Author: Finn McKenty

The URM Home Studio Training Grounds podcast

If you’re a musician looking to get your home studio off the ground, this show is for you! Eyal Levi and Ryan “Fluff” Bruce sit down to talk shop about all the things they wish they knew when they were getting started.

Episode 1: Recording Guitars part 1

In this episode they talk about all things guitars: the simplest way to get started with recording guitars at home, some things you need to know to avoid damaging your gear, and a few simple but crazy-effective things you can do to level up your tones and more. If you want to record guitars at home without your amp catching on fire, make sure you give this one a listen!

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Episode 2: Recording Guitars part 2

In this episode they continue digging into guitars, focusing on how to get the best results when recording: the proper way to play when recording (and why it’s not the same as playing live), why it’s so hard to program guitars, and the critical importance of simple but often overlooked details (for example, the RIGHT way to use a tuner).

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Episode 3: Choosing The Right DAW

In this episode they dive deep into a hot topic: choosing the right DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). They touch on why you should NOT pick your DAW based on other people’s opinions, the pros and cons of many popular DAWs and most importantly, how to pick the one that’s best for YOU.

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Episode 4: Programming Drums

In today’s episode they talk about the biggest hurdle for many musicians: drums! Or more specifically, the ins and outs of programming MIDI drums for those who don’t have access to a drummer (or drummers who simply can’t record their kit at the moment).

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Episode 5: Vocals

In this episode they tackle what is probably the most fragile part of any recording: vocals. They talk about the keys to tracking a great vocal performance: how to read the vocalist’s state of mind, creating the right environment for them to do their best, and how to record great vocals in a home studio. 

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Episode 6: Bass

In this episode they focus on an incredibly important but often overlooked part of any metal mix: the bass guitar. Some of what they cover: why bass is the secret ingredient to great metal guitar tone, some tricks for recording bass (it’s not quite the same as guitar), and how to use synth and MIDI bass guitars for reference.

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Hack your vocal harmonies with Izotope Nectar

Is it magic?? Kinda!

Vocal harmonies are an incredibly powerful way to add size, dynamics and power to any song (even in genres that are primarily screams and growls).

HACK YOUR VOCAL HARMONIES w/ Izotope Nectar plugin

Vocal harmonies are an incredibly powerful way to add size, dynamics and power to any song. In this video, Nick explains the basics of what harmonies are (in music theory terms) and how to write vocal harmonies using the raw multi-tracks for “Right Back At It Again” by A Day To Remember and the Izotope Nectar plugin.

In this video, Nick explains the basics of what harmonies are (in music theory terms) and how to write vocal harmonies using the raw multi-tracks for “Right Back At It Again” by A Day To Remember and the Izotope Nectar plugin.

Click here to get instant access to the ADTR tracks + and Andrew Wade’s mixing session!

Nail The Mix

Nail The Mix is our online mixing school that gives you REAL multi-tracks from REAL bands, plus a mixing class from the producer who recorded it. Past guests include Periphery, Gojira, Meshuggah, Machine Head, A Day To Remember and Bring Me The Horizon. Join now for instant access!

How to mix orchestration in metal

Just say no to aggressive HPF!

Orchestral parts can add a lot of dynamics, character and interest to metal songs, but because most of us are unfamiliar with how to approach them, they often end up treated as an afterthought in the mixing process (and, let’s be honest, sounding like poo-poo).

MIXING ORCHESTRATION IN METAL w/ Fleshgod Apocalypse + Jacob Hansen

Orchestral parts can add a lot of dynamics, character and interest to metal songs, but because most of us are unfamiliar with how to approach them, they often end up treated as an afterthought in the mixing process (and, let’s be honest, sounding like poo-poo).

But we hope to change that in this Fast Track, where Jacob Hansen (Epica, The Black Dahlia Murder, Fleshgod Apocalypse) shows his approach to mixing orchestration the RIGHT way!

The key to this approach is in two simple things: starting with the right arrangement, and preserving as much of the orchestration’s sonic character as possible (rather than aggressively high passing it as many people do).

Jacob’s Fast Track is only one of over 50 in the library, and you’ll get instant access to ALL of them when you join URM Enhanced 😎Click here to join!

Nail The Mix

Nail The Mix is our online mixing school that gives you REAL multi-tracks from REAL bands, plus a mixing class from the producer who recorded it. Past guests include Periphery, Gojira, Meshuggah, Machine Head, A Day To Remember and Bring Me The Horizon. Join now for instant access!

Mixing At The Gates drums!

Soothe your overheads

In this clip from Nail The Mix, Russ Russell mixes the drums for “The Chasm” by At The Gates, focusing on the overheads. As he talks about, it’s all about making smart, strategic moves with EQ rather than simply high passing them and potentially losing much of the drums’ sonic character.

MIXING AT THE GATES DRUM TRACKS w/ Russ Russell

In this clip from Nail The Mix, Russ Russell mixes the drums for “The Chasm” by At The Gates, focusing on the overheads. As he talks about, it’s all about making smart, strategic moves with EQ rather than simply high passing them and potentially losing much of the drums’ sonic character.

He uses FabFilter Pro Q 3, Soothe, the UAD Pultec EQ and Metric Halo Channel Strip in Pro Tools, but the same approach should work with any plugins or DAW.

Get instant access to At The Gates multi-tracks and Russ Russell’s full mixing session ► http://nailthemix.com/russ

Nail The Mix

Nail The Mix is our online mixing school that gives you REAL multi-tracks from REAL bands, plus a mixing class from the producer who recorded it. Past guests include Periphery, Gojira, Meshuggah, Machine Head, A Day To Remember and Bring Me The Horizon. Join now for instant access!

Killing your guitars with too much EQ?

The cause of death? Excessive EQ

For many mixers, the main approach to mixing metal guitars is to make aggressive EQ cuts, and while that can work, you may also be losing some of the nuances that give the tracks character.

RUINING YOUR GUITARS w/ TOO MUCH EQ?? The Haunted + Russ Russell

For many mixers, the main approach to mixing metal guitars is to make aggressive EQ cuts, and while that can work, you may also be losing some of the nuances that give the tracks character.

In this tutorial, Russ Russell shows his approach to mixing metal guitars with some very subtle but effective EQ and multiband compression using the raw multi-tracks for “Preachers Of Death” by The Haunted.

He uses FabFilter Pro Q 3, FabFilter Pro MB, and Refuse Lowender but the same approach will work with any plugins.

Nail The Mix

Nail The Mix is our online mixing school that gives you REAL multi-tracks from REAL bands, plus a mixing class from the producer who recorded it. Past guests include Periphery, Gojira, Meshuggah, Machine Head, A Day To Remember and Bring Me The Horizon. Join now for instant access!