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Alex Allinson is a recording and mixing engineer and co-owner of The Bridge Sound & Stage in Cambridge, Massachusetts: a studio built inside the former home of the legendary Fort Apache Studios, where Radiohead and Dinosaur Jr. once recorded. Alex started out as an intern and worked his way up to partner, and now runs sessions that swing from shoegaze and noise rock to a Charles Mingus tribute record for a Berklee jazz professor, often in the same week. Genre-agnostic by philosophy, he brings the same story-first, dynamics-forward mixing approach to whatever walks through the door and has become one of the most active advocates for Boston's independent music scene along the way. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Letting each experience inform the nextWhy reading the room matters more than the mic you choosePre-production as a trust builderWhat separates the interns who move up from the ones who don'tHis foundation-first approach to building a mixThe importance of psychology and recording to get the best out of peopleKnowing when to take breaks during mixingHow to pinpoint when you should stop a mix To learn more about Alex Allinson, visit: https://www.thebridgesoundstage.com/alex Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio: Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to [email protected] Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Ed Donnelly is a multi-instrumentalist, recording engineer, record producer, and activist from Pioneertown, CA. He has worked with Willie Nelson, Matchbox Twenty, The Cult, Gladys Knight, Willie Nelson, Smashing Pumpkins, Del McCoury, Nathan Jacques, OK Go, Exodus, Tom Morello, O.A.R., Madness, The Crystal Method, Deadmau5, Cole Gallagher, Zac Brown, Crowded House, Marc Cohn, CrysP Tyger, Bighead Todd and the Monsters, Jake Shimabukuro, Barenaked Ladies, Tsar, Killola and more. Donnelly regularly performs with Little Silver Hearts and records with GhostsDream. Little known fact: He previously held Top Secret Security Clearance with the Department of State and Q Clearance from the Department of Energy. He currently runs The Barber’s Basement Recording Studio in Highland Park and the Electric Desperado Studio in Pioneertown, CA. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: The live-show habit that made him a calmer, more confident studio engineerHow Ed decides which mix decisions are worth agonizing over and which ones aren'tWhy pre-production is the most important part of the production processHow thorough pre-production creates more room for spontaneous moments, not lessWhy mistakes often make a record sound betterThe volume trick he uses to tell whether a mix is actually balancedWhy he tells keyboard players to stop playing with their left handWhy younger artists are asking for rougher, less polished production these days To learn more about Ed Donnelly, visit: https://www.barbersbasement.com/ Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio: Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot Delay: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25 Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to [email protected] Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Originally from Rochester, NY, producer/engineer Neal Cappellino is the owner of The Doghouse Studio in Nashville, TN. A lifelong musician, he completed his formal education with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (’87). Neal is a 5-time Grammy® Award recipient with a discography that includes Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Robert Plant, Vince Gill, T Bone Burnett, Avicii, and Kygo. He is a member of The Recording Academy, the Audio Engineering Society, and Leadership Music Class of ’15. He has served on the Advisory Board for the School of Arts & Sciences at WPI and was the 2022 recipient of their Robert H. Goddard Award for outstanding achievement in the professional field. He previously served on the board of directors for The Melodic Caring Project, a nonprofit organization that dedicates live-streamed music events to the hospital rooms of critically ill children. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Why your monitors don't need to sound impressive; they just need to make you do the right thingThe listening check Neal runs on every mix before he calls it done, away from his main roomHow he actually tracks down what's making a mix sound muddy, instead of guessing with EQHow he knows when a mix has gone past the point where more tweaking is helpingThe headphone setup he built specifically for Alison Krauss, and why it matteredThe difference between giving a vocalist real feedback and just telling them it sounds goodThe one question he asks himself before making any move on a mixHow to record great vocalsThe psychology of coaching a vocalist To learn more about Neal Cappellino, visit https://www.nealcappellino.com/ Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio: Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to [email protected] Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Damian Taylor is a Grammy-nominated producer, mixer, programmer and songwriter who spent six years as Björk's personal engineer and programmer, working on Volta and Biophilia and touring the world with her on stage. His credits include The Prodigy's Invaders Must Die, The Killers' Battle Born, Arcade Fire, The Temper Trap, Odette, Bomba Estéreo's Grammy-nominated Deja, and Dizzy's Juno-winning Baby Teeth. Known for a hand-built approach to editing and sound design that was years ahead of standard workflows, he now teaches producers through The Complete Producer Network and his Mix Accelerator Process. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Why imposter syndrome is a sign you careThe legendary producer who still needed a pep talk before sessionsFeeling qualified enough to release musicWhy done is better than perfectHis "Preset Roulette" approach to building creativityWorking with artists like Björk and The ProdigyHaving structure for the benefit of creativityThe signal Damian uses to know a song is finished To learn more about Damian Taylor, visit: https://www.youtube.com/@HereIsDamian Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio: Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to [email protected] Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Peter Craft is the owner and chief engineer of Boxer Lodge, a destination recording studio in the hills above Napa Valley. A former software engineer and patent-holding tech architect, Craft left that career to build records full time, first from a San Francisco garage and now from a purpose-built studio centered on a 32-channel API 1608 console. He's engineered and mixed for Noelle & The Deserters, New Earth Farmers, and Strange Cities, and in 2024 hosted a session for reunited trip-hop pioneers Halou. A lifelong drummer, Craft often plays on the records he's running the board for. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Owning a destination studioLeaving a successful job to follow your passionsTaking a chance on yourself to lean into your passionsThe importance of connecting to your communityThe pros and cons of niching downThe one question he asks before touching a single faderWhy copying a famous mixer's exact chain rarely worksWhat two mixers with completely opposite styles taught him about staying in his laneThe specific mistake that made his guitars sound thin for yearsFeeling connected to analog gearKnowing your genres before trackingHaving a North Star to followCreating contrast in a mixChoosing reverbs for vibe versus filling spaceWhy piling on reverb can shrink your mix instead of opening it upBeing intentional with every decisionHis parallel vocal chain To learn more about Peter Craft, visit: boxerlodge.com Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio: Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to [email protected] Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Chris Collier is a producer, mixer, mastering engineer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Las Vegas, operating as CMC21 Productions. Across nearly three decades in hard rock and metal, he's engineered and produced for Korn, earning a promotion to producer on 2022's Requiem after years behind the board on the band's records, plus Prong, Lynch Mob, KXM, and Whitesnake, whose classic catalog he's remixed. On Mick Mars' 2024 solo debut, The Other Side of Mars, he played bass on every track in addition to mixing and mastering it. He's currently mixing and producing new material for Nonpoint, Society1, and Gunshine. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Why being a "button pusher" gets you replacedThe real line between an engineer's input and a producer's inputKeeping a band's identity intact while still pushing them forwardWhat changes in the room the moment a band actually trusts youWhy quad-tracking guitars usually backfiresThe sidechain trick Chris uses instead of EQ to fix a fighting kick and bassWhy fewer tracks means fewer decisions laterBalancing speed vs qualityA simple pre-record exercise that gets two guitarists playing tightHow much editing is too much editing on a guitar take To learn more about Chris Collier, visit: https://www.cmc21productions.com/ Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio: Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to [email protected] Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Tim Dolbear is an award-winning mixing and mastering engineer with more than 25 years of professional experience and the owner of Eclectica Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, which he founded in 1999. He specializes in music mixing, mastering, and audio post-production for film, television, podcasts, and streaming, delivering high-resolution stereo, surround, and Dolby Atmos mixes for clients around the world. Tim’s work has appeared on productions for NBC, Discovery, Prime Video, HBO, Netflix, and YouTube, including projects with millions of views. He has also mixed records for Grammy and Dove Award-winning artists. Through Eclectica Studios, Tim combines decades of experience with modern production techniques to create polished, high-impact audio that translates across everything from theatrical and broadcast environments to streaming platforms and Apple Digital Masters. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Why moving Eclectica Studios across three cities taught Tim more about client psychology than gearThe one thing that made clients trust him before he ever proved himselfHow to make good money off of FiverrThe unusual gig idea that got him noticed in a flooded marketWhat his response time has to do with how many new clients he getsWhat separates a Fiverr gig people actually search for from one that gets lost in the noiseThe pricing mistake Tim says cost him the most early in his careerAutomating the boring parts of your processWhy "boring" work like corporate video mixing quietly became his most profitable nicheThe line Tim won't cross when a client tries to take a Fiverr relationship off-platform To learn more about Tim Dolbear, visit: timdolbear.com Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio: Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot Delay: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25 Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to [email protected] Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Howard Bilerman is a Grammy-nominated musician, sound engineer & record producer who has been recording bands for over 30 years. As co-owner & head engineer of the hotel2tango recording studio in Montreal, Bilerman has enjoyed working with some of Canada’s most talented artists, as well as others from the USA, the UK, France, Italy, Scotland, Africa, Spain, Ireland, Switzerland, Portugal & Australia. These include Leonard Cohen, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, The Arcade Fire, Coeur de Pirate, Peter Peter, U.S. Girls, Charlotte Cornfield, The Weather Station, Thalia Zedek, Vic Chesnutt, A Silver Mt. Zion, Basia Bulat, Nap Eyes, Murray Lightburn, Lhasa de Sela, British Sea Power, Bassekou Kouyate, Sam Roberts, Patrick Watson, Adam Cohen, Lou Doillon, The Webb Sisters, The Dears, Wolf Parade, Titus Andronicus, and many more. He has been credited on over 500 records to date, including as an engineer on Leonard Cohen’s Grammy-winning song “You Want It Darker.” Bilerman has been a regular faculty member at Banff Centre, having helped to create their groundbreaking Indie Residency & Singer Songwriter programs. Bilerman’s recordings have received international critical praise, and the hotel2tango is seen by many as being at the center of Montreal’s independent musical community. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Troubleshooting audio for videoWhat happens when you record with only 4 tracks instead of 40The one job you have as a producerHow effects can date a recordWhat "convenience over sound quality" actually means when picking toolsWhen gear selection actually does matter (and when it doesn't)Why a track that sounds bad in solo can be exactly right in the mixThe crowded-room analogy for why too many tracks kill clarityWhy using the same compressor on everything erases identity instead of building itThe difference between corrective and artistic effects, and why mixing up the two matters To learn more about Howard Bilerman, visit: https://howardbilerman.com/ Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio: Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot Delay: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25 Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to [email protected] Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Eric Stenman is an LA-based producer, mixer, and engineer whose four-decade credit list runs from Deftones, Thrice, and Weezer to Daniel Caesar's Grammy-nominated Freudian and every AWOLNATION album since 2011's Megalithic Symphony. A decade running Red Bull Studios in Los Angeles gave way to overseeing AWOLNATION's own Malibu studio, where Stenman has helped engineer some of alternative rock's biggest, guitar-built (and famously bass-guitar-free) low end. Most recently, he's stepped from behind the board into the band itself, co-founding the metallic-hardcore project The Barbarians of California with longtime collaborator Aaron Bruno. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Why "I'll fix it in the mix" usually means more work later, not lessHow Eric commits to compression and tone while tracking, instead of capturing it flat and safeWhat changes once you start picturing the finished mix while you're recordingWhy more experience means fewer decisions get pushed down the roadHow this mindset shift cuts down on retracking and rebuilding sounds from scratchHow treating a song as a whole (instead of piece by piece) keeps a mix from falling apartWhy he avoids soloing individual tracks during a mixHow stepping away from a mix for a week changes what you hear when you come backHow he decides a mix is done, even when a client keeps sending notesHow Eric fills low end without ever touching a real bass guitarWhat "translating" actually means across car speakers, earbuds, and Bluetooth speakers To learn more about Eric Stenman, visit: https://ericstenman.com/ Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio: Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to [email protected] Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Jon Estes is a Nashville producer, mixing engineer, and multi-instrumentalist who works roughly 200 sessions a year, often as bassist, engineer, and producer on the same record. He's played on Kesha's Grammy-nominated Rainbow and Robyn Hitchcock's self-titled album, and produced and mixed full-length records for Jessie Baylin, Dara Tucker, and Langhorne Slim, most recently engineering and mixing rising country breakout Waylon Wyatt's 2026 debut Dustpiles. He also scores for TV (NBC, HBO, Disney) and video games (Fortnite). Estes runs a hybrid analog/digital studio in Nashville built around a 1" tape machine and a deep collection of vintage instruments. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: The road to becoming a session musicianThe plugin Jon calls his best mixing hack, and it's not an EQ or a compressorWhat it actually means when you cringe listening back to your own mixWhy sending a mix out too soon has "no reward," even on a deadlineWhy Jon calls some of the most famous mixes in music history "insanely bad," and doesn't mean it as an insultWhy he sometimes works to make a mix sound worse, on purposeHow to force objectivity when you’re wearing multiple hats on a projectThe reason a different guitar or a different pick can beat any plugin move To learn more about Jon Estes, visit: https://jonestes.com/ Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio: Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to [email protected] Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Craig Parker Adams is a Los Angeles-based recording and mixing engineer, producer, and guitarist with over 25 years of studio experience at his Hollywood-based Winslow Ct. Studio. He's contributed to 8 Grammy-nominated projects with 2 wins across Blues, Folk, Americana, and Latin Pop, including co-producing and engineering Dave & Phil Alvin's Common Ground and recording Gaby Moreno's ¡Spangled! with Van Dyke Parks. Since 2014, he's served as the exclusive mixing engineer for the Zappa Family Trust, overseeing archival releases drawn from Frank Zappa's legendary Vault, including The Hot Rats Sessions and The Mothers 1971. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Why he staggers when each band member walks in the doorThe moment a legendary drummer got offended by his notes, and what happened nextWhat it's like mixing for a listener who catches every single mistakeWhat goes into mixing over a thousand Frank Zappa songsWhy adding your own take can quietly work against someone else's visionThe real reason clients send referrals before they've even heard the mixWhy he had to learn an entirely new recording system in five days To learn more about Craig Parker Adams, visit: https://craigparkeradams.com/ and http://www.winslowctstudio.com/ Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio: Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to [email protected] Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Howie Beck is a Toronto-based mixer and producer whose credits include Feist, Barenaked Ladies, Ron Sexsmith, Walk Off The Earth, and Charlotte Day Wilson, whose breakout single "Work" he mixed and co-produced. Before turning to mixing full-time, Beck built a cult following as a solo artist, writing, performing, and recording every instrument on albums like Hollow and How to Fall Down in Public himself. He's been nominated for three Juno Awards in three separate categories: Album, Recording Engineer, and Producer of the Year, a rare spread that reflects his range. He now runs Studio H, a Dolby-approved Atmos mix room in Toronto's Queen West. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: How four-track and ADAT recording forced him to commit to musical decisionsWhy unlimited tracks can work against the editing process instead of helping itThe Prince song with no bass on it, and what it says about restraintHow Howie stays objective when working on his own musicWhy he goes to tape for certain projects and what it changes sonicallyHis drums-first mixing workflow and the reasoning behind itHow he approaches vocal depth and space to make vocals feel forward in a mixThe tradeoffs of heavy vocal compression (breaths, sibilance, mouth pops)Why he pulls up an artist's rough mix before he opens the real sessionHow demoitis shows up more today than it used to, and how he talks clients through itTraining his ears and body to trust his monitoring environment at different volumes To learn more about Howie Beck, visit: https://www.howiebeck.com/ Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio: Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to [email protected] Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Brendan Dekora is a Los Angeles-based mixing engineer and producer whose two-decade climb through top studios like EastWest culminated in a full-time engineering post for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, earning him a Grammy for his work on Pixar's Soul score. His credits also include Foo Fighters' Concrete and Gold, Steven Wilson's Hand. Cannot. Erase., Billy Idol, Danzig, Muse, and Deafheaven. He now mixes and produces independently from his home studio, focused on rock and art-rock artists. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: The two questions he asks every client before touching a single faderWhat he does when a client hands him references that contradict each otherHow to pick the right reference tracksWhy "I don't want to sound like anyone else" is the hardest brief he getsHow he decides whether to keep a "wrong" sound in a mix or fix itWhy he considers "putting his own stamp on everything" a mistake, not a selling pointWorking with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross on Nine Inch Nails tracks and film scoresHow he balances his own creative instincts against what the artist is actually asking for To learn more about Brendan Dekora, visit: https://www.brendandekora.com/ Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio: Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to [email protected] Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Steven Lee Tracy is the owner, producer, and mixing engineer at Saint Cecilia Studios in Tucson, Arizona. Before he was behind the board, he was on stage: a decade as guitarist and songwriter in Seattle indie-rock band The Myriad, whose single "A Clean Shot" became MTV's most-played video in spring 2008 after the band won MTV2's Dew Circuit Breakout. That artist-first background shapes his mixing today; a self-described "production-style" approach built for records that sound like the artist's favorite albums, not just a polite balance of tracks. At Saint Cecilia, Tracy has worked with acts spanning Seattle indie rock to Tucson's Latin-music scene, including Orkesta Mendoza and the Morrissey tribute act Mexrrissey, alongside sync and commercial work for MTV, Adobe, and Axon. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Why your 50th listen is lying to you about what's wrong with the mixThe one thing Steven does in the first 30 seconds of every new songWhy he builds drums, bass, and vocals in the same order every single timeWhat separates a song that needs help from a song you just need to get out of the way ofThe mistake Steven made early on that he'd undo if he could start overWhy lower overhead led to better work, not less of itWhat changed the moment he stopped saying “yes” to every opportunity To learn more about Steven Lee Tracy, visit: https://www.saintceciliastudios.com/ Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio: Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot Delay: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25 Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to [email protected] Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Joe Caithness is a mastering, transfer, and restoration engineer based in Nottingham, UK, with over 18 years of experience and more than 1,500 completed projects to his name. He's become the go-to engineer for video game soundtrack vinyl and digital releases, having mastered over 260 titles for Laced Records alone, including Resident Evil, Bloodborne, Borderlands, and Dead Cells. In 2025, he mastered the vinyl edition of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for Nintendo and Laced Records the first official Nintendo physical music release in the West in generations and worked on the physical rollout of the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 soundtrack, which went on to hit #1 on the physical albums charts in both the UK and France. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Why passion for music matters when becoming an audio engineerWhy mastering attracts introvertsWhat mastering for video game soundtracks involvesThe specific technical challenges of turning a game score into a listenable album releaseThe tools Joe uses to rescue overprocessed, hard-limited mixes/mastersWhy Joe starts with his limiter before touching any EQ or compressionThe gain-normalization step he does before any processing and why it makes everything easierWhy mastering is really about context and consistency, not stereo processingHow he creates cohesion across 9+ hours of wildly varied audioHis approach to vinyl QC Why he tells clients not to listen to their masters in their studio To learn more about Joe Caithness, visit: https://www.joecaithnessmastering.com/ Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/ Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.comThe Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio: Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/ ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25 Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJejYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to [email protected] Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!