Inside The Recording Studio

Gain staging is like flossing: everyone knows they should do it, very few people actually do, and the consequences sneak up on you later. This week on Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody rip into the mysterious, often ignored art of gain staging and explain why your mixes might be suffering because of it.

They cut through myths, bad advice, and internet half-truths to show how managing levels at every stage of your signal...

Chris and Jody are hitting rewind and bringing back a special encore presentation of one of the most beloved conversations in Inside the Recording Studio history: their in-depth interview with CJ Vanston.

And honestly? This one was worth rerunning anyway.

CJ Vanston isn’t just a producer or keyboard wizard, he’s a musical storyteller who’s been behind the curtain of some truly iconic recordings. In this episode, Chris and Jody re...

Control surfaces look cool. Like, really cool. Rows of glowing faders. Buttons everywhere. That unmistakable “I totally know what I’m doing” vibe. But are they actually useful—or just expensive desk ornaments?

This week on Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody grab the nearest fader and ask the uncomfortable question: do control surfaces in music production actually make your life easier?

They rewind to where these things cam...

Ah yes… the moment every guitarist avoids until a string finally snaps mid-bend: string-changing season. Chris & Jody decide enough is enough—time to start the year with tone that isn’t corroded, crusty, or older than your last tax return.

They tear into the eternal war between heavy gauges (“thicc tone, thicc fingers required”) and lighter sets (“bend like butter, intonate like a drunk ferret”). They talk nickel, steel, coated...

Some gear becomes famous. The Lexicon 224 became mythology. In this episode, Chris and Jody cannonball straight into the digital reverb that drenched the ’80s in shimmering glory—and, honestly, made half of your favorite songs sound way cooler than they had any right to.

They kick things off with the “how the heck did this thing happen?” history lesson—because the 224 didn’t just show up; it crashed the party and told every plate, ...

Reverb isn’t just an effect, it’s the invisible architecture of every mix. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody step through the misty doorway where reflections, decay, and space become instruments of their own.

Whether you’re mixing in a compact bedroom rig or a sprawling commercial facility, reverb shapes how listeners feelyour music long before they consciously hear it. And today, the guys take you fa...

Let’s be honest: backups are about as exciting as dusting your studio monitors or alphabetizing cables. But nothing will make you scream into the void faster than losing a session you swear you saved. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody grab you by the shoulders and lovingly scream, “BACK UP YOUR STUFF!”

They dive into backup options from “cheap but risky” to “Fort Knox for audio nerds.” Drives, RAIDs, ...

Ever crank a delay plugin, hear a swamp of echoes, and think, “Cool… but what am I actually doing here?” Chris & Jody are here to rescue you from your own knob-twisting crimes. This week, they break down delay the way mix engineers wish someone had explained it when they were fumbling around in their first apartment studios.

First, the math (don’t panic). They show you how to calculate delay times that actually fit the tempo, n...

You can have the best studio gear, but if you can’t handle artists, you might as well be recording air. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody turn the faders down on gear talk and crank up the discussion on people management—because the biggest noise in the studio isn’t feedback…it’s ego.

From the control freak who wants to tweak every EQ band to the “just tell me when it’s done” type who ghosts halfway t...

Getting separation in your mix isn’t about pulling instruments apart—it’s about giving them space to breathe. In this week’s Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody break down the art and science of separation, revealing how clarity and cohesion can live in perfect balance.

They unpack why separation matters, when it’s essential, and how to achieve it without flattening your mix or losing energy. From classic EQ carving and s...

Dolby Atmos Mixing: Redefining the Studio Soundstage

Once reserved for blockbuster cinemas, Dolby Atmos is now rewriting the rulebook for how we create and experience music. In this episode, Chris & Jody unpack what mixing in Atmos really means for the modern producer — from recording setup tips and home studio gear requirements to the creative freedom of 3D sound.

They’ll walk you through the tech (yes, it’s more than just pan...

There’s a moment every recording musician dreads: that blinking notification screaming “System Update Available.” Should you click it or keep your studio machine frozen in time? In this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody dig deep into the art and science of staying current—without crashing your creative flow.

From plugin compatibility nightmares to the hidden risks of updating mid-project, they unpack w...

Mix engineers have battled this question for decades: headphones or studio monitors—who reigns supreme? In this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody slice into the science, psychology, and practicality of monitoring. Whether you’re mixing in a treated control room or a spare-bedroom studio, knowing when to trust your ears (and which ones) can make or break your mix.

They start by unpacking what accuracy r...

When you hit play on a track, should it sound like you — unmistakably branded with your sonic fingerprint — or should it morph seamlessly into whatever the song demands? In this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody dive headfirst into one of the most polarizing debates in audio engineering: the “signature sound” dilemma.

For decades, producers and mix engineers have wrestled with the question: Is having a...

Part 2 of: What do Guitar Hero, blockbuster video game soundtracks, and a stack of epic TV scores all have in common? The unmistakable sound of Steve Ouimette. In this continuation episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody sit down with the guitarist and producer whose riffs have been quietly shaping your playlists, your binge-watching marathons, and maybe even your late-night gaming sessions.

Steve takes us through hi...

What do Guitar Hero, blockbuster video game soundtracks, and a stack of epic TV scores all have in common? The unmistakable sound of Steve Ouimette. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody sit down with the guitarist and producer whose riffs have been quietly shaping your playlists, your binge-watching marathons, and maybe even your late-night gaming sessions.

Steve takes us through his unlikely start in the ...

On the surface, panning and pan laws might sound like the driest topic in the world—but if you care about making mixes that translate everywhere, you can’t afford to ignore them. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody take a deep dive into the mechanics and the myths of stereo placement, with their usual mix of expertise, humor, and truth bombs.

First, they cover the basics: What is panning? What are pan law...

Confession time: how many compressor plugins do you actually need? One? Two? Six? Let’s be real—you probably have a “go-to” compressor and five others you bought during a flash sale because someone on YouTube said it was life-changing. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Chris and Jody are right there with you in this week’s episode of Inside the Recording Studio, tackling the hilarious, slightly painful truth about gear hoarding in mus...

Who says distortion is just for shredders in leather pants? This week, Chris & Jody are here to spill the beans on how creative distortion in mixing can spice up any track. Think of it like hot sauce: a little goes a long way, but sometimes you just want to drench everything.

They start by serving up the obvious—guitar tones that roar and scream—but then they ladle distortion all over the mix. Bass that rattles, vocals that sna...