Recording Studio Rockstars

My guest today is Tony Black a Grammy-winning music producer, mixer/engineer & songwriter/musician. He has contributed to recordings totalling more than 50 million units sold or downloaded. He won a GRAMMY AWARD for his contribution to the album "THE DIARY OF ALICIA KEYS" for BEST R&B ALBUM. He also mixed and recorded "RIDE OR DIE" on the Grammy-winning album JAY-Z "HARD KNOCK LIFE VOL.2". Tony spent many years in NYC at legendary studios such as The Power Station, The Hit Factory, Quad, and Electric Lady. He became part of the 90's hip-hop scene that would go on to make music history. Working with artists such as Notorious BIG, Jay Z, Q tip, Lil Kim, P. Diddy(Puffy), Cam'ron, Wu Tang Clan, Michael Jackson and too many others to list, he clocked in more than 4000 sessions in the 90's alone. These sessions led to a 6-year working relationship with Alicia Keys. He recorded and mixed all of The Diary of Alicia Keys. He continues mixing, recording, and producing new music today for label artists, indie artists, and for his own project Slow Down The Quick based in NYC and working anywhere in the world with his mobile project studio. Thanks to Josh Harris for making our introduction! (Carl Nappa). Thanks to our sponsors! Soundporter Mastering: Get your free mastering demo at https://www.soundporter.com JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off ADAM Audio: https://www.adam-audio.com RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com Hear discography on Spotify If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/284

My guest today is Tony Succar a two-time Latin Grammy award-winning and #1 Billboard charting artist, producer, and composer/arranger Born in Lima, Peru and raised in Miami, Florida. Tony's produces music in the world of salsa, jazz, pop, and afro-latino-inspired music. He has a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters degree in Jazz Performance from Florida International University. In 2018, Tony was nominated for the prestigious Latin Grammy Awards for Best Tropical Song, "Me Enamoro Mas De Ti." He received four nominations in 2019 for Album of the Year, Best Tropical Song, Best Salsa Album, and Producer of the Year for his most recent album, Mas de Mi. Tony took home two Latin Grammys for Producer of the Year and Best Salsa Album, making history as the youngest winner to have ever won both categories. Mas de Mi was released by Tony through his independent label, Unity Entertainment. His inspiration for the album was to write and produce non-traditional songs that will appeal to younger generations. He has also worked with an impressive array of talented artists, including Tito Nieves, India, Jon Secada, Marc Anthony, Sheila E., Arturo Sandoval, Judith Hill, and Obie Bermudez, among others. Tony's debut album, UNITY: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson, had tremendous success, reaching Billboard's #1 Tropical Album Music Chart, iTunes' #1 World Latin Chart, and Amazon's #1 Latin Pop Music chart, among others. It also evolved into a nationally-televised primetime PBS special that kicked off the PBS Fall Arts Festival. He has performed at the Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival (Aruba), the Ravinia Festival (Chicago), Auditorio Telmex (Mexico), Vivo Beach (Puerto Rico), Tempo Latino (France), and the 2019 Latin Grammy Awards (MGM Grand Las Vegas), among others. Thanks to our sponsors! Soundporter Mastering: Get your free mastering demo at https://www.soundporter.com JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off ADAM Audio: https://www.adam-audio.com RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com Hear discography on Spotify If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/283

My guest today is Kurt Ballou is a Grammy-winning producer, engineer, mixer and studio owner in Salem MA with extensive production credits on some of aggressive music's most successful albums. In addition to his studio work, Kurt is the guitarist in ground breaking hardcore/metal crossover act CONVERGE. Kurt's studio, God City Recording, was constructed in 2003 and contains the finest analog and digital recording equipment available. God City has hosted bands such as Grammy winner High on Fire, American Nightmare, NAILS, Darkest Hour, Code Orange, Four Year Strong, Converge, Russian Circles, Torche, Cave In and many more. Kurt also designs guitar pedals and guitars under the name God City Instruments where you can get the heaviest guitar distortions and fuzzes pre-built and ready to use or build your own with ready-made PCB boards and kits. Thanks to Brian Murphree for the introduction. Thanks to our sponsors! Soundporter Mastering: Get your free mastering demo at https://www.soundporter.com JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off ADAM Audio: https://www.adam-audio.com RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com Hear discography on Spotify If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/282

My guest today is Billy Decker a Nashville producer, engineer, and mixer with multiple #1 hits for clients like Chris Young, Kenny Chesney, Darius Rucker, Jason Aldean, Jaime Lynne Spears, and Sam Hunt and even George Jones. Billy is known for his high-speed method of mixing using templates and systems for getting to the creative side of mixing immediately without getting bogged down in the tech side of mixing. He was a guest on the podcast previously on episode RSR210 and recently he has written a new book called Template Mixing and Mastering. So today we will dig deeper into Billy's template mixing and get an introduction to what you will find in his new book. I highly recommend that you pick up the book since he does a wonderful job of breaking down every detail beautifully with images and charts to help you set up your own template for mixing in your studio. Thanks to our sponsors! Soundporter Mastering: Get your free mastering demo at https://www.soundporter.com JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off ADAM Audio: https://www.adam-audio.com RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com Hear discography on Spotify If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/281

My guest today is Justin Francis is a multiple Grammy Award nominee as an engineer, #1 Billboard chart mixer, and budding producer based right here in East Nashville. His work can be heard on records ranging from Ronnie Milsap to Alice Cooper including Top 40 hits for Little Big Town and Kelsea Ballerini; soundtracks with Kacey Musgraves and P!nk, and releases from diverse artists as Rodney Crowell, Tyler Childers, Margo Price, Buddy Guy, Deep Purple, Anti-Flag, Rozwell Kid and Diarrhea Planet reaching millions of streams every month. Justin has been a guest on the podcast previously one episode RSR220 when we got to talk about his background in the recording. So this episode we will continue to dig into mixing and production and ways that we can ramp up the quality of our work in our own pro or home studios. Thanks to our sponsors! Soundporter Mastering: Get your free mastering demo at https://www.soundporter.com JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off ADAM Audio: https://www.adam-audio.com RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com Hear discography on Spotify If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/280

My guest today is Chris Adams, aka Ahee, an EDM producer and artist with extensive experience touring clubs and festivals known for his prolific musical output, helpful YouTube tutorials, high-quality sample packs, & crowd engaging live sets. I discovered Ahee's Youtube channel when I was searching for tutorials on using the Serum wavetable synth from Xfer Records and really enjoyed the ways that Chris broke down EDM production and techniques for everything from creating DIY synth drum samples to production using his custom sample and sound packs for Ableton Live, to mixing through RTA frequency analyzers so that we can compare our own home studio mixes to a huge club and festival mixes by top EDM producers like Skrillex. Plus Chris affectionately refers to his audience by introducing each video with "Yo What's Up Aliens" which obviously a great way to talk them don't you think so Rockstars? Some of his collaboration and remix credits include The Funk Hunters, Manic Focus, Defunk, Stylust, Psymbionic, Stickybuds, David Starfire, Soohan, and more. I'll include links to his Youtube channel in the show notes where you can also find a collection of his EDM music productions. Thanks to our sponsors! Soundporter Mastering: Get your free mastering demo at https://www.soundporter.com JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off ADAM Audio: https://www.adam-audio.com RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com Hear discography on Spotify Hear more on YouTube If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/279

My guest today is Daniel Schlett a Producer, Engineer, Mixer and owner of Strange Weather Studio seen on the cover of Mix Magazine in 2019 as one of the best rooms in Brooklyn NY. Daniel's production finds itself at the creative intersection where acoustic and rock recording meets loop and edit based production. His discography ranges from NYC hip hop to live in-studio performances, to rock production from Mali with a clear sense of how each sounds best. Daniel has worked with many great artists including Iggy Pop, Booker T., Songhoy Blues, Peelander-Z, Ghostface Killah, War on Drugs, Luke Temple and Here We Go Magic, Combo Chimbita, The Lost Brothers. And I've been enjoying a fantastic sounding playlist of videos for you in the show notes. I'm psyched to talk with Daniel today about his philosophy of production with a wide range of musical styles and see what we can learn about working with a variety of artists. Thanks to Dave Hintze at API for making our introduction. Thanks to our sponsors! Soundporter Mastering: Get your free mastering demo at https://www.soundporter.com JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off ADAM Audio: https://www.adam-audio.com RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com Hear discography on Spotify If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/278

My guest today is Brian Murphree mastering engineer at Soundporter Mastering in Spring Hill TN. After recording his first band in 1994 at a studio in Decatur, AL, and taking the mix-engineer helm in 1999 for his punk band, Random Conflict, followed by a 5-year stint with Surf Rock band, Daikaiju, Brian has been focused on recording, mixing, and mastering for underground artists who might lack the budget to track in major professional studios. Brian spent 20 years recording, mixing, and mastering music in the North Alabama, Middle TN area, helping artists find their best sounds without blowing their budget. For the past 4 years, he has focused solely on mastering and has been able to grow his client list even in the challenging climate of COVID-19. Grammy-winning "Boo" Mitchell of Memphis' Royal Studios, Mark Slaughter, Melly Baldwin, and BZ Lewis are just a few clients Brian has worked with and his goal is to always help his clients realize their best production and mix no matter who they are, and to do it without breaking the bank. Brian takes pride as a mastering engineer in being easy to work with and helpful at the early stages before you even think your mix is ready for mastering. And Since Brian and Soundporter are a welcome sponsor on the podcast also I thought it would be cool to have Brian as a guest on the show so that we can get to know him better and discover "how to get your mix ready for mastering". Thanks to our sponsors! JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com Soundporter Mastering: https://www.soundporter.com RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com Hear more on Youtube If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/277

My guest today is Kevin McMahon of Marcata Recording first started by The Walkmen in 2000 as a purely analog facility located in Harlem inside what had been a Nascar production facility. Kevin joined in 2003 and took over daily operations, bringing his collection of vintage microphones, preamps, and a long history of studying great live performance from the decade of work as a live sound engineer/designer at the now-defunct but not forgotten venue Brownies in New York City's East Village. Doing live sound is where Kevin developed his love of living interactions between musicians, and the ability to recognize the spirit of an artists' vision and to act with a sense of urgency toward nurturing an environment to allow that vision to be realized at any cost. Some of Kevin's credits include: Real Estate, Pile, Parlor Walls, Mr Gnome, The Walkmen, The French Kicks, Diarrhea Planet, and Herzog to name just a few. Thanks so much to Caleb for making our introduction. Thanks to our sponsors! JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com Soundporter Mastering: https://www.soundporter.com RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com Hear discography on Spotify If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/276

My guest today is Morgan Page a GRAMMY-nominated producer and DJ with hundreds of millions of plays, and charted multiple Billboard, Beatport, and US Dance Radio #1s. Morgan has built a massive live following performing at major festivals across the world, including Coachella, EDC, Electric Zoo, Burning Man, and Ultra Music Festival, as well as countless shows in the world's top venues and clubs. He typically tours nearly year-round and holds a Las Vegas residency at Daylight, having previously held a three-year residency at Wynn Las Vegas. Morgan also curates and hosts a weekly radio mix show, 'In The Air,' which airs on Sirius XM and broadcasting weekly uninterrupted for nearly ten years, and has surpassed episode number 500! Outside of music, his two main passions are the environment and technology, and particularly where the two intersect. The Tesla-driving producer installed solar panels to power his recording studio; he is always on the cutting edge and an early adopter and advocate of new tech. In 2013, he brought to life the groundbreaking 'Morgan Page Presents 3D Tour,' a forward-thinking, immersive visual experience utilizing 3D technology. In 2014, partnering with Oculus, DTS, and Alienware, he also produced the first-ever virtual reality lyric video for his single 'In The Air.' Followed by an Oculus partnership to produce a Gear VR mobile experience for his single "Open Heart." Most recently, he's produced music for Tesla and SpaceX. Morgan's Quick Tips project is his way to pass on his vast wealth of knowledge and experience to an eager audience of musicians and producers, as well as the broader creator community, helping them crack the creativity code and improve their workflow. MPQT is comprised of a series of 750+ short-form tips and 50+ blog post deep-dives available online and in physical card sets. Recently Morgan partnered up with technology leader OWC to distribute the cards and connect with creators as a brand ambassador. Thanks to our sponsors! JZ Microphones: Use coupon ROCKSTARS to get 50% off The BB29 mic at JZmic.com PreSonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com iZotope: iZotope.com/Rockstars code ROCK10 10% off API Audio: http://www.apiaudio.com Soundporter Mastering: https://www.soundporter.com RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com Hear more on Youtube If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/275