Recording Studio Rockstars
by Lij Shaw
Lij Shaw Interviews music producers, engineers, studio owners, and other professionals to bring you inspiring stories, tricks, and insights from the recording studio. So that you can take your recordings to the next level and become a rockstar of the recording studio yourself! - Guests: Vance Powell, Michael Beinhorn, Russell Wolff, Graham Cochrane, Joe Gilder, Björgvin Benediktsson, and many more...
Episodes
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RSR581 - Brittany Rogers - From Math Nerd to Nashville Producer: The Power of Making Hard Things Easy
Ever wonder how busy professionals juggle producing music, creating social media content, and staying sane? Today, I sit down with Nashville-based producer, engineer, and content creator Brittany Rogers to explore the art of balancing work, art, and self-care. Brittany shares her journey from…
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RSR580 - Dmitry Taranov - SAE Institute Prof Unpacks Studio Tech, DAW Choices, and Russian Recording Secrets
Ever wondered how a PhD in acoustics shapes a producer’s approach to mixing and recording? Or how to navigate the complexities of DAWs, virtual instruments, and imagery in the studio? This episode with Dmitry Taranov pulls back the curtain on tech, studio workflows, and cultural insights that can...
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RSR579 - Gyasi Heus - Glam Rock Songwriting and Guitar Tones from David Bowie to Django Reinhardt to Alice Cooper
Is “school” ever really out when you’re chasing guitar tone, or are we always learning how to ditch Mr. Nice Guy in the classroom of rock? My guest today is Gyasi Heus, a Nashville-based musician, producer, and guitarist known for his theatrical rock sound, analog recording approach, and work…
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RSR578 Chris Pandolfi - Badass Banjo and Production Magic with The Infamous Stringdusters
Curious how bluegrass veterans approach recording live in the studio or manage the balance between virtual instruments and raw performances? Join us as Chris Pandolfi from The Infamous Stringdusters shares insights from decades of balancing tradition and innovation in music. My guest today is…
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RSR577 - Marc Matthews - How to Build EDM Tracks From Start To Finish
What do happy accidents, deconstructing songs, and tools like stem splitters have to do with leveling up your production skills? My guest today is Marc Matthews, a UK-based producer, mixing and mastering engineer, EDM artist, and host of Inside The Mix podcast. He works with independent artists…
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RSR576 - Nettie Freed - The Granddaughter of Rock 'n' Roll: Embracing Risks and Authenticity
What risks and rebellions in rock and roll history continue to echo in today's music industry? My guest today is Nettie Freed, an artist, songwriter, creative director, and studio owner based near Nashville. With roots in a music industry family and decades of experience in L.A. and Nashville,...
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RSR575 - David Amlen - Lessons from Decades of Studio Building and Engineering
What does it really take to design a studio that balances acoustic excellence with practical flow - without losing sight of the human element? My guest today is David Amlen, a veteran producer, engineer, and studio owner with over 35 years of experience across film, music, television, and more....
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RSR574 - JJ Catalyst - The Art of Finishing Award Winning Mixes Fast and Confidently
What does it take to finish a mix quickly without second-guessing your instincts? My guest today is JJ Catalyst, a Los Angeles-based recording engineer and mixer with credits spanning Disney, Showtime, and Billboard number ones. He's Emmy-nominated and known for blending modern pop with...
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RSR573 - Greg Giorgio - Hybrid Studio: From Deep Snares and Cue Sends to Creative Mixing Techniques
What’s the secret to capturing that deep, punchy snare sound without overdoing it? I asked Greg Giorgio about his approach to drums, and he shared how tuning and subtle miking tricks - like dampening with towels and choosing the right snare - make all the difference. It’s about working with the...
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RSR572 - BZ Lewis - Unlocking the Emotional Power of Immersive Audio
What insights do immersive audio techniques, like Atmos, offer for emotional storytelling and how do different speaker setups influence our perception of space and emotion in music? My guest today is BZ Lewis, a producer, engineer, and mixer with over 30 years of experience. He’s earned six Emmy...
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RSR571 Brian Moncarz - Mixing Rock Drums for Bob Ezrin, Alice Cooper & Our Lady Peace
Have you ever wondered whether a killer drum sound starts with the right mic placement and kit selection, or if it’s something you can still craft in the mix? Or maybe you’re curious about how much room tone, mic choice, and tuning actually influence the final impact of your drums? My guest today...
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RSR570 Jordie Lane - Writing and Producing Great Songs from the Road, Circus, and Joshua Tree
What does it really take to make your best record by embracing limitations and finding creativity in the constraints? My guest today is Jordie Lane, a Nashville-based Australian indie roots artist, songwriter, and producer. With a background that includes performing at the Sydney Opera House,...
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RSR569 Vance Powell - Baking It In, Atmos Truth, Tiny Amps, and One-Take Magic
What happens when you stop calling it pre-production and just start making the record? My guest today is Vance Powell, multi-Grammy-winning producer, mixer, and engineer from Sputnik Sound in Nashville - and the most frequent guest in RSR history, now returning for his seventh appearance on the...
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RSR568 Kevin White - Songs of Apollo, NASA, & Music That Went to Space
What happens when you realize the soundtrack of space travel isn’t science fiction - it’s real music carried aboard real missions? My guest today is Kevin White, Nashville educator, musician, and creator of Songs of Apollo - a documentary project that explores the real relationship between music...
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RSR567 Micah Tawlks - Co-Writing, Mixing, Blackbird Sessions & Capturing Ideas Before They Disappear
What happens when you start writing, producing, and mixing like the forest, not the trees, and you leave your worries behind? My guest today is Micah Tawlks - producer, mixer, songwriter, and artist based in Nashville, working out of his home studio in Whites Creek. Micah first joined us back on...
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RSR566 Toby Suess - Saving Home and Pro Studios from Nashville to Nevada!
What happens when you build a studio in an industrial zone…and still end up in court for making records? My guest today is Toby Suess, drummer, engineer, and owner of Tinroof Recording in Fallon, Nevada - a studio that started as nothing more than a rehearsal space and grew into a full hybrid...
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RSR565 - Jason Lehning - Mixing Vocals, Low-End Decisions, Writers’ Rooms & Keeping It Fun
What happens when you finally stop chasing every plugin and build a mix workflow that actually works? My guest today is Grammy-winning mixer, producer, and musician Jason Lehning, returning to the show after RSR074. If the name sounds familiar, it should - we’ve also had his brother Jordan…
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RSR 564 - Packy Lundholm - Writing, Producing & Recording Yourself at Home
What happens when a Chicago multi-instrumentalist with power-pop roots, psychedelic instincts, and indie-folk sensitivity lands in Nashville with a home studio, a loop pedal, and a fearless creative streak? What happens when a Chicago multi-instrumentalist with power-pop roots, psychedelic...
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RSR563 - Bobby Bare Jr - Why Monk Songs Come From a Disco Heart and Other Unicorn Sightings
Why do your deepest, most emotional songs come out better when you stop trying so hard? In this episode, I sit down with Nashville legend Bobby Bare Jr. - fearless songwriter, creative instigator, touring bassist for Guided By Voices, and the son of Country Music Hall of Famer Bobby Bare. This...
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RSR562 - Piper Payne - Crafting Vinyl Records With Care for Indie Artists
What do you actually need to know BEFORE you press your vinyl record… and what mistakes will totally ruin it? In this episode, Piper Payne returns to take us way deeper into the real-world physics, workflows, and decisions behind vinyl mastering and pressing. We dig into how your mixes translate...
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RSR 561 - Kortney Grinwis - From Viral Drum Videos to Full-Time Musician Touring The World
What happens when your drumming videos blow up online… and suddenly you’re touring the world behind your own band? Hi Rockstars, it’s your host Lij Shaw. In this episode, I sat down with Nashville drummer and creator Kortney Grinwis, one half of the alt-pop duo Chapel, to talk about her journey...
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RSR560 - Mike Meiers - Stop Writing for Your Band - Start Writing for Real Opportunities
What happens when you stop chasing the band dream… and start writing songs that actually work in the real world? Hi Rockstars, it’s your host Lij Shaw. In this episode, I sat down with songwriter, producer, and sync-music mentor Mike Meiers to dig into how he went from traditional band life to...
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RSR559 - Pat Sansone - Playing and Songwriting with Wilco, Autumn Defense, and Big Star Quintet.
Why does the rough mix always feel like the real song - and how the hell do you get that magic back without ruining it? In this episode, Pat Sansone and I go deep into the lifelong puzzle of mixing: why the first tracking rough has all the energy, how chasing it can make you crazy, and why mixing...
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RSR558 - Bleu McAuley - Sync, Songs, Survival, & The Future of Making Records
What happens when you sit down with a songwriter who’s done everything from early fan-funded records, to major-label pop, to K-pop, to sync, to teaching songwriting at Berklee - and ask him what really matters in the studio today? Bleu McAuley and I go deep into the intersection of creativity,...
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RSR557 - Teresa Knox - Reviving Leon Russell’s Church Studio & the Tulsa Sound
What happens when you rescue a forgotten studio that once shaped American music history - and bring it roaring back to life? This week, I sat down with Teresa Knox, the powerhouse entrepreneur and preservationist behind the rebirth of The Church Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma - the legendary home of...
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RSR556 – Steve Genewick – The Majesty of Turning Spinal Tap Up to Eleven in Atmos
What happens when you finally get to mix Spinal Tap in Dubly Atmos? You turn it up to 11, of course! My guest today is Grammy-nominated engineer and mixer Steve Genewick, joining us from his Atmos room in Los Angeles to walk us through the wild, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt process of...
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RSR555 - Matt Boudreau - From Stereo to Atmos: Revolutionizing Audio Mixing
What if your mix engineer secretly backed up every session in triplicate just so your grandkids could remix your demo in 2085? In this episode, I’m joined by my brother from another podcast, Matt Boudreau - veteran mixer, Atmos trailblazer, and the host of Working Class Audio. Matt’s credits...
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RSR554 – Ronan Chris Murphy – Modern Songwriting Knight Writing Medieval Melodies in Ancient Italy
What happens when a tree destroys your home and studio - and it leads you to a new creative life across two continents? In this episode, I talk with Ronan Chris Murphy, the world-traveling producer, engineer, and artist known for his work with King Crimson, Steve Morse, and Tony Levin, and for...
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RSR553 - Locke Davis - How to Build Your Community and Content to Grow Your Studio or Music Career - Pickr Music
What happens when you stop chasing shiny gear and start listening more carefully? In this episode, Locke Davis, founder and CEO of the Pickr Music app, shares how his deep dive into Nashville's studio culture and Blackbird Academy shaped his approach to building a platform that connects...
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RSR552 - Tim Easton - Songwriting, Shortcuts, and the Sound of Real Life
In this episode, we dive deep into the art of staying creative - even when life gets messy. Tim and I talk about recording at home, the beauty of imperfection, Logic shortcuts, AI tools, Costa Rica inspiration, punk rock sound gigs, and songwriting prompts that dig into the soul. We also laugh a...
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RSR551 - Meghan Gohil - Future-Proof Your Music with Atmos, Hybrid Chains, and Indie Strategy
Meghan Gohil is a producer, mixer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles. He runs Hollywood Recording Studio and GoHill Records, where he helps artists make professional-sounding records with smart workflows, hybrid mixing, and practical indie-release strategies. Get access to FREE…
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RSR550 - Laura Crapo - Making Records, Films, and Music Videos for MTV [Steve Albini, Sebadoh]
Have you ever wondered how embracing chaos and intuition can transform your creative process? Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com In this episode, Laura Crapo shares her journey through music, film, healing, and the importance of staying authentic to your unique...
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RSR549 - Brad Jones - Capturing Authentic Performances in the Studio [Jill Sobule, Robyn Hitchcock]
Ever wondered how seasoned producers handle low-end management, creative sampling, or guiding musicians without spooking them? Join me as I chat with Nashville's own Brad Jones to uncover practical studio techniques, legendary stories, and lessons learned over decades of making records. Get…
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RSR548 - Roger Alan Nichols - Drum Tuning, Microphone Choices & Getting the Sound Right
Ever wonder how the chaos of remote recording setups and complex signals can actually come together in a studio environment? Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Roger Alan Nichols, a Nashville-based producer, engineer, and songwriter with a résumé...
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RSR547 - Jon Estes - Simplicity and Communication Make Better Records [Béla Fleck, Robyn Hitchcock]
What does it really take to make a record that feels authentic, timeless, and even fun to make, without getting caught up in hype or hype-y gear? Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Jon Estes, a Nashville-born multi-instrumentalist, producer, and...
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RSR546 - Ronnie & Tiffany Notch - Bring Hip-Hop, AI, VR, Microsoft and Music-Learning to 40 Million Kids
What happens when you mix turntables with virtual reality to reach 4 million students and 20,000 educators worldwide? Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guests today are Ronnie and Tiffany Notch, the creative forces behind Breach, a company that blends music,...
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RSR545 - Josh Frigo - The Art of Atmos Mixing and Creative Collaboration in the Nashville Scene
Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Josh Frigo, a producer, mixer, multi-instrumentalist, and artist based in Nashville, Tennessee, who believes in putting artists and their ideas first. After several years as a touring utility player, Josh shifted...
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RSR544 - Eric Sarafin - Mixerman's Ultimate Guide to Producing Records, Music & Songs.
What actually makes a mix feel musical before you ever touch an EQ? Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Eric Sarafin, better known as Mixerman - a gold- and platinum-selling producer, mixer, and engineer with credits ranging from The Pharcyde and...
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RSR543 - Travis Harrison - Recording Guided By Voices, Built To Spill, The Men, and Tons of Garage and Punk Rock in Brooklyn, NY
What actually happens when you stop isolating everything and just let a band play together in the room? Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Travis Harrison, founder of Serious Business Music, a Brooklyn-based studio known for capturing raw, honest...
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RSR542 - Ryan Prewett - The Sound of Retro Funk Beats in The Heart of Country: Music City
How do you turn your studio skills into a thriving artist career? Ryan Prewett shares how funk, collaboration, and sync licensing helped him shift from producer-for-hire to full-time artist - and why building assets is the new record deal. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:...
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RSR541 - Bill Cheney - How Missile Tech Created the Sound of Classic Rock at Spectra1964
How Did Michael Jackson's $98,000 Console Inspire the Ultimate Studio Compressor? What happens when missile-grade engineering meets music? Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com Bill Cheney of Spectra 1964 joins me to reveal how a company born from aerospace tech…
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RSR540 – Jimmy Douglass – METAlliance, Atlantic Records, Foreigner, Television, Gang of Four, Timbaland & Snoop Dogg
What happens when you sit down with an engineer who helped define multiple eras of music - from Foreigner to Timbaland - and he tells you the secret is still just listening for what feels good? Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Jimmy Douglass,...
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RSR539 - Phil Wagner - Advancing Sound Quality From Soundworks to Solid State Logic
What does it take to lead two of the biggest names in pro audio? Phil Wagner shares how he went from NYC engineer to running SSL and Apogee - and why the best technology still starts with listening. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Phil Wagner…
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RSR538 - Toby Lloyd - From Punk to Producer - Tiny Triumphs over Mindset, Workflow & Vibe
What does a rooftop studio, a cold plunge, and a punk rock heart have in common? Producer Toby Lloyd shares how surrender, discipline, and creative flow helped him build Tiny Triumph Recordings and rediscover joy in making music. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com...
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RSR537 - Rich Bernett - The sound of machines: Contact Mics, The Cassettone, Guitar Pedal Feedback Loops, Oh My!
Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com Howdy Rockstars, my guest today is Rich Bernett, aka Sound of Machines, a Richmond, Virginia - based sound artist, builder, and experimental musician. Rich designs and performs with his own DIY instruments like the CassetteTone 2...
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RSR536 - Ian Fitchuk - Grammy Winner Writer and Producer for Kacey Musgraves, Beyoncé, Chris Stapleton, and Maggie Rogers
Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Ian Fitchuk, a two-time Grammy Award–winning musician, songwriter, and producer based in Nashville. You've heard his work on Golden Hour with Kacey Musgraves - a landmark record that helped redefine the sound of...
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RSR535 - Ryan Nasci - Mixing Mastery with Ryan Nasci [Harry Styles, Portugal The Man, Young the Giant]
Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com What does it take to go from Ohio to LA and start mixing records at the highest level? In this episode, I sat down with mixer and engineer Ryan Nasci to trace his journey from the Midwest to Los Angeles, where he worked alongside...
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RSR534 - Derek Bargaehr - The Nerdy Mic Episode You Didn't Know You Needed!
Learn why polar patterns matter more than EQ as Derek Bargaehr of Vanguard Audio Labs breaks down capsules, circuits, self-noise, phase tricks, stereo techniques, and practical mic placement you can use on your next session. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My...
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RSR533 - Chris Selim - Building a Home Studio and a Music Community From Quebec to Calgary
What happens when a French-Canadian music producer trades poutine for prairie skies and builds a new studio in Calgary? Will his acoustic panels survive the move? Tune in as Chris Selim shares his journey, one recycled bass trap at a time. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:...
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RSR532 - Lincoln Parish - Recording Rock with Cage the Elephant
What happens when you don't cage the elephant—and let creativity run wild in the studio? Lincoln Parish shares how recording live, trusting your gear, and embracing bleed helped shape the sound of a Grammy-nominated band and his work as a producer today. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:...
About this show
Lij Shaw Interviews music producers, engineers, studio owners, and other professionals to bring you inspiring stories, tricks, and insights from the recording studio. So that you can take your recordings to the next level and become a rockstar of the recording studio yourself! - Guests: Vance Powell, Michael Beinhorn, Russell Wolff, Graham Cochrane, Joe Gilder, Björgvin Benediktsson, and many more...
Hosted by
Lij Shaw
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