Finn McKenty, Author at Unstoppable Recording Machine

MIKE LOW: Becoming a self-taught producer, skipping audio school, and how to work with metal legends

Mike Low is a producer, mixer, and engineer known for his work in his current band Vile and formerly in the technical death metal band Inferi. As a musician who transitioned into the production world, he has built an impressive resume as an assistant and editor, working under top-tier metal producers like Dave Otero, Jeff Dunne, Christian Donaldson, and Dan Swanö.

In This Episode

Mike Low drops by to chat about his journey from being a guitarist in the super-technical band Inferi to becoming a go-to editor and assistant for some of the biggest names in metal. He shares his candid take on why formal audio school might not be the best path and breaks down the real-world skills that actually matter for a career in production. We get into the crucial “fuck it, I’ll do it” mindset that kickstarted everything, starting with him taking on an Inferi mix himself and teaching himself how to edit tech-death drums on the fly. Mike details exactly how he landed gigs with producers like Dave Otero, Jeff Dunne, and Christian Donaldson—spoiler: it involved proactive outreach and a willingness to quickly learn new DAWs to meet their specific needs. He offers some killer advice on navigating different software without getting overwhelmed, explaining why functional knowledge is often more valuable than total mastery. This is a super practical look at what it takes to build a career from the ground up, emphasizing the importance of attention to detail, a fast turnaround, and how being an active musician is one of the best calling cards you can have.

Products Mentioned

Timestamps

[03:47] How Mike got into recording before he got into technical guitar playing
[06:01] Why he wouldn’t recommend going to college for audio engineering
[06:41] The most important thing you learn in audio school (signal flow)
[11:01] Learning Pro Tools in school vs. what’s needed for a real metal session
[15:50] The value (or lack thereof) of internships
[20:34] Teaching yourself to edit tech-death drums on the fly
[21:11] The horrors of editing drums in old versions of Logic
[27:03] The importance of the “fuck it, I’ll just do it” mentality
[34:35] Why you can’t always rely on word-of-mouth for work
[39:05] How a single proactive email landed him a gig with Jeff Dunne
[43:07] The story of how he started working for Dave Otero
[44:02] Quitting his day job to deep-dive into learning Cubase
[48:35] Why some DAWs just “click” with your brain
[53:18] Using URM courses to learn Pro Tools for a gig with Christian Donaldson
[55:48] Why you only need functional knowledge of some DAWs, not total mastery
[1:02:00] Why musicians trust producers who are also musicians
[1:03:47] Using your own band as your best calling card
[1:05:41] Rapid fire: Mix bus compressor settings
[1:06:06] Rapid fire: Best new plugin discovery (Neural Amp Modeler)
[1:07:34] Rapid fire: What makes a great assistant?

NICK MORZOV: Pricing Your Services, The Obsessive Mindset, and Lying to Get a Gig

Producer, mixer, and engineer Nick Morzov is a go-to collaborator for some of the most forward-thinking acts in heavy music. He’s perhaps best known for his extensive work with progressive metal titans Animals As Leaders, having engineered and mixed their acclaimed album The Madness of Many. He has also worked closely with Travis Barker on projects including Blink-182’s Grammy-nominated album California.

In This Episode

Nick Morzov hangs out for a super candid conversation about the realities of building a career in audio. He gets into the sticky topic of pricing your services, explaining his “I’m expensive so you can sound expensive” philosophy and how to know when it’s time to raise your rates. Nick shares some incredible stories from his own journey, from quitting a cushy corporate job to lying his way into a gig with a film composer and learning on the fly. The discussion dives deep into the obsessive mindset required to reach the top tier, the importance of “interning for yourself,” and why you need to turn your wants into needs to push past your limits. They also touch on why therapy is a game-changer for creatives and wrap up with a rapid-fire round of must-have gear talk.

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Timestamps

[0:55] Nick’s “I’m expensive so you can sound expensive” quote
[3:23] How do you figure out what to charge? Your bills dictate it
[4:52] Avoiding resentment by getting paid what you need
[7:06] When do you know it’s time to raise your rates?
[8:20] The concept of “interning for yourself”
[9:21] The danger of telling beginners to “charge what you’re worth”
[10:33] Getting a reality check on rates from Animals As Leaders
[17:46] Going above and beyond to learn the craft (studying Jerry Finn)
[19:17] The importance of obsession and grit to succeed
[26:23] Quitting a high-paying corporate job to pursue music
[28:20] The gear obsession phase vs. real skill development
[31:15] How he lied on his resume to get a job with a film composer
[33:15] The mindset of turning your “wants” into “needs”
[35:53] The ultimate life hack for motivation: Have children
[45:20] The reality of being a “psychotic success-driven freak”
[48:15] Why therapy can be a powerful tool for creatives
[53:07] Rapid Fire: Favorite compressor
[53:43] Rapid Fire: Favorite plugin EQ
[55:05] Rapid Fire: Favorite mic preamp
[56:00] Rapid Fire: What’s the best-sounding mix of all time?

Matt Huber: Slashing Your Mix Times, Why You Need to Specialize, and The Psychology of Mixing

Matt Huber is a Nashville-based mix engineer who has worked with a killer range of artists like Underoath, Of Mice & Men, Meet Me @ The Altar, and even country star Thomas Rhett. He started out as a producer but made the deliberate pivot to focus exclusively on mixing in 2019 after realizing he could see a clear path to becoming world-class in that specific discipline. His journey is a perfect example of how specializing and moving to a music hub like Nashville can accelerate a career.

In This Episode

Matt Huber hangs with the guys to talk about one of the most crucial, yet overlooked, aspects of a modern mixing career: building a blazing-fast workflow that gets better results. He breaks down the systems he developed for himself that allowed him to slash his mix times from 12 hours down to 3 while improving quality. He shares some killer, practical tips on rewriting plugin defaults, using macros in Soundflow, and automating stem printing with Bounce Factory. They also get into the psychology of mixing, from the mindset shift required to trust your gut instincts to the art of understanding what a client really wants from you (hint: it’s probably just a better version of their rough mix). This one is packed with actionable advice for any producer looking to work smarter, not harder.

Products Mentioned

Timestamps

[2:54] Why it’s still important to live in a music city
[4:27] When he transitioned from producer to full-time mixer
[7:51] Reading “Good to Great” and finding his one “world-class” thing
[9:14] The importance of being able to “see the path forward” in your career
[14:24] Why you should have momentum *before* moving to LA or Nashville
[18:24] How to avoid burnout by scheduling yourself at 70% capacity
[20:41] How he went from 12-hour mixes to 3-hour mixes (and got better results)
[23:42] The most effective changes he made to his workflow
[24:11] The mindset shift from insecurity to trusting your gut
[25:07] The “mix as fast as you can” experiment that changed everything
[28:42] A simple hack: rewriting all your plugin defaults
[29:49] Using Soundflow and setting up key commands to keep your hands in position
[31:07] Printing hundreds of stems overnight with Bounce Factory
[37:40] How high demand forces you to systematize your entire process
[39:01] Why your clients probably just want a better version of their rough mix
[41:23] The difference in expectations between metal and other genres
[45:04] Communicating with the mixer about which parts to preserve vs. reinterpret
[50:27] Rapid fire: A mixing trend that people are overdoing
[51:26] Rapid fire: Advice for intermediate mixers
[52:03] Matt’s go-to vocal chain

AUSTIN COUPE: Why Vibe is King, Breaking the Rules, and Producer Burnout

Austin Coupe is a producer and songwriter known for his work with artists like Moodring, Prison, nothing,nowhere., and Citizen. After years of honing his technical skills while touring in bands, his career gained significant momentum with the records he made for Moodring, developing a distinct vibe that led to bands seeking him out to replicate that specific sound.

In This Episode

Austin Coupe gets real about his journey from dedicated URM podcast listener to in-demand producer. He shares the crucial turning point in his career: when he stopped obsessing over technical perfection and started prioritizing vibe and songwriting—after, of course, putting in the years to master the fundamentals. Austin explains why you have to learn the rules before you can break them effectively. He also dives into the realities of the producer lifestyle, from managing bands who want to copy the sound of another artist to setting boundaries with clients. He opens up about the mental grind of the industry, the importance of having a social circle outside of music, and the dangers of tying your self-worth to your work. This is a super grounded look at what it takes to build a career, find your sound, and stay sane in the process.

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Timestamps

[1:18] Learning audio by listening to podcasts at the gym
[2:39] Why it’s so hard to work on mixes while on tour
[6:09] How his career took off when he stopped chasing technical perfection
[7:25] The importance of learning the rules before you can break them
[9:25] Comparing music theory to audio production: learn it, then forget it
[10:32] Turning technical decisions into pure intuition
[14:47] Dealing with bands who just want to sound exactly like Moodring
[17:18] How to make a band sound unique while still bringing your own signature style
[20:08] The constant challenge of making a mix full and exciting without it becoming a mess
[22:03] Why vibe is always his number one priority in a mix
[24:54] The difference between mixing for a big producer vs. a self-produced band
[26:17] Setting boundaries and managing expectations with clients
[29:52] The “abusive, toxic relationship” that is the music industry
[31:22] How he copes with burnout and the daily insanity of the industry
[34:03] The danger of deriving your self-worth from how much work you get done
[36:04] The importance of having friends and a life outside of music
[45:37] Rapid fire: Favorite compressors
[47:06] Rapid fire: Favorite amp
[48:51] Rapid fire: Favorite plugin EQ
[51:12] What is the best-sounding mix of all time?

DOUG WEIER: Whatever It Takes Mixing, The Truth About Pocket, Knowing Your Worth

Doug Weier is a Nashville-based mix engineer who has seen a meteoric rise, racking up over 20 number-one hits in the Contemporary Christian Music world in just under a decade. He identifies first and foremost as a mixer, but carries a “whatever it takes” mentality, often wearing the producer hat to reprogram parts and replace sounds to ensure every track he delivers is as impactful as possible.

In This Episode

Doug Weier joins the podcast to get real about what it takes to thrive as a modern mix engineer. He kicks things off by breaking down his “whatever it takes” philosophy, explaining why he’ll go beyond the job description—from reprogramming basslines to heavy drum replacement—to make a track slam. This leads to a super insightful discussion on the elusive concept of “pocket” and why feel is so much more important than locking everything perfectly to the grid. Doug and the guys get into the weeds on how sonics affect groove, the massive impact of simple level adjustments, and why a perfectly balanced static mix is way more powerful than one overcooked with a million plugins. They also explore the pros and cons of analog gear, with Doug sharing what prompted his recent journey into the outboard world. For anyone trying to level up, this episode is packed with killer perspective on developing your own taste, the fallacy of copying templates, and the real-world business hustle—including a brutally honest take on “knowing your worth”—that separates the pros from the hobbyists.

Products Mentioned

Timestamps

[0:03:04] The “whatever it takes” mentality of a modern mixer
[0:09:08] Why you can’t fix a bad song or a bad vocal performance
[0:10:34] What is vocal “pocket” and how do you define it?
[0:13:28] Why listening to disco records can teach you about pocket
[0:15:00] A metronome trick for metal players to develop their feel
[0:16:20] How the forgiving nature of tape helps performances gel
[0:19:14] Using mixing to add emotion that wasn’t in the rough mix
[0:20:46] The huge impact of a simple level change
[0:23:11] The danger of mindlessly following advice from the internet
[0:24:57] Why Nail The Mix doesn’t give out session templates
[0:27:53] Developing your own taste vs. copying other mixers
[0:30:56] Using reference tracks to problem-solve and unlock new techniques
[0:32:40] How Doug continues to get better, even at the top of his game
[0:37:01] What prompted Doug’s move into analog hardware
[0:39:07] Chasing a specific snare transient that only seemed possible with outboard gear
[0:43:27] Why you can recreate analog sounds in the box (if you know what you’re aiming for)
[0:47:09] Why arguing about gear online is a waste of time
[0:50:50] How getting an offensive mix back from another engineer launched Doug’s career
[0:55:35] The truth about “knowing your worth” when you’re starting out
[1:03:06] Doug’s go-to in-the-box vocal chain