Unstoppable Recording Machine Podcast

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

Kane Churko returns to share some of his most effective production tips and tricks. We talk specifics about Kane’s essential plugins and how he uses them in his studio, along with some hardware tips for those not working completely in the box. Also: workflow, workflow, workflow. Do you have yours tweaked for maximum efficiency? If you doubt it in the slightest, then Kane Churko has some knowledge to drop on you. “There's nothing more valuable than your own time” - Kane Churko THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - How Kane uses DF-Xcite - How to use quick keys and Batch Commander to maximize your workflow - Kane’s suggestions for nailing songwriting - Snare drum tricks of the trade - Hardware suggestions for vocals - How to maximize the usefulness of amp modelers - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the podcast, we meet up with Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me, Scale the Summit, Wretched) and share studio experiences. Jamie King teaches you critical conflict resolution and tips for handling large projects. You will also learn how King stayed relevant by making the jump as digital recording became the industry’s direction. Hear firsthand accounts of an individual discovering what works and what doesn’t through trial and error. “I like a record to sound like a band on their very best day” - Jamie King THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT: - Dealing with internal band disputes - Managing sessions rich with layers - The pros and cons of a “trial and error” approach - Utilizing the drummer to drive a performance - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We just love hearing about success stories. Can’t get enough. We felt we had to share how far one of our students has come. This month's #Mixcritmonday, we talk with longtime subscriber Tiago Carvalho and check on his evolution as a producer/mixer. Tiago gives you a walkthrough of the process he went through to build his studio effectively on a budget. We then talk about how Tiago has gone from a production hopeful to having international clients like Sony beating down his doors. “S*** going in – s*** going out or gold going in – platinum going out” -Tiago Carvalho THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT: - Just how crucial the little details matter to the end result - Tiago’s ability to craft DIY remedies - Choosing the right Ozone algorithm to avoid clipping - Cost effective, high quality acoustic treatment - Ways to ensure your vocals aren’t “stuck in the past” - What it’s like to work for major labels - Automating Slate FG-X Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Producer Taylor Larson joins us for his first recorded interview ever! You guys asked for Taylor, and we delivered. You will discover the methods Taylor uses to achieve great drum tones, covering mic preference, preamps, drum heads, and special techniques he uses per element of the kit. Larson also reveals his favorite preamps and compressors that help him reach that 3D sound in his mixes, as well as first choices for guitar and bass production. “I have learned the fastest in the past couple years by being wrong at everything” - Taylor Larson THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT: - What Taylor Larson looks for in guitar tones - How Taylor captures explosive, three dimensional sounding drum tones. - Insight on his workflow and tracking process - What Taylor does and doesn’t compress - His favorite preamps and microphone choices for drums - Secrets to getting a huge snare sound Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Umanov is a co-founder and co-editor in chief of MetalSucks.net and founder of the Blast Beat Network of heavy metal websites. He’s worked in the music industry for the past decade at a booking agency, independent label, major label, recording studio and management firm. The great Charlie Munger once said that “The world is not yet a crazy enough place to reward the undeserving.” You can’t fail or succeed if you don’t try. And that’s what this episode is all about: execution. “You should always assume that you’re going to have to do something the hard way.” - Finn McKenty In This Episode: - How Ben quit his day job to live his dreams - The importance of brand awareness - Realistic expectations when taking career risks - How Eyal got his own band signed to Roadrunner Records Networking tips for noobs - Why long bios are stupid - And more Thanks for listening. Please leave us a review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Graham Cochrane, online educator and Youtube personality, joins the show to discuss how he created the popular Recording Revolution channel and went from food stamps to success. Things You’ll Learn: - Making great sounding records using just the bare minimum of gear and tools. - Marketing oneself and staying true to a specific demographic - The importance of keeping a consistent voice - Why it’s best to commit to sounds early in the production process - Best practices for a studio website - How to stay ahead in a competitive world Links: Recording Revolution  Graham Cochrane's Youtube  Graham Cochrane's CreativeLIVE classes  Graham Cochrane’s Pensado’s Place episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month's Tips & Tricks episode is a special Drum edition where the guys talk about different approaches Eyal Levi uses for drum miking, drum recording, and mixing. To get 20% off of Eyal Levi’s Drumforge Expansion pack just go to http://drumforge.com/ele and use code URMELE20 at checkout. “A lot of little moves make one big result” - Joey Sturgis IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Low end kick automation - Eyal Levi’s most hated “garbage” frequencies - A really cool SM7B position on snare - Why Eyal Levi prefers a D6 on toms - The importance of proper drum tuning - How to get punchy and aggressive kicks with a Distressor Thank for listening! Leave us a review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Renowned producer and engineer Kris Crummett joins the show to talk about his experiences producing bands and constructing studios from the ground up. Constructing a studio can be daunting and no matter how clear-cut your plan is, there will be unforeseen variables that can hamper the process. The upside to building on your own, if done properly, will educate you to understand the inner workings of sound.  If you're building your own studio, or just planning on building acoustic treatment for a room that already exists, this episode is for you. “The best thing about building your own stuff is you get the understanding on how to make something from nothing” - Kris Crummett Links: Kris Crummett’s studio Kris Crummet’s CreativeLIVE classes Bob Golds room calculator John Sayers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legendary audio entrepreneur Steven Slate joins us to talk about the process of building his ideas from nothing into some of the top audio software and hardware companies in the world. His philosophies on audio, and success in the industry are a must for people who want to make their mark on the world, but haven’t figured out their path, as well as those who are already on their path, but still want more out of life. Does that sound like you? “If you have some kind of impact, you're bound to be polarizing.” - Steven Slate In This Episode: Rolling with the punches How to deal with haters and naysayers The difference between valid and invalid complaints Why your DAW doesn’t matter Why worrying about your gear too much is a waste of time The secret to keeping your ambition burning hot Links: Slate Digital Steven Slate Drums Slate Media Technology Slate Pro Audio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guitar virtuoso, Per Nillson (Scar Symmetry, Kaipa, Zonaria) joins the show to discuss how to write and record great guitar solos. “The way that you know that you know a piece is that you can imagine yourself playing it from beginning to end.” - Eyal Levi IN THIS EPISODE: How much Per Nillson practices Should you really autotune that guitar track?  Is it more important to practice or to immerse yourself in music?  The advantages of true temperament frets and evertune bridges What to do with uninspired guitar players A great trick for consistently upping your guitar game How to actually become as good as your influences Why you shouldn’t focus on the response of others on videos Links:  Scar Symmetry Kaipa True Temperament Evertune Bridge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Keene is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and visionary behind tech metal legends The Faceless. Keene also owns a studio called KeeneMachine Studios, located in North Hollywood, California, where he has produced albums for bands such as The Faceless, Born Of Osiris, and Veil Of Maya. We discuss how he has developed careers both as a prolific well-known musician, as well as a producer, and how he approaches getting his recorded guitars to be so damn tight. As a result of having worked with some of the best of the best musicians in progressive metal, he's got some very specialized insight into how to approach in-studio collaborations. “You’re gonna be a better producer if you are a musician” - Michael Keene IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: - What it takes to record super tight guitars - Why he loves Waves GTR - A comparison of real amps vs amp simulators - Guitar EQ - Capturing great-sounding DIs - Reamping Links: Michael Keene's Studio  CreativeLIVE Eminence Speakers  Waves Plugins  Learn more about you

Welcome to MixCritMonday, the show where we critique YOUR mixes. This month we discuss common pitfalls in guitar production and mixing. “Pay attention to what you think you’re hearing versus what you are actually hearing.” - Eyal Levi WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Cutting out harshness without dulling the guitars Where to locate harshness in guitars How much distortion is TOO much distortion The difference between compressing and limiting guitars Proper palm muting technique Want us to crit your mix? Click here to find out how! Links: Recording Rock Guitars With Andrew Wade Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kurt Ballou is known for having one of the rawest most brutal signature production styles. His records burst with pummeling grit, yet they're always punchy and huge. We sat down and discussed the method behind his sonic madness with a focus on guitar tone, as well as how he built and maintained his career. One of the most prolific producers in metal/hardcore/punk, Kurt Ballou worked with a laundry list of bands including everyone from Champion and Have Heart to Kvelertak, Cave In and Nails. He also plays guitar in Converge, one of the most influential hardcore bands of the past two decades (currently on their eighth album). WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - Kurt Ballou's thoughts on studio etiquete - Surgical EQ tips - Balancing budget vs time - The difference between panning space and reverb space - Cool uses for saturation plug ins - Using notches instead of low pass filters - The science of sound - Of course pedals and cab! - Smoothing out harsh upper mids Links: Kurt Ballou's Studio  Kurt Ballou's discography Learn mo

“I’m always trying to up my game.” -Ola Englund In the modern music industry musicians and engineers must learn to wear multiple hats in order to succeed. You might have to balance your time as a guitarist, songwriter, mixer, videographer, and blogger just to make ends meet. That’s the new normal.  In this episode Ola Englund (The Haunted, Feared, Ex-Six Feet Under) talks about his guitar playing, techniques, studio experience, and how he accomplished a breakout success with his YouTube channel. “If you make good content, the infrastructure is there for you to get your name out.” - Ola Englund WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: Tips for developing your ears How to dial amp sims for consistency Ola’s sweet spot for micing cabs The importance of video in an oversaturated market How Ola Englund started in YouTube  OE’s stance on cheaper series guitars vs small company boutiques.  Ola’s practice/warm-up routine or lack thereof   Links:  Ernie Ball Ola Englund Ola England - YouTube Feared - Facebook The Haunted - Facebook

We discuss some of our favorite drum mixing techniques. If you don’t have a great drum mix, you don’t have a mix. This can be intimidating because there are so many moving pieces to deal with. The first thing you need to get right is your overall balance. Without that your drums will either lose energy or sound disjointed. Once you nail an initial balance then you can start working on individual elements like how much energy is being driven by the kick, or dialing a slamming snare. “50 to 60 percent of my snare sound doesn’t come from the actual snare.” - Joey Sturgis IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: - Joey’s favorite methods for compressing drums - How to get a big roomy snare sound - The importance of overall balances - To parallel compress or to not parallel compress - Using multi-band compression to control the low end of a kick - Drum mixing automation tricks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices