Wanna level up your recording skills? You came to the right place! Join acclaimed producers Joey Sturgis (Asking Alexandria, Of Mice & Men), Eyal Levi (Chelsea Grin, Monuments) and Joel Wanasek (Machine Head, Vinyl Theater) as they sit down each week with the best producers in the business to talk shop. You’ll get information, inspiration and most of all actionable insights from every episode. And when you’re ready to hit the books, head over to http://urm.academy to get your learn on!

SEASON 1 - With Joey Sturgis, Joel Wanasek, and Eyal Levi

Ever wonder what it takes to produce and mix at the highest levels? 

If you answered yes, then this episode is for you. Master producer/gear builder, Dan Korneff (Paramore, The Devil Wears Prada, Papa Roach) joins us for a rapid fire Tips & Tricks session that will blow your mind. 

In 35 hard hitting minutes we cover:

- Dan's secret guitar widening trick
- Carving frequencies to make space in a mix
- High and low passing guitars
- Surgical EQ on guitars to eliminate harshness while retaining clarity
- His most hated guitar frequencies
- Harmonic EQ
- Processing individual tracks VS busses
- When to use sidechain compression
- What's on his master bus chain
- Optimizing hybrid mixing setups
- Why he prefers Cubase
- Maintaining a quick turnaround 

TT1 | A-List Production Tips & Tricks w/ Dan Korneff

This week we're joined by acclaimed producer Andrew Wade (A Day To Remember, Neck Deep) to discuss strategies for getting the most out of your sessions.

Everyone who records for a living will agree, no matter how hard you try, a session will almost never go as planned. Entropy will always creep in.

Producers who've been able to sustain long careers have learned to navigate through chaos in the most effective ways possible. 

In this episode you'll learn

- Why everything should be so organized
- How to communicate your vision
- What should be sent out when you are hiring a mixer
- A breakthrough template method for super efficient mixes 
- What a good rough mix should consist of
- How to keep things compatible across multiple DAWs
- A no brainer way to name tracks. You'll never hunt for lost audio again.
- What should be sent out when a track is going to be mastered
- Disaster avoidance AKA how to properly archive your files

EP4 | Wading Through Chaos w/ Andrew Wade

Welcome to the first ever #MixCritMonday, the show where we critique YOUR mixes. Anyone who subscribes to the podcast is welcome to submit. 

First on the chopping block is our longtime subscriber, Jenson Manning (we love you dude). We took him to school on:

- Bass VIs like Texas Grind
Multiband compression
- Getting the low end of the kick balanced right
- The dangers of mixing in headphones (and how to make the most of it)
- Different mastering chains including plugins like Izotope Ozone and Slate Digital FG-X
Getting the right snare sound
- Blending vocals
- The difference between real monitors and computer speakers


EP3 | #MixCritMonday w/ Jenson Manning

What's a producer's real job?

Engineer? Coach? Fearless leader? Psychiatrist? Band member? Chaperone? Friend? Arranger? Songwriter? Session musician?

Actually, it's all the above. A great producer understands:

- What a client really wants and needs
- How to properly pace a session for maximum results and creativity
- How to read a client's personality and mood
- Who the best musicians are in the band
- Who he's actually working for
- Dealing with real world nightmare scenarios like a singer blowing out their voice
- The importance of remaining in "the zone"
- The psychology of peak performance
- How to get takes the artists didn't realize they had in them

Think you've got what it takes to be a great producer?

EP2 | Musical Translator

What does it take to be successful in audio production? Ask anyone whose made it and there IS a formula. Here it is:

1. Ambition
2. Vision
3. Execution
4. Determination
5. Luck
6. Timing

This episode covers how all six of those factors come into play over the course of a career in audio production, and what you can do to harness them. 

EP1 |  Food For Success

Dan Korneff has perfected the process of turning out modern, top-quality mixes on analog gear in an industry that's moving faster than ever.

Can you imagine mixing on a massive console with tons of outboard, yet still keeping up with modern deadline demands? Dan Korneff does it every day. According to him the keys are in the efficiency of your setup and how well you understand you gear. 

One of the beautiful things about audio is that there's usually multiple ways to achieve the same goal. Learn which methods and workflows are best for you, and then optimize them until your process is second nature. Then you'll be able to focus on what really counts, the music!

In this episode you'll learn:

- Dan Korneff's client requirements
- Secrets to punchy mixes with bus compression
- How to get properly credited for your work
- Why he prefers Cubase
- How he integrates Cubase with his console and outboard
- His inspiration for becoming a gear builder
- Where to start if you want to build your own audio gear
- Tips for maintaining a healthy work/life balance

EP8 | Interview With Dan Korneff

The most common mixing mistakes up and comers make involve trying to run before they walk. In other words, they try to do the advanced stuff before they conquer the basics.

Focusing on the wrong things will keep you from achieving your mixing potential. For instance, you shouldn't even think about Mid Side EQ before you've mastered a simple 4 band. Don't mess with parallel compression when you don't even understand what attack and release do. Don't try to start mixing a song if the tracking still needs editing or tuning.

All great mixes are built on solid fundamentals like EQ, compression, gain staging, levels, and panning.

in this episode you'll learn:

- The biggest step you can take towards great tone
- What to focus on first
- The importance of fundamentals
- The most common causes of bad tone
- Technical vs musical mixing
- When to take risks and experiment
- The pros and cons of new plugins

EP5 | Run Before You Walk

JOEY STURGIS SHARES HIS IN THE BOX MASTERING TIPS AND TRICKS.

Out of the three of us, Joey Sturgis has done the most mastering and in fact, he’s never had one of his mixes mastered by an outside engineer. He’s totally self taught and responsible for several chart toping masters. In this episode he shares some of his most effective mastering techniques.

Joey dives into his process, and how goes about getting the last 5 to 10% out of the track, using tools such as saturation, harmonic exciters, processors like Waves MaxxBass and spatial treatment.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
- Joey’s goto mastering plugins
- Multi-band compression
- The loudness war
- Dithering
- Saturation in mastering
- Best uses for Izotope Ozone
- Enhancing the low end for small speakers
- Limiting vs clipping
- Mid-Side processing

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment!

TT3 | Joey Sturgis Mastering Tips and Tricks

Luck is the meeting place of preparation and opportunity. Nobody knows that better than Josh Newell, who is regarded for his genre spanning work with artists such as Linkin Park, Avril Lavigne, Cynic, Intronaut, Celine Dion, and more. 

On this episode we discuss how Josh Newell has managed to work his way to the top LA production circles, the difference between producing pop and metal, what it takes to maintain a long career, as well as many of his favorite mixing techniques. 

If you want to work in big studios, on various different genres, for lots of different producers, this episode is for you!

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
- How to build intentional relationships
- How to spot and seize great opportunities
- The power of word of mouth
- How he became Linkin Park’s go-to engineer
- Josh’s take on Andy Wallace’s mixing style
- How to find “the hook”

Thanks for listening! Leave us a review!


Unstoppable Recording Machine

EP16 | Special Guest Josh Newell

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. 

“I’m always trying to up my game.” -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

Leave us a comment!


EP17 | Ola Englund

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

Thanks for listening! Leave us a review!

EP18 | Kurt Ballou

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 STILL 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

Thanks for listening! Leave us a review!


Unstoppable Recording Machine Podcast Season 1

TT5 | Writing and Recording Great Guitar Solos w Per Nillson

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

“Making music is sexy; debating whether you should do it hardware or software isn't.” - Steven Slate

IN THIS EPISODE:
- The importance of 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

Thanks for listening! Leave us a review!

EP21 | Interview With Steven Slate

Adam “Nolly” Getgood drops in to touch on everything from launching his new drum sample company GetGood Drums, to why he stepped down as the touring bassist for Periphery, as well as what it takes to network with the top tier world-class professionals out there. 

“There’s this curve that happens where when you are first starting out, you don’t know what you’re listening for and being able to hear things in a really controlled environment in an amazingly treated room, allows you to develop your ear to hear the subtleties...what happens once you know what you're listening to, you start to need less information to be able to do your job...” - Adam "Nolly" Getgood

This week, you’ll learn about:
- How classical informs Nolly’s musical perspective
- The countless producers who came up in the forum scene
- Nolly’s transition from touring musician to fulltime producer / engineer
- How he delivered amazing mixes working with headphones on a tour bus
- What DAW Nolly prefers these days
- The techniques Nolly uses to get his SLAMMING bass tone ITB
- Why he prefers a Beta57 to the SM57



EP71 | Adam "Nolly" Getgood

Author and engineer Justin Colletti drops in to discuss his background, the blog he writes as well as his outlook on where the industry is headed.
Justin brings up the importance of the business end of being a creative type in the world today.  You will get a sense of how to handle crucial processes, such as filing for an LLC, amongst other tasks that coincide with owning your own company.  The guys also talk about the fact that having the most expensive gear doesn’t exactly equate to the best end result and that the mind behind the tool is the real magic. 

“The music/recording industry does not operate on the “If you build it they will come” basis.” 
-Justin Colletti 

THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT:
-Justin’s philosophy on work loads/schedules
-The importance of personal financial organizational skills
-Colletti’s well rounded written works portfolio (much of which isn’t music related!)
-How too many fanatics on the web glorify gear all too often
-Joey’s, Eyal’s and Justin’s sleep patterns (seasonal change descriptions included!) 

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

EP67 | The Inside Scoop with Justin Colletti

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. 

“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!

EP33 | Kane Churko

Nashville mixing legend Billy Decker is here to provide insight into what it takes to mix #1 singles consistently and at a breakneck pace. 

Pouring over your mix for hours on end in order to get that snare hit at 2:47 into that song just right? You could do that. You’ll probably end up doing it with 100 other things before you finish that mix though. Billy Decker is here to talk about a better way to work. We’re not sure if all the producers in Nashville have it down to this much of a science, but Billy certainly has some amazing ideas that you need to pay attention to.

“You find a good balance, and all of a sudden you’re happier. You get better at engineering because you keep that passion for it, and all of a sudden the money starts rolling in.” - Billy Decker


THIS WEEK, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT:
- Why you should learn to get great results fast
- The value of templates
- What it’s like to work as a mixer in Nashville
- The importance of customer service
- Incorporating elements from multiple genres
- Chris Lord Alge’s opinion of L2
- How to price your mixes
- Moving to where the work is
- Using “Top Of Mind” strategy to grow your studio
- Staged compression
- And much, much more

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

EP80 | Billy Decker

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!

EP29 | Jens Bogren

Guitar mastermind and Nail the Mix winner Andy James stops in for a great discussion about his progression in mixing.

Andy dishes about what he zeroed in on for his Nail the Mix win. The same focus that Andy used to become a guitar god, and then a successful internet entrepreneur, he used to learn how to mix. If you’ve ever felt discouraged from taking on new endeavors, this episode is for you. 

“If you’re doing the things that made money in 2005 or 1995 you might think that there’s no money; you need to figure out what makes money in 2016 and 2017.” - Eyal Levi

THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
- The things that Andy focused on for his Nail the Mix win
- How to stand out when it comes to guitar
- Setting crazy goals, and making them reality
- How listening to different genres can improve your songwriting
- Effectively mixing when you’re coming from a musician background
- The ever present importance of effective networking
- And much, much more

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

EP85 | Andy James

We spoke to Grammy winning producer, Diego Farias of Volumes. 

Diego Farias is an accomplished musician and producer. Not only has he been integral in productions for Volumes, but he’s also worked on a number of productions in various genres. A lot of people would have trouble keeping their head on straight with all that work; Diego has plenty of insight into how to effectively manage it.

“No one can hand you talent.” - Diego Farias

THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
- Diego and Eyal’s approaches to amp modelers
- Succeeding as a producer in multiple genres
- How and why Volumes ended up working with Kyle Black
- The difficulties of mixing metal
- Diego’s approach to producing hip hop
- Software synth recommendations
- How to maintain good relations with artists when composing for them
- And much, much more

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

EP93 | Diego Farias

Jacob Hansen has a list a mile long of stellar productions. Volbeat, Epica, Amaranthe, Aborted, the list goes on and on, so, needless to say, we’re stoked to have him here to talk shop.

Alright studio nerds, this one’s for you. Jacob Hansen’s technical genius is on full display in this episode. From drums to vocals, the better your production practices are, the easier it will be to create a slamming mix. We’ve got techniques and insights here that cover the entire spectrum of modern heavy music production. 

“Vocals are what will make the difference on whether or not the record is a success or failure..so to not treat them like gold is kind of dumb.” - Eyal Levi

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
- How to maintain your drive while grinding it out in the studio
- Knowing when to contribute to songwriting vs. when to let a band do their thing
- The secrets to Jacob’s amazing vocal results
- Getting technically sound drum recordings
- Tips for producing female vocals
- When to hire in studio help
- Incorporating orchestral elements into productions
- And much, much more

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

EP101 | Jacob Hansen

Guitar god Keith Merrow (Alluvial, Conquering Dystopia) joins us to talk about his production techniques, being an entrepreneur, and what he’s learned while building his music career.

Keith has demonstrated over his years in the industry that he’s got the midas touch. From his guitar chops, to songwriting, collaborations with gear companies, and his Youtube success, the guy turns everything he lays his hands on to gold. Lucky for us, he’s game to share insight into how he’s managed such a prolific career. If you want to carve your own path, regardless of what might stand in your way, this episode is for you. 

“There’s plenty of ways to get your music out there, and even get it distributed on any platform you could possibly imagine, without ever even contacting a record label.” - Keith Merrow

THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
- Keith’s thoughts on DIY vs. label support
- What it’s taken for him to get to where he is now in the industry
- The importance of being passionate about your craft
- Risks, and why you should take them
- The secrets to Keith’s amazing guitar tones
- When it’s ok to use an ISO cab
- Ways to create an effective space for creativity
- The importance of aesthetics
- Bass production tips
- And much, much more

https://urm.academy/ep103-keith-merrow/

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

EP103 | Keith Merrow

Zakk Cervini and Matt Pauling (Blink-182, Black Veil Brides, Sleeping with Sirens) have planted their flags at the top of the audio production hill, and they’re here to discuss how they’ve done it.

It takes a lot to compete at a level that would lead to someone becoming the right hand man of John Feldman. On this episode we’ve got not one, but two guys that have done just that. Zakk and Matt bring some amazing stories and truly valuable insight to the discussion.

“It just comes from doing it, and failing, and trying again.” - Zakk Cervini

THIS WEEK, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
- What producers look for in potential interns
- Zakk and Matt’s experiences working with John Feldman
- How they make use of templates and presets
- Recording in weird locations
- Zakk and Matt’s go to gear
- And much, much more

https://urm.academy/ep41-zakk-cervini-matt-pauling/

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

EP41 | Zakk Cervini & Matt Pauling

Welcome to #Mixcritmonday, the show where we critique YOUR mixes.

On this edition, we’ve got a pop punk song and an extreme metal track on the table. So, we’re throwing them in a blender and pouring a refreshing crit smoothie into your ears.

“It really should be in your fucking face, and the song explodes through your speakers, and is upbeat and energetic and, ‘Fuck yeah! I wanna eat pizza and make out with pop punk girls’ kind of thing.” - Eyal Levi

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
- Making sure you don’t suck all the power out of your mixes
- Not overloading a song with unnecessary panning
- Why you need to keep the genre in mind while recording and mixing
- Hooks! Why you need to work to find ones that connect with listeners
- Why you shouldn’t just cram your tracks with filler riffs
- No filler all killer
- Every moment in a song having its perfect place in the arrangement
- And much, much more

https://urm.academy/ep43-mixcritmonday/

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

EP43 | Mixcritmonday

Joel Wanasek has the answers you need to make sure you stay #nosmalltime.

Want Joel to answer your questions? Send them to eyal@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Joel.” The more detailed the better!

“If no one ever pushed the boundaries in the history of music, music would be the most stupid, stale, boring shit to listen to.” - Joel Wanasek

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
- How to place your subwoofer
- Why the idea of “selling out” is dumb
- Low end for hip hop
- Joel’s approach to maintaining control of your career path
- Focusing on what matters
- And much, much more

https://urm.academy/ep114-dear-joel/

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

EP114 | Dear Joel

Zakk Cervini and Matt Pauling (Blink-182, Good Charlotte, Sleeping with Sirens) are here with tips to ensure that you don’t release songs with crappy guitar and bass, because they don’t want to have to listen to that. 

Every engineer and producer wants to be able to say that they put out badass guitar tracks. Are your guitar tones there yet? If you’re still trying to get your tracks sounding impressive when put up against professional productions then we’ve got some tips to get you heading in the right direction.

“There’s always someone out there that’s going to be able to play faster than you.” - Zakk Cervini

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
- Strategies for layering guitars
- Amp sims vs. real amps for studio and live use
- Zakk and Matt’s secrets for getting stellar guitar tone
- How to keep your guitars maintained
- Approaching recording with musicians of varying skill levels
- And much, much more

https://urm.academy/tt10-zakk-cervini-matt-pauling/

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

TT10 | Zakk Cervini & Matt Pauling

Jesco Lohan takes over the podcast in this episode to drop some knowledge bombs.
 
Want Jesco to answer your questions? Send them to eyal@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Jesco.” The more detailed the better!
 
“Our main job as mixers is to set the balance, and the better you get at controlling volume, at manipulating volume, at using volume creatively, the better your mixes will be.” - Jesco Lohan
 
ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
- Dealing with bass when you share walls with neighbors
- Jesco’s workflow and mix prep tips
- How acoustic treatment should be installed
- Setting up a small recording isolation booth vs. recording in your control room
- And much, much more

https://urm.academy/ep133-dear-jesco/
 
Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

EP133 | Dear Jesco

On this episode, we’re getting super nerdy about gear with Josh Florian, the founder of JCF Audio. 
 
Josh and JCF have been putting out god tier hardware for years. So, if we’re going to go down the gear talk rabbit hole there are few people that would be better suited  From converter components, to signal chain simplicity, to what to prioritize if you’re planning on starting your own company, if you’re looking for some deep technical talk this one’s for you.
 
“Make sure you read the god damn manual, and you’re not requesting of this device something that it’s not capable of doing.” - Josh Florian
 
ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
- Where to start with designing and building gear
- Keeping your signal chain concise
- Making intelligent gear purchases based on your usage
- How various components can make surprising differences in gear
- Why partnering with individuals that are skilled at things you’re not is important
- The trend of DIY
- And much, much more

https://urm.academy/ep139-josh-florian/
 
Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

EP139 | Josh Florian

The living legend, Daniel Bergstrand (Meshuggah, Devin Townsend, Soilwork), comes on board to talk his process, experimentation, and his passion for organization.

What can we really say about the influence Bergstrand has had on the industry that hasn’t already been said? He’s had a hand in some of the most well regarded heavy albums of the past couple decades. He absolutely killed it recently on Nail the Mix, and here he is sharing more secrets with us. There are some things about his approach to audio that are likely to surprise a lot of you.

“Every channel should sound good. You should be able to solo everything, and it should sound good. I don’t like covering things in the whole mix.” - Daniel Bergstrand

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
- Daniel’s very early start in audio
- The recording of Meshuggah’s Destroy Erase Improve
- Making sure soloed tracks sound great
- Experimenting to find new solutions
- How recording lackluster musicians can actually be good
- And much, much more 

https://urm.academy/ep168-daniel-bergstrand/

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

EP168 | Daniel Bergstrand

Sam Pura (The Story So Far, Hundredth, The American Scene) joins the show to talk drum tones, workflow, and the weird way he tracks guitar DIs. 

Sam is known for producing amazing sounding punk albums. After listening to the depth and precision he uses to craft his workflow and gear it’s going to be a bit more clear why that is. He really brings it from both the technical and artistic sides. Whether you’re looking to nerd out on gear talk or you’re looking for some inspiration this episode is one to pay attention to.  

“Everyone’s just like, ‘Well, how do I make this sound good right now?’ Well, you fucking figure it out. You fucking try, try, and try again until you get a fucking result that you’re fucking stoked on and then you move the fuck on.” - Sam Pura

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
- Why Sam takes a “plug and play” approach to his studio
- Enjoying the process
- Recording guitars as just DIs
- The importance of the drum room
- Creating your own personal workflow
- And much, much more

https://urm.academy/ep169-sam-pura/

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

EP169 | Sam Pura

Dan Lancaster (Bring Me The Horizon, Blink-182, Don Broco) is here to bring his expertise on acquiring “bigger” clients, the importance of structure in your schedule, and headphone mixing.

For a guy that openly talks about initially not wanting to be a producer, Dan has certainly become one of the best there is. How he got from one to the other is a master class on how to combine a willingness to learn through repeated experimentation, a solid strategy for maintaining flow, and figuring out how to connect with artists. 

“No matter how small, or uninspiring, or if sometimes some songs you’re working on aren’t very good - no matter what you’re working on - always try to please yourself as much as you possibly can to the very last detail. Walk away feeling that it sounds amazing.” - Dan Lancaster

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
2:30 Dan’s transition from musician in a band to producer, learning how to record and mix drums in the mid-2000’s
18:00 Structure, balance, and taking breaks to maintain that level of quality; transition to being known for mixing ability
30:00 Separating mix organization/prep and actual mixing time, different brain spaces
34:00 Mixing Bring Me The Horizon on headphones, BMTH as a career turning point
45:00 Low end and groove, working out of a commercial space vs home studio, big guitars with octave + Kemper
54:00 Working with Blink-182, recording drums in a large factory space
And much, much more

https://urm.academy/ep190-dan-lancaster/

Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review!

EP190 | Dan Lancaster

Jens Bogren (Opeth, Dimmu Borgir, Katatonia) joins us ahead of his appearance on Nail The Mix to share a plethora of info about his process and how it’s developed over the years.

In addition to Watershed by Opeth, which is what he’ll be mixing this month on Nail The Mix, Jens has worked on numerous other legendary albums. This time on the show he talks about building a team, contending with extremely dense and complex mixes, and the balance between gear and the mind of the mixer. 

“The most important thing when mixing: it’s not the tools, it’s not the speakers either, or the room, it’s the level of experience the brain has to hear things, and to hear what needs to be done.” - Jens Bogren

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
11:00 Effectively delegating to team members
19:00 The challenges of dense mixes like Dimmu Borgir
27:00 Starting a mix from the chorus, mixing Devin Townsend’s “Deconstruction”
32:00 Working with Leprous over 4 records, repeat clients and building trust
37:00 Advising mix clients on tracking drums and vocals
44:00 Why It’s not about the gear, the speakers, or the room; it’s about the experience of the engineer/mixer
50:00 The guitar tone on Watershed
55:00 Jens’s approach to drum samples, favorite snare and drum heads
And much, much more

https://nailthemix.com/opeth/bogren
https://www.fascinationstreet.se/
https://urm.academy/ep29-jens-bogren/
https://www.wilkinsonaudio.com/product/debleeder/?v=7516fd43adaa

https://urm.academy/ep195-jens-bogren/

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EP195 | Jens Bogren

Jesse Cannon returns to the show to discuss his new podcast “Inside the Album,” emotion in lyrics, and details about the URM Summit.

We always have amazing discussions with Jesse when he joins us on the show, and this time is no different. If you have a tendency to get hung up on the technical side of recording there are some truth bombs in here that you really need to hear. 

“It was very interesting that a band that’s regarded as so musically adept and technically proficient, but also emotional as fuck, their delivery would also get sloppy in those moments. It doesn’t matter who you are, the moment that that emotion comes out your skills will go down the drain.” - Eyal Levi

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
4:00 How lyrics depend on the emotional delivery
5:38 Working with Ross Robinson and Korn
9:30 Jesse’s view on divergent streams - people who overthink vs not enough concentration and how producers can manage personalities
15:00 Jesse’s URM Summit discussion - dealing with inherent limitations in creative ways to get the job done
20:00 Good faith/bad faith arguments when it comes to mix notes and taste decisions
32:00 Jesse’s work on Atlantic Records “Inside The Album” podcast, Jesse’s time management strategies
40:00 Document your failures and focus on them rather than putting them aside, on the hour reminders
52:00 The process of quickly becoming friends with strangers from the music industry perspective
58:00 Shotgun mics and incorporating new ideas into your process
1:05:00 The URM Summit and the importance of networking

https://urm.academy/ep199-jesse-cannon/

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EP199 | Jesse Cannon

Guitarist, songwriter, and producer, Jasen Rauch (Red, Breaking Benjamin, Love & Death) joins us to give his perspectives on work ethic, navigating personalities, and dealing with higher profile clients and song briefs.

The music industry requires constant and quick adaptation, and Jasen embodies that. If, for some reason, you feel like your career is requiring too much attention or you think you’re working too hard, and you’re starting to doubt yourself, this is one you need to hear. 

“Learn who you’re working for.” - Jasen Rauch

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
9:00 Why, even with Full Sail and recording schools, work ethic and attention to detail is often under-emphasized in terms of getting your career off the ground
27:00 Figuring out the personalities of A&R guys, bands, etc and finding common ground solutions for all parties
35:00 Jasen’s experience joining Breaking Benjamin
39:00 Working with higher profile clients and “song briefs”
49:00 Jasen’s take on work/life balance, being careful with taking on projects
1:00:00 Using pure tactics vs having the right strategy for each project
1:16:45 Jasen’s advice for advancing your career
1:22:00 Working with Brian “Head” Welch on his band, Love and Death; working on the last two Breaking Benjamin records

https://urm.academy/ep200-jasen-rauch/

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EP200 | Jasen Rauch

Mike Mowery is back, and we’re going deep on the subject of building and maintaining business relationships.

“Being busy, in and of itself, is not necessarily being productive.” - Mike Mowery

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
10:00 Mike’s take on nurturing relationships - good intentions and burning bridges
13:28 Why you shouldn’t “fight over a slice of pizza”
25:00 Being proactive instead of instantly reacting to stressful situations
30:00 Mike’s URM Summit presentation
45:00 Following up and putting Summit knowledge and strategies into practice, not getting discouraged when relationships don’t immediately work out
1:00:00 Why ‘busy’ does not always equal ‘productive’, priority on quality over quantity

https://urm.academy/ep201-mike-mowery/

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EP201 | Mike Mowery

We’re incredibly excited to have Billy Decker back on the show to talk beating cancer, Nashville standards, and maintaining motivation.

Mixing is almost as much a state of mind, as it is a state of hearing. - Billy Decker

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
5:00 How Billy’s Attitude towards life has changed post-cancer
17:00 Adding extra production elements or vocals that aren’t strictly part of the mix process, where do you draw the line?
23:00 The Nashville work ethic and quality of musicianship, full sessions recorded in a half-hour.
28:00 Starting to track one piece at a time, mixing heavy rock with female vocals, how that has changed Billy’s process.
32:00 Applying other people’s settings with context to your own mixes rather than simply copying.
37:30 Learning from other Nail the Mix sessions and what those mixers are great at.
51:55 Dealing with disgruntled clients.
1:00:00 Producing as a way to maintain motivation, other ways to prevent burnout.
1:07:00 Parallel compression strategies, using Gain Reduction on lead vocals instead of 1176, sneaking in a Def Leppard snare sample into a country mix.
1:18:00 Country-based Nail The Mix sessions, audience feedback.

https://urm.academy/ep202-billy-decker/

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EP202 | Billy Decker

Michael Beinhorn (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Korn, Hole) brings his immense experience to the topics of leaving your mark, building a career, pre-production, and much more.

If we listed all of the important records Michael has worked on this page would be way too long. He’s made his mark at the upper echelon of multiple genres. There’s a lot to take away from his perspective on how he’s gotten to where he is, and how he continues to blaze new trails. 

“It’s important to have a sense of recognizing what your name means on someone else’s work.” - Michael Beinhorn

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
7:30 Meeting and working with Bill Laswell and Herbie Hancock.
17:30 The reality of what is likely to follow initial success.
27:00 Getting to do Red Hot Chili Peppers record and identifying with the ‘black sheep’ of record labels
32:00 Dealing with drug abusing musicians and their individual personalities
39:00 Working on Korn’s ‘Untouchables’ - super high budget and production values
44:00 The importance of pre-production - cutting from 40+ demo ideas with Korn, artistic intent and self-knowledge
59:30 Why, on any record where a band member has had to have been fired, they were at a place of no coming back
1:07:00 Michael’s philosophy on editing drums/rhythm section, editing by hand, with/without a click

https://urm.academy/ep203-michael-beinhorn/

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EP203 | Michael Beinhorn

We talk to Colin Brittain (Dashboard Confessional, Papa Roach, All Time Low) about feeding your successes with passion, why you should maintain a vast musical knowledge, and mentorship.

“Keep your eye on the ball. Look at the big picture. Don’t get caught up on what compressor to use. If your song sucks it doesn’t matter.” - Colin Brittain

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

0:05:30 The evolution of heavy music fusing with electronic music and pop.
0:13:00 People paying you for your taste as a producer. Your musical knowledge needs to be vast.
0:25:00 URM and the new landscape of mentorship in engineering and production.
0:32:00 Alex Prieto and the process of establishing relationships with the intent of finding mentors.
0:40:00 Gradually transitioning a career into different roles but always in the realm of music.
0:44:00 Vocal production and communicating with vocalists, keep it to a few takes and keep your session moving.
1:00:00 Papa Roach's temporary beach and pre-production strategies.
1:12:00 The journey should be the reward; on Gary V.
1:18:00 Artists responding to a lack of fear and confidence in the project from the producer.

https://urm.academy/ep204-colin-brittain/

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EP204 | Colin Brittain

We’re talking marketing and when and how to invest money into your music career with Finn McKenty and Dan Tsurif. 

Social media, paid engagement, buy ons, video content, paid mentorship: where modern marketing elements such as these fit into a music or production career and when to incorporate them are always at the top of the list of questions people ask. They’re also at the top of the list of things people tend to get wrong, and getting them wrong can be a waste of money and derail a career. If you want to know how to get them right then you’re definitely going to want to pay attention to what we’ve got to say on this episode. 

“If you’re not getting traction, instead of thinking that money is the answer, 99 times out of 100 the answer is that you need to keep working on the product.” - Finn McKenty

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
3:30 ‘Buying success’, having the resources to open doors
36:00 Paying for advice from successful people as a useful resource
42:00 Talking numbers on views/likes and when it’s time to invest in a project
48:00 URM Podcast and Asking Alexandria as case studies of developing a successful project
1:00:00 Bands buying on to tours - when it makes sense and when it doesn’t
1:17:00 The dynamic between in person events like NAMM or URM Summit and online interaction
1:30:00 Facebook ads, likes, and the evolving social media landscape
1:42:00 Graduate school, higher education - when does it help or hurt your career opportunities
1:58:00 Learning from the media approach of this generation of up and coming rap artists, music videos - “what’s the twist?”
2:21:00 The importance of having a social media following for a band versus a producer/engineer/mixer

https://urm.academy/ep205-finn-mckenty-dan-tsurif/

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EP205 | Finn McKenty & Dan Tsurif

Dave Otero and Archspire guitarist Dean Lamb discuss the production of the band’s album Relentless Mutation.

We also talk pre-production, the importance of work scheduling, and the state of technicality in modern heavy music. 

"I use my experience from every project I work on, but I look at it through the lens of the project I’m working on at that time, and what they want, and what their fans want, and what’s best going to represent them." - Dave Otero

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
6:00 How Archspire and Dave Otero connected, musicianship as more than just a gimmick
15:00 Archspire’s extensive pre-production, and actively working on other aspects of the record during downtime
18:00 Having working hours so that the recording schedule is predictable and as stress-free as possible while working under time constraints
26:00 “Music prison” - cabin fever in the studio and how bands deal with it
35:00 Writing together in a room as a technical death metal band and having real respect for other band members’ opinions, how writing in Guitar Pro can negatively affect songs
54:00 The evolution of technicality in guitar playing, other instruments
1:09:00 How far to go when suggesting ideas as a producer, potentially pushing bands out of their comfort zone
1:15:00 Managing artist preferences against what a producer knows will work
1:20:00 Tracking guitars with a low-gain Podfarm tone in preparation for reamps
1:34:00 Dean on the process of playing fast and recognizing that you likely use completely different muscle groups when you play a riff at different speeds
1:50:00 Orchestral influences and neo-classical metal versus a more authentic orchestral compositional style
2:00:00 Recording real gunshots for Archspire - ‘Callous Will Animate Our Souls’, approaching drum edits for technical metal

https://urm.academy/ep-206-dave-otero-dean-lamb/

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EP 206 | Dave Otero & Dean Lamb

Producer/mixer/songwriter David Bendeth is one of the all time greats; we're honored to have him on the show for a wide ranging, thorough discussion about his career, the psychology of working with musicians, and the importance of evolving with not just technology, but also emotionally.

“Music is ever evolving, and you have to keep up with whatever the technology is; that’s important. But, at the same time, if you don’t keep up with the emotional, inner side of creativity, it doesn’t matter what kind of technology you’ve got, you’re not going to do anything that means anything or that inspires anybody.” - David Bendeth

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
3:55 The feeling that music has chosen you, rather than the other way around
7:00 David’s perspective on the 60s as transformative years
18:40 The importance of demonstrating that you can follow instructions
25:37 The importance of figuring out your passion, and why David is drawn to producing rather than engineering
27:49 Frustration as a motivator and learning at the side of masters
30:53 Record label staff producers
33:52 Working on multiple projects at the same time
39:53 Going independent after years of working at labels
46:16 How pay worked with a label, and how David made going it on his own work
53:30 Perspective on the modern state of the industry to the way things used to be
59:07 The goal of stripping away the bullshit and how to know when you’re actually getting deep with an artist
1:03:11 The value of verbal communication over written communication
1:09:35 The psychological difficulties of the music industry, and strategies to face them.
1:30:20 Getting great drum source tone while also maintaining the performer’s vibe
1:33:26 How to evolve without losing your signature sound
1:35:18 What David wanted to bring to Underoath’s “Lost in the Sound of Separation”
1:37:54 The snare sound on Bring Me The Horizon’s “Sempiternal”
1:45:46 David’s experience working with Candiria
1:49:02 Reverb and delay strategies
1:52:31 Setting the best key and tempo for a song
1:58:39 Dealing with layered vocals
2:01:48 Logistical systems to facilitate a smoother recording process
2:05:31 Recording vocals with Breaking Benjamin
2:07:32 Getting low end in your snare
2:10:09 What a producer’s involvement in rolling out a record should be
2:13:17 David’s advice for his younger self

https://urm.academy/ep207-david-bendeth/

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EP207 | David Bendeth

Kevin Antreassian, producer and guitarist for The Dillinger Escape Plan, joins the podcast to discuss what it’s like running a studio, creating a YouTube channel, and teaching the next generation of the music industry. Kevin has produced hundreds of records and knows the struggles of owning your own studio. If you want to know what it takes to make it in the industry, you won’t want to miss out on this episode. 

“You have to figure out your formula and you have to get the right people involved. An you have to put out quality content, you can’t just put out trash.” - Kevin Antreassia

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
0:02:46 - Is Dillinger Escape Plan done?
0:03:39 - Trying to start up a business with a touring member of a band
0:06:39 - Having his studio/rehearsal space shut down 
0:11:41 - How long it took to get the business stabilized and having to take business from anyone
0:13:42 - Having engineers threatened in the studio
0:16:20 - Other studio stories about some of the people who would come in and make ridiculous requests 
0:20:42 - Going DIY when it comes to fixing things around the studio 
0:26:41 - Making sure things are done right when it comes to construction in the studio
0:31:11 - Starting a YouTube channel and how it isn’t as easy as one might think
0:36:34 - Trying to figure out the balance of how long videos should be
0:43:31 - Responding to comments on your videos
0:46:45 - Teaching at a university
0:52:46 - If Kevin’s background makes his students more stoked to learn
0:53:53 - Explaining that he’s fallible and his method isn’t the only method
0:59:02 - Kevin’s favorite thing about having interns
0:59:12 - Never being too old to learn

https://urm.academy/ep208-kevin-antreassian/

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