Episodios

  • Dave Fortman: Focusing on the Song Above All Else

    Dave Fortman: Focusing on the Song Above All Else
    Apr 8 2026

    Dave Fortman is an American record producer, songwriter, and musician, recognized for his role as guitarist in the hard rock band Ugly Kid Joe and for producing and mixing albums for prominent acts in the rock and metal genres, including Evanescence's Fallen (2003), Slipknot's All Hope Is Gone (2008), and Godsmack's The Oracle (2010).

    Born in Orlando, Florida, Fortman began his music career as a guitarist with Ugly Kid Joe, contributing to their albums America's Least Wanted (1992), which achieved double platinum status, Menace to Sobriety (1995), and Motel California (1996). The band's breakthrough hit "Everything About You" from America's Least Wanted reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1992 after featuring in the film Wayne's World.

    Transitioning to production, Fortman co-owned Balance Productions and worked on projects for metal and alternative rock artists, including Mudvayne's The New Game (2008), Superjoint Ritual's Use Once and Destroy (2002), and Eyehategod's Confederacy of Ruined Lives (2000). His production on Evanescence's debut album Fallen sold over 17 million copies worldwide and earned a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards in 2004. Fortman's engineering and mixing credits also extend to 12 Stones, Boysetsfire, Crowbar, Otep, and Simple Plan.

    IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

    • Why most “mix problems” are actually arrangement problems
    • What to listen for when evaluating your own songs
    • How to make songs more engaging without adding more layers
    • The biggest mistake people make when giving feedback
    • How to suggest changes without killing the vibe in a session
    • Why referencing other songs is the fastest way to improve
    • Dave’s exact approach to pre-production and decision-making

    To learn more about Dave Fortman, visit: https://www.davefortman.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:

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    • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
    • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej
    • Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix

    Have questions you’d like answered on the show?

    Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com

    Please leave a rating and review:

    https://masteryourmix.com/review/

    Thanks for listening!
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    1 h y 28 m
  • Bobbi Giel: Knowing Your Gear

    Bobbi Giel: Knowing Your Gear
    Apr 1 2026

    Bobbi Giel is a mastering engineer based in Nashville, Tennessee. She relocated to Nashville in October 2017 and spent four years at Georgetown Masters, where she trained under Chief Mastering Engineer Andrew Mendelson. In 2022, she was named Head Mastering Engineer at Welcome to 1979, a multi-faceted, analog-centric studio offering both digital and vinyl mastering services.

    Bobbi began her career at The Hartt School at the University of Hartford, where she earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Production and Technology in 2015 with a concentration in Classical Piano and a minor in Business Administration. She then spent two years working across a range of recording and post-production studios in New York City, including MSR Studios (now Sound on Sound Studios in Montclair, New Jersey), Atlantic Records’ Atlantic Studios, and LVLY Studios.

    In addition to her mastering work, Bobbi is a member of the Audio Engineering Society and the Producers & Engineers Wing of the Recording Academy. Her mastering credits - spanning both digital and vinyl formats - include artists such as Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney, Luke Combs, Paramore, Kehlani, Tinashe, Zac Brown Band, and Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown.

    IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

    • Finding niche industries in audio
    • Learning production before mastering
    • Fixing mastering issues in the tracking stage vs later stages
    • Do your mix levels matter?
    • Boosting vs cutting with EQ
    • Finding the input gain sweetspot with gear/plugins
    • When to use analog vs digital gear in a hybrid mastering setup
    • How the level you listen at affects how you hear your mix
    • Finding reference tracks to compare your mix to
    • Prepping for vinyl cutting
    • The differences between digital and vinyl masters
    • Recording directly to vinyl

    To learn more about Bobbi Giel, visit: https://welcometo1979.com/mastering/

    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
    • Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix

    Have questions you’d like answered on the show?

    Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com

    Please leave a rating and review:

    https://masteryourmix.com/review/

    Thanks for listening!
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    1 h y 6 m
  • Barrett Jones: Getting Mix-Ready Sounds During Tracking

    Barrett Jones: Getting Mix-Ready Sounds During Tracking
    Mar 25 2026
    Barrett Jones is a veteran producer, engineer, Musician and studio owner whose work helped shape the sound of modern alternative rock. A native of Arlington, Virginia, Jones founded Laundry Room Studio in 1984 — originally built in the laundry room of his childhood home — and established the studio as a creative hub for D.C. punk and indie acts before relocating to Seattle in the early 1990s. Jones recorded early sessions with a young Dave Grohl and went on to produce three Nirvana tracks and to produce and engineer the Foo Fighters’ self-titled debut, an LP recorded over an intense five-day run in 1994. That debut later sold more than 1.5 million copies.Across four decades, Jones has combined technical curiosity with a musician’s sensibility, moving seamlessly between tape-era tracking and modern production workflows. His credits span influential artists and scenes: Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Melvins, Jimmy Eat World, Presidents of the United States of America, and contributions from members of Pearl Jam and Red Hot Chili Peppers, among others. Jones has also toured as a live and studio engineer and served as drum tech and sound engineer on major tours early in his career.Laundry Room Studio — the recording studio Jones has operated since the 1980s in multiple homes and locations between Arlington and Seattle — remains central to his work. Since 2007, Laundry Room studio has been located in a custom-built area in Barrett’s home in Seattle, featuring multiple live rooms, iso booths, and a large control room that attracts both established artists and rising acts. Recent and ongoing projects include work with musicians across rock, folk, and indie genres; Jones is known for his ability to capture raw performances while bringing clarity and musical balance to recordings.With a lifelong commitment to hands-on recording, Jones blends old-school tape-era techniques with modern mixing and production tools, prioritizing performance, tone, and emotional immediacy. He remains active as a producer, mixer, and session musician, and continues to run Laundry Room Studio as a creative home for artists looking for an organic, performance-first approach to recording.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:Being a self-taught engineerRecording the first Foo Fighters recordBeing set up for efficienciesGetting the mix sound at the tracking stageHis go-to approach for guitars and drumsHow to get fuzzy, yet articulate guitar tonesThe Can: The mysterious, rare amp used on the first Foo Fighters record, made out of a gas canThe importance of room sounds for drumsThe mic trick he uses for getting small drum rooms to feel biggerTo learn more about Barrett Jones, visit: https://www.laundryroomstudio.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/Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe 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/@MasterYourMixHave 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!
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    54 m
  • Monte Vallier: Being Creative as a Differentiator

    Monte Vallier: Being Creative as a Differentiator
    Mar 18 2026
    Monte Vallier is a San Francisco–based producer, mixer, and audio engineer known for his adventurous approach to sound and his ability to bring out the character and identity of the artists he works with. His career began as a bassist in the early post-punk/indie scene, first touring with his band Half Church before joining the acclaimed 1990s group Swell. After years of recording and performing internationally, Vallier shifted his focus behind the console, developing a reputation for creative recording techniques, unconventional mic placements, and a deep commitment to capturing emotion and uniqueness in every project.Today, Vallier operates Ruminator Audio, where he continues to collaborate with an eclectic range of artists, including Wax Idols, Weekend, The Soft Moon, Tommy Guerrero, Los Days, and Oxbow. His work spans production, recording, mixing, and mastering—reflecting a holistic understanding of the craft shaped by decades of experience both onstage and in the studio. Known for blending experimentation with meticulous sonic detail, Vallier is recognized as a versatile, artist-focused collaborator whose mixes and productions consistently elevate the musical vision at hand.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:Running a studio on your own terms vs working for someone elseUsing commercial work to cover the bills so you can afford to work with smaller bandsThe impact of AI in music licensingHow to differentiate yourself from AIEmbracing imperfections/uniquenessUsing reamping as a creative toolCreating ambience in a mixUsing contrast to evoke a 3D feel to a mixCreative ways to experiment with a trackTo learn more about Monte Vallier, visit: https://ruminatoraudio.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/Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe 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/@MasterYourMixHave 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!
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    1 h y 3 m
  • Brian Rajaratnam: Engineering Great Vocals

    Brian Rajaratnam: Engineering Great Vocals
    Mar 11 2026
    Brian Rajaratnam is an American audio engineer best known for his Grammy-winning work on Flowers by Miley Cyrus. He won a Grammy Award at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards for his contributions to the global hit, collaborating alongside Kid Harpoon, Tyler Johnson, Michael Pollack, Spike Stent, and Joe LaPorta. The song became one of the most commercially successful releases of 2023, surpassing one billion streams on Spotify and earning six Grammy nominations. Rajaratnam received two nominations connected to the project and was ultimately recognized in the Best Engineer/Mixer category for his role in shaping the record’s polished, radio-dominant sound.Born and raised in New Jersey to Sri Lankan parents who immigrated to the United States, Rajaratnam initially pursued a pre-med track in New York with aspirations of becoming a doctor, following a traditional path often encouraged within South Asian families. However, midway through his studies, he made the pivotal decision to leave medicine behind and commit fully to music—a passion rooted in childhood visits to Sri Lanka, where he first learned piano at his aunt’s home before expanding to multiple instruments. Determined to build a career in the music industry, he enrolled at Berklee College of Music, earning a degree in audio engineering in 2017. After graduation, he worked his way up through studio roles, eventually becoming an assistant to Kid Harpoon and contributing to major projects, culminating in his breakthrough success as an award-winning engineer on “Flowers.”IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:Why “nothing really matters” when trackingTransitioning from pre-med studies to audio engineeringBeing open to diverse projectsBuilding confidence in your skillsHaving flexibility with your workflowAnticipating the next moveWorking on Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers”Making revisions to your songsCompartmentalizing the stages of your workflowWhat great vocal engineering consists ofSetting up your sessions for speedRecording Kings Of LeonGetting solid bass tonesTracking with compressionTo learn more about Brian Rajaratnam, visit: https://www.soundbetter.com/profiles/278196-brian-rajaratnamLooking 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/Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe 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/@MasterYourMixHave 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!
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    1 h y 9 m
  • Nathan Yarborough: Engineering for Heavy Music

    Nathan Yarborough: Engineering for Heavy Music
    Mar 4 2026

    Nathan Yarborough is a Grammy-nominated recording engineer based in Nashville, TN. His credits include albums from Deftones, Korn, Code Orange, Mastodon, Alice In Chains, and Halestorm. Nathan began his career as a musician who eventually realized he loved the craft of recording more than playing and performing. After attending recording school in North Carolina, he moved to Nashville to look for work in a recording studio. An internship at Blackbird Studio opened the door to a 20-year career and allowed him to learn from some of the best engineers and producers in the industry.

    IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

    1. How Nashville studios record 5 full songs in under 3 hours
    2. Tracking live off the floor vs. recording instruments separately
    3. Adapting your engineering to the production styles of different producers
    4. Preserving the signature sound of artists like Deftones, Korn, and Alice In Chains
    5. How to track drums with a focus on clarity, separation, and body.
    6. Finding weird places to put mics
    7. Spot-micing cymbals
    8. The challenge of maintaining phase relationships between multiple mics
    9. Capturing heavy guitar tones

    To learn more about Nathan Yarborough, visit: http://nathanyarborough.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:

    1. The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
    2. 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:

    1. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
    2. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej
    3. Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix


    Have questions you’d like answered on the show?

    Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com


    Please leave a rating and review:

    https://masteryourmix.com/review/


    Thanks for listening!
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    1 h y 2 m
  • Jason Livermore: Recording Punk Music (Revisited)

    Jason Livermore: Recording Punk Music (Revisited)
    Feb 25 2026

    Jason Livermore received his first snare drum at the age of three. Years later, Jason took up bass and guitar, but returned to drums because he liked them better. In junior high, Jason discovered punk rock. His first vinyl purchase was the infamous “Milo Goes to College”. He played in various bands throughout high school and college, recording some of these himself. After college, he decided that recording was probably going to be cooler than selling beer for Miller, his job at the time.

    Upon hearing that ALL was opening the Blasting Room in 1994, he moved to Fort Collins to land the job of a lifetime. Jason has been working at the studio ever since, and in 2015 he became co-owner alongside Bill Stevenson. He has worked on about 95% of the albums that have come out of the studio. Jason has also played drums for Wretch Like Me, Drag the River, Bill The Welder, Soul City Missionaries, and The Virginia Sisters.

    IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

    1. Finding trust in yourself that you know what you are doing
    2. Mixing punk drums
    3. How a drummer’s technique will change your approach to micing and tuning
    4. How to tune drums
    5. To polish your tracks or keep them raw? How to know when to edit
    6. Creating tempo maps
    7. How a particular type of guitar bridge cut his recording time in half
    8. Choosing string gauges for getting the most clarity with your guitars
    9. How to set up multi-amp blends
    10. Using phase alignment tools

    To learn more about Jason Livermore, visit: https://theblastingroom.com/mastering/

    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:

    1. The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
    2. 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:

    1. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
    2. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej
    3. Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix


    Have questions you’d like answered on the show?

    Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com


    Please leave a rating and review:

    https://masteryourmix.com/review/


    Thanks for listening!
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    1 h y 5 m
  • Ryan Ellery: Creating Comfort in the Studio

    Ryan Ellery: Creating Comfort in the Studio
    Feb 18 2026
    Ryan Ellery is a recording and mixing engineer based in Oakland, California, known for her work in the emo, punk, indie, and hardcore scenes. With over a decade of experience and credits on well over 100 releases, Ryan has worked with artists such as Mom Jeans, Self Defense Family, Graduating Life, Snooze, and many others. She operates primarily out of Sharkbite Studios, where she combines classic analog tools—like a Daking MKII Console—with modern digital workflows to capture performances that feel energetic, honest, and emotionally direct.Ryan’s approach centers on collaboration and communication, adapting her recording and mixing methods to serve each artist’s vision rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all sound. Whether tracking bands live to preserve raw energy or taking a more detailed, layered approach, her goal is to balance clarity with character—especially in genres where authenticity and feel matter more than polish. As both an engineer and a musician, Ryan brings a performer’s perspective into the studio, helping artists translate their ideas into recordings that connect with listeners while still standing up sonically.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:You don’t know what you don’t knowWorking with Sam PuraFiguring out our personal workflowWorking on genres you aren’t familiar withAdjusting your tracking approach to get the best out of an artistQuestions to ask clients before entering the studio so that everyone is on the same pageCapturing a live feel in recordingsKnowing when/when not to use drum samplesWorking on multiple songs inside a single sessionMixing fast and not sweating the small stuffTo learn more about Ryan Ellery, visit: https://www.ryanellery.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/Check out our Sponsors:Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2KSubscribe 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/@MasterYourMixHave 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!
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    1 h y 12 m