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!