Unstoppable Recording Machine Podcast

Sean O’keefe (Fall Out Boy, Motion City Soundtrack, Plain White T’s) joins us this time to impart some wisdom about committing, not letting deal specifics get in the way of a project, and Developing his workflow during the transition from analog to digital mixing. Sean has worked on a number of successful records and with a bunch of amazing bands. Many of the lessons he’s learned that have made him the stellar producer his is stem from working on analog gear when he started, but those lessons are just as important today. Are you creating, or are you just sitting on iteration after iteration of the same song? “Create. Create something, and do it quickly. Don’t slave. Don’t do revisions. Treat it like it’s an analog console. Create for the purpose of creating. And then move on. And do another one.” - Sean O’Keefe ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: Finishing projects and letting them go out into the world Not letting worrying get in your way The early days of Sean’s career The lessons about committing that he

On this episode we’re talking about the further adventures of drum genius, Matt Brown. This time we’re delving deeper Matt’s drumming and production career history, how to bounce back when the universe throws you a curveball, and studio construction. “If you sit there and dwell on something you make that a reality. If I’m going to make my own reality, I’m going to make it what I want it to be.” - Matt Brown ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Matt’s experience teaching at the URM Summit - The individual sounds of good drummers - Matt’s background and how he began drumming and working in audio - Rebounding from failures and struggles - Studio construction - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve got Nick Sampson back for an in depth talk about his work with Polyphia, amazing drummers, and writing catchy songs. Nick certainly has some amazing ideas about all facets of guitar. Whether you’re interested in the engineering of the objects themselves, becoming a better player, or getting amazing tracks, he’s you’re guy. But his studio craft doesn’t begin and end there. On this episode we get into the ins and outs of Nick’s approach to working in the studio. “There’s certain genres of music that do not require you to be an amazing guitar player. Play in the pocket, hit the strings with the right velocity and the right angles, use the right pressure with your right hand, and that right there will make a massive difference.” - Eyal Levi ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Pushing the boundaries of what guitars can be - How to bring out the best performances in clients - Why Epitaph by Necrophagist is so important - How Nick began working with Polyphia - Approaching songwriting with singability in min

On this episode, we’ve got Romesh Dodangoda (Bring Me The Horizon, Monuments, Sylosis) for a discussion about drum engineering, etiquette for assistants, and recording at Abbey Road. Romesh has worked with some amazing bands and has had the opportunity to record in some legendary locations. His wide ranging experience allowed us to discuss a huge variety of topics. There’s something in this one for everyone. “You should just assume that you’re not going to get lucky, and that you’re going to have to struggle. So, you want to set the odds as in your favor as possible. So, go to where the opportunity is.” - Eyal Levi ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Building a reputation starting with your strengths - Romesh’s drum engineering process - Track organization tips - Recording and mixing at amazing (and potentially difficult) locations - Guidelines for assistants in the studio - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice

Johnny Minardi returns to the podcast to chat about the secrets of A&R, getting return clients, and why you need to view the success of others as inspiration. Between doing A&R for Roadrunner and Fueled By Ramen, managing producers with Self Titled Management, and Noise Creators Johnny is a great role model for how to get shit done in the recording industry. He’s built a knowledge base that encompasses pretty much every aspect of the industry, and we’re always happy to have him on board to share some of that knowledge with you. “When you see someone having success, and you want that success, there’s two people: there’s someone that goes, ‘Fuck that guy’ and they’re jealous, and then there’s guys that go, ‘Wow! I’d love to be doing that. How’d they do it?’” - Johnny Minardi ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - What contributes to a successful A&R career - Building connections at the label once you’re signed - Viewing the success as others as inspiration, rather than getting jealous - Producer man

Brian Hood is back, and we’re talking the pros and cons of work travel, overcoming the procrastination that comes along with perfectionism, and why grit matters. We think it’s safe to say that no one wants to be a flash in the pan. We all want to craft long running, successful careers. Figuring out how to get on track to do that takes conscious effort though, and Brian, as always, is full of solid gold insight on how to get there. “Get it out, fail fast, learn from your mistakes, move on, and make it better.” - Brian Hood ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Working while traveling - The mindset of “How can I?” instead of “I can’t” - The value of accountability - Grit - Not letting perfectionism get in the way of progress - When and why you should consider outsourcing - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arthur Rizk (Cavalera Conspiracy, Power Trip, Code Orange) joins us to talk studio experimentation, being cool, and keeping your hunger alive. Creativity and drive are not unlimited resources. Burnout is a very real problem, especially when you’re grinding away at trying to build a career. During this discussion Arthur drops some really amazing insight about how to keep your head in the game. “A hunger naturally manifests itself into good work, if you put the time and effort in.” - Arthur Rizk ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Feeding your creative drive by working on things you love - Sacrificing sleep - Arthur’s approach to gear - Endorsements - Building connections by not being a punisher - Finding ways to decompress - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clifton Miles of Dead Room Recordings joins us to talk about how he’s persevered and built an audio production career after losing his hearing in one ear. Everyone faces some form of adversity in their life. Audio production can be an especially tough path for a variety of reasons. After hearing Clifton’s story I think we’ll all be able to agree though that if he can overcome hearing loss, stay positive, and build a successful audio career there’s no reason for anyone to feel like the adversity they’re facing in their own lives is insurmountable. “I just don’t like stopping doing something that I said I was going to do until I feel like I accomplish what I need to accomplish.” - Clifton Miles ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Clifton’s hearing loss, and how he kept going in spite of it - Staying positive through adversity - How Clifton has adjusted his process - Why it’s the results that matter - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Vis

On this episode we talk to John Maciel, Miami Dolphin, and Tyler Rodriguez about how they’ve gotten awesome internships, the skills you need and how to adapt to opportunities like these, and how to not screw it up. Internships can seriously supercharge career progress for individuals that are able to capitalize on them. Knowing how to walk into an established studio and really prove your worth can be a scary prospect though. Tyler, Miami, and John really get into detail in this discussion about what you need to be prepared for and what skills you need to have in order to be successful. “If you want to go big, you’ve got to put yourself around people that are already doing it.” - Eyal Levi ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Internship life hacks - What DAW knowledge you should have if you want to intern for a studio - How each guest got their internship - Adapting to the situation you’re given, rather than trying to change reality - Recognizing opportunities that you didn’t specifically envision - Why you

Ryan “Fluff” Bruce is back with us for a talk about being reliable, incorporating new skills, and the 2017 URM Academy Summit. There are few guys out there right now that are putting in as much work to blaze their own path in the audio industry as Fluff. He exemplifies the creativity that it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. You can’t just copy what he’s already done (seriously… don’t be the person that makes that mistake), but there’s work ethic lessons galore in this discussion. “How many young people really can grasp and adequately take advantage of a good opportunity, because I certainly couldn’t when I was 22 or 23.” - Ryan “Fluff” Bruce ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Diversifying - The reality of coming to the game when you’re older - Developing the ability to recognize good opportunities - Taking risks - 2017 URM Summit lecture details - How Fluff learned video production, and why you should too - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your

Sam Pura (The Story So Far, Hundredth, The American Scene) joins the show to talk drum tones, workflow, and the weird way he tracks guitar DIs. Sam is known for producing amazing sounding punk albums. After listening to the depth and precision he uses to craft his workflow and gear it’s going to be a bit more clear why that is. He really brings it from both the technical and artistic sides. Whether you’re looking to nerd out on gear talk or you’re looking for some inspiration this episode is one to pay attention to. “Everyone’s just like, ‘Well, how do I make this sound good right now?’ Well, you fucking figure it out. You fucking try, try, and try again until you get a fucking result that you’re fucking stoked on and then you move the fuck on.” - Sam Pura ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Why Sam takes a “plug and play” approach to his studio - Enjoying the process - Recording guitars as just DIs - The importance of the drum room - Creating your own personal workflow - And much, much more Thanks for lis

The living legend, Daniel Bergstrand (Meshuggah, Devin Townsend, Soilwork), comes on board to talk his process, experimentation, and his passion for organization. What can we really say about the influence Bergstrand has had on the industry that hasn’t already been said? He’s had a hand in some of the most well regarded heavy albums of the past couple decades. He absolutely killed it recently on Nail the Mix, and here he is sharing more secrets with us. There are some things about his approach to audio that are likely to surprise a lot of you. “Every channel should sound good. You should be able to solo everything, and it should sound good. I don’t like covering things in the whole mix.” - Daniel Bergstrand ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Daniel’s very early start in audio - The recording of Meshuggah’s Destroy Erase Improve - Making sure soloed tracks sound great - Experimenting to find new solutions - How recording lackluster musicians can actually be good - And much, much more Thanks for listening!

Eric Guenther (The Contortionist, From Exile) sits in on this episode to shed some light on songwriting, collaboration, and being an effective keyboardist in rock/metal genres. It seems like more rock and metal bands than ever are incorporating some sort of keys or synth in their music. Of course, that also means that there’s a lot of bands doing it without really having any idea how to not make a mess of things in the process. There are few people that we’d feel are as qualified as Eric right now to provide some guidance on the subject. “I kind of like that ability to use a wide variety of different toys on every record, so that each record has its own character and place in time in a way.” - Eric Guenther ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Using new tools to distinguish records from each other - Getting keys to live peacefully with other instruments in a mix - Finding creative ways to use pedals that “suck” - Effectively working with collaborators to craft balanced arrangements - How Eric uses Ableton f

Joel Wanasek has the answers you need to make sure you stay #nosmalltime. Want Joel to answer your questions? Send them to Joel@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Joel.” The more detailed the better! “Small time is when you have really big dreams, but you don’t have the balls to go out and go after them.” - Joel Wanasek ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - The importance of setting yourself apart, and how to do it - Small time behaviors to avoid - Why you should always be open to help - What to do about a lack of motivation - Navigating past scene drama - Diversifying businesses - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re happy to have producer and engineer Richard Chycki (Aerosmith, Dream Theater, Rush) on the show to impart wisdom that he’s gained working at the industry’s top tier. Richard’s discography reads like a who’s who of all time amazing musicians. There’s so much information to mine from this discussion it’s crazy. From the process behind getting amazing guitar tones from guitar gods to how to communicate in a manner that maximizes creativity to the benefits he sees when looking back on his path into the industry, if you want to hear the mindset of one of the all time greats, you’re going to want to pay close attention to this one. “The biggest attribute that I could give to the majority of artists I work with in the ‘upper echelon’ is that they are not chasing success, they’re being creative, and they’re doing what they want to do to express their musical outlet at that time in their lives.” - Richard Chycki ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Communicating effectively with artists - The common traits of

Trevor Strnad of The Black Dahlia Murder joins us to discuss his undying love for metal, what it takes to keep a band running at peak performance, and learning lessons about what to do (and what not to do) from the bands around you. Trevor is undeniably one of the great metal frontmen, and anyone looking to be successful in an extreme metal band stands to learn a lot from what he shares in this episode. The Black Dahlia Murder has always done things their own way and they’ve done it well. They’ve faced adversity and roadblocks along the way, but they’ve excelled due to tenacity and skill. “That’s the ultimate goal. To be a tight band. To be a good band. To make good records that resonate. To make songs that are dynamic. To make songs that emote, despite being a fast band, despite being a death metal band.” - Trevor Strnad ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Trevor’s metal obsession - Why it’s ok for musicians to be open about enjoying what they do - Focusing on work ethic and professionalism - How bringing

Finn Mckenty has the life and career answers you crave. Want Finn to answer your questions? Send them to Finn@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Finn.” The more detailed the better! “Is it really true that bands make decisions based on whether somebody has nice gear or not? I’m not sure that it is. What I’m very certain of is that, if they are making that decision, they have no fucking idea what nice gear is.” - Finn Mckenty ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - What branding actually is - Why Finn believes that charisma is essential for performers - Degrees for creatives - How to prepare for career transitions - Getting clients for you new studio - Why no one is going to care about your unknown band’s studio diary - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jaime Gomez Arellano (Ghost, Paradise Lost, Sunn O))) shares his perspective on natural drum production, what you can buy today that will level up your productions immediately, and when enough compression is enough. Modern tools like samples, plugins, and amp sims definitely have a place in many productions. Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking otherwise. However, it’s always intriguing to chat with a producer like Jaime that takes the extra time to do things with more of an analog approach. There’s tons of info in this episode for those of you interested in classic production techniques. “I’ve had records where it’s like: I can’t get it to sound louder without making it sound bad. So, I just need to leave it there, because I don’t want it to sound bad.” - Jaime Gomez Arellano ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Starting every project with a “clean slate” - How to get the most out of going to a music school - How Jaime went about starting his studio - Putting in the time and getting your name out there

Joel Wanasek has the answers you need to make sure you stay #nosmalltime. Want Joel to answer your questions? Send them to Joel@urm.academy with the subject line “Dear Joel.” The more detailed the better! “I’m going to tell you something about clipping plugins… if you can’t hear it, and it sounds good, who cares?” - Joel Wanasek ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Staying healthy - Reinvigorating your interest in music - The pros and cons of clipping plugins - Credit - Dialing in a problematic kick - And much, much more Thanks for listening! Leave us a comment or review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff Dunne follows up the Emmure Nail the Mix by joining us to dive into how he’s gotten to this point and how he continues to knock out killer mixes. Being a successful audio professional involves a lot more than just knowing how to mix. Not only is Jeff an amazing producer, but he balances that with another career, and his approach to managing all of it is something that we could all learn from. From avoiding distractions to communication strategies to not letting your unconscious sabotage you, there’s tons of info to take away from this one. “I think a lot of it is having confidence in what you can do, making sure you do it at a consistent level, and then being a little bit willing to pick up some shit at the end of the day for other people, because, realistically, that’s what people need you to do even if that’s not the explicitly stated job description.” - Jeff Dunne ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: - Jeff’s top down mixing philosophy - Managing your involuntary reactions and turning them into positi