Unstoppable Recording Machine Podcast

Welcome to #Mixcritmonday, the show where we critique YOUR mixes. On this episode Joel’s flying solo and going over three mix submissions of “Fragments” by Jason Richardson for this month’s Nail the Mix. “A buss compressor can be the glue… it can also be your worst enemy.” - Joel Wanasek THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - The importance of being able to take criticism - Getting drum levels dialed in - Keeping the needs of the song in mind - Not overdoing EQ - Making sure you get your compression settings right - Why the midrange of your mixes needs to be spot on - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Best known for being the guitarist of Periphery, Misha Mansoor is also a successful entrepreneur and known in the industry for his killer business sense. He joins us to touch on all of the above, shining a light on the importance of doing what you love, doing it well, and using your knowledge as a tool and a weapon. This episode is packed with solid info about a variety of topics: creativity, business advice, nerdy gear talk, and even personal skills. “If we’re going to do a deal, let’s do it right.” - Misha Mansoor THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Creating music because you want to, rather than succumbing to guilt - How Periphery navigated getting signed to a label - Misha’s approach to becoming involved in Horizon Devices - His tips for writing and recording midi instrument parts - Why Misha doesn’t practice guitar - Periphery’s live in ear setup - The guitar tone on Periphery 3, and pedals he keeps coming back to - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about you

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! “I am a capitalist. Fight me.” - Joel Wanasek THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - What exactly #nosmalltime means - Joel’s actual opinion on Summit Audio gear - Some of Joel’s “must read” books - Why you should travel more - How to balance life and work - The surprising artists that would be on Joel’s “Dream projects” list - Joel’s thoughts on building control rooms - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Tsurif of Mercenary Management knows what it takes to be successful in the music business, and he’s here to share his expertise. This episode is really a twofer. Not only do we have Dan Tsurif on board, but Finn McKenty is also back to help co-host. Want to make a living in the music industry? Want to know what your act needs to focus on at each stage of its growth? What NOT to do when approaching record labels? Listen up; we’re going to tell you. “Everything we’ve ever put out sounds awesome, why are you sending me something that sounds like it was recorded in a toilet?” - Dan Tsurif THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - The importance of diversifying your income as an artist - Why marketing won’t mean a thing if you don’t value your craft - Dan’s stance on when you really want to get a manager - Finn’s 3 part formula for becoming involved in a business venture - Pitfalls for up and coming bands - How to approach (and not approach) record labels and media outlets - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Le

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! “I have no hobbies. I’ve never understood what it’s like to do something just for fun. I’m in it to win.” - Eyal Levi THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How to make sure lightning doesn’t cause your studio to burn down - Eyal’s method for recording acoustic guitar - Tips for getting a job at a studio - The potential for new Daath - How fast you should be at mixing - 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. Eyal answers your questions about managing deadlines, DIY acoustic treatment, and the power of networking done right. “Look, if they’re not going to like it, what’s the worst that could happen?” - Eyal Levi THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT: - Overcoming self doubt - Dealing with deadlines - Acoustic treatment strategies ie, to DIY or buy? - Should you use acoustic foam? - Eyal’s approach to networking - What a pro extreme metal band looks like - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guitar mastermind and Nail the Mix winner Andy James stops in for a great discussion about his progression in mixing. Andy dishes about what he zeroed in on for his Nail the Mix win. The same focus that Andy used to become a guitar god, and then a successful internet entrepreneur, he used to learn how to mix. If you’ve ever felt discouraged from taking on new endeavors, this episode is for you. “If you’re doing the things that made money in 2005 or 1995 you might think that there’s no money; you need to figure out what makes money in 2016 and 2017.” - Eyal Levi THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - The things that Andy focused on for his Nail the Mix win - How to stand out when it comes to guitar - Setting crazy goals, and making them a reality - How listening to different genres can improve your songwriting - Effectively mixing when you’re coming from a musician background - The ever-present importance of effective networking - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more abo

On this #Mixcritmonday episode we’re checking out three subscriber mixes of Gojira’s Toxic Garbage Island. It’s gut-check time, guys. How are your mixes coming along? Are they sounding godly yet? Are you not quite sure? Listen to this episode for some guidance on how to get into top 20 territory. “Do you prefer to have an all-natural mix that nobody hears because it wasn’t picked or one that has samples in it that people hear?” - Eyal Levi THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT: - The elements that make Logan Mader’s mix a reference quality mix - Making sure your ambiances match - Why you need to make sure you’re not piling on too many plugins - Not getting stuck in the guitar tunnel - Being realistic about the natural drums vs. sample debate - Insight into what it takes to make a top 20 mix - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Logan Mader joins us to discuss producing Gojira’s “The Way of All Flesh,” getting slamming and huge mixes, scoring movie soundtracks, and nailing clear but brutal guitar tones. Working with bands like Gojira, Fear Factory, Soulfly, and Devildriver, Logan has demonstrated that he’s an absolute monster when it comes to production. We go back to the beginning and find out how he got there, and how he’s reinvented his career every step of the way. You’re in for some valuable insight into the technical side of those monstrous productions, as well as the mindsets needed for long term success in the music industry. “You can’t just show up and say ‘I want to do this. Here I am. Pay me.’” - Logan Mader THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT: - Logan’s process for producing Gojira’s The Way of All Flesh - The importance of the hustle - Transitioning from musician to production - The ins and outs of scoring films and video games - Why it’s essential to treat people well and be able to build quality relationships in the industry

Jordan Valeriote of Hardcore Music Studio joins us for a discussion about what it takes to be a successful mixer and entrepreneur. Jordan is truly a kindred spirit. If you’re interested in managing your time better, growing your brand, and avoiding the numerous pitfalls that we face as audio professionals, then this episode is for you. “To me, finished is better than perfect.” - Jordan Valeriote THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT: - The hot potato principle - Recognizing opportunity cost - Managing your time and minimizing distractions - Jordan’s philosophy for his educational efforts - Avoiding BS mixing myths - Methods for effective gain staging - Marketing and growing a brand - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this mixcritmonday episode we’re changing things up and critiquing 3 of your mix submissions for this month’s Nail the Mix competition. Wondering what it takes to have us pick your mix for our top 20? Pay attention, because we’re going to explain the attention to detail you should strive for. Also, it’s time we sat down and had a serious talk about whether you’re mixing for the song and artist or for yourself. This is info that will serve you well for all your mixes, not just Nail the Mix entries. “When you have really good post production sounds you shouldn’t need anything more than a clipper and a limiter to get them to really cut through.” - Joel Wanasek THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT: - What it takes to make A level mixes - The importance of mixing for the artist, rather than yourself - Understanding the competitive nature of radio - Getting ambiences to gel in your mixes - Mixing with genre in mind - Making sure a song’s intro doesn’t eclipse the rest of the song - Balancing guitar tracks - Making ele

Nashville mixing legend Billy Decker is here to provide insight into what it takes to mix #1 singles consistently and at a breakneck pace. Pouring over your mix for hours on end in order to get that snare hit at 2:47 into that song just right? You could do that. You’ll probably end up doing it with 100 other things before you finish that mix though. Billy Decker is here to talk about a better way to work. We’re not sure if all the producers in Nashville have it down to this much of a science, but Billy certainly has some amazing ideas that you need to pay attention to. “You find a good balance, and all of a sudden you’re happier. You get better at engineering because you keep that passion for it, and all of a sudden the money starts rolling in.” - Billy Decker THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT: - Why you should learn to get great results fast - The value of templates - What it’s like to work as a mixer in Nashville - The importance of customer service - Incorporating elements from multiple genres - Chris Lord Alg

Producer Josh Schroeder talks about what it means to discover and produce an artist’s core artistic message. It’s easy to get swept up in the technical side of audio production. We all know it. We all geek out over fun things like preamps and and compressors, but are we losing sight of the fact that music is an artform? On this episode Josh Schroeder discusses crafting great sounding songs that have something to say. If you want to make your productions truly connect on a human level, this one’s for you. “Why are you screaming?” - Josh Schroeder THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT: - Working with King 810 to craft an artistic statement - The value of cinematic influence on audio production - Maintaining a balance between technical and human elements - Being a trendsetter - Using the tool that’s best for the song - How to get peak performance from musicians - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danish production legend Tue Madsen shares his experience engineering/mixing the most recent Meshuggah record. For over 30 years, Tue Madsen has been infusing top of the line metal production with out of the box thinking and creativity. Ever wondered what it was like to record drums in a swimming pool? This is your show. Want to learn what it’s like to record one of the most prolific progressive metal bands of our time live, in a room? This is your show. Curious about the production philosophy and mix approach of one of the most in demand metal producers of all time? This is your show. “I like people to go home with a little bit more than what they expected.” - Tue Madsen THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT: - How Tue re-amps kicks, snares and toms - Why Madsen records drums in an empty pool - Live recording the latest Meshuggah record - Compression tricks from Tue Madsen - Taming the low end on down tuned guitars - New overhead mics from Sweden that Madsen loves - Tasteful compressor pumping - And much, much, more

Producer/educator/entrepreneur Brian Hood gets real about marketing yourself as a producer and how to properly network. You will gain an inside perspective on building a profitable studio and managing overhead expenses. In order to do both of those, you must always be learning and expanding your sphere of influence. Well honed people skills and an insatiable quest for knowledge are arguably just as important as your technical audio skills. "At the end of the day, the market is showing that the value is not in the gear or in the room, it's really just in the person being hired to mix or produce. Establishing your own value or your own brand is the future." - Eyal Levi THIS WEEK YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT: - The remarkable role that social skills play in your career - Positioning your business when setting a price point - How the large studio market thinning out means more work for the ever growing project and home studio industry - The importance of reading/listening for new information and acquiring new skills - Surr

Audio renaissance man Bob Marlette takes the hot seat with us for a remarkable hour of philosophy, gear porn, writing soundtracks for major motion pictures, and how he’s remained relevant and on top for over 30 years. Bob Marlette shares the simple, but incredibly powerful mindsets that have helped him stay in the game. Whether it’s knowing when to pounce on opportunity, or embracing new technology, he’s figured it out. If you’re in it to win it, this episode is for you. “Say yes and figure it out.” - Bob Marlette THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT: -What it’s like to work with legends like Alice Cooper, Toni Iommi, Brian May, and Rob Zombie -Bob’s adventures in the Hollywood soundtrack realm -How to make your mark on multiple musical disciplines and genres -Making a technological evolutionary jump when the tool is pivotal -How to spot and exploit opportunities -Bob’s favorite gear -The future of mixing -The “dumbing down” of music, and how to combat it -Why Bob Marlette is not into tape Thanks for listening!

Mr. Kyle Black returns for an unprecedented back to back segment with Eyal for a discussion on work life balance, parallel compression, and his hand on the new Volumes record. You will receive Eyal and Kyle’s philosophy on keeping a significant other while climbing the career ladder. Kyle also dives into new tips and tricks he has applied to his mixing on the highly anticipated upcoming Volumes release. You will also hear insight on how to deal with your master bus channel before sending a mix off to be mastered by a pro. When is the time right to find someone to manage your business? Just listen to Kyle and Eyal on this week’s episode! “I don’t have any set rules, I just go for what feels right.” - Kyle Black THIS WEEK YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT: - Working through sick spells - When the time is right to acquire a business manager - How to deal with conflicts of interest - Focusing on your career before a personal life - Not becoming pigeon hole’d into a certain genre - Submitting a spec mix to a band in order to ear

Pop Punk production hero Kyle Black opens up about everything from interns, guitar amp mic technique, and how he came up in the music industry. You get an all access pass into the vault of awesome gear Kyle has locked away in his Hollywood haven as well as an inside scoop on his dynamic approach to production and mixing. Kyle Black also answers your subscriber questions on topics such as tight but great feeling edits as well as what his favorite go to mics, compressors and preamps are for each element when tracking. “If I was 22 and wanted to be a producer or work in the industry and I was interning for you, I would give it 3 years of cleaning toilets..” - Kyle Black This week, you’ll learn about: - Sticking through the tough times of an internship for the long term goal - Practicing humility and controlling your ego when competing against others in the field - Kyle Black’s most coveted studio pieces - His go-to guitar/bass recording chain - Retaining a modern sound with organic intent by keeping elements off

Dan Malsch talks shop with us about diversifying the range of your portfolio, how quitting is just not an option, and our shared love for Summit compressors. You’re also going to be clued in on how to deal with the psychology of working on high profile, high pressure deadlines and requests as well as gain insight on the producer’s role and whether or not it’s appropriate to push your artist, or to “ride the vibe” and work with what you are given. “I think getting things to sound absurd is more of a matter of getting the elements to work together like a puzzle rather than adding and adding...It’s like a Rubik’s cube almost, especially with low end...suddenly it sounds absurd, in a good way.” - Dan Malsch ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Dan’s passion for educating from his studio - Keys to diversifying clientele - Dan’s new studio and why he upgraded the square footage when so many are downsizing - Some of Dan’s favorite go to outboard - Persevering in the midst of reaching the breaking point - Being on-

Welcome to #Mixcritmonday, the show where we critique YOUR mixes. “Often times when we don’t want to admit something to ourselves, the subconscious will take over and influence our mix.” - Eyal Levi ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Getting creative with sidechaining and multiband compression - The effects of arrangement on frequency space - Going with a new take (or performer) rather than slapping on a bunch of fx - What to check if you have phase issues with your drums - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices