We've had an absolute blast making this podcast. It's given us ample opportunity to learn. To teach. To meet new people around the world. Now it's time move on....but not before we reminisce and, of course, share some favorite tips and tricks. Where to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702Book a free coaching call: https://calendly.com/diyrg/diyrg45

Ever wish you could just use your OWN drum kit sounds in a VI or sampler like Slate Trigger?Ben did. On this episode he talks about how to do it and what he learned.Where to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702Book a free coaching call: https://calendly.com/diyrg/diyrg45

After more than a decade of using Pro Tools, Vadim has switched to Reaper as his DAW. At the time of this recording he'd had less than 2 weeks and only 1 mix under his belt but the impact was clear: Reaper was going to be his new DAW for the next decade. On this episode you'll learn:Why Vadim finally decided to try another DAW10 of the features that caught his attention in the first 10 days of useHow Reaper stacks up to Pro Tools and Studio OneConsiderations for whether YOU should switch DAWsWhere to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702Book a free coaching call: https://calendly.com/diyrg/diyrg45

Conventional advice on compression often boils down to: "don't squash the life out of your tracks with over-compression" and "buy THIS plug-in because it adds that extra special sweet saucy goodness to your tracks!"But why ARE we actually compressing our tracks? The truth is, many DIY productions actually suffer from under-compression and it's because 1: compression is hard to hear so people don't trust themselves with it and 2: we lose track of the WHY...as in why are we compressing? In this episode Vadim breaks down arguably the two most important reasons to apply compression to your tracks and the practical ways to employ them in your workflow. You will learn:Three common reasons compression is used and why the first two are the most important and often least-talked aboutHow to set up a static mix and what "flags" to look for that hint at compression being a solutionWhy applying compression before you even start mixing can make the process easier (and more fun)OK. OK. Some fun, sexy tips on what compressors do what and when to reach for themWhere to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702Book a free coaching call: https://calendly.com/diyrg/diyrg45

Reverb can seem simple...it's just a washy effect, right? Sure. It could be that but it's also so much more. From being your "backwards/forwards" lever, to creating texture, to adding thickness, to creating an illusion of space, reverb ends up being one of the most important parts of a well-crafted production. Oh. And there's like a dozen different kinds. But don't worry! On this episode, we'll help you navigate this complicated landscape. On this episode you will learn:About the different kinds of reverb and why the sound different form one another5 different reasons to reach for a reverb plug-in in a mixWorkflow best-practices (and why some of them are over-rated)Key reverb parameters, what they do and how to set themWhere to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702

Sometimes you hear a song that sounds so huge your jaw drops. How did they do that? The answer is almost always: layers. And while all of this is more art than science, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind when building layers that will help your quest. On this episode you will learnWhat different elements can be layered for impact. These include frequency, harmonic content, stereo field, front/back depth fieldWhy keeping things simple is importantWhen to copy/paste MIDI performances for layers vs when to record liveExamples of different ways to use layers effectivelyWhy layers are not only the key to impact and size but also to originalityAnd more!Where to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702

OK. It's not the most sexy part of producing music but it's one of the most important. There's an amazing thing that happens when you've finished editing the tracks in a song and hit play for the first time: it starts to sound like a SONG. Even before compression, before EQ, before that sexy saturation trick you learned from Johnny Lots-o-Grammys, things will start to sound GOOD after some proper editing. And this feels amazing and helps you build momentum going into a mix. On this episode, you will learn: Why editing is as ethical as putting on a nice outfit for a job interviewWhy editing, while tedious, can actually be a huge time saverThe different types of edits pretty much every production can useThe difference between slip editing and time-warp editing (hint: both are incredibly useful)Different types of cross-fades and how to use them effectively Tips for editing vocals - like what to do about all those harsh s sounds piling up. How to get rid of the little rip or warble that happens sometimes when two clips are overlappingHow to use "masking" to determine where to put edit points. And more!Where to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702

Critical listening is the ultimate skill of the recording enthusiast and headphones are the tool we trust most to enable this skill. Why? Well, because most of us are not working in ideal spaces and it's much easier to get an objective (and affordable) perspective in headphones. But what kind of headphones should we use? The answer depends in large part on application - although some designs do tend to serve us better than others. If you asked me 4 months ago, I would have told you to stay away from ear bud designs in the studio. The sound quality out of those things just tends to be too poor for a studio reference tool (thought they're obviously great for jogging, traveling, etc.,). However, today, our friends at Flare Audio have developed a new ear bud called the E Prototype which has completely blown me away. In the first part of this episode, Vadim chats with Davies Roberts of Flare Audio about the problem with traditional headphone designs and how they were able to overcome them with the E Prototypes. In the second part Vadim talks about some best practices and tips and tricks for working in headphones in YOUR studio. If you're interested in the E Prototypes, buy them through our affiliate link:https://www.flareaudio.com/products/e-prototype?sca_ref=676476.z8WJgmm5HeWhere to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702

More episodes en route. But first I need more coffee...

Reference tracks. The internet forums are full of wisdom regarding using references (whether to or not, when, how, etc.,). References play an important part in the workflows of both Ben and Vadim - throughout the ENTIRE audio production process from ideas to final master. They've picked some of their favorite tips and best practices and share them on this episode. In this episode you will learn:How to use references to aid your song-writing and producing processCompelling reasons to use referencesHow to use references during recording to help choose tonesWhat makes a good reference (it's more than just "a song you like")How to use references during mixing - including workflow tips down to the mechanics of pulling songs into your sessionAdditional hidden benefits of having a comprehensive list of reference tracksA list of some of our favorite reference tracks in various genresAnd more!Where to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702

Well. Another year has come and gone. In many way, nothing has changed. The pandemic is still here and we're still trying to get even better vocal takes. Still, we've learned many important lessons, uncovered new challenges for the coming year and bought one or two things we shouldn't have. Hear all about it on this episode and, from everyone at DIYRG, we wish you a happy and healthy new year and success in all of your recording and non-recording ventures. Where to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702

Want to try mixing with outboard gear but don't have any? Sure you do! Every guitar pedal can be used as outboard gear for awesomely creative results. In this episode you will learn:What people mean when they say "outboard gear"...and why you actually probably have some - even if you thought you didn'tWhy you may want to try using outboard gear if you never haveSeveral ways to use pedals as outboard gear - even WITHOUT a reamp box!Creative ideas to try using this techniqueWhy the internet is wrong when it tells you you CAN'T use outboard gear with a 2 channel interface (you actually can!)Where to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702

The room where you mix your music is a sacred space. A temple to your craft. It wants to be honest. It needs to be pleasant to spend long periods of time. On this episode you will get a solid, start-to-finish strategy for setting up (or refining) your mixing space. You will learn:How to select a roomHow to choose a listening position in that roomHow to set up your speakersWhere to focus your acoustic treatment effortsHow to deal with pesky acoustics problemsWhat a "good" room measurement will look likeAnd more!Resources we mention:Room layout tool: https://roomplanner.com/Room mode calculator: https://amcoustics.com/tools/amrocJesco's Bass Hunter Technique: https://www.acousticsinsider.com/fixing-low-end-without-knowing-acoustics/Low Frequency Sine Sweeps: https://cambridge-mt.com/ms/ch3/Room EQ Wizard: https://www.roomeqwizard.com/Where to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702

It can be really difficult to isolate a specific instrument from a finished mix...and that's kind of the point! A mix is like a stew, it should taste like a stew - not like a bunch of individual ingredients. Wouldn't it be cool if you could isolate individual instruments of a finished mix and hear what they sound like solo'd? We thought so too! That's what we do in this episode. You will learn:How to decide between double tracking and quad trackingHow mixed drums sound and what big changes are made to the kick and snareHow to get wider, thicker, more interesting vocal mixesHow additional layers can help "fill in the cracks" of a mixWhat unmixed vs mixed stems sound likeArtist: Dan Casagrande - Fading AwayWhere to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702

Plugins, microphones, outboard gear. These are the tools of our trade. If you fancy yourself a craftsman, then you probably love tools of your craft. You probably watch videos and get served ads. You probably pay attention to what others are using. You've also probably amassed a hefty collection yourself! We know we have. On this week's episode we do some soul searching on why we love some tools and why our relationship with others didn't quite pan out. You will learn:How to categorize and think about tools you already have or are considering gettingGood and bad reasons to consider new toolsHow to make sure you're reaching for the "right" tool for a given a jobWhy you may want to avoid "Swiss Army Knife" toolsWhat are some of the key tools that Ben and Vadim love in their studiosQuestions to ask yourself when considering new toolsWhere to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702

Before the days of DIY, recording music could be a more intense process. Bands were prepared to spend weeks or even months in a studio trying different instruments, different amps, different mic techniques, different arrangements, etc., - all before ever hitting RECORD. Mixing, on the other hand, was more about achieving balance between those carefully produced tracks. Today, it's the exact opposite. We tend to throw together pristine digital recordings as quickly as possible and the QUICKLY move onto the sexy mixing phase. ...but what if there was a hybrid approach that could be more fun and get you a more satisfying result? In this episode, you will learn:How the process of making records has evolved (and three reasons why)An alternative approach and it's possible advantagesA recent case study from Vadim's studio and what he learnedTips for employing the "day two" method in your own work processThe key mindset shift that is required for this process to work - it's an easy one.Where to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702

If you've just been sticking to open guitar chords and pentatonic scales then you're cooking with salt and pepper. What if you had a whole arsenal of spices to work with? Sure you might make some weird meals at first but you'd probably also make some pretty memorable ones - and over time, you'd learn when to use (and not use) certain spices. Hint: NEVER use star anise. That stuff will ruin anything. In the last episode Ben gave us a high level overview and what's included in this monster we call "music theory". This time, he pulls out his guitar and talks about specific modes, scales and paths from note to note which allow us (as songwriters and performers) to change the mood or character of a composition or performance. You will learn:What the difference is between a major scale and a minor scale and how to convert one to the other. Some helpful memory techniques for distinguishing intervals (these even work for the relatively tone deaf)What the different modes within a key are and some helpful memory joggers from pop cultureWays for guitarists and bassists to use modesChord notations. How to interpret what you see in chord charts and why you don't need memorization to figure out what to p layThe secret behind why power chords and pentatonic scales are always safe bets to get you out of jams (like salt and pepper in cooking)Where to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702

Many of us had unpleasant run-ins with music theory through involuntary music lessons as kids but is it actually useful as a studio tool? Maybe. Sometimes. It's a tool that can help you out of arrangement and production jams. Stuck trying to figure out which chord to play next in a progression? Need to get a bassline that will work with your vocal melody? Theory can help. In this episode, Ben takes us through the three basic elements of music theory: Tempo, Meter and Key. You will learn:Why theory is becoming more and more important for the DIY bedroom producerThe definition of music theory - and why Vadim disagrees with itHow tempo relates to meterHow common meters dictate "feels" in Western music How to use meters to create unique arrangements - and some famous examplesThe basics of keys and how they subdivide the 12 notes in music and allow the creation of a "mood"The circle of fifths finally explained in a way that even Vadim can understand and how to use it to help you determine what key a piece of music is inWhere to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702

Neve. SSL. API. 1176. LA2A. Pultec. We've all heard these names. We've all seen the countless plug-ins that emulate them. How did these names become so coveted in the recording world? Is there really an audible difference or is it all clever marketing? These are just some of the questions we had for gear lover/designer/inventor Brad McGowan of Louder Than Liftoff. Louder Than Liftoff is a company that asked the question: "What is it about classic gear that people ACTUALLY want?". They then went ahead and designed a bunch of gear that gives you classic goodness for a modern workflow. On this episode, you will learn:About Brad's own journey in learning to "hear" the difference between pieces of classic gearWhat is it that we're actually finding pleasing about analog gear and analog gear emulationsThe "Four T's of Tone" - Tubes, Transformers, Transistors and TapeHow gear is designed and tunedWhy you have to push gear and plugins to understand themWhere to start if you're interested in experimenting with some analog gearAnd more!Where to Find Brad and Louder Than Liftoffhttps://store.louderthanliftoff.com/https://www.instagram.com/louderthanliftoff/Where to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702

You know the feeling once you've felt it: that dragging in the back of your head when you just can't believe you have to set up the routing on all of those guitar tracks AGAIN. Didn't you just to do this for the last session? Can't you just jump right into the fun part? When you feel that dread of session setup tedium, what you're actually discovering is an opportunity to improve your workflow with templates. But that's not all! For an unlimited time only, there are lots of different uses for templates that will make your life easier and your music production process more fun. In this episode, you'll learn:About the various types of templates available to us in the studioWhat makes a template file type uniqueVarious ways to use template filesHow to use a templated process without even creating a template fileHow to identify opportunities for templatization The limits of templatesThe reasons people often fail at using templatesVarious tips and tricks from the guys' own templatesWhere to Find the GuysFree DIY Recording eBook: https://www.howtorecordyourband.comVadim's Studio Site - Get your FREE test mix today! - https://www.calmfrogrecording.comBenjamin's Studio Site - https://www.dreamloudstudio.comLeave a rating. Be a friend - http://www.getpodcast.reviews/id/1494761702