

Recording Studio Rockstars
Lij Shaw
Lij Shaw Interviews music producers, engineers, studio owners, and other professionals to bring you inspiring stories, tricks, and insights from the recording studio. So that you can take your recordings to the next level and become a rockstar of the recording studio yourself! - Guests: Vance Powell, Michael Beinhorn, Russell Wolff, Graham Cochrane, Joe Gilder, Björgvin Benediktsson, and many more...
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 13, 2023 • 2h 8min
RSR423 - Andris Zemmers - JZ Microphones What You Need To Know
Get the most amazing deal ever - 50% Off JZ Microphones at JZMicrophones.com/rockstars. Andris talked about choosing the right microphone for your studio, what makes JZ Mic Golden Drop Capsules so unique, and mic choice for drums, guitars, and vocals. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Andris Zemmers, the marketing director and member of the board of JZ Microphones in Latvia, that makes premium-level studio microphones used by many Grammy Award winning producers and world-class music stars such as Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones), Bono (U2), Lady Gaga, Christine Aguilera, Foo Fighters, and more. Andris is also a successful musician on a national level in his home country Latvia. Today his pop rock band "Neon Saturdays" has many TOP10 radio singles in nationally. Andris has been with JZ Microphones for 11 years and is responsible for the big success with JZ direct-to-consumer online store. Today we are going to talk about how to choose the mic that`s best for your studio and what the differences are between all the JZ mics. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! https://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://www.native-instruments.com use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://lewitt.link/rockstars https://www.Spectra1964.com https://MacSales.com/rockstars https://iZotope.com use code ROCK10 to get 10% off any individual plugin! https://www.adam-audio.com https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6apYpOeHGigLNw6yEXITf0?si=a7a3ad494b524697 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/423

Oct 6, 2023 • 2h 19min
RSR422 - F Reid Shippen - Mixing Tips, using AI and Atmos!
Fully concentrating while mixing is a bad idea! Reid talked about the future of mixing with AI, why the role of music producer will survive the tech, how much cooler Atmos is over stereo mixes, and how to make your vocals and drums sounds amazing! Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is F. Reid Shippen a multiple Grammy Award-winning mixer, engineer, and record producer, whose credits include 10 Grammy Award-winning albums and over 100 #1 singles and artists such as Ingrid Michaelson, Kenny Chesney, India.Arie, Cage the Elephant, Little Big Town, CeCe Winans, Steven Tyler, Colony House, Lucie Silvas, Jessie Reyez, and Dierks Bentley. He has previously served as co-chair of the Producers & Engineers Wing of NARAS, and currently serves as the Chief Creative Officer for the music production house, The Music Playground. As an advocate for music education, Shippen teaches a class at Middle Tennessee State University where we were classmates in audio school, and is a co-founder of SongFarm, a creative-centered charity that focuses on providing creative curricula for secondary schools. He currently works out of his private Robot Lemon studio, located in the Green Hills area of Nashville. Reid has been on the podcast a few times already to talk about recording and mixing. And today we will dig into some more mixing tips and maybe even talk about mixing in Atmos. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! https://mastering.com/rockstars FREE 3 day live mixing event https://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://www.native-instruments.com use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://lewitt.link/rockstars https://www.Spectra1964.com https://MacSales.com/rockstars https://iZotope.com use code ROCK10 to get 10% off any individual plugin! https://www.adam-audio.com https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7hiH4h1JYR0Ax5MIexUTst?si=ca40cb4d546d419b If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/422

Sep 29, 2023 • 2h 8min
RSR421 - Mark Prentice - From The Meat Puppets to the Fairfield Four as Nashville Session Bass Player
"You're the cat on the date!" Mark talked about session mindset with Hall Blaine, vocal arranging for the Fairfield Four, a Meat Puppets session in Pheonix, how to play the right bass note, why your headphones matter, and how to rock online sessions. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Mark Prentice, a Grammy-winning Record Producer, studio musician, music director, and hit songwriter. His versatile and exhaustive music industry resume includes recording and performance credits with renowned County Artists as well as various Internationally known Pop, R&B, and Rock-n-Roll Artists, including: Elvis Costello, John Fogarty, Jonathan Cain, Desmond Child, The Fairfield Four, Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, BJ Thomas, Frankie Miller, Delbert McClinton, Ricky Skaggs, Olivia Newton-John, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Johnny Cash, Don McLean, Crystal Gayle, Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra), Jennifer Nettles, Michael McDonald, Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt, Bruce Hornsby, Felix Cavaliere, The Young Rascals, Charley Pride, Allison Morer, Sam Moore, Billy Preston, Ben E. King, Michelle Wright, Jennifer Hanson, John Oates, Pat Boone, Patti Page, Lady Antebellum, Rodney Atkins, Chuck Wicks, Paulette Carlson, Bruce Cockburn, Holly Williams, Bo Diddley, Mitch Ryder, others. I met Mark in the past couple years through mutual friends who gather to talk about music, life, and what the hell just happened to music and the world recently, and when I was invited to the annual Christmas party and saw how Mark could sit at the piano and play any song just by thinking about how should probably go I knew I was in the company of some serious musical talent. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! https://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://lewitt.link/rockstars https://www.Spectra1964.com https://MacSales.com/rockstars https://iZotope.com use code ROCK10 to get 10% off any individual plugin https://www.adam-audio.com https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Bdoweo1QEdVyVgujuNUEJ?si=918f4c2d24e54c8d If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/421

Sep 22, 2023 • 2h 15min
RSR420 - Todd Lombardo - Playing Guitar with Kacey Musgraves and Lera Lynn
You're not serious until Taylor Swift fires you! Todd talked about playing the guitars on Kacey Musgraves records, songwriting with Lera Lynn, keeping the magic in the music during tracking sessions, and how to find new chord shapes for your guitar. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Todd Lombardo, an ACM acoustic session guitar player-of-the-year nominee, producer and songwriter living in Nashville TN. Most notably known for his contributions to Kacey Musgraves "Golden Hour". He is also responsible for Canadian platinum productions as well as numerous number one country hits as a session player. I first met Todd when he brought the artist Mickey Cash over to The Toy Box Studio for me to mix. I was struck by his great production ideas, arrangement decisions, and guitar playing. Years later we reconnected over at Craig Alvins East Nashville studio which he occupies now. It also turned out we were both interested in weird stuff beyond music like Wim Hof and cold exposure Ice Baths for good health and ultimately we became neighbors. More recently I got to hear a new record he recorded with his partner in life and music Lera Lynn that sounds amazing. So I'm psyched to learn more about what Todd is doing in the studio and get some great recording, production, and mixing tricks for you Rockstars. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! https://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://lewitt.link/rockstars https://www.Spectra1964.com https://MacSales.com/rockstars https://iZotope.com use code ROCK10 to get 10% off any individual plugin https://www.adam-audio.com https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1DbLLfgGdNeEBq7qiNe1lr?si=464afbca8de84977 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/420

Sep 15, 2023 • 2h 23min
RSR419 - Hugh Macdonald aka Fairhazel - Killer Tips for Home Studio Songwriting Production and Video Creation
My fingers are in tons of pies! Hugh talked about songwriting from dusty notes, Monty Python animations, shooting music videos, piezo mics for guitars, creating sounds from voice memos, pushing through writer's block, and podcast editing for money. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Hugh Macdonald aka Fairhazel a British/South African singer songwriter, artist, and producer born in Brighton but raised in London, Cape Town and Paris. Hugh left Berklee College of Music in Boston in 2018 returning to London to work with Communion Music under the name Fairhazel, releasing his first single 7x7 in February 2018 to critical acclaim. Roisin O'Connor of The Independent described it as having "tender, whispering vocals that recall the likes of Villagers, Ben Howard and Sufjan Stevens". Inspired by artists France Gall, Harry Nilsson and Andy Shauf among others, Fairhazel has established himself as a musical storyteller blurring the lines between fiction and true stories. At his Los Angeles studio, he works on creating all aspects of his music himself from songwriting to arrangement, production, and engineering. He also frequently produces and mixes music, primarily rock, folk, jazz, pop and soul. Although Fairhazel is a solo venture, a band often accompanies him at shows and he has opened for Agnes Obel, Banfi and Astræa. Recently he played Whispering Bob Harris's Under the Apple Tree, and featured thrice on the lineup of the Counting Crows Underwater Sunshine Festival. As well as the Fairhazel project, Hugh runs a monthly live music event with his wife, Danielle, soon to be growing into a day long monthly festival. Hugh and Danielle also direct, shoot and edit music videos for independent artists. I met Hugh back in 2019 when he came through Nashville at 21 years old and we did a live stream for our Youtube channel where Hugh wrote a song on the spot using lyrics from you Rockstars in the comments and everything was recorded on the Roswell Pro Audio Delphos and Colares mics. And Hugh has since worked with me a couple of years as the head videographer for our NAMM videos in Anaheim CA. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! https://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://lewitt.link/rockstars https://www.Spectra1964.com https://MacSales.com/rockstars https://iZotope.com use code ROCK10 to get 10% off any individual plugin https://www.adam-audio.com https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/53Laj60VnMo9Av2buiw1bP?si=3ffc62c5feb24fd4 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/419

Sep 8, 2023 • 2h 47min
RSR418 - Chuck Ainlay - The Future of Immersive Audio, Dire Straits, Peter Frampton, METalliance & Country Music
Give it all you've got because that might be all they get! Chuck talked about Nashville history, mixing "Money For Nothing", how to record acoustic and vocals, and why your favorite microphones could change in the future of mixing for immersive audio. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Chuck Ainlay, a four time Grammy winner with Ten ACM, Two CMA's Awards & Two Tech Awards. Chuck has over thirty five hundred credits to his name, including work with legendary and defining country music artists such as; George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Steve Earle, Lee Ann Womack, Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris and The Chicks. Chuck has placed his distinctive production and engineering stamp on projects with more mainstream artists such as Dire Straits and nearly the entire solo career of Mark Knopfler as well as Peter Frampton, Taylor Swift, Lionel Richie, Ann Wilson, James Taylor, Jewel, Bob Seger, Pentatonix and Sheryl Crow. His work in immersive mixing has resulted in ground-breaking projects such as the 25th and 35th anniversary remix of Peter Frampton's Frampton Comes Alive and the Grammy award-winning 20th anniversary remix of the Dire Straits album Brothers In Arms. He is currently serving as Trustee for the Nashville chapter of the Recording Academy and numerous terms as a Governor. He has chaired the Nashville P&E Wing and is the current Co-Chair the Recording Academy P&E Wing National Steering committee. Chuck has been a co-author of the majority of the P&E Wing Guidelines and recommendations. Chuck is also currently on the board of directors for the Country Music Association. Belmont University awarded Chuck with the Robert E. Mulloy Award of Excellence. Chuck is a founding member of the METalliance, committed to promoting standards of quality in the art and science of recorded music through education and product certification. Thank you to Phil Wagner at SSL for the introduction! THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! https://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://lewitt.link/rockstars https://www.Spectra1964.com https://MacSales.com/rockstars https://iZotope.com use code ROCK10 to get 10% off any individual plugin https://www.adam-audio.com https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2DK9m7FwwJ0c0mwFB1jxqM?si=42594bda9cb449de If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/418

Sep 1, 2023 • 2h 26min
RSR417 - Joakeem Gaston - Home Studio Production with iZotope
Nothing is bigger than you! Joakeem (our youngest guest yet) talked about producing Hip-Hop-J-Dilla-Haitian-Komba music, midi studio signal flow, AI studio assistants, why you need Twitch & Discord, and a thorough breakdown of iZotope plugins & apps. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Joakeem Gaston a Boston-born musician, producer and photographer growing up in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and a graduate of the Full Sail recording program. As a first-generation American of Haitian immigrants, Joakeem was exposed to a variety of artists, music and people. Hearing different languages and different genres were hand in hand with his upbringing. Through his networking skills he learned in High School he was able to land at iZotope where he worked on the Customer Care and Artist Relations team. I met Joakeem through his time working with iZotope and we got to connect at AES 2022 when I heard some of the cool vocal featured groove-based music he was creating. Joakeem is both musically and technically proficient in creating music on the computer so I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn more about some of the cool things that he learned at iZotope and talk about how he is making his tracks. I use iZotope all the time (and a ton for this podcast) but I also know there are many other musical uses we could learn about. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! https://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://lewitt.link/rockstars https://www.Spectra1964.com https://MacSales.com/rockstars https://iZotope.com/Rockstars use code ROCK10 to get 10% off any individual plugin https://www.adam-audio.com https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4jdalApxa29dVuLCzLWh2C?si=fb93d43e76de4b7e If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/417

Aug 25, 2023 • 2h 18min
RSR416 - Tom Lord-Alge aka TLA - Answers All Your Mixing Questions!
Does your mix need a spanking? Tom talked about mixing on SSL consoles and the UF8 & UC-1, why Pro Tools works great for mixing, how to get a bigger chorus, set up your monitors, how to create a killer snare, and the secret to nailing your vocal mix! Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Tom Lord-Alge aka TLA a Multi Grammy winning mixer who started out as a young engineer in New York like his older brother Chris Lord Alge. Tom began his career as a touring lighting director before being thrown into the FOH seat when the original FOH engineer went ill. After 5 years of touring, Tom moved his focus to studio work and with his brother Chris worked at Unique Recording in New York. Then he was the resident mixer at what used to be known as "South Beach Studios", located on the ground floor of the Marlin Hotel in Miami Beach Florida. TLA received two Grammy Awards for his work on Steve Winwood's Back in the High Life (1986), and Roll with It (1988), both winning in the 'Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical' category. His third Grammy was for Santana's Supernatural (1999), which won Album of the Year. Tom has mixed records for U2, Simple Minds, The Rolling Stones, Pink, Peter Gabriel, OMD, Sarah McLachlan, Dave Matthews Band, Blink-182, Avril Lavigne, Hanson, Sum 41, Live, The Wallflowers, Weezer, Manic Street Preachers, New Found Glory, Story of the Year and Marilyn Manson, among others. He now resides in Austin Texas where he has built 2 mixing rooms. SPANK Studios ATX houses TLA's SSL 4064G+ console and ORG Studios ATX houses TLA's SSL Origin console. Thank you to Phil Wagner and Fadi Hayek at SSL for connecting us. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! https://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://lewitt.link/rockstars https://www.Spectra1964.com https://MacSales.com/rockstars https://iZotope.com/Rockstars use code ROCK10 to get 10% off any individual plugin https://www.adam-audio.com https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/13Loxb1mSLw6Y4kJ2M5Kwy?si=0dc2617c58e24528 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/416

Aug 18, 2023 • 2h 19min
RSR415 - Jacob Light - Modern Tone Studios & Music School
Jacob Light, a musician, record producer, and audio engineer, shares insights on beating imposter syndrome, building a commercial studio, getting great vocal, guitar, and drum recordings, and being super organized in business. They discuss starting a music studio in an underserved area, achieving consistent sound, balancing personal and professional life, and the challenges of starting a recording studio. The importance of authenticity in music, organizing files and processes in music production, and the power of using Backblaze in the audio industry are also explored. Recording a gritty thrash metal band and improving mixing skills are highlighted. A wrap-up and sponsor mentions conclude the podcast.

Aug 11, 2023 • 2h 19min
RSR414 - Wilson Harwood - Soundproof Your Home Studio
Which panels sound-proof your studio? Wrong question! Wilson explained the difference between sound-treatment and sound-proofing, how to deal with floors, walls, and windows, how to build your studio, and where to set up your perfect mix position. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Wilson Harwood a producer and mix engineer in Nashville, TN. He founded his company Soundproof Your Studio in 2020 after building a soundproof studio in his backyard. He knew the world needed better explanations of how to soundproof a recording studio so he set out to teach soundproofing through his Youtube channel, podcast, blog and courses. Harwood's goal with Soundproof Your Studio is to provide scientifically backed approaches to Soundproofing that are easy and practical to implement. He now helps thousands of people from all over the world with their own DIY soundproofing projects whether it is a shed out back, a basement in a house or a spare garage. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! https://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://lewitt.link/rockstars https://www.Spectra1964.com https://MacSales.com/rockstars https://iZotope.com/Rockstars use code ROCK10 to get 10% off any individual plugin https://www.adam-audio.com https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1imUewMNtNSxsaObj5w1qm?si=15b4bff541d14711 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/414


