#250 - Are We Making Vocals Too Perfect? (Pt1)

Learn why one of the most experienced immersive audio engineers believes most people are approaching Dolby Atmos completely wrong, and discover the emotional framework that’s helping artists create deeper connections with their fans. Plus, find out what producers should actually look for when hiring an Atmos engineer and why checking mixes in multiple formats could transform your workflow.Discover:The exact moment in a House of Blues monitor setup that shaped how he thinks about immersive audioWhy he now derives every stereo mix from an Atmos version instead of working the other way aroundThe technical reason Atmos mixes have more dynamic range and why that creates stronger emotional impactWhat happens when artists flip between stereo and Atmos versions on Apple devices and why that changes everythingThe calibration approach that lets him mix without looking at meters for the first time in 20 yearsThe difference between engineers who got into Atmos for work versus those who got into it for the experienceHow he sends preview files to remote artists without requiring them to read instruction manualsWhy he believes car audio will be the thing that separates real Atmos engineers from headphone-only mixersLearn more about Dave: https://staglsound.com/Follow Dave: http://instagram.com/davidstaglBen and Carl's Weekly Inspiration Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1IpnxDVoTY44JBV1j19H4h?si=0f80e020d8ae497eLA Wildfire Relief:Musicares - https://donor.musicares.org/page/lafirereliefWAMTN - https://give.wearemovingtheneedle.org/campaign/654724/donateLearn more about StudioLand - https://www.welcometostudioland.com/a/2147995182/bmyFf8p5Download our free guide: "The Future-Proof Mixing Engineer: 8 Essential Skills for 2024 and Beyond" - https://mpe-ebook.benwallick.com/future-proof-mixingConnect with us:Secret Sonics - https://www.instagram.com/secretsonicsBen - https://www.instagram.com/benwallickmusic/Carl - https://www.instagram.com/carlbahner/Learn more:https://www.benwallick.com/https://www.carlbahner.com/This episode with edited by Gavi Kutliroff - https://www.instagram.com/pleasant_peasant_music/

What happens when a mixing engineer accidentally builds clients in 30 countries while living in Pennsylvania? Carl discovered that global currency differences and economic crashes might be the secret weapon most audio professionals are completely ignoring.Discover:Why COVID permanently shifted the industry away from big city studiosHow global economic instability can actually stabilize a mixing engineer’s incomeHow mixing engineers became accidental project managers for self-produced artistsThe math behind why international diversification beats local word-of-mouthWhen Carl recommends other engineers to look like a hero to their clientsBen and Carl's Weekly Inspiration Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1IpnxDVoTY44JBV1j19H4h?si=0f80e020d8ae497eLA Wildfire Relief:Musicares - https://donor.musicares.org/page/lafirereliefWAMTN - https://give.wearemovingtheneedle.org/campaign/654724/donateLearn more about StudioLand - https://www.welcometostudioland.com/a/2147995182/bmyFf8p5Download our free guide: "The Future-Proof Mixing Engineer: 8 Essential Skills for 2024 and Beyond" - https://mpe-ebook.benwallick.com/future-proof-mixingConnect with us:Secret Sonics - https://www.instagram.com/secretsonicsBen - https://www.instagram.com/benwallickmusic/Carl - https://www.instagram.com/carlbahner/Learn more:https://www.benwallick.com/https://www.carlbahner.com/This episode with edited by Gavi Kutliroff - https://www.instagram.com/pleasant_peasant_music/

What makes a vocal feel perfectly placed… or totally disconnected?This week, we’re getting way past plugin chains and diving into the real work of vocal mixing: context. We’re talking about how to make vocals live in a mix, not just sit on top of it. Because getting a vocal to shine isn’t just about EQ moves - it’s about storytelling, space, and knowing who gets the spotlight in each moment.We explore how we mix vocals completely differently - yet still aim for the same emotional clarity - and even find ourselves (gasp) passionately disagreeing about Vampire Weekend.Discover:Why the instrumental is the first thing we fix when vocals don’t feel rightThe “lead vocal vs. background vocal” question we think is kind of a trapThe one question Carl asks in every section of every songWhen to make vocals felt not heard (and how that changes your mix decisions)Why we don’t always high-pass vocals—and what we do insteadThe subtle sidechain trick that helps your vocals breathe without boosting themWhen sharing reverbs between vocals and instruments makes your mix snap togetherThe difference between using reverb for space vs. characterCarl’s favorite compressor to kill backing vocal transients (in a good way)What mixing has to do with stage plays, ransom letters, and emotional punchBen and Carl's Weekly Inspiration Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1IpnxDVoTY44JBV1j19H4h?si=0f80e020d8ae497eLA Wildfire Relief:Musicares - https://donor.musicares.org/page/lafirereliefWAMTN - https://give.wearemovingtheneedle.org/campaign/654724/donateLearn more about StudioLand - https://www.welcometostudioland.com/a/2147995182/bmyFf8p5Download our free guide: "The Future-Proof Mixing Engineer: 8 Essential Skills for 2024 and Beyond" - https://mpe-ebook.benwallick.com/future-proof-mixingConnect with us:Secret Sonics - https://www.instagram.com/secretsonicsBen - https://www.instagram.com/benwallickmusic/Carl - https://www.instagram.com/carlbahner/Learn more:https://www.benwallick.com/https://www.carlbahner.com/This episode with edited by Gavi Kutliroff - https://www.instagram.com/pleasant_peasant_music/

Quick Announcement: Taking a Week Off to Celebrate 6 Years and 250 Episodes - because we deserve it! 

Two cranky engineers accidentally reveal why your technically perfect vocals sound emotionally deadIn this episode, Ben and Carl dive into why the "mistakes" you're fixing might be the only thing keeping your vocals human. From pre-production psychology to multi-de-esser philosophy, they challenge everything you think you know about processing vocals.Discover:How over-rehearsed bands sabotage their own records (and why pop artists need completely different rules)Reading the room and matching your approach to the artist's psychologyWhy perfect tuning kills emotion and when to leave the "mistakes" inWhy using multiple light processors beats one heavy one (and Carl's controversial multi-de-esser approach)How deliberately bad cuts make choruses hit like trucksBen and Carl's Weekly Inspiration Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1IpnxDVoTY44JBV1j19H4h?si=0f80e020d8ae497eLA Wildfire Relief:Musicares - https://donor.musicares.org/page/lafirereliefWAMTN - https://give.wearemovingtheneedle.org/campaign/654724/donateLearn more about StudioLand - https://www.welcometostudioland.com/a/2147995182/bmyFf8p5Download our free guide: "The Future-Proof Mixing Engineer: 8 Essential Skills for 2024 and Beyond" - https://mpe-ebook.benwallick.com/future-proof-mixingConnect with us:Secret Sonics - https://www.instagram.com/secretsonicsBen - https://www.instagram.com/benwallickmusic/Carl - https://www.instagram.com/carlbahner/Learn more:https://www.benwallick.com/https://www.carlbahner.com/This episode with edited by Gavi Kutliroff - https://www.instagram.com/pleasant_peasant_music/

In this episode, Ben & Carl get into the gritty business of making bass actually work in a mix. Not just technically — but emotionally, musically, and physically. We challenge each other’s instincts, admit when we’re wrong, and debate who should own the sub: the bass or the kick?Spoiler: it depends — but we each have our go-to moves and a few spicy disagreements.Discover:Whether bass should be felt, heard… or bothThe kick vs. bass power struggle (and how we each resolve it)Why sub-bass and electric bass don’t always play niceDynamic EQ, sidechaining, and the art of subtle carvingWhat frequencies actually matter most for bass perception“I Used to Be Cool” — and other producer identity crisesBen and Carl's Weekly Inspiration Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1IpnxDVoTY44JBV1j19H4h?si=0f80e020d8ae497eLA Wildfire Relief:Musicares - https://donor.musicares.org/page/lafirereliefWAMTN - https://give.wearemovingtheneedle.org/campaign/654724/donateLearn more about StudioLand - https://www.welcometostudioland.com/a/2147995182/bmyFf8p5Download our free guide: "The Future-Proof Mixing Engineer: 8 Essential Skills for 2024 and Beyond" - https://mpe-ebook.benwallick.com/future-proof-mixingConnect with us:Secret Sonics - https://www.instagram.com/secretsonicsBen - https://www.instagram.com/benwallickmusic/Carl - https://www.instagram.com/carlbahner/Learn more:https://www.benwallick.com/https://www.carlbahner.com/This episode with edited by Gavi Kutliroff - https://www.instagram.com/pleasant_peasant_music/

We didn’t mean to go this deep—but here we are.This week, we cracked open the bass rabbit hole and just kept falling. What started as a casual chat about tracking techniques quickly turned into a full-on audio archaeology dig. Fingerstyle vs. pick. Flatwounds vs. roundwounds. Phase issues. Amp sims. DI regrets. When to tune your bass like it’s a vocal. And why the right bass might be a $300 violin-shaped Epiphone that makes your P-Bass sound like a string bean.This is Part 1. Next week, we’ll take all this nerdy goodness and show you how it interacts with everything else in the mix—drums, vocals, space, sub, punch, width, grit.Discover:Why we sometimes tune bass like it’s a vocalThe $300 Epiphone that destroyed a Fender P-Bass in a shootoutHow adding chorus to bass can actually make it sound tighterThe reason your 808s keep disappearing—and how to fix itFingerstyle, pick, thumb, palm mute: how your hand technique makes the biggest differenceBen and Carl's Weekly Inspiration Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1IpnxDVoTY44JBV1j19H4h?si=0f80e020d8ae497eLA Wildfire Relief:Musicares - https://donor.musicares.org/page/lafirereliefWAMTN - https://give.wearemovingtheneedle.org/campaign/654724/donateLearn more about StudioLand - https://www.welcometostudioland.com/a/2147995182/bmyFf8p5Download our free guide: "The Future-Proof Mixing Engineer: 8 Essential Skills for 2024 and Beyond" - https://mpe-ebook.benwallick.com/future-proof-mixingConnect with us:Secret Sonics - https://www.instagram.com/secretsonicsBen - https://www.instagram.com/benwallickmusic/Carl - https://www.instagram.com/carlbahner/Learn more:https://www.benwallick.com/https://www.carlbahner.com/This episode with edited by Gavi Kutliroff - https://www.instagram.com/pleasant_peasant_music/

Think there's only one "right way" to record and mix drums? Think again. In this revealing episode, Ben and Carl dive deep into their completely opposite approaches to drum production. Despite working from opposite ends of the spectrum, they discover they're ultimately chasing the same emotional result. This conversation might just give you permission to try that "crazy" technique you've been hesitant to experiment with.Discover:Why conventional drum recording approaches might be limiting your creative options and sonic resultsThe counterintuitive "songs for the deaf" method of tracking drums one element at a time (and why it creates more flexibility than traditional methods)How recording drums last (after vocals!) can dramatically improve how your drum parts support the songWhy sympathetic snare vibrations are crucial for creating believable drum soundsThe critical importance of phase alignment when layering kick drums and using samplesWhy cutting frequencies from sample drums often yields better results than boostingHow focusing on kick and snare can free you from obsessing over every other element in the mixBen and Carl's Weekly Inspiration Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1IpnxDVoTY44JBV1j19H4h?si=0f80e020d8ae497eReferences:dxRevive - https://www.accentize.com/dxrevive/LA Wildfire Relief:Musicares - https://donor.musicares.org/page/lafirereliefWAMTN - https://give.wearemovingtheneedle.org/campaign/654724/donateLearn more about StudioLand - https://www.welcometostudioland.com/a/2147995182/bmyFf8p5Download our free guide: "The Future-Proof Mixing Engineer: 8 Essential Skills for 2024 and Beyond" - https://mpe-ebook.benwallick.com/future-proof-mixingConnect with us:Secret Sonics - https://www.instagram.com/secretsonicsBen - https://www.instagram.com/benwallickmusic/Carl - https://www.instagram.com/carlbahner/Learn more:https://www.benwallick.com/https://www.carlbahner.com/This episode with edited by Gavi Kutliroff - https://www.instagram.com/pleasant_peasant_music/

In this "nerdy episode," Carl and Ben dive into a topic that affects many producers but rarely gets attention: updating your mixing templates. They explore how these living documents should evolve alongside your workflow, highlighting how small adjustments can lead to significant time savings and creative benefits.Discover:Why templates should evolve rather than remain static for yearsHow to recognize when you're repeatedly making the same changesWhy it's so easy to postpone template maintenance despite its benefitsFinding balance between template efficiency and creative flexibilityThe dangers of adding new plugins to templates before properly evaluating themSpecific examples of template updates they've found valuable in their own workBen and Carl's Weekly Inspiration Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1IpnxDVoTY44JBV1j19H4h?si=0f80e020d8ae497eLA Wildfire Relief:Musicares - https://donor.musicares.org/page/lafirereliefWAMTN - https://give.wearemovingtheneedle.org/campaign/654724/donateLearn more about StudioLand - https://www.welcometostudioland.com/a/2147995182/bmyFf8p5Download our free guide: "The Future-Proof Mixing Engineer: 8 Essential Skills for 2024 and Beyond" - https://mpe-ebook.benwallick.com/future-proof-mixingConnect with us:Secret Sonics - https://www.instagram.com/secretsonicsBen - https://www.instagram.com/benwallickmusic/Carl - https://www.instagram.com/carlbahner/Learn more:https://www.benwallick.com/https://www.carlbahner.com/This episode with edited by Gavi Kutliroff - https://www.instagram.com/pleasant_peasant_music/

Raising your rates sounds simple… until you actually try to do it. In this special episode,Carl breaks down the real reasons studio pros avoid increasing their prices - and why most of those reasons are based on fear, not facts.Carl pulls from 20+ years of experience helping producers and engineers build sustainable careers outside the traditional music industry hubs. With practical examples and thoughtful analogies, this episode will give you the confidence - and the language - to navigate money conversations without feeling like a sellout.Discover:Why being “affordable” might be hurting your career more than helping itThe truth about what scares clients off (hint: it’s not your rate)A simple script you can use to raise your rates with past clientsHow to stop making assumptions and start making informed decisionsWhy big credits don’t guarantee clients - and what actually doesIf you’ve ever felt awkward talking money, this episode is a must-listen.Ben and Carl's Weekly Inspiration Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1IpnxDVoTY44JBV1j19H4h?si=0f80e020d8ae497eLA Wildfire Relief:Musicares - https://donor.musicares.org/page/lafirereliefWAMTN - https://give.wearemovingtheneedle.org/campaign/654724/donateLearn more about StudioLand - https://www.welcometostudioland.com/a/2147995182/bmyFf8p5Download our free guide: "The Future-Proof Mixing Engineer: 8 Essential Skills for 2024 and Beyond" - https://mpe-ebook.benwallick.com/future-proof-mixingConnect with us:Secret Sonics - https://www.instagram.com/secretsonicsBen - https://www.instagram.com/benwallickmusic/Carl - https://www.instagram.com/carlbahner/Learn more:https://www.benwallick.com/https://www.carlbahner.com/This episode with edited by Gavi Kutliroff - https://www.instagram.com/pleasant_peasant_music/