Lyrics - This Is The Day:

Well you didn't wake up this morning 'cause you didn't go to bed
You were watching the whites of your eyes turn red
The calendar on your wall was ticking the days off
You've been reading some old letters
You smile and think how much you've changed
All the money in the world couldn't buy back those days

You pull back the curtains
And the sun burns into your eyes
You watch a plane flying
Across a clear blue sky

This is the day, your life will surely change
This is the day, when things fall into place

You could have done anything, if you wanted
And all your friends and family think that you're lucky
But the side of you they'll never see
Is when you're left alone with your memories
That hold your life together, like glue

You pull back the curtains
And the sun burns into your eyes
You watch a plane flying
Across a clear blue sky

This is the day, your life will surely change
This is the day, when things fall into place
This is the day (This is the day)
Your life will surely change
This is the day (This is the day)
Your life will surely change
This is the day (This is the day)
Your life will surely change
This is the day (This is the day)
Your life will surely change
This is the day (This is the day)
Your life will surely change
This is the day (This is the day)
Your life will surely change
This is the day (This is the day)
Your life will surely change
This is the day (This is the day)
Your life will surely change

This Is The Day

Listen on Spotify

This Is The Day - Cover

"The Distressor is an iconic piece of gear." Dave talked about his journey from musician to audio engineer, creating the iconic Distressor compressor, the role of distortion, harmonics, and thoughtful gear selection in achieving masterful audio mixing and production, and offered practical advice for aspiring recording engineers.      Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:&nbsp; My guest today is Dave Derr, a musician raised in a family of engineers destined to rock and make his mark on the recording industry. Dave started with studying classical piano, composition, and theory as a Music Major in college but still loved ripping solos on his '67 Gibson SG Special. This passion for music led him to a 12-year journey with the band Jack of Diamonds, touring the Philadelphia, Delaware, and Maryland areas. But Dave wasn’t just rocking the stage—he was also the guy fixing the band's guitars, keyboard rigs, and PA systems. This hands-on experience sparked his path to becoming an Electronics Technician and eventually a studio engineer. Dave landed a gig at Eventide and worked alongside industry giants, contributing to the design of iconic gear like the H3000, H3500, and DSP4000. And after hours? He ran his own recording studio at home, refining his craft night and day. In 1994, Dave’s talents culminated in the creation of the Distressor—a modern classic that’s now a staple in major studios worldwide. Empirical Labs now has over 42,000 Distressors sold and an entire line of analog processors and digital plugins and their latest creation, the PUMP, a powerful 500 Series compressor based on the Distressor is breaking new ground for getting killer sounds in the studio or out in the field. I am super excited to have Dave Derr joining us on the podcast today. This is a big day for me, the show, and definitely a bucket list interview! PS Go to empiricallabs.com to find the Arousor and BIG FrEQ plugins where you can use the coupon code RSR10 for 10% off. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!   &nbsp;Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! &nbsp;Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!  &nbsp;Get your MBSI plugin here! &nbsp;  &nbsp; If you love the podcast, then please leave a review:&nbsp;

RSR489 - Dave Derr - Empirical Labs Creator of the Distressor, Arouser, BIG FrEQ, Fatso, and Pump

Daily planning is crucial for managing a busy studio schedule! Duncan explored the importance of mastering, the impact of technology and AI, and the intricacies of creating a professional sound environment. He shared insights into his workflow, including his unique 'flight plan' approach to daily planning, while also discussing the challenges and rewards of mastering music for vinyl records.      Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:&nbsp; My guest today is Duncan Ferguson, a mastering engineer based in East Nashville with a true passion for critical listening and collecting all kinds of recordings. Duncan got into mastering naturally and has earned the nickname “the music librarian” from his close friends. Over the years, he’s honed his skills to bring music to life across all listening applications. Duncan’s mastering studio, The Voltage Exchange, is all about solving problems for clients. After seeing the shifts in the music industry over the past decade, he’s focused on offering solutions for artists, producers, and mixing engineers while making the process as seamless as possible. Duncan believes in collaboration and transparent relationships — he loves having clients present during sessions and sharing his techniques, equipment, and choices to ensure their true vision shines through. As someone who also collects vinyl, Duncan offers full-service in-house vinyl mastering and disk cutting with a new Sillitoe lathe. Duncan's mastering studio is right nearby me in East Nashville. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!   &nbsp;Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! &nbsp;Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!  &nbsp;Get your MBSI plugin here! &nbsp;   Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:    If you love the podcast, then please leave a review:&nbsp;    &nbsp;

RSR490 - Duncan Ferguson - Mastering for Vinyl at Voltage Exchange Studio in East Nashville

Taking care of oneself enhances professional interactions! Will discussed his journey from a small town to the music industry, emphasizing the importance of mental health and self-care within the field. He addressed the balance between technology and artistry and explored adapting to evolving production landscapes, such as Atmos mixing. Will also shared his insights on career transitions, the impact of music budgets, and recording techniques.      Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:&nbsp; My guest today is Will Kennedy, a platinum-selling producer, mixer, and recording engineer whose credits include U2 on Songs of Experience and Songs of Innocence, O.A.R. on Live From Madison Square Garden, and OneRepublic’s Oh My My. He’s also known for his work on The 88’s “At Least It Was Here,” the theme from the hit TV series Community. In 2021, Will teamed up with longtime collaborator Matt Wallace to create Studio Delux Immersive, a cutting-edge mixing studio at the legendary Sound City Center in Los Angeles. Together, they’ve mixed over 200 songs in Dolby Atmos and other immersive formats, bringing new depth to classics by Jason Mraz, Black Sabbath, The B-52s, and Selena Gomez, as well as enhancing new releases from Dave Matthews Band, Tank and the Bangas, Ondara, and Grouplove. Will’s expertise in immersive audio and multi-genre mixing has established him as a pioneer in the field, and he continues to inspire a new generation of engineers with his innovative approach and technical skill. His personal studio in Los Angeles (Studio P) features an incredible array of modern digital equipment (Avid, Universal Audio, Waves, Soundtoys, Arturia, Korg), custom-built analog processing by JCF Audio, and vintage analog gear including a 1963 Vox AC 30 guitar amplifier, and restored 1973 Ampex 440-B reel-to-reel tape machine available for all mixing projects. Will was also one of the originators of the popular “Mix Notes From Hell” podcast, and was the music producer for the East African singing contest show “Maisha Superstar.” Thanks to Matt Boudreau at Working Class Audio for making our introduction! THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!   &nbsp;Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! &nbsp;Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!  &nbsp;Get your MBSI plugin here! &nbsp;   Listen to this guest's discography on Apple Music and Spotify:      If you love the podcast, then please leave a review:&nbsp;

RSR491 - Will Kennedy - Mixing Atmos with Matt Wallace at Studio Delux Immersive

R&B RAP EXAMPLE 3

"It's all about intention." In this episode of the podcast, Lij Shaw sits down with seasoned artist, songwriter, and producer Ryan Ordway, who shares insights from his two-decade journey through the music industry. They discuss various nuances of music production, covering topics from remote recording challenges to the importance of acoustics and effective studio management. Ryan emphasizes the need for adaptability, personal interaction, and practical tips to ensure high-quality sound and a smooth creative process. Aspiring producers will gain valuable strategies for optimizing their craft and navigating the evolving landscape of music recording.      Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:&nbsp; My guest today is Ryan Ordway, a multifaceted artist, songwriter, producer, and audio engineer, proficient in analog and digital recording, mixing, music licensing, session playing, and commercial studio management. With over two decades of experience in the music business, he has recorded and produced nearly 1,000 songs across musical genres. Ordway has designed, built, and operated three commercial recording studios throughout his career. In 2020, he partnered with The Studio Portland in Portland, ME, where he undertook an ambitious remodel completed in 2024. Under Ordway’s direction, The Studio became home to 98.9 WCLZ’s Studio Z series, through which he has recorded an impressive roster of international recording artists, including: Noah Kahan, Grace Potter, Lake Street Dive, Joy Oladokun, The Heavy Heavy, Gregory Alan Isakov, Josh Ritter, Hiss Golden Messenger, Talk, SMYL, Lucius, Cecilia Castleman, Joseph, and Charlie Crockett, among others. Ordway’s songwriting talents earned him an invitation to the renowned Blackbird Studios in Nashville, where he recorded with famed producer Ken Scott (whose client list includes The Beatles, Elton John, and David Bowie). His song "Easy Street," produced by Scott, was featured in Robert Willey's Getting Started with Music Production, published by Hal Leonard in 2015. Recognized for his ability to create transformative experiences for clients throughout New England, Ordway was nominated for Producer of the Year at the New England Music Awards in 2023. His song "Back Again" was nominated for Song of the Year in 2022. Ordway’s original music is licensed in over 13 countries and featured on major platforms like Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hulu. His music has appeared in popular TV shows such as NBC's The Office, ABC's Happy Endings, and FOX's Raising Hope. In 2023, his cover of Rusted Root’s “Send Me on My Way” won him a multi-year contract for Nature Valley's Life Happens Out There national TV spot He has worked with other national clients, including Klondike, Polo Ralph Lauren, and John Deere. In addition to his technical expertise and commercial success, Ryan is a passionate educator and mentor. At The Studio Portland, he leads professional audio production training programs and recording camps, sharing his knowledge and inspiring the next generation of audio engineers and producers. Beyond music production, Ryan produces podcasts and provides voiceover (VO) and automated dialogue replacement (ADR) post-production services for elite clients such as Lucas Films, Netflix, HBO Productions, and Penguin Random House Audio Books division. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!   &nbsp;Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! &nbsp;Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!  &nbsp;Get your MBSI plugin here! &nbsp;   Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:    If you love the podcast, then please leave a review:&nbsp;

RSR492 - Ryan Ordway - Producing Americana at The Studio Portland in Maine

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RSR493 - Jason Livermore - Grammy Winning Punk at The Blasting Room in Ft Collins CO

Ray Whitaker and Jim Parr discuss his career as a record producer, sound engineer and musician. They also get into the highs and lows of folks recording on their own (via Digital Audio Workstations)

jimmyparr.com



Jim Parr (jimmyparr.com) - February 16th, 2025

Incremental progress leads to significant achievements! Join Lij Shaw as he interviews audio veteran Alex Ohana, who shares stories from a 35-year career. Alex reveals the power of embracing risk and reinvention, along with the importance of community in the audio world. He discusses his journey, from recording techniques to the evolution of technology, and offers insights into finding success in the music industry. This inspiring conversation delves into innovation, personal growth, and staying true to your creative vision.      Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:&nbsp; My guest today is Alex Oana, an engineer, producer, and innovator originally from Minneapolis and now based in Los Angeles. Over a 30-year career, Alex has produced hundreds of records and earned 11 Minnesota Music Awards. In 1994, he purchased the former home of Twin/Tone Records to launch his own studio, City Cabin, in Minneapolis. In the early 2000s, Alex relocated to Los Angeles, where he focused on mixing and worked as a front-of-house engineer for Pharrell Williams and NER*D on global tours. Alex has also held roles such as Global Sales Manager at Apogee Electronics and consultant for Vintage King Audio. As Vice President at Slate Digital, he co-created the groundbreaking Raven multitouch DAW controller. Later, he founded Audio Test Kitchen, an innovative online platform offering detailed comparisons of over 300 microphones and other audio gear. He is currently the Vice President of Marketing for Sound Vision Works. Alex first joined us on episode RSR226, where he shared his full backstory. Today, we’ll dive into the latest in studio tech and production. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!   &nbsp;Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! &nbsp;Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!  &nbsp;Get your MBSI plugin here! &nbsp;   Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:    If you love the podcast, then please leave a review:&nbsp;

RSR494 - Alex Oana - Risk and Reinvention Essential for Growth in Audio

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D-Knight Exclusive - 4-17-2025

One of the last radio stations in the United States that not only features local/regional content, but never forgets that radio is a one on one mode of communication. And, of course, we bring you classic rock/folk/world music from the 20th Century, but Americana from the last and this century as well.

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