Saving Vintage Guitar Stores With Ben Montague On My Latest Podcast

On this week’s podcast episode, I talk with Ben Montague, founder and CEO of The North American Guitar Global (TNAG) about the business of vintage guitars. Among the things we discuss is TNAG’s acquisition of Carter Vintage and Norman’s Rare Guitars, music retail, guitar collecting, and the business of preserving iconic brands in the guitar […]

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New Music Gear Monday: Softube Flow Studio Control Surface

One of the biggest workflow challenges in modern production is the disconnect between the mouse and the music. You have a gut feeling about what a track needs, but by the time you’ve clicked through all the menus and parameters, that spark of creativity is gone. That’s exactly the problem that Softube is addressing with […]

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The New Glossary Of Mixing Terms – Part 2

Last week we covered Part 1 of the glossary of mixing terms. This week is Part 2. Both come from the latest 6th edition of my Mixing Engineer’s Handbook. leakage. Sound from a distant instrument “bleeding” into a mic pointed at another instrument. Acoustic spill from a sound source other than the one intended for […]

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How a Commercial Studio Survives in the AI Era With Tom Weir On My Latest Podcast

On this week’s podcast episode, I talk with Tom Weir, Grammy-winning engineer and owner of Studio City Sound. We talk about how his studio stays busy by evolving with the business while holding onto the analog workflow and human element that still make records sound great. Tom breaks down how Studio City Sound has expanded […]

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New Music Gear Monday: beyerdynamic Headphone LAB Plugin

If you’ve ever tried to mix in a bedroom, a hotel room, or any space that isn’t acoustically treated, you know the challenge. Studio monitors are only as good as the room they’re in, and building a properly treated space costs serious money. That’s exactly the problem beyerdynamic set out to solve with the new […]

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The New Glossary Of Mixing Terms – Part 1

Lately I’ve been getting some questions regarding some of the terms I use during my various song critiques and presentations, so that means it’s probably a good time to break out the latest mixing glossary from my Mixing Engineer’s Handbook 6th Edition. 0 dB Full Scale. Abbreviated FS, it’s the highest level that can be […]

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Why AI Can’t Replace A Mastering Engineer With Jonathan Wyner On My Latest Podcast

On this week’s podcast episode, I talk with Jonathan Wyner, mastering engineer at M-Works, Berklee professor, head of artistic technology initiatives for BEATL, and past president of the Audio Engineering Society . . . . . . about what AI can do in mastering, mixing, education, and music creation, and where the human element still […]

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New Music Gear Monday: Two Notes Torpedo Captor X+ Load Box

Software and hardware amplifier simulators are so good these days that you might think that amplifiers are a thing of the past. If you have a favorite amp with a favorite sound, you still want to use it without blowing the walls down, you already know the appeal of a reactive load box. Two Notes […]

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Maybe A Click Track Isn’t The Best Idea

I can remember when I first started to work in the studio how much musicians resisted using a click track. “It’s unnatural. Speeding up and slowing down gives the music a better feel,” was what you heard all the time. The thing is, they were not wrong . . . but the world has gone […]

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Mixing’s Biggest Problem With Richard Chycki On My Latest Podcast

On this week’s podcast episode, I talk with Richard Chycki, the multi-platinum mixer and engineer behind work with Rush, Dream Theater, Aerosmith, Mick Jagger, Alice Cooper, and Pink. We had a insightful discussion about decision making in recording, immersive audio workflow, and why Atmos still needs clearer standards for mixers who want their work to […]

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New Music Gear Monday: Plugin Station Audio Plugin Manager App

If you’re like most producers and engineers, you’ve accumulated a lot of plugins over the years. That probably numbers in the dozens, maybe hundreds, from all different manufacturers, each with their own installers, license managers, and update systems. Keeping track of what’s installed, what’s up to date, and what’s compatible with your current OS can […]

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6 Relatively New Microphones That Have Become Classics

While many believe that microphone technology hasn’t really improved in at least 30 years, a host of new mics have taken the technology to the next step. Some have even become classics in their own right and can be found as standard equipment in mic lockers the world over. In this excerpt from the 5th […]

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Vocal Secrets With Craig Anderton On My Latest Podcast

On this week’s podcast episode, I talk with author, musician, and lecturer Craig Anderton for Part 2 of our conversation, this time about vocal production, mixing strategy, performance dynamics, and the deeper decisions that separate polished recordings from generic ones. From gain envelopes and vocal detail work to inside out mixing, minimal plugin philosophy, and […]

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New Music Gear Monday: Sonible pure:level Dynamic Leveling Plugin

One of the most tedious tasks in any mix is dealing with level inconsistencies in a vocal or dialogue track. A singer gets excited and the level spikes, then backs off during a softer phrase, and suddenly you’re riding the fader constantly instead of actually mixing. Compression can help, but it changes the dynamics in […]

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An Update On Native Instruments Insolvency

I’m sure you’ve heard me rant on about private equity funds that acquire companies only to sell them off for parts just to ensure their investors make a profit. These PE companies generally don’t care much about the users of the acquired company’s products, which is a shame since it usually means that a good […]

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