Master Your Mix Podcast

Jaksot

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  Howard Bilerman: Not Letting Production Hide the Song 16.09.2026 1t 24min

  Howard Bilerman is a Grammy-nominated musician, sound engineer & record producer who has been recording bands for over 30 years. As co-owner & head engineer of the hotel2tango recording studio in Montreal, Bilerman has enjoyed working with some of Canada’s most talented artists, as well as others from the USA, the UK, France, Italy, Scotland, Africa, Spain, Ireland, Switzerland, Portugal & Australia.These include Leonard Cohen, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, The Arcade Fire, Coeur de Pirate, Peter Peter, U.S. Girls, Charlotte Cornfield, The Weather Station, Thalia Zedek, Vic Chesnutt, A Silver Mt. Zion, Basia Bulat, Nap Eyes, Murray Lightburn, Lhasa de Sela, British Sea Power, Bassekou Kouyate, Sam Roberts, Patrick Watson, Adam Cohen, Lou Doillon, The Webb Sisters, The Dears, Wolf Parade, Titus Andronicus, and many more.He has been credited on over 500 records to date, including as an engineer on Leonard Cohen’s Grammy-winning song “You Want It Darker.” Bilerman has been a regular faculty member at Banff Centre, having helped to create their groundbreaking Indie Residency & Singer Songwriter programs.Bilerman’s recordings have received international critical praise, and the hotel2tango is seen by many as being at the center of Montreal’s independent musical community.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:Troubleshooting audio for videoWhat happens when you record with only 4 tracks instead of 40The one job you have as a producerHow effects can date a recordWhat "convenience over sound quality" actually means when picking toolsWhen gear selection actually does matter (and when it doesn't)Why a track that sounds bad in solo can be exactly right in the mixThe crowded-room analogy for why too many tracks kill clarityWhy using the same compressor on everything erases identity instead of building itThe difference between corrective and artistic effects, and why mixing up the two mattersTo learn more about Howard Bilerman, visit: https://howardbilerman.com/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot Delay: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25Subscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Eric Stenman: Having an “always mixing” approach to production 09.09.2026 1t 5min

  Eric Stenman is an LA-based producer, mixer, and engineer whose four-decade credit list runs from Deftones, Thrice, and Weezer to Daniel Caesar's Grammy-nominated Freudian and every AWOLNATION album since 2011's Megalithic Symphony. A decade running Red Bull Studios in Los Angeles gave way to overseeing AWOLNATION's own Malibu studio, where Stenman has helped engineer some of alternative rock's biggest, guitar-built (and famously bass-guitar-free) low end. Most recently, he's stepped from behind the board into the band itself, co-founding the metallic-hardcore project The Barbarians of California with longtime collaborator Aaron Bruno.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:Why "I'll fix it in the mix" usually means more work later, not lessHow Eric commits to compression and tone while tracking, instead of capturing it flat and safeWhat changes once you start picturing the finished mix while you're recordingWhy more experience means fewer decisions get pushed down the roadHow this mindset shift cuts down on retracking and rebuilding sounds from scratchHow treating a song as a whole (instead of piece by piece) keeps a mix from falling apartWhy he avoids soloing individual tracks during a mixHow stepping away from a mix for a week changes what you hear when you come backHow he decides a mix is done, even when a client keeps sending notesHow Eric fills low end without ever touching a real bass guitarWhat "translating" actually means across car speakers, earbuds, and Bluetooth speakersTo learn more about Eric Stenman, visit: https://ericstenman.com/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Jon Estes: Working to make the song succeed 02.09.2026 1t 18min

  Jon Estes is a Nashville producer, mixing engineer, and multi-instrumentalist who works roughly 200 sessions a year, often as bassist, engineer, and producer on the same record. He's played on Kesha's Grammy-nominated Rainbow and Robyn Hitchcock's self-titled album, and produced and mixed full-length records for Jessie Baylin, Dara Tucker, and Langhorne Slim, most recently engineering and mixing rising country breakout Waylon Wyatt's 2026 debut Dustpiles. He also scores for TV (NBC, HBO, Disney) and video games (Fortnite). Estes runs a hybrid analog/digital studio in Nashville built around a 1" tape machine and a deep collection of vintage instruments.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:The road to becoming a session musicianThe plugin Jon calls his best mixing hack, and it's not an EQ or a compressorWhat it actually means when you cringe listening back to your own mixWhy sending a mix out too soon has "no reward," even on a deadlineWhy Jon calls some of the most famous mixes in music history "insanely bad," and doesn't mean it as an insultWhy he sometimes works to make a mix sound worse, on purposeHow to force objectivity when you’re wearing multiple hats on a projectThe reason a different guitar or a different pick can beat any plugin moveTo learn more about Jon Estes, visit: https://jonestes.com/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Craig Parker Adams: Adapting to every client 26.08.2026 1t 33min

  Craig Parker Adams is a Los Angeles-based recording and mixing engineer, producer, and guitarist with over 25 years of studio experience at his Hollywood-based Winslow Ct. Studio. He's contributed to 8 Grammy-nominated projects with 2 wins across Blues, Folk, Americana, and Latin Pop, including co-producing and engineering Dave & Phil Alvin's Common Ground and recording Gaby Moreno's ¡Spangled! with Van Dyke Parks. Since 2014, he's served as the exclusive mixing engineer for the Zappa Family Trust, overseeing archival releases drawn from Frank Zappa's legendary Vault, including The Hot Rats Sessions and The Mothers 1971.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:Why he staggers when each band member walks in the doorThe moment a legendary drummer got offended by his notes, and what happened nextWhat it's like mixing for a listener who catches every single mistakeWhat goes into mixing over a thousand Frank Zappa songsWhy adding your own take can quietly work against someone else's visionThe real reason clients send referrals before they've even heard the mixWhy he had to learn an entirely new recording system in five daysTo learn more about Craig Parker Adams, visit: https://craigparkeradams.com/ and http://www.winslowctstudio.com/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Howie Beck: The Advantages of Working with Limitations 19.08.2026 1t 14min

  Howie Beck is a Toronto-based mixer and producer whose credits include Feist, Barenaked Ladies, Ron Sexsmith, Walk Off The Earth, and Charlotte Day Wilson, whose breakout single "Work" he mixed and co-produced. Before turning to mixing full-time, Beck built a cult following as a solo artist, writing, performing, and recording every instrument on albums like Hollow and How to Fall Down in Public himself. He's been nominated for three Juno Awards in three separate categories: Album, Recording Engineer, and Producer of the Year, a rare spread that reflects his range. He now runs Studio H, a Dolby-approved Atmos mix room in Toronto's Queen West.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:How four-track and ADAT recording forced him to commit to musical decisionsWhy unlimited tracks can work against the editing process instead of helping itThe Prince song with no bass on it, and what it says about restraintHow Howie stays objective when working on his own musicWhy he goes to tape for certain projects and what it changes sonicallyHis drums-first mixing workflow and the reasoning behind itHow he approaches vocal depth and space to make vocals feel forward in a mixThe tradeoffs of heavy vocal compression (breaths, sibilance, mouth pops)Why he pulls up an artist's rough mix before he opens the real sessionHow demoitis shows up more today than it used to, and how he talks clients through itTraining his ears and body to trust his monitoring environment at different volumesTo learn more about Howie Beck, visit: https://www.howiebeck.com/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Brendan Dekora: Understanding an Artist’s Vision 12.08.2026 57min

  Brendan Dekora is a Los Angeles-based mixing engineer and producer whose two-decade climb through top studios like EastWest culminated in a full-time engineering post for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, earning him a Grammy for his work on Pixar's Soul score. His credits also include Foo Fighters' Concrete and Gold, Steven Wilson's Hand. Cannot. Erase., Billy Idol, Danzig, Muse, and Deafheaven. He now mixes and produces independently from his home studio, focused on rock and art-rock artists.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:The two questions he asks every client before touching a single faderWhat he does when a client hands him references that contradict each otherHow to pick the right reference tracksWhy "I don't want to sound like anyone else" is the hardest brief he getsHow he decides whether to keep a "wrong" sound in a mix or fix itWhy he considers "putting his own stamp on everything" a mistake, not a selling pointWorking with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross on Nine Inch Nails tracks and film scoresHow he balances his own creative instincts against what the artist is actually asking forTo learn more about Brendan Dekora, visit: https://www.brendandekora.com/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Steven Lee Tracy: Mixing Fast To Stay Objective 05.08.2026 1t 4min

  Steven Lee Tracy is the owner, producer, and mixing engineer at Saint Cecilia Studios in Tucson, Arizona. Before he was behind the board, he was on stage: a decade as guitarist and songwriter in Seattle indie-rock band The Myriad, whose single "A Clean Shot" became MTV's most-played video in spring 2008 after the band won MTV2's Dew Circuit Breakout. That artist-first background shapes his mixing today; a self-described "production-style" approach built for records that sound like the artist's favorite albums, not just a polite balance of tracks. At Saint Cecilia, Tracy has worked with acts spanning Seattle indie rock to Tucson's Latin-music scene, including Orkesta Mendoza and the Morrissey tribute act Mexrrissey, alongside sync and commercial work for MTV, Adobe, and Axon.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:Why your 50th listen is lying to you about what's wrong with the mixThe one thing Steven does in the first 30 seconds of every new songWhy he builds drums, bass, and vocals in the same order every single timeWhat separates a song that needs help from a song you just need to get out of the way ofThe mistake Steven made early on that he'd undo if he could start overWhy lower overhead led to better work, not less of itWhat changed the moment he stopped saying “yes” to every opportunityTo learn more about Steven Lee Tracy, visit: https://www.saintceciliastudios.com/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot Delay: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25Subscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Joe Caithness: Mastering for Video Game Soundtracks 29.07.2026 1t 24min

  Joe Caithness is a mastering, transfer, and restoration engineer based in Nottingham, UK, with over 18 years of experience and more than 1,500 completed projects to his name. He's become the go-to engineer for video game soundtrack vinyl and digital releases, having mastered over 260 titles for Laced Records alone, including Resident Evil, Bloodborne, Borderlands, and Dead Cells. In 2025, he mastered the vinyl edition of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for Nintendo and Laced Records the first official Nintendo physical music release in the West in generations and worked on the physical rollout of the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 soundtrack, which went on to hit #1 on the physical albums charts in both the UK and France.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:Why passion for music matters when becoming an audio engineerWhy mastering attracts introvertsWhat mastering for video game soundtracks involvesThe specific technical challenges of turning a game score into a listenable album releaseThe tools Joe uses to rescue overprocessed, hard-limited mixes/mastersWhy Joe starts with his limiter before touching any EQ or compressionThe gain-normalization step he does before any processing and why it makes everything easierWhy mastering is really about context and consistency, not stereo processingHow he creates cohesion across 9+ hours of wildly varied audioHis approach to vinyl QC Why he tells clients not to listen to their masters in their studioTo learn more about Joe Caithness, visit: https://www.joecaithnessmastering.com/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Bruno Barcella: The Analog Sound in a Digital Mix 22.07.2026 56min

  Bruno "Brown" Barcella is a recording, mixing, and production engineer based in northern Italy. He got his start behind a drum kit, touring the US and Europe with bands like Miss Chain & The Broken Heels before crossing to the other side of the glass. After studying sound engineering in Milan, he joined TUP Studio in Brescia in 2011, an analog-focused room built around a Neotek console and Studer 2" tape where he's spent the better part of 15 years crafting records rooted in garage rock, punk, and rock 'n' roll. He's the engineer behind the catalogs of Bee Bee Sea, The Peawees, Faz Waltz, The Apers, and dozens more. In 2020 he launched his freelance career, collaborating with studios across northern Italy, doing live sound for artists, clubs, and festivals, and increasingly mixing records remotely for artists from around the world.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:The one-monitor rule: why Bruno mixes exclusively on Sennheiser HD 650s and never switches between sources while workingThe tools he adds to headphone mixing to get closer to a speaker-like experienceThe arc every mixer goes through for getting goodWhy artists shouldn't be in the room during a mix sessionHow doing less usually gets you better mixesGetting mixes to feel warm, but not muddyThe benefit of using analog saturation plugins across multiple tracks in a mixHow he thinks about blending saturated and clean microphone signals togetherWhy he aims for low-tuned, dry drums, and how that affects the saturation and tone decisions he makesWhy being willing to fail is still the most important thing a young engineer can doTo learn more about Bruno Barella, visit https://brownbarcella.com/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Toby Lloyd: The Studio As A Therapeutic Space 15.07.2026 1t 13min

  Toby Lloyd is a Music Producer, Studio Owner, Mixing Engineer, Artist, and Film Score Mixer from New Zealand who has worked with artists such as Shapeshifter, Nightmares on Wax, Hollie Smith, Blindspott, and Stan Walker, and has also worked on films like Avatar 2, The Hobbit Trilogy, and Hunt For The Wilderpeople. He runs Tiny Triumph Recordings, a bespoke rooftop recording studio in the heart of New Zealand's capital city, Wellington. He has also started releasing music under the artist name Paper Mountains, which blends folk, soul, and pop music, and is about to release his debut album in July.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:Why he almost quit the industry entirely and what stopped himThe one thing that makes or breaks your relationship with clients (it's not your mix)Why the studio is a therapeutic space, and what that means for how you work with artistsWhy your mixes feel flat even when the individual sounds are goodThe low-end approach Toby uses to stop kick and bass from fighting each otherWhat film audio teaches you about stereo mixing that most engineers never learnWhy he EQs guitars based on what it does to the vocal, not what it does to the guitarTo learn more about Toby Lloyd, visit: https://www.tinytriumphrecordings.com/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Justin Cortelyou: From Intern to Directing Paul McCartney 08.07.2026 1t 19min

  Justin Cortelyou is a Grammy-award nominated, multi-platinum mixing engineer/producer. Justin started his career working with Chuck Ainlay at Soundstage Studios in Nashville before moving to Los Angeles to work with mix-master Mike Shipley at The Animal House. Justin teamed up with artist/producer Tommy Henriksen and in 2008, moved their operation back to Nashville and began working with legendary producer, Bob Ezrin. Through the years, Justin has worked with artists Paul McCartney, Alice Cooper, Ke$ha, Taylor Swift, Jerrod Niemann, Phish, Chingy, Vince Gill, Andrea Bocelli, U2, Randy Travis, KISS, Will I Am, Lady Gaga, and many others.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:The ice maker moment that turned his internship into a jobWhat the Mike Shipley editing process taught him about standards Why the engineers who get the biggest clients keep raising the bar long after they've "made it"The moment Justin had to tell Paul McCartney to do another take — and what happened nextWhat constructive feedback actually sounds like when it's workingWhy being great at your craft isn't enough to build a careerThe hard lesson about putting 90% of your work with one clientTo learn more about Justin Cortelyou, visit: https://www.justincortelyou.com/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot Delay: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25Subscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Sam Moses: How to Know What a Mix Needs Before Listening 01.07.2026 1t 30min

  Sam Moses is a Nashville-based mastering engineer and owner of Moses Mastering, with roughly 15 years in the business. He describes his work in short as helping artists "finish their record and bring peace of mind that it's ready for release." He is a multi-RIAA Platinum and Gold Record mastering engineer, a voting member of the Grammy Recording Academy and AES, and a Grammy NEXT class alumnus.Most notably, Moses is a Grammy Award–winning mastering engineer for Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll's "Hard Fought Hallelujah," which won Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song at the 2026 Grammy Awards. He is also a multi-Dove Award winner and 10-time Dove Award nominee, with wins spanning Brandon Lake/Jelly Roll's "Hard Fought Hallelujah" and Blessing Offor's "Brighter Days." His client list spans Christian/worship (Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, Skillet, Tenth Avenue North, Kari Jobe, Passion), mainstream pop and rock (The Aces, Smallpools, Nightly, Joan, Underoath), and country/mainstream artists (Dolly Parton, Kesha, Billy Ray Cyrus, Ashley McBryde, Maddie & Tae).IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:The three-meter system: how RMS, dynamic range, and momentary LUFS reveal the tonal balance of any song before you touch a pluginWhat RMS values tell you about low-end weightWhy LUFS momentary reflects top-end brightness, not just loudnessWhy Spotify normalization doesn't make songs sound equally loud and what actually causes perceived volume differencesWhy Sam never aims for a target LUFS and what he looks for insteadWhy Sam uses only limiters, not compressors, and how he approaches mid-rangeHow to compare your meters against a commercial reference using normalization off in SpotifyHow to know when a master is done (and why most engineers don't have a clear answer)The advice Joe Barresi and Andrew Scheps gave Sam that led him to move to NashvilleWhy niching down to mastering only was the career decision that changed everythingHow Sam's mentor taught him to listen first and ignore the gear entirelyWhy the most important question Sam asks every client is one most of them have never thought aboutTo learn more about Sam Moses, visit: https://www.mosesmastering.com/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Dave McNair: Reinventing His Career, Again and Again 24.06.2026 1t 28min

  Dave McNair is a mastering engineer, producer, and recording engineer with over four decades in the music industry and more than 900 credits spanning rock, blues, country, pop, and world music. Originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, he came up through the working-studio world of New York City, including a stint at The Hit Factory, before spending years producing and engineering in Los Angeles and Austin. He's now based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he operates Dave McNair Mastering from a studio in his own home, monitored on a high-end audiophile playback system.What sets McNair apart is the breadth of his pre-mastering career. He toured as a drummer with indie/alt-country band The Silos, engineered and mixed landmark sessions with Stevie Ray Vaughan and Cyndi Lauper, and produced artists like Buddy Guy and Kelly Willis in the Austin music scene. That lived-in understanding of how records are made from the ground up, tracking, arranging, mixing, deeply informs his mastering philosophy. His approach emphasizes what he calls "mastering with mixing in mind," treating the bass and vocals as the true anchors of any record.McNair's audiophile background is equally distinctive. He spent time working the sales floor at high-end audio retailers Innovative Audio and Sound By Singer in NYC, and that world of critical listening hardware never left him, he credits it with transforming his approach to monitoring and sound judgment. His 2024 Grammy nomination for Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical) for Bokanté's History represents recent recognition, but his catalog, which includes David Bowie's The Next Day, Shovels & Rope's Little Seeds, and mixed credits on SRV's In Step, reflects decades of work at the highest level.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:The moment he realized a mentor's "amazing room sound" was actually a tiny dead room and a heavily compressed micWhy losing head-to-head comparisons to another engineer became one of his biggest learning toolsWhat changed in his approach after sitting in on a session with one of the most respected mixers in the businessThe exact moment Dave knew he needed to change direction, and what tipped him offWhy he didn't tell any of his old clients he was getting into mastering until he felt readyHow 20 years of sitting in on other people's mastering sessions became the foundation for his new careerWhy he says the chasing and reinventing never really stops, even nowTo learn more about Dave McNair, visit: https://www.davemcnairmastering.com/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Greg Gordon: Putting the Groove First 17.06.2026 1t 4min

  Greg hails from Detroit’s vibrant rock scene. He’s lived in New York and Los Angeles. In 2015, he relocated to Pittsburgh, producing and mixing at his Wood Hollow studio, and recording and exploring ATMOS mixing at The Vault studios.Greg Gordon has produced, engineered, and mixed a wide spectrum of classic ‘big beat’ groups and artists of every genre. His discography reads like a three-decade history of cutting-edge music. Embracing all types of passionate sonic expression, Greg thrives on using his knowledge of music and recording techniques to build a foundation of traditional integrity and cross-pollinate elements to introduce unexpected, ear-opening events.Greg’s #1 piece of advice to any new engineer/mixer - “Listen for the record - it’s easy to get caught up with the technology and possibilities, and lose sight of the song… The record will reveal itself if you’re listening for it. There will be a moment when you forget that you’re working on a track, and you’re just listening to a favorite record … PRINT!!!!!!”IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:Jumping into opportunities even when you're scaredHow the old-school mixing approach as a performance changes the way your mixes feelHow Jimi Hendrix treated the studio as an instrument, not a documentation toolWhat it actually means to "capture the moment of discovery" when trackingWhy Greg avoids click tracks and how that affects the energy of a performanceHow stepping away and returning to a mix creates the objectivity you can't get from staring at it for hoursWhy producers weren't allowed in the room for Motown sessionsHow your headphone mix affects whether a singer nails the pitch or misses itThe automation trick that makes mixes feel like live performances instead of static playbackTo learn more about Greg Gordon, visit: http://www.gregordon.com/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Austin Seltzer: Breaking the Loudness Rules 10.06.2026 1t 27min

  Austin Seltzer is a multi-platinum mixing and mastering engineer whose work bridges the gap between modern pop polish and emotionally impactful, dynamic sound. After getting his start in electronic ghost production, Austin refined his craft through formal studio training at The Blackbird Academy in Nashville. During his time there, he learned from renowned engineers and producers who appeared as guest mentors, including Andrew Scheps, Jacquire King, Vance Powell, and Dave Pensado. After graduating, he expanded into cinematic music, further developing the sense of depth, scale, and emotion that now defines his mixing style.Now based in Oklahoma, he has built a reputation for creating mixes that feel simultaneously expansive, powerful, and deeply musical. Austin’s profile rose significantly after mixing and mastering Dasha’s global breakout hit “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’),” one of the defining crossover records of 2024. In addition to his work with Dasha, he has collaborated with artists including LE SSERAFIM, Maggie Lindemann, Natalie Jane, BloodPop, A.G. Cook, and Hudson Mohawke.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:- Why he starts every mix with the loudest section- Why he intentionally clips his mixes six dB over zero during the entire mixdown- How to balance your low end while intentionally clipping the output- Why most limiters destroy the punch in your kick and snare- How to create cinematic width without using the LCR method- Why treating people well matters more than your technical skills- How he completes professional mixes in 90 minutes or less- Why he only listens to the full mix once during the mixing process- The next-morning routine that catches problems before sending to clients- How he uses multiband stereo width to create cinematic depth- How hitting compressors 10-20 dB actually makes vocals sound better- Why he moved from LA to Oklahoma, and his work increasedLooking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Chris Athens: Creating Traction With Your Career (Revisited) 03.06.2026 1t 29min

  Chris Athens is a mastering engineer with over 30 years in the industry. Formerly working at Sony Music Studios and Sterling Sound, he has founded his own studio, Chris Athens Masters in Austin Texas. Chris has mastered for some of the biggest names in hip-hop such as DJ Khaled, Drake, and Mac Miller as well as some rock artists including Coheed & Cambria, Architects, and Of Mice and Men.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:Taking chances, even when you don’t feel preparedLearning from mistakesSurrounding yourself with the right peopleWork/life balanceWorking to the point of burnoutWhy you need to get good at networking and marketingInheriting clients vs. creating clientsFinding people to partner with for your studio businessKnowing your own strengths and weaknessesThe advantages of working quicklyHow to preserve your objectivityBroad-stroke vs. surgical EQGetting big clear low endTo learn more about Chris Athens, visit: https://chrisathensmasters.com/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Jason Perry: Making Records Without Musical Theory 27.05.2026 48min

  Jason Perry is a UK-based record producer, mixer, and songwriter known for shaping the sound of modern rock and alternative music. He first made his mark as the frontman of the band A, before transitioning behind the scenes to build a highly successful production career.Over the years, Jason has worked with a wide range of artists including Don Broco, You Me At Six, Trash Boat, McFly, and Mallory Knox, helping them craft records that balance raw energy with a polished, contemporary edge. His productions are known for their punchy drums, tight arrangements, and powerful, radio-ready vocals.Bringing an artist’s perspective into the studio, Jason is especially respected for his collaborative approach and his ability to push bands to deliver their strongest performances—both creatively and technically. His work has played a key role in defining the sound of the current UK rock scene.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:Why Jason never uses vocal booths or talkback mics when tracking singersHow not knowing how to play an instrument can be a superpower as a producerThe first-listen method he uses to find every weak point in a songWhy most bands overcomplicate their bridge sections (and what causes itHow he produces himself on his own records without losing objectivityWhy he starts recording vocals on day two instead of waiting for the band to finish trackingThe pep talk he gives every band before starting a sessionWhy placing limits on yourself forces better creative decisionsWhat actually makes a great song when you strip away all the techniqueTo learn more about Jason Perry, visit: https://www.jasonperry.london/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Brian Howes: The "Swedish Math" Behind Hit Songs 13.05.2026 1t 2min

  Brian Howes is a Canadian producer, songwriter, and former recording artist known for crafting commercially successful rock and pop records with a strong emphasis on melody, structure, and radio appeal. After beginning his career as a frontman in bands like DDT and Closure, he transitioned into production and quickly made a name for himself with breakthrough projects such as Hinder’s Extreme Behavior and Hedley’s self-titled debut. His work is characterized by hook-driven songwriting, polished arrangements, and a seamless blend of rock energy with pop sensibility.Over the course of his career, Howes has collaborated with a wide range of major artists, including Skillet, Daughtry, Nickelback, Simple Plan, and Boys Like Girls, earning multiple JUNO Awards for Producer of the Year along with Grammy and Dove Award recognition. Based in Vancouver, he operates largely from his own studio, where he combines songwriting and production into a single, integrated process. Known for his analytical approach to hit-making—often described as studying the “math of songwriting”—Howes continues to be a sought-after collaborator for artists aiming to achieve a polished, radio-ready sound.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:How “Swedish math" is responsible for shaping hit songsThe three-hook chorus structure Brian uses on radio recordsWhy melody should drive the arrangement, not the other way aroundHow to map tempo and BPM to vocal cadenceThe most common songwriting mistakes producers need to fixKnowing when to get out of the wayHow Brian approaches pre-production with bands who are married to their demosWhy Hinder’s “Lips of an Angel” broke all the rules and still became a massive hitMaking the switch from being an artist to producerHow to give "punk rock energy" in soccer-mom musicWorking on Airbourne's new recordTo learn more about Brian Howes, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_HowesLooking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  David Trumfio: The Future of Studio Ownership 06.05.2026 1t 30min

  Dave Trumfio doesn’t just make records, he builds the rooms where records come alive. A Los Angeles–based producer, mixer, engineer, and musician, Trumfio has quietly shaped decades of indie and alternative music, with a sonic fingerprint that runs through artists like Wilco, Built to Spill, OK Go, and Sia.He first broke through in the 90s as co-founder of The Pulsars, a cult synth-pop duo with his brother Harry that earned a spot on Rolling Stone’s list of greatest one-album wonders. At the same time, he embedded himself in the underground as bassist and co-songwriter for the long-running post-punk collective The Mekons, adding grit to an already unruly legacy.Behind the console, Trumfio became a go-to architect for artists chasing character over polish, with credits spanning My Morning Jacket, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and Dogstar. But his biggest innovation might be the spaces themselves. As founder of Kingsize Soundlabs, he pioneered a modern “producer-driven” studio model, later expanding that vision through partnerships with Gold-Diggers and 64 Sound, blending hospitality, community, and high-end recording into a new creative ecosystem.Outside the studio, he channels his restless energy into Damaged Disco, a label and LA event series steeped in post-punk and darkwave, while continuing to release music as Nervous Boy and perform electronic sets as DAT68.Trumfio’s career is less a straight line and more a feedback loop, artist, engineer, entrepreneur, repeat. The common thread: a lifelong obsession with sound, and the instinct to build the culture around it, not just capture it.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:Should you start your own studio or use existing studios?Why he sold a $300K+ Neve console and what he replaced it withThe 5-year industry cycle that dictates which studios surviveWhy the "if you build it, they will come" mentality kills most studiosThe real reason big studios are disappearing (and what's replacing them)Why "greatest hits" gear beats boutique esoteric pieces every timeHow AI is pushing everything toward perfection will create demand for raw, human recordingsThe one thing you need to invest in if you're starting a studio todayFuture-proofing your studioTo learn more about David Trumfio, visit: https://www.kingsizesoundlabs.com/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!
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  Mike Schuppan: Why Great Engineers Don't Chase Perfection 29.04.2026 1t 4min

  Mike Schuppan is a Los Angeles–based mix engineer, recording engineer, and producer with over 20 years of experience working across alternative, pop, electronic, and experimental music. Originally from Nashville, he developed his career through hands-on studio work and long-term collaborations with producer and multi-instrumentalist Justin Meldal-Johnsen, contributing to both recording sessions and live touring environments.Over the years, Schuppan has built a diverse and high-level discography, working with artists such as Paramore, M83, Lady Gaga, Poppy, Jimmy Eat World, and Ziggy Marley. His credits span major-label releases, Grammy-winning projects, and records that have achieved gold and platinum status. His work on Paramore’s self-titled album and After Laughter, along with M83’s Fantasy, highlights his ability to navigate sonically dense, emotionally driven productions while maintaining clarity and musicality.Schuppan is known for a mix style that emphasizes feel, depth, and translation—balancing modern polish with the integrity of the original performance. Whether working on layered pop productions or more organic alternative records, he focuses on preserving emotional intent while ensuring mixes translate across streaming platforms and playback systems.In addition to music releases, he has also contributed to film and television projects as a score mixer and engineer, reflecting a broader technical range that extends beyond traditional record production. His career represents a hybrid of classic studio engineering and modern mixing workflows, making him especially relevant to today’s generation of producers working across both analog and in-the-box environments.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:Why Mike records way more microphones than he'll ever use (and how it saves his mixes later)The exact session layout he borrowed that he still uses on every projectHow he decides when to go minimal vs. using complex setupsWhy thinking about the mix during tracking is the only way to avoid "fix it later" disastersHis approach to creating space and depth without losing clarity in dense productionsFinding problematic, masking frequenciesHow he knows when a mix is actually done Why his goal is to never be "the best" at anythingThe one frequency range he's obsessed with on bassHis go-to bass micing setupWorking with artists like Paramore, Ziggy Marley, and M83Incorporating feedback into your processTo learn more about Mike Schuppan, visit: https://www.mikeschuppan.com/Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions?For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe to the show:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMixHave questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to [email protected] leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/Thanks for listening!