Inside The Recording Studio

Control surfaces look cool. Like, really cool. Rows of glowing faders. Buttons everywhere. That unmistakable “I totally know what I’m doing” vibe. But are they actually useful—or just expensive desk ornaments? This week on Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody grab the nearest fader and ask the uncomfortable question: do control surfaces in music production actually make your life easier? They rewind to where these things came from (spoiler: some are older than your favorite plug-in) and why engineers wanted hands-on control in the first place. Then they fast-forward to today’s marketplace, where you can buy anything from a single-fader gadget to a spaceship-sized board that looks like it should launch satellites. You’ll hear honest takes on what works, what doesn’t, and what’s straight-up marketing fluff. Chris & Jody talk about the moments control surfaces genuinely shine—rides, automation, performance-based mixing—and the moments where grabbing a mouse is faster, cheaper, and far less annoying. They don’t dodge the awkward stuff either: Why some control surfaces slow you down Why setup can be more painful than audio interface troubleshooting Why “more knobs” doesn’t always mean better mixes There’s real talk about budgets, desk space, ergonomics, and whether a control surface actually fits your workflow. Plus, they’ll name a few favorites they’d recommend without feeling guilty about it later. With jokes, tangents, Friday Finds, and a healthy dose of skepticism, this episode is perfect for anyone tempted by slick demo videos—or wondering why their friend’s studio looks like NASA.   #ControlSurfaces #RecordingGear #HomeStudioLife #MusicProductionTips #ProAudio #StudioWorkflow #MixingTools

Ah yes… the moment every guitarist avoids until a string finally snaps mid-bend: string-changing season. Chris & Jody decide enough is enough—time to start the year with tone that isn’t corroded, crusty, or older than your last tax return. They tear into the eternal war between heavy gauges (“thicc tone, thicc fingers required”) and lighter sets (“bend like butter, intonate like a drunk ferret”). They talk nickel, steel, coated strings, and that mystery set you bought on sale and instantly regretted. Want to understand how string height and intonation sabotage your recordings? This episode spills the tea. Plus: simple recording setup tips, sneaky hidden features in studio gear, and why cleaning your strings matters almost as much as cleaning your bathroom. Almost. And as always, Friday Finds brings gifts—some useful, some weird, all inspiring.   #GuitarRecordingTips #HomeStudioGear #ProAudioCommunity #GuitarToneMatters #RecordingSetupTips #StudioGearHacks #MixingAndTracking #InsideTheRecordingStudio

Some gear becomes famous. The Lexicon 224 became mythology. In this episode, Chris and Jody cannonball straight into the digital reverb that drenched the ’80s in shimmering glory—and, honestly, made half of your favorite songs sound way cooler than they had any right to. They kick things off with the “how the heck did this thing happen?” history lesson—because the 224 didn’t just show up; it crashed the party and told every plate, spring, and echo chamber to scoot aside. Suddenly studios had huge, glossy halls and silky plates without needing, you know… actual halls or plates. Then the boys take you on a tour of the 224’s delightfully bizarre controls. Some make perfect sense. Others feel like they were designed by a caffeinated time traveler. But Chris and Jody break it all down—how each control shapes your sound, how not to accidentally “blast your vocals into space,” and which settings make drums sound like Thor is doing sound design. They share the tricks they keep coming back to—classic vocal treatments, impossible-sounding ambiences, drum magic—and yes, the inevitable nonsense that sneaks into every episode. Plus, the weekly Friday Finds, because what’s an episode without a new toy to crave? If you’ve ever wondered why producers still chase this reverb like it’s vintage Pokémon, this episode will answer it… and probably make you want a 224 of your own (hardware or plugin—we won’t tell).  

Reverb isn’t just an effect, it’s the invisible architecture of every mix. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody step through the misty doorway where reflections, decay, and space become instruments of their own. Whether you’re mixing in a compact bedroom rig or a sprawling commercial facility, reverb shapes how listeners feelyour music long before they consciously hear it. And today, the guys take you far beyond the “insert plugin → turn knob” approach. They explore reverb as texture, story, emotion, and as one of the most important creative tools available to any producer. They kick things off with the math behind ambience: how pre-delay carves space between consonants, how decay time sketches the size of a hall, and how simple millisecond calculations create depth that even expensive hardware can’t fake. They break down why springs twang, why plates shimmer, and how digital tails can stretch into gorgeous infinity, even in a modest home studio gear setup. But theory is only half the fun. Chris & Jody dive into the moments where reverb transformed a track: – A snare hit turned into a swelling pad – A vocal wrapped in an ethereal halo – A guitar that dissolved into cascading shimmer – A room reverb that glued an entire mix together They even reveal the handful of go-to reverbs that never fail them, plus the oddballs that inspire unexpected ideas. If you’re looking for recording setup tips, subtle mix moves, or even “try this and break the rules” techniques, this episode hits all the marks. Of course, it wouldn’t be an Inside the Recording Studio episode without humor, side quests, and a few baffling tangents. Between reflections and decay tails, Chris & Jody squeeze in this week’s Friday Finds, uncovering everything from quirky stompboxes to software that solves those “why is my audio interface doing that?” mysteries. Yes, there’s even a shoutout to audio interface troubleshooting and the eternal struggle to keep your gear clean (and knowing when not to use Windex on your rack units). By the end, you won’t just understand reverb better, you’ll hear your mixes differently. You’ll recognize how space guides emotion, how ambience inspires performance, and how reverb becomes the connective tissue that defines a song’s world. Reverb isn’t noise bouncing around a room. It’s the air between moments, the breath of the mix. And in this episode, Chris & Jody show you how to shape that air with confidence, intention, and just enough mischief to keep the creative spark alive. #MusicProduction #HomeStudioGear #RecordingEngineer #MixingTips #ReverbTechniques #ProducerLife #ProAudio #InsideTheRecordingStudio

Let’s be honest: backups are about as exciting as dusting your studio monitors or alphabetizing cables. But nothing will make you scream into the void faster than losing a session you swear you saved. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris & Jody grab you by the shoulders and lovingly scream, “BACK UP YOUR STUFF!” They dive into backup options from “cheap but risky” to “Fort Knox for audio nerds.” Drives, RAIDs, clouds, offsite bunkers—okay, maybe not bunkers, but close. You’ll hear their own cautionary tales, including technical ghosts that haunted their studios and files that pulled Houdini acts at the worst possible moment. The guys break down how they organize projects, why simple habits beat complicated systems, and how to build a backup routine that doesn’t feel like flossing. It’s equal parts education, comedy, and therapy for anyone who’s ever lost a take. And yes, Friday Finds is here to save the day with tools that keep your sessions safer than your last ex’s Netflix password. #music production workflow #home studio gear essentials #recording setup tips for producers #pro audio gear insights #DAW backup strategies #audio engineering tips #studio gear organization #creative workflow protection