Master Your Mix Podcast

Rafa Sardina is a Los Angeles-based 18-Time Grammy and Latin Grammy-winning producer/engineer and mixer. He has built an impressive list of clients over the years, from D’Angelo & The Vanguard, Elvis Costello And The Roots, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Placido Domingo, Camila Cabello, Miguel, Lady Gaga, Clare Fischer Big Band, Alejandro Sanz, Calle 13, Natalia Lafourcade, Harry Connick Jr., Michael Bublé, Arturo O’Farrill with The Afrocuban Jazz Big Band Orchestra & Chucho Valdes, Tim McGraw and many more.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:Working as an intern to get into the industryThe importance of constantly learningDiversifying your musical genresTaking inspiration from multiple styles of musicCalibrating your ears and emotions for mixingUsing intuition to guide your mixesWhat to do when you’re feeling stuck with your tracksBattling self-doubtBuilding naming systems for your sessions to keep organized and inspiredWorking with Michael JacksonCreating depth and width in a mixWhy you should start your mixes with a focus on the center channelUsing automation early in your processAutomating compressors to create movement throughout a songUsing multiple EQs on a single signal chainLearning to hear the differences between different plugins/hardwareTo learn more about Rafa Sardina, visit: https://rafasardina.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.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ 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/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej  Have questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to questions@masteryourmix.comPlease leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Thomas Avery is a producer, composer, mixer, engineer and musician currently working in Austin, Texas. Avery produces commercial compositions for clients such as CNN and AT&T, and works with musical artists like Sumilan & Tunewelders.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:Writing music for CNNComposing music to visualsCreating energy in 3-second audio clipsRepurposing musical ideasDealing with writer’s blockCoping with rejectionKnowing when you’re done working on your musicMaking mix revisionsGetting paid to composeCollecting royalties for your musicHow to become a professional composerTo learn more about Thomas Avery, visit: http://thomasaverymusic.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.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ 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/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej  Have questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to questions@masteryourmix.comPlease leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

John Burke is an engineer based in northeast Ohio who has worked in multiple genres ranging from pop, rap, and metal. He also runs the website, perfectvocalsacademy.com where he helps people with learning how to record, edit, and mix their vocal tracks.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:Letting your market choose youEditing vocalsTiming vs tuning: Which one to fix first?Autotune vs. Melodyne: Which is better?Processing background vocals differently than lead vocalsThe tools everyone should have for editing vocalsShould you remove breaths?Fixing vocal plosivesStretching vs nudging vocalsRemoving background noisesTips for recording clean vocal tracksHow to find the key of your songWhen and where to use clip gainMultiband compression vs. regular compression vs. dynamic EQJohn’s go-to vocal chainTo learn more about John Burke, visit: https://perfectvocalsacademy.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.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ 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/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej  Have questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to questions@masteryourmix.comPlease leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Grammy-nominated recording engineer Steve Genewick has thirty years of experience, both as a studio and live recording and mix engineer. He has had the pleasure of working at legendary recording studios around the world such as Capitol Studios, United Recording, Village Recorders in LA, Abbey Road Studios in London, and La Fabrique in France.Steve has worked primarily out of Capitol Studios as a staff engineer since 1994. At Capitol Studios he has worked with countless artists such as Elton John, Bastille, and Trisha Yearwood. Steve was also amongst the first of studio mixers to begin mixing music in Dolby Atmos, working with artists such as Beck, Gregory Porter, LL Cool J and Nial Horan and on the popular video game Apex Legends. In 2017 he received the Pensado Award for Best Recording Engineer, and he was a part of the Universal Audio and Capitol Studios Team that won a TEC Award for the Capitol Chambers plugin at the 2020 NAMM Conference.For the last 20 years, Steve has had the great honor of collaborating with 23-time Grammy award-winning engineer/producer Al Schmitt, working with artists such as Diana Krall, Chris Botti, Gladys Knight, Neil Young, George Benson, Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach and Paul McCartney. Steve has also joined Al for Mix With the Masters seminars for the past seven years in addition to their collaboration on their instructional film “The Art of Recording a Big Band”.When not working at Capitol, Steve works independently at numerous major recording studios in Los Angeles or at his home mixing studio. He has had the pleasure of working with the best in the business and has always delivered to the highest of standards.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:Working at Capitol StudiosLearning in school vs. real-world experienceHow to work your way up the ranks in a big studioWhat makes a great assistant engineer?Being adaptableHow to be prepared for studio sessionsWhy the studio industry is actually the hospitality industryLearning to speak to musicians in their languageWhy engineering rock records isn’t different than working in any other genreWorking with the legendary Al SchmittWork/life balanceBeing one of the first Atmos engineersRemixing classic albums for AtmosTo learn more about Steve Genewick, visit: http://stevegenewick.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.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ 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/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej  Have questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to questions@masteryourmix.comPlease leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Born in Philadelphia, 1984; Matthew was raised by his mother, a doll sculptor, and his step-father, a jazz pianist. He studied clarinet, piano, drums, guitar and voice, but his favorite instrument was a Roland Groovebox 303 his step-father bought for him as a birthday gift.

 Matthew attended Sarah Lawrence College for Musical Composition and Theory, where, as a freshman, he became the head sound technician. His job required recording and rendering all the concerts held on campus. While Matthew loved writing music, he soon discovered he loved recording music even more. In 2005, Matthew left school to pursue his interests as a recording engineer. In 2007 he took up a job at Studio E in Philadelphia, where he recorded overdubs for the Grammy Nominated album “The Othello Syndrome” by Uri Caine. Matthew worked as an in house engineer until 2010 when he decided to begin freelancing. From that point his focus shifted from recording work to mixing.Between 2010 to 2016 he worked with high profile clientele such as Ronnie Spector, Arrested Development, SisQo’, Sonny Digital, and Dizzee Rascal. In 2013, Matthew mixed the album “Rosso” by King Midas which won the Norwegian Spellemann Award for Best Rock Album: 2013.
Matthew moved to Los Angeles in 2016 where he partnered with Kanye West’s engineer Andrew Dawson running a commercial recording studio. A year later, Weiss became a technical consultant for the construction of a recording studio owned by multi-platinum recording artist Akon. Recognizing Matthew’s talent, Akon asked him to be his personal recordist and mixing engineer. In 2019, Matthew received a Platinum plaque for engineering “Comentale” by Ozuna and Akon.

Matthew has recorded and mixed four albums and hundreds of B-sides with Akon. He has also mixed for artists Swae Lee, Jeremih, Chris Brown, Tory Lanez, Nicky Minaj, Becky G, Anitta, Rick Ross, Farruko, and Ozuna.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:Transitioning from live sound to in-studioHow to stand out as a studio internGetting great vocalsGetting vocals to feel locked in rhythmicallyUsing AutotuneHow to use headphone cues to help capture better performancesSetting up your room to hear accurate low-endWorking with pre-processed samplesAnalyzing your processes and learning to simplifyTo learn more about Matthew Weiss, visit: http://weiss-sound.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.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ 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/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej  Have questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to questions@masteryourmix.comPlease leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Mat is a producer, mixing, and mastering engineer, and co-owner of Mobtown Studios in Baltimore.Mat has spent the better part of his life fascinated by recording and manipulating sound. Known as a “musician’s producer”, he’s a drummer, is analog synth-obsessed and takes great pride in his collection of theremins, vocoders and vintage tube gear. He’s worked with an eclectic and diverse range of artists, including Future Islands (Thrill Jockey / 4AD), Waka Flocka Flame (Warner Bros.), Sun Club (ATO), Mark degli Antoni (David Byrne/Soul Coughing) and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Mat earned a BS from the renowned Music Recording program at Middle Tennessee State University in Nashville. His career spans 20 years, including stints at Warner Bros. Records and DC101.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:Using analog vs. digital gear for masteringHow working with limitations will improve your audio skillsMixing and mastering on headphonesThe secret to mixes that translateWhat to listen for with reference tracksBattling imposter syndromeAvoiding debt while starting a studioNiching down your services and genresCreating intake forms to help give you direction and to reduce revisionsKnowing when to take a minimalist approach with your workMastering software vs traditional DAWsMastering to specific levels: Does it matter how loud your masters are?Do you need expensive monitors/cables to hear mixes properly?To learn more about Mat Leffler-Schulman, visit: https://matlefflerschulman.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.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ 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/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej  Have questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to questions@masteryourmix.comPlease leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

John Congleton is an American Grammy Award-winning record producer, engineer, mixer, writer and musician who has worked with artists such as St. Vincent, Wallows, Everything Everything, Bully, Angel Olsen, Future Islands, The Decemberists, Goldfrapp, Sharon Van Etten and many, many more.In addition to his production work, Congleton has fronted the alternative rock band the Paper Chase, and writes music for a newer project entitled the Nighty Nite. He has also written music for various other projects, including MTV's Jackass, the Discovery Channel, Friday Night Lights, Evil Lives Here, and several Halloween sound effects/music CDs.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:Working with Steve AlbiniMaking recordings sound exactly how it sounds in the roomGetting sounds at the source vs. fixing/manipulating them in postUsing headphone mixes to help guide musicians to get the right performancesWhat to do when you can’t get the sound you’re afterBalancing the needs of a producer vs. the artistRecording fat snare soundsReamping drumsAnalog vs digital recordingFighting the urge to be a control freak while recording vs. keeping things simpleGetting punchy kick drums without relying on top-endTo learn more about John Congleton, visit: https://www.nextwavemanagement.com/john-congleton/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.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ 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/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej  Have questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to questions@masteryourmix.comPlease leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Frederic Archambault is a Producer, Mixer, Songwriter, Musician and Engineer from Los Angeles, CA. He is best known for his work with Avenged Sevenfold lending his hand to production on their albums City Of Evil and Waking The Fallen. He has also worked with the likes of Atreyu, Deftones, Panic! At The Disco. He produces most of his projects at his home studio in Los Angeles called Studio 5A.  Most recently, Fred has completed production and mixing the music for the NBC TV Broadcast Last Call with Carson Daly. In the 7 years at Carson Daly he has worked on 100’s of artists from Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran, M-83 and Weezer to name a few.  In that span of time it is estimated that he has mixed over 1500 songs for network broadcast. At the 2015 Pensado Awards, Fred won two awards: Excellence In Live or Front Of House Sound and Outstanding Achievement in Sound for Visual Medium for Last Call with Carson Daly. Currently, Fred is the Manager for Audio Mastering operations for the Content Management Team at NBCUniversal. He oversees and supports a team responsible for global audio operations for all things TV and film.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:Collecting hard vs. soft assets as an engineer: What they are and why you need themThe importance of consistencyDiversifying your skillsThe future of immersive audio for musicIs audio fidelity really important?How to set up a guitar to capture the perfect toneTuning tricks that ensure you have tight-sounding tracksMicing tips for guitarsFred’s white noise trick for achieving perfect phaseCombining multiple ampsHow to use a DI to help make editing easierThe importance of the headphone mixGetting polished vocalsHow to create awesome vocal stacksWorking on broadcast productionsMixing live performancesTo learn more about Frederic Archambault, visit: https://www.fredarchambault.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.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ 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/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej  Have questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to questions@masteryourmix.comPlease leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Taylor Larson is a record producer, mixer, and audio engineer who has worked with artists such as Asking Alexandria, Periphery, From First to Last, I See Stars, Veil of Maya, Within Temptation, The Dangerous Summer, Conditions, and Sky Eats Airplane. He is also the guitarist of The Evening.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:Making sacrifices to work in audioUsing reference tracks to make you a better engineerHow to create energy in a mixRecording drums that hit hardThe secret tip John Feldmann uses for recording drums that sound bigBreaking the “rules” of audioCreating sustain for your drumsA simple trick for getting ghost notes to be clearly heardWhy dynamics aren’t always importantTo learn more about Taylor Larson’s company, MixWave, visit: https://www.mixwave.net/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.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ 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/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej  Have questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to questions@masteryourmix.comPlease leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

Mike Kalajian is the owner and chief engineer of Rogue Planet Mastering in New York’s Hudson Valley, where he’s worked with artists including All Time Low, Saosin, The Devil Wears Prada, Saves The Day and Emmure among many others.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:Balancing your focus between the big picture and little detailsDetermining the value of your timeTransitioning from being a mixer to masteringThe importance of having consistency in your processOptimizing your systems to work fasterMike’s go-to tool for project managementIncorporating social impact into your businessBuilding a mastering studioPicking monitors for masteringUsing speaker calibration softwareTo learn more about Mike Kalajian, visit: https://www.rogueplanetmastering.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.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ 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/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej  Have questions you’d like answered on the show?Send them to questions@masteryourmix.comPlease leave a rating and review:https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!