Unstoppable Recording Machine Podcast

Jesco Lohan wants you to know that your studio doesn’t have to sound like crap, and it doesn’t have to cost a ton of cash to make sure it doesn’t. Are you in your studio? Play this podcast in there; how’s it sound? Have you really considered your room’s acoustics lately? If you’re not confident in the acoustics of the room you mix in then you’re going to love the goldmine of information, from finding your sweet spot to DIY treatment, that Jesco drops in this episode. So, kick back, try to ignore the annoying frequency response your room is probably contributing for now, and listen up. “For me, the most important thing is getting a balanced frequency response. It doesn’t have to be flat. To be honest, flat doesn’t exist.” - Jesco Lohan ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - The importance of balanced frequency response vs. the idea of “flat” frequency response - Where Jesco’s commitment to acoustics began - How to find your room’s sweet spot - The order of importance for different types of treatment - DIY acou

JD (Ice Nine Kills) is back to answer your questions about orchestration. Want JD to answer your questions? Send them to eyal@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear JD.” The more detailed the better! “Just having that instinctual knowledge [of theory] changes your whole game, and it’s a learning process for me, and it always will be.” - JD ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Computer hardware options for running sample libraries - How to make your orchestration cut through in a mix - The different results you’ll get from various sample libraries - JD’s recommended libraries - Resources for becoming an orchestration pro - How to handle reverb for orchestra samples - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joey Sturgis provides the answers to your most pressing questions. Want Joey to answer your questions? Send them to eyal@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Joey.” The more detailed the better! “All we’re doing is making music, and anything that makes that easier is great.” - Joey Sturgis ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Joey’s motivational slogan - When you should negotiate royalty rates - Automating to make low end hits stand out - What Joey thinks of plugins that do some of the heavy lifting for you - How to fix vocal tracks that have background noises in them - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jay Maas is back, and he’s got some incredibly important things to say about the art of production that you need to hear. Jay has an awesome perspective on the craft. If you're expecting to be told about the newest “magical” gear that will solve your problems, we've got some bad news for you. But if you actually want to be a great producer you should listen to what Jay has to say. “The stuff that matters is: are you an artist? Are you committed to making something special at any cost?” - Jay Maas ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Developing while working under an established producer - Intern goals - Going where the clients are - The importance of interpersonal and artistic elements of production - How touring experience can help with recording in different locales - Why gear isn't all that - Being open to life experiences - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You guys have questions, Eyal Levi’s got your answers. Want Eyal to answer your questions? Send them to eyal@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Eyal.” The more detailed the better! “Since it’s 100% natural to feel the doubt, you can’t really stop that voice from coming at you; you have to learn how to overcome it and get over it.” - Eyal Levi ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Eyal’s suggestions for approaching school - Special contributor Mike Mowery’s take on lyric videos and social media - Confronting self doubt - Eyal’s predictions about the future of analog and digital gear - How to save a session when you’ve received disastrous drum tracks - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve enlisted John Browne (Monuments, Flux Conduct) to assist us in critiquing your mixes of Meshuggah’s “MonstroCity.” “I find that if you over-listen to your mix while you’re mixing, you just get used to that sound. So, you have to put it away for a few days and come back to it.” - John Browne ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - The value of mixing a variety of genres - What happens when you miss the target with the balance in your mix - Phase nightmares - Why you need to make sure your kick and snare are solid - Things to watch out for when handling a plethora of guitar tracks - Avoiding ending up with a blanket over your mix - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Wanasek has the answers you need to make sure you stay #nosmalltime. Want Joel to answer your questions? Send them to eyal@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Joel.” The more detailed the better! “Getting great at guitars is an art, and I mean ART, and it takes time. And if you want to master them then you have to put in the time to get great at them.” - Joel Wanasek ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How to approach telling a prospective employer that there are things you don’t know yet - Getting amazing, wide, heavy guitar tones - What tracking sessions usually look like for Joel - Setting up your listening position - How to mix fast - Taxes, when should you start reporting income from audio work? - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Live sound engineer and producer Steve Lagudi (Machine Head) joins us to talk about something that doesn’t usually get enough attention: live sound. We’re all working on becoming better in the studio, but something a lot of mixers don’t spend enough time considering is live sound. Working live sound is a great way to boost your overall mixing skills. Just for starters, the discipline to commit to sounds is something all producers could stand to learn. Live sound is also it’s own beast in many ways. Steve Lagudi has a wealth of knowledge to share that’s going to help you tame that beast. “Your work is what does it, it’s not about your resume.” - Steve Lagudi ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How to find your roadmap through live sound - Steve’s method for EQing - Getting kickass guitars in your live mixes - How Steve handles guitar and bass for Machine Head’s live shows - Handling DIs - Why you shouldn’t be “that dick soundguy” - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Lear

We’ve got JD, guitarist, screamer, and all around orchestral guru for Ice Nine Kills on board for some mind expanding discussion about integrating orchestration into the creative process. It’s really difficult to figure out where to start with orchestration. It’s already a handful getting drums, bass, vocals, and guitar to sit happily together on the frequency spectrum. Add in a whole separate set of dozens of instruments and it seems like an impossible task. It’s not, and JD is going to get you on the right track to make it happen. And if you have any questions for JD after listening to the podcast, send them to eyal@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear JD.” “The thing that actually helped me learn the absolute most about my software and my ability to manipulate my software was making my 5000 track template.” - JD THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How to begin to understand how to incorporate orchestration into your music - What led JD to want to learn how to include orchestration in INK’s music - Which sa

Guitar god Keith Merrow (Alluvial, Conquering Dystopia) joins us to talk about his production techniques, being an entrepreneur, and what he’s learned while building his music career. Keith has demonstrated over his years in the industry that he’s got the midas touch. From his guitar chops, to songwriting, collaborations with gear companies, and his Youtube success, the guy turns everything he lays his hands on to gold. Lucky for us, he’s game to share insight into how he’s managed such a prolific career. If you want to carve your own path, regardless of what might stand in your way, this episode is for you. “There’s plenty of ways to get your music out there, and even get it distributed on any platform you could possibly imagine, without ever even contacting a record label.” - Keith Merrow THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Keith’s thoughts on DIY vs. label support - What it’s taken for him to get to where he is now in the industry - The importance of being passionate about your craft - Risks, and why you shou

#party, people! It’s the podcast’s 2 year anniversary, and Josh Newell is back to celebrate with us. It’s not all fun and games though. You’re in for some quality discussion about Josh’s experiences working with Linkin Park. We also take turns ranting about horrible assistants that live to make our lives harder and cheap equipment that does nothing but personify the spirit of “suck.” So, sit back, relax, and happy anniversary. “I’m going to fight you on this; I actually like the St. Anger snare.” - Joel Wanasek ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - The technical trials and tribulations of getting this podcast out to you guys - Josh’s computer rig update guidelines for a big project like Linkin Park - The potential for cabin fever when you work on a project for a year and a half - Getting mad about getting mad at crappy assistants - The pros and cons of big productions and small productions - The importance of fresh strings and drum heads - Why you don’t want to record cheap drum kits and how to avoid getting

Jacob Hansen has a list a mile long of stellar productions. Volbeat, Epica, Amaranthe, Aborted, the list goes on and on, so, needless to say, we’re stoked to have him here to talk shop. Alright studio nerds, this one’s for you. Jacob Hansen’s technical genius is on full display in this episode. From drums to vocals, the better your production practices are, the easier it will be to create a slamming mix. We’ve got techniques and insights here that cover the entire spectrum of modern heavy music production. “Vocals are what will make the difference on whether or not the record is a success or failure..so to not treat them like gold is kind of dumb.” - Eyal Levi ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How to maintain your drive while grinding it out in the studio - Knowing when to contribute to songwriting vs. when to let a band do their thing - The secrets to Jacob’s amazing vocal results - Getting technically sound drum recordings - Tips for producing female vocals - When to hire in studio help - Incorporating

Joey Sturgis provides the answers to your most pressing questions. Want Joey to answer your questions? Send them to eyal@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Joey.” The more detailed the better! “The more you focus on being a great service provider and a great person when it comes to the industry, and how you interact with people, and how you focus your talents and your decisions, that’s when you really start to unlock the longevity of it all.” - Joey Sturgis THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Using mono vs. stereo plugins on busses - Tips for planning a marketing campaign - When and how to mix in solo - Confronting your “all is lost” moments - Joey’s opinion on EQ curve compensation for certain rooms - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to #Mixcritmonday, the show where we critique YOUR mixes. Your mixes of A Day To Remember’s “Right Back At It Again” are on the chopping block. Gird yourselves for the love. #Mixragemonday “We’re not here to ‘yes’ you; we’re here to tell you the truth.” - Eyal Levi THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Things to watch out for on this mix - What happens when you don’t get your balances right - Mixing for pop punk rather than a genre like metal - How to make sure your mix doesn’t cause ear fatigue - The importance of low end monitoring accuracy - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Wanasek has the answers you need to make sure you stay #nosmalltime. Want Joel to answer your questions? Send them to eyal@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Joel.” The more detailed the better! “You’ve got to lead people, but you can’t tell them what to do.” - Joel Wanasek THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How to maintain your passion for music - Helping polish a band’s songwriting and when you shouldn’t bother - Making the decision about whether to go to college or jump into starting a studio - Joel’s philosophy for balancing low end - Setting goals - How to unleash your inner social butterfly - The benefits of analog summing - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew Wade returns to the podcast to discuss an insanely long studio build, audio career development, and what it’s like working with A Day To Remember. That’s only the beginning. On this episode we dive deep. From discussion about room treatment to being an effective producer no matter your level of notoriety to compressor talk. You know that there’s going to be tons of info to take away from this with Andrew Wade on board. “No one’s going to care about what you’re doing until you’ve done something that people care about.” - Andrew Wade THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - The thought process behind how Andrew designed his studio - How he grew his craft and business over time - Why failures are actually invaluable tools for growth - Details about recording A Day to Remember’s “Right Back at it Again” - Andrew’s favorite vocal chain - How to charge when you’re first starting out - Boutique guitar amps Andrew loves - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad

You guys have questions, Eyal Levi’s got your answers. Want Eyal to answer your questions? Send them to eyal@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Eyal.” The more detailed the better! “Now that you’ve got those clients, what are you going to do with them?” - Eyal Levi THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Ways to find clients as you build your reputation - How to handle a band or manager asking for your mixing sessions - Eyal’s approach to adding synth tracks to mixes - How to balance EQing soloed and in context - The story behind how Nail the Mix got started - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

World renowned vocal coach Mary Zimmer talks to us about how to get the most out of a vocalist in the studio. Whether you’re a vocalist yourself or a producer that works with singers it’s beneficial to know the ins and outs of singing to get results without destroying vocal chords. If you want to ensure that you’re not going to be out of commission after a couple hours of vocal sessions you’re going to want to check out Mary Zimmer’s advice. “If you don’t understand what’s going on with [vocals] you’ll have a really hard time getting the guy or girl on the other end of the microphone to do what you’re trying to get them to do.” - Mary Zimmer THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Why it’s important for producers to understand the mechanics of singing - Correct breathing technique - How to deal with vocalists without a background in proper singing technique - Tips for vocal health - What to do if a vocalist isn’t managing to scream enough - Working with different vocal ranges - And much, much more Thanks for listeni

We spoke to Grammy winning producer, Diego Farias of Volumes. Diego Farias is an accomplished musician and producer. Not only has he been integral in productions for Volumes, but he’s also worked on a number of productions in various genres. A lot of people would have trouble keeping their head on straight with all that work; Diego has plenty of insight into how to effectively manage it. “No one can hand you talent.” - Diego Farias THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Diego and Eyal’s approaches to amp modelers - Succeeding as a producer in multiple genres - How and why Volumes ended up working with Kyle Black - The difficulties of mixing metal - Diego’s approach to producing hip hop - Software synth recommendations - How to maintain good relations with artists when composing for them - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Wanasek has the answers you need to make sure you stay #nosmalltime. Want Joel to answer your questions? Send them to eyal@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Joel.” The more detailed the better! “Being able to get a mix that’s competitive with the best of the best and do it in a few hours, and do it consistently, now that’s what separates the big-time guys from everybody else.” - Joel Wanasek THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How to overcome feeling like you’re not progressing in your craft - The importance of focusing on fundamental principles rather than waiting for “AH HA!” moments - Why you shouldn’t believe everything you read in forums - How to compare and choose converters - How to deal with friends that are made of 4k - Expanding your client base - Joel’s advice for his 19-year-old self - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices