whether somebody has nice gear or not? I’m not sure that it is. What I’m very certain of is that, if they are making that decision, they have no fucking idea what nice gear is.” - Finn Mckenty ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - What branding actually is - Why Finn believes that charisma is essential for performers - Degrees for creatives - How to prepare for career transitions - Getting clients for you new studio - Why no one is going to care about your unknown band’s studio diary - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jaime Gomez Arellano (Ghost, Paradise Lost, Sunn O))) shares his perspective on natural drum production, what you can buy today that will level up your productions immediately, and when enough compression is enough. Modern tools like samples, plugins, and amp sims definitely have a place in many productions. Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking otherwise. However, it’s always intriguing to chat with a producer like Jaime that takes the extra time to do things with more of an analog approach. There’s tons of info in this episode for those of you interested in classic production techniques. “I’ve had records where it’s like: I can’t get it to sound louder without making it sound bad. So, I just need to leave it there, because I don’t want it to sound bad.” - Jaime Gomez Arellano ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Starting every project with a “clean slate” - How to get the most out of going to a music school - How Jaime went about starting his studio - Putting in the time and getting your name out there

Joel Wanasek has the answers you need to make sure you stay #nosmalltime. Want Joel to answer your questions? Send them to Joel@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Joel.” The more detailed the better! “I’m going to tell you something about clipping plugins… if you can’t hear it, and it sounds good, who cares?” - Joel Wanasek ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Staying healthy - Reinvigorating your interest in music - The pros and cons of clipping plugins - Credit - Dialing in a problematic kick - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff Dunne follows up the Emmure Nail the Mix by joining us to dive into how he’s gotten to this point and how he continues to knock out killer mixes. Being a successful audio professional involves a lot more than just knowing how to mix. Not only is Jeff an amazing producer, but he balances that with another career, and his approach to managing all of it is something that we could all learn from. From avoiding distractions to communication strategies to not letting your unconscious sabotage you, there’s tons of info to take away from this one. “I think a lot of it is having confidence in what you can do, making sure you do it at a consistent level, and then being a little bit willing to pick up some shit at the end of the day for other people, because, realistically, that’s what people need you to do even if that’s not the explicitly stated job description.” - Jeff Dunne ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Jeff’s top down mixing philosophy - Managing your involuntary reactions and turning them into positi

Nick Pilotta (URM Academy, The Wade Studio) is on the show to make sure you don’t end up the subject of just another intern horror story. Whether we’re talking the audio industry or not, there are opportunities out there being left on the table by people that aren’t willing or capable of grabbing them. If you know your shit and you’re not a punisher, then having a willingness to put in the time can pay off in dividends. Nick is definitely a prime example of how you can turn an internship into a career that could last you a lifetime. “You have to make your own opportunity, or else nothing will really come.” - Nick Pilotta ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How to show, through internship work, that you’re someone worth paying - Getting the most out of the intern experience - Dealing with stigma related to coming out of a music school - How Nick got to the point of working with URM and Andrew Wade - Time management while building your career - Getting through moments when success feels impossible - And much

Beau Burchell has Phil Sgrosso (As I Lay Dying, Wovenwar, Poison Headache) in the hot seat this time, for a wide ranging discussion about his career and the amazing productions he’s been a part of. Phil has built a career for himself that’s allowed him to have the opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in metal production. He hasn’t just been sitting on his laurels as an amazing guitarist though; he’s also branched out into other paths that have presented themselves, such as management. If you’re a musician looking to adopt some great philosophies for maintaining a successful career this is a conversation you’re going to want to hear. “Gear and I have always had this weird relationship, that I don’t really like it.” - Phil Sgrosso ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Phil’s experiences working with producers like Colin Richardson and Adam D - Balancing production and mixing - Elevating songwriting and production by listening to feedback - Dialing in guitar tones - Pivoting to other career opport

Brian Slagel of Metal Blade Records joins the show to talk about his past, present, and future, and we discuss his new book, For The Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records. Brian and Metal Blade have been a pivotal part of the metal genre for decades. From the early days of Metallica and Slayer to the institution that Metal Blade is today, this man has seen it all. It’s an honor to have him on board to discuss the perseverance his climb has taken, what the place of record labels is in the industry now, and why a love of the music is integral to success. “If you would have told any of us starting in ‘82/‘83, you know - Slayer, Metallica, Motley Crue, anybody that was in L.A. at the time - that this would go on to be such a huge thing, and that we’d still be talking about this stuff 35 years later we all would have said that you were completely nuts.” - Brian Slagel ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How perseverance played a role in the rise of Metal Blade - The importance of loving what you

Kurt Ballou is here to answer your questions and chew bubble gum, and he’s all out of bubble gum. Want Kurt to answer your questions? Send them to eyal@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Kurt.” The more detailed the better! “Whenever people ask me about what gear they should get when they’re putting together a studio, I tell them they really should not skip on their monitors and monitoring environment, because if you can’t hear what’s going on properly then you’ll never make good decisions.” - Kurt Ballou ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Kurt’s approach to deciding how much input to give when producing - Switching between engineer and musician hats while recording yourself - Dealing with phase issues between mics - Getting aggressive drum room sounds - Kurt’s essential gear suggestions - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kris Crummett is in the driver’s seat today to answer your production questions. Want Kris to answer your questions? Send them to eyal@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Kris.” The more detailed the better! “I think it’s really important as a producer to assess songs, and assess a situation one by one, and not really have a mindset going into things that you’re going to do this or that to songs, because that can be pretty detrimental.” - Kris Crummett ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Kris’s vocal productions secrets - Drum and sample selection - Dealing with the imperfections of guitar tuning - Kris’s perspective on getting in depth with songwriting - Running outboard gear live - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Beau Burchell train keeps on rolling for this discussion with producer Rick King about faking it till you make it, breaking out of genre boxes, and essential gear. We all know that the grind can be rough. It’s important to figure out what your goals are, steps you can take to make them a reality, and to feel confident in your ability to do so. Rick and Beau both impart a lot of knowledge in this discussion on those elements of building one’s career. “All the chaos is crazy to deal with, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” - Rick King ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How Rick overcame adversity to establish his studio - Dealing with band arguments about hypotheticals - When it’s ok to say no to projects and why that can be a good thing - The struggles of getting jobs in genres that you don’t already have ties to - Test mixes - Essential gear - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finn Mckenty has the life and career answers you crave. Want Finn to answer your questions? Send them to eyal@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Finn.” The more detailed the better! “What is the challenge? Why is it a challenge? How do I overcome the challenge?” - Finn Mckenty ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Making music a full time career - Marketing yourself - The value of helping others - Strategies for dealing with social anxiety - Passive income strategies - Standing out from the crowd - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices