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Master Your Mix Podcast

Mike Indovina

Helping musicians, engineers and producers create professional recordings and mixes from home so you can showcase your talents in the best way possible and grow your career.

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S1 · E325
Wednesday · 1 hr 7 min
Alex Allinson: Reading Artists (and Yourself) in the Studio
Alex Allinson is a recording and mixing engineer and co-owner of The Bridge Sound & Stage in Cambridge, Massachusetts: a studio built inside the former home of the legendary Fort Apache Studios, where Radiohead and Dinosaur Jr. once recorded. Alex started out as an intern and worked his way up to partner, and now runs sessions that swing from shoegaze and noise rock to a Charles Mingus tribute record for a Berklee jazz professor, often in the same week. Genre-agnostic by philosophy, he brings the same story-first, dynamics-forward mixing approach to whatever walks through the door and has become one of the most active advocates for Boston's independent music scene along the way. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Letting each experience inform the next Why reading the room matters more than the mic you choose Pre-production as a trust builder What separates the interns who move up from the ones who don't His foundation-first approach to building a mix The importance of psychology and recording to get the best out of people Knowing when to take breaks during mixing How to pinpoint when you should stop a mix To learn more about Alex Allinson, visit: https://www.thebridgesoundstage.com/alex 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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E324
October 28 · 1 hr 2 min
Ed Donnelly: Capturing Authenticity
Ed Donnelly is a multi-instrumentalist, recording engineer, record producer, and activist from Pioneertown, CA. He has worked with Willie Nelson, Matchbox Twenty, The Cult, Gladys Knight, Willie Nelson, Smashing Pumpkins, Del McCoury, Nathan Jacques, OK Go, Exodus, Tom Morello, O.A.R., Madness, The Crystal Method, Deadmau5, Cole Gallagher, Zac Brown, Crowded House, Marc Cohn, CrysP Tyger, Bighead Todd and the Monsters, Jake Shimabukuro, Barenaked Ladies, Tsar, Killola and more. Donnelly regularly performs with Little Silver Hearts and records with GhostsDream. Little known fact: He previously held Top Secret Security Clearance with the Department of State and Q Clearance from the Department of Energy. He currently runs The Barber’s Basement Recording Studio in Highland Park and the Electric Desperado Studio in Pioneertown, CA. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: The live-show habit that made him a calmer, more confident studio engineer How Ed decides which mix decisions are worth agonizing over and which ones aren't Why pre-production is the most important part of the production process How thorough pre-production creates more room for spontaneous moments, not less Why mistakes often make a record sound better The volume trick he uses to tell whether a mix is actually balanced Why he tells keyboard players to stop playing with their left hand Why younger artists are asking for rougher, less polished production these days To learn more about Ed Donnelly, visit: https://www.barbersbasement.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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E323
October 21 · 1 hr 12 min
Neal Cappellino: Know What You're Solving For
Originally from Rochester, NY, producer/engineer Neal Cappellino is the owner of The Doghouse Studio in Nashville, TN. A lifelong musician, he completed his formal education with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (’87). Neal is a 5-time Grammy® Award recipient with a discography that includes Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Robert Plant, Vince Gill, T Bone Burnett, Avicii, and Kygo. He is a member of The Recording Academy, the Audio Engineering Society, and Leadership Music Class of ’15. He has served on the Advisory Board for the School of Arts & Sciences at WPI and was the 2022 recipient of their Robert H. Goddard Award for outstanding achievement in the professional field. He previously served on the board of directors for The Melodic Caring Project, a nonprofit organization that dedicates live-streamed music events to the hospital rooms of critically ill children. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Why your monitors don't need to sound impressive; they just need to make you do the right thing The listening check Neal runs on every mix before he calls it done, away from his main room How he actually tracks down what's making a mix sound muddy, instead of guessing with EQ How he knows when a mix has gone past the point where more tweaking is helping The headphone setup he built specifically for Alison Krauss, and why it mattered The difference between giving a vocalist real feedback and just telling them it sounds good The one question he asks himself before making any move on a mix How to record great vocals The psychology of coaching a vocalist To learn more about Neal Cappellino, visit https://www.nealcappellino.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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E322
October 14 · 1 hr 14 min
Damian Taylor: Structure, Self-Doubt, and Finishing Music
Damian Taylor is a Grammy-nominated producer, mixer, programmer and songwriter who spent six years as Björk's personal engineer and programmer, working on Volta and Biophilia and touring the world with her on stage. His credits include The Prodigy's Invaders Must Die, The Killers' Battle Born, Arcade Fire, The Temper Trap, Odette, Bomba Estéreo's Grammy-nominated Deja, and Dizzy's Juno-winning Baby Teeth. Known for a hand-built approach to editing and sound design that was years ahead of standard workflows, he now teaches producers through The Complete Producer Network and his Mix Accelerator Process. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Why imposter syndrome is a sign you care The legendary producer who still needed a pep talk before sessions Feeling qualified enough to release music Why done is better than perfect His "Preset Roulette" approach to building creativity Working with artists like Björk and The Prodigy Having structure for the benefit of creativity The signal Damian uses to know a song is finished To learn more about Damian Taylor, visit: https://www.youtube.com/@HereIsDamian 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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E321
October 7 · 1 hr 14 min
Peter Craft: Intentionality is Everything
Peter Craft is the owner and chief engineer of Boxer Lodge, a destination recording studio in the hills above Napa Valley. A former software engineer and patent-holding tech architect, Craft left that career to build records full time, first from a San Francisco garage and now from a purpose-built studio centered on a 32-channel API 1608 console. He's engineered and mixed for Noelle & The Deserters, New Earth Farmers, and Strange Cities, and in 2024 hosted a session for reunited trip-hop pioneers Halou. A lifelong drummer, Craft often plays on the records he's running the board for. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Owning a destination studio Leaving a successful job to follow your passions Taking a chance on yourself to lean into your passions The importance of connecting to your community The pros and cons of niching down The one question he asks before touching a single fader Why copying a famous mixer's exact chain rarely works What two mixers with completely opposite styles taught him about staying in his lane The specific mistake that made his guitars sound thin for years Feeling connected to analog gear Knowing your genres before tracking Having a North Star to follow Creating contrast in a mix Choosing reverbs for vibe versus filling space Why piling on reverb can shrink your mix instead of opening it up Being intentional with every decision His parallel vocal chain To learn more about Peter Craft, visit: boxerlodge.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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E320
September 30 · 1 hr 20 min
Chris Collier: Earning Creative Freedom
Chris Collier is a producer, mixer, mastering engineer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Las Vegas, operating as CMC21 Productions. Across nearly three decades in hard rock and metal, he's engineered and produced for Korn, earning a promotion to producer on 2022's Requiem after years behind the board on the band's records, plus Prong, Lynch Mob, KXM, and Whitesnake, whose classic catalog he's remixed. On Mick Mars' 2024 solo debut, The Other Side of Mars, he played bass on every track in addition to mixing and mastering it. He's currently mixing and producing new material for Nonpoint, Society1, and Gunshine. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Why being a "button pusher" gets you replaced The real line between an engineer's input and a producer's input Keeping a band's identity intact while still pushing them forward What changes in the room the moment a band actually trusts you Why quad-tracking guitars usually backfires The sidechain trick Chris uses instead of EQ to fix a fighting kick and bass Why fewer tracks means fewer decisions later Balancing speed vs quality A simple pre-record exercise that gets two guitarists playing tight How much editing is too much editing on a guitar take To learn more about Chris Collier, visit: https://www.cmc21productions.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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E319
September 23 · 1 hr 12 min
Tim Dolbear: Building a Remote Mixing Business
Tim Dolbear is an award-winning mixing and mastering engineer with more than 25 years of professional experience and the owner of Eclectica Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, which he founded in 1999. He specializes in music mixing, mastering, and audio post-production for film, television, podcasts, and streaming, delivering high-resolution stereo, surround, and Dolby Atmos mixes for clients around the world. Tim’s work has appeared on productions for NBC, Discovery, Prime Video, HBO, Netflix, and YouTube, including projects with millions of views. He has also mixed records for Grammy and Dove Award-winning artists. Through Eclectica Studios, Tim combines decades of experience with modern production techniques to create polished, high-impact audio that translates across everything from theatrical and broadcast environments to streaming platforms and Apple Digital Masters. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Why moving Eclectica Studios across three cities taught Tim more about client psychology than gear The one thing that made clients trust him before he ever proved himself How to make good money off of Fiverr The unusual gig idea that got him noticed in a flooded market What his response time has to do with how many new clients he gets What separates a Fiverr gig people actually search for from one that gets lost in the noise The pricing mistake Tim says cost him the most early in his career Automating the boring parts of your process Why "boring" work like corporate video mixing quietly became his most profitable niche The line Tim won't cross when a client tries to take a Fiverr relationship off-platform To learn more about Tim Dolbear, visit: timdolbear.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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E318
September 16 · 1 hr 24 min
Howard Bilerman: Not Letting Production Hide the Song
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 video What happens when you record with only 4 tracks instead of 40 The one job you have as a producer How effects can date a record What "convenience over sound quality" actually means when picking tools When gear selection actually does matter (and when it doesn't) Why a track that sounds bad in solo can be exactly right in the mix The crowded-room analogy for why too many tracks kill clarity Why using the same compressor on everything erases identity instead of building it The difference between corrective and artistic effects, and why mixing up the two matters To 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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E317
September 9 · 1 hr 5 min
Eric Stenman: Having an “always mixing” approach to production
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 less How Eric commits to compression and tone while tracking, instead of capturing it flat and safe What changes once you start picturing the finished mix while you're recording Why more experience means fewer decisions get pushed down the road How this mindset shift cuts down on retracking and rebuilding sounds from scratch How treating a song as a whole (instead of piece by piece) keeps a mix from falling apart Why he avoids soloing individual tracks during a mix How stepping away from a mix for a week changes what you hear when you come back How he decides a mix is done, even when a client keeps sending notes How Eric fills low end without ever touching a real bass guitar What "translating" actually means across car speakers, earbuds, and Bluetooth speakers To 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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E316
September 2 · 1 hr 18 min
Jon Estes: Working to make the song succeed
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 musician The plugin Jon calls his best mixing hack, and it's not an EQ or a compressor What it actually means when you cringe listening back to your own mix Why sending a mix out too soon has "no reward," even on a deadline Why Jon calls some of the most famous mixes in music history "insanely bad," and doesn't mean it as an insult Why he sometimes works to make a mix sound worse, on purpose How to force objectivity when you’re wearing multiple hats on a project The reason a different guitar or a different pick can beat any plugin move To 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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E315
August 26 · 1 hr 33 min
Craig Parker Adams: Adapting to every client
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 door The moment a legendary drummer got offended by his notes, and what happened next What it's like mixing for a listener who catches every single mistake What goes into mixing over a thousand Frank Zappa songs Why adding your own take can quietly work against someone else's vision The real reason clients send referrals before they've even heard the mix Why he had to learn an entirely new recording system in five days To 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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E314
August 19 · 1 hr 14 min
Howie Beck: The Advantages of Working with Limitations
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 decisions Why unlimited tracks can work against the editing process instead of helping it The Prince song with no bass on it, and what it says about restraint How Howie stays objective when working on his own music Why he goes to tape for certain projects and what it changes sonically His drums-first mixing workflow and the reasoning behind it How he approaches vocal depth and space to make vocals feel forward in a mix The tradeoffs of heavy vocal compression (breaths, sibilance, mouth pops) Why he pulls up an artist's rough mix before he opens the real session How demoitis shows up more today than it used to, and how he talks clients through it Training his ears and body to trust his monitoring environment at different volumes To 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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E313
August 12 · 57 min
Brendan Dekora: Understanding an Artist’s Vision
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 fader What he does when a client hands him references that contradict each other How to pick the right reference tracks Why "I don't want to sound like anyone else" is the hardest brief he gets How he decides whether to keep a "wrong" sound in a mix or fix it Why he considers "putting his own stamp on everything" a mistake, not a selling point Working with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross on Nine Inch Nails tracks and film scores How he balances his own creative instincts against what the artist is actually asking for To 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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E312
August 5 · 1 hr 4 min
Steven Lee Tracy: Mixing Fast To Stay Objective
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 mix The one thing Steven does in the first 30 seconds of every new song Why he builds drums, bass, and vocals in the same order every single time What separates a song that needs help from a song you just need to get out of the way of The mistake Steven made early on that he'd undo if he could start over Why lower overhead led to better work, not less of it What changed the moment he stopped saying “yes” to every opportunity To 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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E311
July 29 · 1 hr 24 min
Joe Caithness: Mastering for Video Game Soundtracks
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 engineer Why mastering attracts introverts What mastering for video game soundtracks involves The specific technical challenges of turning a game score into a listenable album release The tools Joe uses to rescue overprocessed, hard-limited mixes/masters Why Joe starts with his limiter before touching any EQ or compression The gain-normalization step he does before any processing and why it makes everything easier Why mastering is really about context and consistency, not stereo processing How he creates cohesion across 9+ hours of wildly varied audio His approach to vinyl QC Why he tells clients not to listen to their masters in their studio To 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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E310
July 22 · 56 min
Bruno Barcella: The Analog Sound in a Digital Mix
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 working The tools he adds to headphone mixing to get closer to a speaker-like experience The arc every mixer goes through for getting good Why artists shouldn't be in the room during a mix session How doing less usually gets you better mixes Getting mixes to feel warm, but not muddy The benefit of using analog saturation plugins across multiple tracks in a mix How he thinks about blending saturated and clean microphone signals together Why he aims for low-tuned, dry drums, and how that affects the saturation and tone decisions he makes Why being willing to fail is still the most important thing a young engineer can do To 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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E309
July 15 · 1 hr 13 min
Toby Lloyd: The Studio As A Therapeutic Space
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 him The 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 artists Why your mixes feel flat even when the individual sounds are good The low-end approach Toby uses to stop kick and bass from fighting each other What film audio teaches you about stereo mixing that most engineers never learn Why he EQs guitars based on what it does to the vocal, not what it does to the guitar To 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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E308
July 8 · 1 hr 19 min
Justin Cortelyou: From Intern to Directing Paul McCartney
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 job What 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 next What constructive feedback actually sounds like when it's working Why being great at your craft isn't enough to build a career The hard lesson about putting 90% of your work with one client To 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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E307
July 1 · 1 hr 30 min
Sam Moses: How to Know What a Mix Needs Before Listening
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 plugin What RMS values tell you about low-end weight Why LUFS momentary reflects top-end brightness, not just loudness Why Spotify normalization doesn't make songs sound equally loud and what actually causes perceived volume differences Why Sam never aims for a target LUFS and what he looks for instead Why Sam uses only limiters, not compressors, and how he approaches mid-range How to compare your meters against a commercial reference using normalization off in Spotify How 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 Nashville Why niching down to mastering only was the career decision that changed everything How Sam's mentor taught him to listen first and ignore the gear entirely Why the most important question Sam asks every client is one most of them have never thought about To 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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!
S1 · E306
June 24 · 1 hr 28 min
Dave McNair: Reinventing His Career, Again and Again
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 mic Why losing head-to-head comparisons to another engineer became one of his biggest learning tools What changed in his approach after sitting in on a session with one of the most respected mixers in the business The exact moment Dave knew he needed to change direction, and what tipped him off Why he didn't tell any of his old clients he was getting into mastering until he felt ready How 20 years of sitting in on other people's mastering sessions became the foundation for his new career Why he says the chasing and reinventing never really stops, even now To 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.com The 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: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Showing 1–20 of 32 episodes