The Self-Recording Band

Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, go ahead and apply for coaching now. 
We’ll show you how to produce, record, mix, and master your songs. 
In your DAW of choice, and with only the plugins and gear you already own. 
With unlimited feedback, full 1-on-1 guidance, and a custom music production plan made specifically for you.

Sounds interesting?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching
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Episode show notes:
There’s more mixing advice online than ever.
But here’s the real question:
Is it coming from people who actually make records… or people who make content?
In this episode, Benedikt and Manel react to answers from industry heavyweights Chris Galland and Joe Chiccarelli and compare them to common internet mixing advice.
The results are revealing.
Real pros barely care about many of the things you see everywhere online.
And many content creators ignore things that actual engineers call non-negotiable.

If you’re a self-recording musician trying to improve your mixes, this episode will help you separate hype from essential fundamentals.

What We Cover
Should you high-pass everything?
Do you really need to mix in mono?
Are reference tracks mandatory?
Should you always check your mix in the car?
Is EQing to the key of the song a real thing?
Do pros tune every vocal?
Do you have to hard pan guitars?
Are stereo imaging plugins essential?
Should you always mix at low volumes?
Does gain staging still matter in 2026?
Is parallel compression overhyped?

And most importantly:
How do you know who to trust when learning mixing?

The Big Takeaways
Context matters more than rules.
The basics still win.
You can ignore most of the fancy techniques and approaches until you've mastered the essential things.
If advice sounds absolute, be skeptical.
If someone never makes records, question their authority.

As Benedikt says in the episode:
Some topics are great for content. That doesn’t mean they’re great for making records.

Who This Is For
This episode is for:
Rock, punk, indie, metal and alternative musicians recording themselves
Producers overwhelmed by conflicting YouTube advice
Anyone trying to get real results instead of chasing trends
If you’re serious about improving your mixes, this one will reset your priorities.

Want Real Guidance (Not Hype)?
If you want feedback and guidance from engineers who mix 200+ songs per year for artists and labels worldwide, audio pros who actively work with self-recording artists all the time:
👉 Apply for coaching inside The Self-Recording Syndicate
https://theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

We don’t teach trends.
We teach what actually works for your music.
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For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/304
--
Send a text
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, go ahead and apply for coaching now. 
We’ll show you how to produce, record, mix, and master your songs. 
In your DAW of choice, and with only the plugins and gear you already own. 
With unlimited feedback, full 1-on-1 guidance, and a custom music production plan made specifically for you.

Sounds interesting?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching
--
Episode show notes:
This is the final episode of our full music production breakdown series.
We’ve covered songwriting, pre-production, gear, sound checks and recording.
Now we finish the record.

In this episode, we walk you through steps 6–10 of the real-world production process
Session cleanup and comping
Editing where necessary (timing and pitch)
Moving from recording to mixing
A structured mixing workflow that actually works
The truth about mastering
When to outsource and when not to
Why AI mastering is not the same as real mastering (and when it can be an option)

If you’ve ever:
Got stuck after recording
Ruined a mix by overworking it
Wondered if/how you should use a mix bus compressor
Felt confused about gain staging
Been disappointed by a bad master
This episode is for you.

We break down a proven, step-by-step framework that helps you:
Keep objectivity
Avoid rabbit holes
Mix faster
Preserve the magic you captured
Finish songs properly

Because the goal after recording is simple:
Don’t mess it up. Don't reinvent it. Enhance it. Move it across the finish line.

The Mixing Framework We Teach
Here’s the structured approach we use inside The Self-Recording Syndicate:
Proper mix prep (organization + routing)
Rough mix (gain staging, levels + panning)
Mix bus setup & overall vibe and color
EQ cleanup + sweetening
Compression with intention
Creative effects (reverbs, delays, saturation)
Automation and movement
Mastering ( finishing, final formats, and quality control

Most people obsess over plugins.
The pros obsess over balance. In all ways. Not a static balance. But one that serves every part of the song, enhances it emotionally and guides the listener through the song.

🎁 Free Mixing Guide
If you want a clear system for balancing, gain staging and preparing your mix properly:
👉 Download the free guide:
theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes

🎯 Want Help Finishing Your Songs?
If you want personal guidance through all these steps:
Apply for coaching:
theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

Inside the Self-Recording Syndicate you get:
Structured playbooks
Detailed mix feedback
Clear next steps to work on - always
Templates
Frameworks
And 5 professional masters, as well as a full mix + mix walkthrough included
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For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.co
Send a text
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, go ahead and apply for coaching now. 
We’ll show you how to produce, record, mix, and master your songs. 
In your DAW of choice, and with only the plugins and gear you already own. 
With unlimited feedback, full 1-on-1 guidance, and a custom music production plan made specifically for you.

Sounds interesting?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching
--
Episode show notes:
Recording music is about capturing magic moments.
In this episode of The Self-Recording Band Podcast, Benedikt and Manel are breaking down step 5 of the production process: the recording session — the moment where everything can either fall apart… or finally come alive.

You can have the right song, the right gear, the right room, and the perfect setup — and still end up with a lifeless recording if you don’t handle the human side of recording properly.

This episode is all about capturing exciting performances, creating the right vibe in the room, and making decisions that serve emotion over perfection.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why performance matters more than technical perfection (and always will)
How to guide yourself or your band into better takes
Why how you talk to performers can make or break a session
The importance of preparation before hitting record
How to avoid killing the vibe during vocal sessions
When to record full takes vs. sections
Why warm-ups are non-negotiable (and how pros do it)
How to choose the right recording order for instruments
Why vocals should not be an afterthought
Simple systems for comping and editing while recording
How to protect your sessions with smart backup habits

This episode is part of our start-to-finish production process series. If you haven’t listened to steps 1-4 yet, go back and start there — this series is designed to be followed in order.
--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/302
--
Send us a text
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, go ahead and apply for coaching now. 
We’ll show you how to produce, record, mix, and master your songs. 
In your DAW of choice, and with only the plugins and gear you already own. 
With unlimited feedback, full 1-on-1 guidance, and a custom music production plan made specifically for you.

Sounds interesting?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching
--
Episode show notes:
Great recordings don’t start with plugins. They start before you ever hit record.
In Step 4 of the Production Process, Benedikt Hain and Manel Espinosa break down setup and sound check: the often-skipped "day one at the studio".
This step separates frustrating home recordings (with lots of things to fix later) from mixes that fall together effortlessly.
This episode walks you through how professionals capture great tones at the source, why mic placement matters more than mic choice, how room acoustics influence your sound far more than you think, and how small setup decisions can save you hours (or days) of mixing later.

If you’ve ever felt like your recordings are technically fine but never quite sound right — this episode explains why.

What you’ll learn in this episode:
Why pros don't just “fix it in the mix” — and why you shouldn’t either
How to find the best recording spot in any room (even untreated ones)
Simple acoustic tricks that dramatically improve vocal and instrument recordings
Why instrument setup (strings, heads, tuning) matters more than expensive gear
How mic placement can change your sound more than swapping microphones
Real audio examples showing how small mic movements create massive tonal changes
How proper monitoring improves vocal performances instantly
Why vibe, lighting, and comfort directly affect the quality of your takes
How basic checklists prevent session-killing mistakes

Who this episode is for:
Self-recording musicians and bands
DIY producers working from home studios or jam spaces
Artists frustrated by muddy, harsh, boring, or lifeless recordings
Anyone who wants mixes that come together faster — with less guesswork
--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/301
--
Send us a text
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, go ahead and apply for coaching now. 
We’ll show you how to produce, record, mix, and master your songs. 
In your DAW of choice, and with only the plugins and gear you already own. 
With unlimited feedback, full 1-on-1 guidance, and a custom music production plan made specifically for you.

Sounds interesting?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching
--
Episode show notes:
Episode 300 is a big one — and not because of the number.
In this episode, we break down one of the most misunderstood (and most skipped) steps in the entire record-making process: pre-production.

Most self-recording artists think pre-production is either:
just “recording demos”, or
something only big studios with big budgets need

Both are wrong.

In this episode, Benedikt and Manel explain:
what pre-production actually is
where it starts (and where it absolutely shouldn’t end)
why skipping it makes recording harder, slower, and worse
and how proper pre-production gives you better performances, better sounds, and easier mixes

This is Step 3 in our complete record-making process — right between writing and recording — and it’s the step that determines whether your recording session feels creative… or frustrating.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
What pre-production really means (and why there’s no single “correct” definition)
The difference between writing, demoing, pre-production, and recording
Why great producers separate creative flow from technical precision
What should never be figured out during a recording session
Why re-recording after demos is usually necessary (and when it’s not)
Real-world examples where demo recordings actually made it onto final records
How pre-production creates freedom — not restriction — during recording
Why most home-recorded projects fail before microphones even matter

Who this episode is for:
DIY musicians recording at home
Bands preparing to record an EP or album
Artists stuck re-recording songs over and over
Anyone who feels their recordings never live up to the idea in their head

If you want your next recording session to feel focused, creative, and intentional, this episode is required listening.

🎧 Listen now and make your next recording session easier — before it even starts.
--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/300
--

Send us a text
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]