RSR453 - Todd Burke - How To Make Records Sound Cool

Vacuum the studio and blow a fuse! Tex talked about balancing a career as an electrical contractor with producing heavy rock records, ninja tips for Reaper drum editing and mixing, getting polarity and phase right, & his chain for a huge rock sound! Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Tex Cokley, a music producer and mixer in SW Washington state. He has been producing and mixing rock songs and albums for bands for the last 15 years. As a musician, he is versed in different instruments and works with many studio musicians.  I met Tex and his friend Alex at NAMM a couple of years ago when they came to our first Recording Studio Rockstars meetup. I always love connecting with fans of the podcast aka the Rockstars and Tex is definitely one of them. He has a great rock band called Opticus and balances recording with a busy career as an electrician. His enthusiasm and dedication to making records and attending NAMM each year and the fact that Recording Studio Rockstars is able to help fans like Tex make great records inspires me to make this show and keep bringing you interviews every week. Tex’s credits include powerful rock bands like Forever Dethroned, Rust and Chrome, and Opticus which you can hear in the playlist. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://www.adam-audio.com https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://www.empiricallabs.com/ Use code RSR10 to get 10% off the Arousor and BIG FrEQ plugins! https://traceaudio.com/ Use code RSR15 to get 15% off your custom printed labels! https://www.soundporter.com/ Get a free mix review and mastering demo! https://www.makebelievestudio.com/mbsi Get your MBSI plugin here! https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy  https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0MUnI2MyQHKV823CQQmeAn?si=25f31664bd4d41d5 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/477

Ya gotta learn the rules to break the rules! Kris talked about big tracking sessions, orchestral arranging for small vs large string sections, killer Soundflow strategies, Pro Tools marker magic, sync sessions tips, & cool plugins for awesome mixes! Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Kris Crunk, a first-call producer, programmer, and engineer in Nashville, Tennessee. He has 4 Grammy nominations, won 2 Dove Awards for Southern Gospel Producer of the Year in 2021 and 2022, and recently was nominated for a Mark Award from the Production Music Association.  In his 20+ years in Nashville, Kris has played or worked on countless songs for artists like OneRepublic, Rascal Flatts, 5 Seconds of Summer, Tina Campbell, Jason Crabb, Cindy Morgan and many more. Kris has been a Professor of Music Technology at Union University and is an app developer for the software Soundflow is on the Avid Beta team for Pro Tools and other plug-in companies.  Kris is currently focusing on creating a large library of songs for TV shows, commercials, and movies worldwide. With over 1500 original compositions in rotation, he is constantly heard on shows like CBS NFL Football, Holey Moley, TMZ, and Real Housewives of New Jersey. His work can be heard on networks such as Discovery, Food Network, Nickelodeon, ABC, CBS, Disney+, MTV, TVLAND, and the BBC.    Thank you to Raphael Sepulveda and Joe Carroll for the introduction! THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://www.adam-audio.com https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://www.empiricallabs.com/ Use code RSR10 to get 10% off the Arousor and BIG FrEQ plugins! https://traceaudio.com/ Use code RSR15 to get 15% off your custom printed labels! https://www.soundporter.com/ Get a free mix review and mastering demo! https://www.makebelievestudio.com/mbsi Get your MBSI plugin here! https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy  https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2JtT9Czg8HfhyC0QaI1uTL?si=7c67d3569e564e0c If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/476

If it sounds good then it is good! Brennan talked about the importance of embracing your own sonic thumbprint, mixing with depth, programming drums, how to make a cooler gated snare, asynchronistic work, recording with an iPhone, and lyric writing. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Brennan Aerts, a producer, writer, and musician who has worked extensively in film, television, and ads since 2010 in Los Angeles, CA and Nashville, TN. He owns a music house called Bird Nest Int'l and has produced music content for every major network as well as multiple national ad campaigns, movies, and artists. He is a member of the bands Vinyl Pinups and The Werewolves and recent credits include Moon Taxi, Better Than Ezra, and Devon Gilfilian to name just a few. Thank you to Jay Tooke for the introduction! THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://www.adam-audio.com https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://www.empiricallabs.com/ Use code RSR10 to get 10% off the Arousor and BIG FrEQ plugins! https://traceaudio.com/ Use code RSR15 to get 15% off your custom printed labels! https://www.soundporter.com/ Get a free mix review and mastering demo! https://www.makebelievestudio.com/mbsi Get your MBSI plugin here! https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy  https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6d1N9s4QbZxifQ3sjL8Roz?si=51e56a0a405549c3 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/475

Give of yourself generously to those you work with! Jeremy talked about producing indie rock and pop bands in a small studio, touring in a signed band, building a new production studio, starting a mastermind group, and family life vs work balance. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Jeremy Steckel, a musician and producer in Columbus OH. Having settled into an indie-pop and rock production and mixing universe, Jeremy focuses on building the landscape of the song around the core part of almost every modern song: the vocal performance. Nothing speaks louder than an emotional, well-captured vocal delivery and the song always has to serve that objective. Jeremy’s credits include MEOWBOYS, Coastal Club, Lui, Darity, Sean Mac, Trauna, Brightest London, The Orphan The Poet and Embleton to name a few. Today we will talk about working as a touring guitarist, building a new mixing studio, how to get a great production and mix, and even finding ways to level up your business through the power of a mastermind group. Thank you to Jim Stewart for the introduction! THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://www.adam-audio.com https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://www.empiricallabs.com/ Use code RSR10 to get 10% off the Arousor and BIG FrEQ plugins! https://traceaudio.com/ Use code RSR15 to get 15% off your custom printed labels! https://www.soundporter.com/ Get a free mix review and mastering demo! https://www.makebelievestudio.com/mbsi Get your MBSI plugin here! https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy  https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/01JZ98WpGH6UJlPdSvUmtH?si=df6b63c3f79748df If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/474

What does it sound like miked in the bathtub? Matt talked about being at Strongroom Studios, tape flying off the machine, why you need hardware synths, MDing for Björk and Ellie Goulding, how to record ambient music, and why real guitar pedals rock! Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Matt Robertson, a British-born, Canadian-based, 3x Grammy-nominated composer, producer, and musical director. Matt has worked with Björk, Anohni, Arca, The Cinematic Orchestra, and Ellie Goulding as musical director and orchestrator / arranger.  He has released four albums under his own name to date, balancing ambient sound design alongside warm organic techno and ripples of delicate electronics. His albums ‘Forecast’, ‘In Echelon’ and ‘Entology’, have been described as “symphonic electronica and leftfield techno that’s cinematic in scale” (Mixmag), “magnificent…wild, electronic sound” (The Line Of Best Fit) and “Nils Frahm’s modern classical meets Jon Hopkins’ grainy techno” (MOJO). Growing up listening to a healthy mixture of Jean-Michel Jarre and Jimmy Smith, Matt graduated from the University of Surrey before working at recording studios in London learning how to fix, and later build, some of his own synths. Working with a collection of vintage, modern and DIY synths, and combining electronic music production with classical composition and cinematic soundscapes; artists, producers, and film composers alike seek his enveloping and distinct sound. His work with Anoushka Shankar awarded him 2 Grammy nominations, and he recently scored the films ‘The New Corporation – The Unfortunately Necessary Sequel’, and' ‘Navalny’. Thanks to Damian Taylor for making our introduction! THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! http://ultimatemixingmasterclass.com/ https://www.adam-audio.com https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://gracedesign.com/ https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy  https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Get your MBSI plug-in here! https://www.makebelievestudio.com/mbsi  Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/58klpp5APh48s9nLfcMwqJ?si=a95a6f41284645b4 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/473

How many room mics do Atmos drums need? Matt talked about recording and mixing a jazz band in Atmos, how to let old gear go to make room for new gear, speakers, mix levels, full setup for mixing in Atmos, and new ways to think about space and sound. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Matt Boudreau, a very successful audio engineer, Atmos mixer, producer, drummer and podcast host. I often call Matt “my brother from another podcast” as the host of the awesome Working Class Audio podcast where he also conducts interviews with producers and engineers about life in the studio but more focused on work/life balance for the working audio professional. Matt has been a guest on Recording Studio Rockstars a couple of times already so you can check out his back story on episode RSR053 (when we actually met) and then again on RSR375 when Matt taught us all about mixing with drum samples. And today we will talk primarily about mixing because after 28 years, Matt now focuses on mixing and mastering in Stereo and Dolby ATMOS (immersive/Spatial audio). In fact Matt mixed two of the songs on my record Skadoosh! In Atmos which you can hear in the show notes along with other great works from his discography. Matt Boudreau is based in the San Francisco Bay Area but works with people around the globe. Whether you are a self-funded artist or a major-label artist, Matt is here to help you finish a record you are proud of (literally in all directions through immersive audio)! Thanks to iTunes search function and finding Working Class Audio for making our original introduction.  THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://www.adam-audio.com https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://gracedesign.com/ https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy  https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Get your MBSI plug-in here! https://www.makebelievestudio.com/mbsi  Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6tdfm7hqzhn1o8PA65I7N0?si=12eb58eb5995490b If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/472

Be willing to chase the dragon! Nick talked about creating the ultimate custom mix template, finding your ideal studio listening level, why you should only use two volumes, ninja tips for Soundflow and Avid S1, de-essing vocal tricks, and fx chains. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Nick Krill, an indie rock producer, mixer, and engineer. Nick's interest in the studio began as a teenager when he would spend weekends in a basement 4-track studio with his band, The Spinto Band.  Nick spent the first part of his career simultaneously playing in bands and recording and mixing other artists in the studio. In the early 2000s, The Spinto Band gained notoriety and went on to release 4 LPs and tour extensively in North America and Europe. After the Spinto Band went on hiatus, Nick spent four years touring and recording with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. In 2018 Nick decided to focus solely on the studio side of his work, and now produces, mixes, and engineers indie rock full time. Some highlights of his recording work include: - Recording and mixing two volumes of "A Philly Special Christmas" (Which went on to chart on in the top 10 on various Billboard charts and had a No.1 iTunes single),  - Producing and mixing the  "I Can't Handle Change" EP by Roar (This EP now has over 700 million Spotify streams, and the song "Christmas Kids" charted in the UK last year) - Working as a recording engineer on the last two War On Drugs Lps ("A Deeper Understanding" and "I Don't Live Here Anymore") - Producing and mixing the most recent Generationals LP "Heatherhead." Nick has been a guest on the show before for episode RSR128 where you can hear more about his backstory. Today we will talk about new records and how to make an award-winning record! Thank you to The Sin City Band and also Robin Eaton for the introduction! THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://www.adam-audio.com https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://gracedesign.com/ https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy  https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Get your MBSI plug-in here! https://www.makebelievestudio.com/mbsi  Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7iN8P6p4CuvEX2XWey3Eul?si=68f30876fd604368 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/471

Make some noise about dither ya'll! Daniel talked about how mastering flow is like songwriting, how to null check audio files, his hybrid mastering signal chain, why Wavelab is so cool, monitor levels, Ozone 11, and the magic of an old Mackie mixer. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Daniel Bacigalupi, a Minnesota native who has been mastering music in Nashville for 15 years. Daniel began his career at Ithaca College in New York where he earned a B.M. in Sound Recording Technology under the direction of Alex Perialas. Upon graduation, he moved to Nashville and began a 6 year career at Georgetown Masters with renowned Mastering engineer Andrew Mendelson.  Daniel opened dB Masters in Green Hills in 2014 before teaming up with Grammy Award-winning engineer Pete Lyman and Infrasonic Mastering. He now works out of Infrasonic Nashville and continues to work on projects across a variety of genres. Daniel has mastered for a range of artists including Gabby Barrett, Darius Rucker, Parker Millsap, Parmalee, Kane Brown, Levi Hummon, Ross Copperman, Republican Hair, Ginny Owens, Hey Romeo, Here Come The Mummies, Phoebe Hunt, and more. Thank you to Raelynn Janicke, Reid, and Pete Lyman For the Introduction! THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://www.adam-audio.com https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://gracedesign.com/ https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy  https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Get your MBSI plug-in here! https://www.makebelievestudio.com/mbsi  Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3MPeoXnayV4T9ZIUIkroOk?si=17d0aec48f7a4db0 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/470

What does fifteen 1176s at once to vinyl sound like? Bobbi talked about cutting direct to disk for Tyler Bryant and The Shakedown, choosing the best compressor, pure analog mastering, speakers vs headphones, recording a Broadway cast, and iZotope RX. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Bobbi Giel, a mastering engineer based out of Nashville, TN. She made the move to Nashville in October 2017 and spent four years at Georgetown Masters under the direction of Chief Mastering Engineer Andrew Mendelson before joining the team at Welcome to 1979. Bobbi began her career at University of Hartford’s The Hartt School where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Production and Technology with a concentration in Classical Piano and a minor in Business Administration. Following graduation in 2015 she spent two years working at various recording and post-production studios in New York City including MSR Studios (now Sound on Sound Studios in Montclair, New Jersey), the new Atlantic Studios at Atlantic Records, and LVLY Studios. In addition to mastering, Bobbi is a member of the Audio Engineering Society and a member of the Producers & Engineers Wing of the Recording Academy. In 2016 she was also featured on Humans of New York, a popular photo blog and book of street portraits and interviews collected on the streets of New York City. Thank you to Chris and Yoli Mara for the introduction! THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://www.adam-audio.com https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://gracedesign.com/ https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy  https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Get your MBSI plug-in here! https://www.makebelievestudio.com/mbsi  Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/40N46UoiBjaKbDyrRh5Xlr?si=6def631eb7ee4909 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/469

"1000 burritos, tacos, and Bud Lights came flying at me like the arrows in 300!" Andy talked about recording Andrew WK from a mobile truck, doubling vocals like Mahler, learning to listen, recording Cuban music, guitars, vocals, and tuning drums. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Andy Freeman who got his hands on a console at age 12 and at age 21 got his first job in audio, recording and editing voice over artists in Atlanta. In 2002, after a friend asked if he produced bands, Andy said yes.  This was a lie. But he hasn’t stopped producing and mixing bands since then, so I guess it was a good lie. Learning on the job at his own studio in Atlanta, he and his wife Malie [“Molly”] moved to San Francisco in 2008, then to Los Angeles in 2015, then to Nashville in 2017 where he works out of a full tracking and mixing space in his house.  Andy doesn’t hear music in genre, preferring the idea that there are only two kinds of music: good and bad. Consequently he’s been able to work with just about anyone. Jason Hawk Harris, Ace Monroe, Leeann Skoda, Eisley, and lots of fun San Francisco bands you have never heard of. He also made a lot of live recordings in his time rambling around the country in a mobile recording truck with Bay Area Tone. They include Andrew WK, Carney, The Bravery, The Sounds, Niko Case… Anyway, if there’s passion and determination, he wants to be involved. Oh, and he likes real stuff. Like real people in a real room playing real instruments while being really inspired by each other's presence. If you work with him, he will spend an awful lot of time talking about energy and flow and stuff like that. Because he wants to know who you are as an artist, he’ll use words like “identity” and “impact” and “deliberate” and he will frequently ask you why you’re doing what you’re doing when you could be doing something else. He believes in tube amps, consoles, tape machines, analog hardware, and doing it the hard way. He will make a record in Pro Tools but he doesn’t like it, and he refuses to learn how to program because let’s face it, everybody else can already do better than he could anyway. He also doesn’t like writing in the third person. He thinks it’s weird. Importantly to me Andy teamed up with Mark Rubel in 2020 to create a GoFundMe page to help me save home studios in Music City, which we did. It was probably the greatest honor I've ever received in music. So thanks Andy! https://www.gofundme.com/f/nashville-says-039thank-you039-lij-shaw THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://www.adam-audio.com https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://gracedesign.com/ https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy  https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Get your MBSI plug-in here! https://www.makebelievestudio.com/mbsi  Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Xdwuuxil9TNDbnWErSZgW?si=c49306f760904440 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/468