Unstoppable Recording Machine Podcast

On this episode, we’ve got Sterling Winfield on board for a great talk about his extraordinary career, which has included time working with Pantera, Mercyful Fate, King Diamond, and Hellyeah. There’s so much to learn from engineers and producers like Sterling, who have been in the industry long enough and have worked with enough legendary professionals to have acquired more recording knowledge than many will ever have the chance to. From his experience spending hours recording Dimebag Darrell, to what mic Phil Anselmo recorded with on Far Beyond Driven, to how to be a live sound expert, to why it sometimes makes sense to get off the bus, this one is stuffed full of amazingness. “I learned the most valuable lessons from [Pantera]: ‘You’d better eat something or you’re going to be really hungover,’ and ‘It’s not the gear it’s the people.’” - Sterling Winfield ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Sterling’s time in the studio and doing live sound with Pantera - Old school vs. modern production - The gear used

Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland of Atrium Audio (August Burns Red, Black Crown Initiate, Live, Candlebox) joined us to discuss the route they’ve taken to build their studio to the production powerhouse it is today. The Atrium Audio story is fascinating. They have one foot firmly planted in productions relationships they’ve built with established 90s acts and the other foot seriously kicking ass in trend setting modern productions. It’s something that very few producers are able to manage with the degree of success that Carson and Grant have achieved. “I love not being in my comfort zone, because that’s the way I learn.” - Carson Slovak ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How Carson and Grant built Atrium Audio to be the juggernaut it is today - Adjusting your approach to fit the player - Recording bands live in a room together vs. recording parts separately - Carson and Grant’s drum processing chain - Covering Star Wars - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more

You’ve got to get vocals right, and on this episode we’re walking you through the process, so you can make sure you’re getting the best results possible. Nine times out of ten, a vocal is going to make or break a song. Are you recording to maximize your results? How about layering choices? Do you know what you’re doing there? And you’re making sure not to edit all the life out of the vocals, right? Listen up for some tips to help you answer these questions for your productions. “If there’s a problem, don’t be lazy. Fix that stuff.” - Joey Sturgis ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How to ensure that you’ve got solidly recorded vocal tracks - Handling special mixes for the vocalist - Where layering should enter the picture - Processing to make those choruses pop - How tightly should you be editing - 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. On this edition, we’ve got a pop punk song and an extreme metal track on the table. So, we’re throwing them in a blender and pouring a refreshing crit smoothie into your ears. “It really should be in your fucking face, and the song explodes through your speakers, and is upbeat and energetic and, ‘Fuck yeah! I wanna eat pizza and make out with pop punk girls’ kind of thing.” - Eyal Levi ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Making sure you don’t suck all the power out of your mixes - Not overloading a song with unnecessary panning - Why you need to keep the genre in mind while recording and mixing - Hooks! Why you need to work to find ones that connect with listeners - Why you shouldn’t just cram your tracks with filler riffs - No filler all killer - Every moment in a song having its perfect place in the arrangement - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc

Grammy winning and multi-platinum selling producer Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, Tom Waits, Mutemath) brings an abundance of incredible insight to this episode. Want your productions to go multi-platinum? Want to put out Grammy level results? What does that level even look like in today’s music industry? That’s certainly a complicated topic, but it’s one you’re going to want to be informed about, and Jacquire King has been at the top tier long enough that he’s someone you should definitely listen to. “It’s very important for us to know what things do technically, but never ever assume that because you have technical know how, or you know the way something should work, don’t just assume that it’s working that way.” - Jacquire King ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Changes to the industry that Jacquire has seen - His views on analog vs. digital - Recommendations for audio production education - Things potential interns should keep in mind - Jacquire’s gear recommendations - Why you need to keep basics in m

Zakk Cervini and Matt Pauling (Blink-182, Black Veil Brides, Sleeping with Sirens) have planted their flags at the top of the audio production hill, and they’re here to discuss how they’ve done it. It takes a lot to compete at a level that would lead to someone becoming the right hand man of John Feldman. On this episode we’ve got not one, but two guys that have done just that. Zakk and Matt bring some amazing stories and truly valuable insight to the discussion. “It just comes from doing it, and failing, and trying again.” - Zakk Cervini ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - What producers look for in potential interns - Zakk and Matt’s experiences working with John Feldman - How they make use of templates and presets - Recording in weird locations - Zakk and Matt’s go to gear - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zakk Cervini and Matt Pauling (Blink-182, Good Charlotte, Sleeping with Sirens) are here with tips to ensure that you don’t release songs with crappy guitar and bass, because they don’t want to have to listen to that. Every engineer and producer wants to be able to say that they put out badass guitar tracks. Are your guitar tones there yet? If you’re still trying to get your tracks sounding impressive when put up against professional productions then we’ve got some tips to get you heading in the right direction. “There’s always someone out there that’s going to be able to play faster than you.” - Zakk Cervini ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Strategies for layering guitars - Amp sims vs. real amps for studio and live use - Zakk and Matt’s secrets for getting stellar guitar tone - How to keep your guitars maintained - Approaching recording with musicians of varying skill levels - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a

Chris Sernel works with some of the biggest pop acts in the world, and no matter your genre, he’s got songwriting advice that’s going to help you level up your songs. Writing and producing songs that compete at the top of the charts is not an easy feat. Regardless of the genre, no one wants to release songs that go unnoticed. Are the songs you’re working on going to connect? Would you like to know how to make it more likely that they do? This episodes’ for you. “Several writing sessions start with an unspoken form of who’s copyright can we violate today.” -Chris Sernel THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How to write songs that connect with listeners - The power of the hook - Coming up with cohesive, clear ideas - The complications involved in releasing music on major labels - The importance of making your songwriting routine - Getting through writer’s block and not waiting for inspiration - Figuring out how to deal with shifting trends - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Le

Matt Brown is the guy you want to listen to if you want great sounding drums, so, we brought him in to give you some tips and tricks to do just that. If you want amazing end results in your drum recordings then you need to start at the beginning of the process. Do not pass go, do not collect $200 until you’ve figured out how to set that drum kit up. Yes, really digging into the setup of drum kits can be difficult and it takes a lot of experience to figure out. Matt has that experience, and you’re going to hear some secrets on this episode that he was actually hesitant to share. But he’s a generous guy. “If you don’t develop your ear, you’re never going to know whether something is in tune on a drum or out.” - Matt Brown ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How to get better at drum tuning - Why Matt isn’t a fan of drum dials - Guidelines for finding a drum’s pitch - When and how to use muffling - The importance of bottom heads - The cotton ball trick - Getting the most bang for your buck from your drums - A

Fred Archambault (Avenged Sevenfold, Last Call With Carson Daly, Alice Cooper) has a wealth of knowledge about getting into and being successful in the audio production industry. From producing the biggest metal bands on earth, to mixing live recordings for hit TV shows, there’s very little that Fred Archambault hasn't done. And you’re in for a treat, because he doesn’t hold anything back in this episode. “If you do good work, then you’ll leave a trail.” - Fred Archambault THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Different methods for mixing bass - Fred’s advice for breaking into the industry - Differences between mixing live recordings and studio work - Fred and Eyal’s experiences going to Berklee - The place of internships in building careers - The technical secrets behind some of Fred’s mixing techniques - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Mowery, president of Outerloop Management joins us to discuss the ever changing landscape of the music industry. Branding, social media, video, photo content, getting management, on and on - keeping up with all of them is a juggling act and it can get overwhelming. How do you build an effective and manageable game plan for all of these things? Mike Mowery lays down some guidelines that are certain to get you on the right track. “Change is inevitable. And sometimes it’s exciting and sometimes it’s frustrating.” - Mike Mowery THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How to keep up with the ever changing music industry - The importance of branding - Effectively using social media - Why you should be active in helping develop a scene - If and when a producer should get management - How to get in touch with industry professionals as a producer - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A&R representative and Noise Creators founder Johnny Minardi joins us to demystify the A&R process. The music industry is in a constant state of flux; as an A&R rep, Johnny Minardi is in a great position to map out practices that are likely to help you succeed, no matter what part of the industry you’re in. Whether you’re a producer, musician, or looking to get into the behind the scenes business side of the industry, you will find something of value here. “Why am I investing time and effort into a band who doesn’t want to work?” - Johnny Minardi THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Artist development - What A&R actually is and how to get into the field - How A&R has changed with the industry - How to know if A&R is something you need - How to get more work as a producer - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acclaimed songwriter and producer Drew Fulk (Motionless In White, Escape The Fate, We Came As Romans) joins us to discuss songwriting, his methods for co-writing with bands, and how he became the in demand writer he is today. Writing great songs isn’t simple. Things gets even more complicated if you’re a producer co-writing with a band. Everyone has the same goal of creating a great end result, but will you have the tools to make the process go smoothly? Listening to what Drew Fulk has to say is a good start. “The less changes you have, the more cohesive the song will sound to the listener.” - Drew Fulk THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - The various forms that co-writing with bands can take - Networking, networking, networking, and not overselling yourself - Maximizing your creative output - Tips for transitions and outros - Drew’s opinion on what makes a great song - How to refine initial ideas into finished songs - The legalities involved in co-writing - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a co

Welcome to #Mixcritmonday, the show where we critique YOUR mixes. Make that #Songcritmonday, because in this edition the submissions are getting some specific attention to songwriting. A solidly written song is going to provide the foundation for a mix that stands to capture the ears and minds of listeners. You could be the best mixer in the world, but if your song isn’t captivating what are the chances anyone will notice? We’re going to help you make sure that doesn’t happen “Even when the listener has a long attention span, they still like movement and dynamics.” - Eyal Levi THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - The importance of dynamic songwriting - Making sure you’re not just throwing together a riff salad - Balancing the technical and artistic sides of your music - How to maintain listener interest - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sahaj Tocotin (record producer, vocalist of Ra) is with us in this episode to talk about fearlessly approaching the process of songwriting. For many of us, songwriting is going to be a part of the production process at one time or another. A producer with serious songwriting chops will always go further in their career. Do you have what it takes to save a client from a shitty song? What can you do to keep your workflow running smoothly? Do you feel like you have the finesse to write hits? We’re going to give you a head start. “On one side, you have to have the confidence to move on and not dwell on something for too long. On the other… you have to have the strength and courage to fight for a good idea, however many times you have to fight for it.” - Sahaj Ticotin THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Effective time management and learning to move on - How to make a living with songwriting - The base elements of a healthy workflow - What makes a hit song - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a commen

Production powerhouse Kane Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, Papa Roach, In This Moment) talks about the process of writing chart topping hits. For a producer, songwriting can be one of the most artistically and financially rewarding skills they can acquire. Kane Churko has written songs for various standout artists and delves into how to navigate that process. Quote: “Some people in life are starters, and some people are finishers” - Kane Churko THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How to wear multiple hats in the studio - The things that Kane feels make a great song - The value of deadlines - The importance of music theory - How arrangement factors into the songwriting process - How legality comes into play for producers with a hand in writing - How not to end a song - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Extreme metal production master Dave Otero joins us to discuss his prolific audio journey. For over 15 years, Dave Otero has put his stamp on tons of seminal extreme productions (Cephalic Carnage, Cattle Decapitation, etc.). Dave’s story is a perfect example of how to dominate in a specific niche. You don’t just need to work on pop and country in order to have an amazing production career. “What are you waiting for? Start doing it!” – Dave Otero THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Investing in yourself - Maintaining a fresh perspective with new clients - Dave Otero’s Method for producing heavy rhythm guitar - How to get blast beat production right - Recognizing a musician’s strengths - Micing up natural kicks to use in extreme metal productions - When you’ve gotten the the right drum take - When to retrack, and when to leave things as they are - 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. These mixes pose some interesting challenges (and they’re not metalcore. Get us those unique mixes, guys). There’s tons of great info here, especially if you’re trying to solidify your vocal mixing. “You gotta be on the same page to make relationships work.” - Joey Sturgis THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - The importance of establishing relationships with clients - Recognizing the difference between what a client says they want and what they actually want - A quick trick for de-essing - Making sure timing and editing inconsistencies don’t throw off a whole mix - Tuning vocals with a lot of vibrato - Making sure that your bass tracks are solid - How the quality of equipment like microphones factors into your end product - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gregory Scott of Kush Audio and Sly-Fi Digital joins us to discuss his philosophies about gear and how to use it musically. Whether you’re interested in the process of developing analog hardware and plugins or you want to know what your own gear is actually doing to your mixes, Gregory Scott has all sorts of info for you to absorb. “Ideas are a dime a dozen... What matters the most in any endeavor is having the resources, and by resources I mean the time, the money, the connections, to get stuff done.” - Gregory Scott THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How Gregory’s tendencies as a mixer have led to his innovation as a gear designer - What’s really up with the difference between analog and digital - Why collaboration is often the key to success in any endeavor - Getting connected to movement in a mix by pushing faders - Techniques to better hear the effects of compression and eq - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic

On this episode of the podcast, Jens Bogren joins us to discuss his experiences as a producer, from working with bands (Opeth, Katatonia, etc) to his practices for finding the right gear/sound for a mix when working on a project. Get the chance to listen to a highly revered producer discuss some of his tricks of the trade. Check out what Jens has to say about go to microphones for capturing heavy vocals in different situations. You will understand why Bogren implements up to four SM57’s, amongst a handful of other mics to capture his tone. “Run! Work really hard, and dump your girlfriend!” - Jens Bogren THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT: - Working hard and frequently at becoming a better producer - Acquiring the right gear/workflow to minimize steps required to get a good sound - Using early pro bono work that sounds great for starting your portfolio - Jens’ technique for mixing snare drums - Where Bogren searches for nerdy audio information - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review