Finn McKenty, Author at Unstoppable Recording Machine

GEORGE LEVER: The Producer Mindset, Why the Market Isn’t Saturated, Learning From Mistakes

Producer and mixer George Lever has worked with some of the most forward-thinking bands in modern metal, including Loathe, Sleep Token, and Wovenwar. He’s also a staple of the URM community, known for his in-depth YouTube content, Nail The Mix sessions, and insightful Mix Rescues that help developing producers level up their game.

And we’ve been fortunate enough to have him on Nail The Mix more than once:

In This Episode

George Lever is back for a deep and philosophical chat about what it really takes to succeed in the audio world. He and Eyal get into why the idea of a “saturated” market is a myth, breaking down the rare combination of work ethic, aptitude, and people skills required to make it. George discusses the mental battle against the “stop now” voice that tells you to cut corners, and how that same discipline applies to everything from renovating a studio to finishing a mix. They explore why progress only comes from action and learning from mistakes, and why beginners often get sidetracked by “advanced” tricks instead of nailing the fundamentals. This episode is less about specific plugins and more about the mindset, self-awareness, and relentless drive needed to build a real career—a must-listen for anyone serious about the craft.

Products Mentioned

Timestamps

[2:44] Why George thinks you can’t teach ambition or grind
[5:51] Why the idea of an “oversaturated” audio market is bullshit
[6:25] The unique market impact of Joey Sturgis in the 2000s
[12:59] The two things you can’t learn: grind and aptitude
[13:36] Respect for the military mindset and the comfortability with suffering
[18:24] Fighting the internal “we can just stop now” voice
[22:29] Why creative work doesn’t trigger the same procrastination impulse
[26:16] George’s “run face-first into the wall” method for getting things done
[30:30] Is it better to talk about a production change or just do it?
[34:32] Why being afraid to make mistakes holds young producers back
[37:13] A real-world story of a technical f*ck-up during a drum session
[40:47] Why do beginners obsess over parallel compression and mid-side EQ?
[49:31] Debunking audio myths that originated in the analog era
[56:23] Why real drums can be a shock after only working with samples
[1:03:41] The hard lesson of accepting that other people don’t think like you
[1:07:31] The philosophical loop: can you ever be truly understood by another person?
[1:12:14] How to provide real value and become irreplaceable as a producer
[1:22:27] The unexpected challenges of renovating a studio for video content

JOHN DOUGLASS: Creating Your Own Luck, The Power of Outsourcing, and Producer Perfectionism

John Douglass is an Atlanta-based engineer, mixer, and producer who’s built a super solid resume working behind the scenes for some of the biggest names in the game. He’s amassed credits with artists like The Contortionist, Corey Taylor, Alluvial, Nick Johnston, and Mr. Bungle. Beyond the band world, he’s also worked on TV and film projects including Rick and Morty, The Walking Dead, and Archer, making him a versatile and highly skilled dude in the audio world.

In This Episode

John Douglass is back on the pod to get into the real-world hustle of being a modern producer. He kicks things off with a cool discussion on the role of luck in a creative career and how putting in the work sets you up for those lucky breaks. He breaks down the massive importance of outsourcing tedious work (like drum editing) to save your creative energy for what really matters, a lesson he learned prepping sessions for mixing god Jay Rustin. John also offers an inside look at his work with The Contortionist on their more jam-centric material and the insane level of perfectionism required to track guitars with Wes Hauch for the Alluvial record. He shares tons of killer insights on adapting your workflow, the value of deep technical knowledge (shoutout to Plugin Doctor), and why communication is everything when you’re part of a bigger production team.

Products Mentioned

Timestamps

[0:04:03] The luckiest moment in John’s career
[0:09:59] Setting the stage for “good luck” to happen
[0:14:17] Solving a problem a producer didn’t even know they had
[0:15:24] The importance and mental relief of outsourcing
[0:18:23] The 80/20 rule of mix prep vs. actual mixing
[0:23:38] Why raising the overall bar for production quality is a good thing for everyone
[0:24:57] How learning from the greats (like Christian Donaldson) creates a feedback loop of improvement
[0:31:38] Threading the needle: producing a tight but natural sound for The Contortionist
[0:35:03] The danger of losing objectivity after too many mix revisions
[0:39:16] Why the “lone wolf” producer who does everything themself is a myth
[0:42:31] Wes Hauch’s “this is the only record I’ll ever make” perfectionism on the Alluvial album
[0:46:51] Letting a musician’s instincts guide the recording process, even if it means doing 15 takes
[0:52:51] How Jay Rustin gets killer tones that sound like a real band playing live
[0:55:48] Why a “loose” performance isn’t necessarily a problem to be fixed
[0:59:23] Judging the difference between intentional looseness and mistakes when prepping a mix for someone else
[1:05:13] Taking a studio approach to mixing a live stream performance
[1:09:08] Prioritizing projects when working for multiple producers at once
[1:11:13] Getting over the fear of outsourcing and letting someone else “take your work”
[1:23:13] Mastering workflow update: using clippers before the limiter for a punchier sound
[1:23:28] Using Plugin Doctor to understand what your EQs are *really* doing to the signal
[1:28:40] Why recording vocals early in the process provides a solid foundation for the entire production

Adair Daufembach: Building a career from nothing, the psychology of production, and moving to LA

Adair Daufembach is an LA-based producer, songwriter, and engineer originally from Brazil. A musician turned producer, Adair has built a solid career working with a host of incredible artists both in Brazil and internationally. His credits include work with guitar virtuoso Tony McAlpine, Kiko Loureiro and his band Angra, and Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren.

In This Episode

Adair Daufembach joins the podcast for a deep dive into what it takes to forge a production career from the ground up. He shares what it was like starting out in the tough Brazilian metal scene, detailing the intense work ethic and sacrifices required to build a business in a market with limited resources. Adair gets into the practical challenges, from literally driving hours to pick up clients to financing essential gear that cost double the US price. He discusses the crucial role of momentum in his move to LA and gets real about the hurdles of establishing yourself in a new country. Throughout the conversation, Adair drops serious wisdom on the non-technical side of the job, explaining why consistency, reliability, and genuinely caring about a band’s music are often more important than chasing the perfect tone. He also covers his process for learning new genres and shares how a brief mentorship completely changed his trajectory. This one’s packed with crucial, real-world advice on the mindset and hustle needed to build a sustainable career.

Products Mentioned

Timestamps

[5:00] The producer’s guilt about taking a day off
[6:42] Why producers in a competitive market can’t afford to stop working
[12:27] How to build a career in a non-major music market like Brazil
[15:36] Going the extra mile for clients (literally)
[17:10] The struggle to afford professional gear in Brazil
[18:36] Why consistency is the key to long-term success
[22:11] The importance of professionalism and making the band comfortable
[28:10] Using the fear of sending a mix as a quality control tool
[32:46] The scary reality of moving to the US to pursue a production career
[33:27] Capitalizing on momentum to establish a career in LA
[41:07] How to get invested in music you don’t personally enjoy
[45:35] What to listen for when learning a new genre for a production job
[49:33] Why producers should step outside their comfort zone and work on different genres
[1:14:05] Learning to record metal in ’90s Brazil without the internet
[1:23:48] The “quest for the Engl tone” and discovering a mic placement trick
[1:26:25] How a 10-day mentorship with producer Tommy Newton changed Adair’s career
[1:34:35] Adair’s advice for producers starting out in a difficult market
[1:39:10] The psychological side of production: motivating a distraught singer

GEORGE LEVER: Why He Avoids Sidechaining, Client Scope Creep, and Producer Work-Life Balance

Producer George Lever is known for his work with some of modern metal’s most forward-thinking bands. He’s been behind the board for critically acclaimed albums like Loathe’s I Let It In and It Took Everything and Sleep Token’s This Place Will Become Your Tomb, establishing a reputation for creating immersive, detailed, and powerful productions.

In This Episode

In this special Discord Q&A session, George Lever and Eyal Levi tackle a wide range of questions from the URM community. George kicks things off by discussing the recent challenge of adding a subwoofer to his studio and the process of recalibrating his ears and monitoring workflow. The conversation covers essential real-world advice for producers, like handling creative scope creep with clients, managing the psychological hurdles of long mixing sessions, and why focusing on fundamentals is more important for beginners than advanced techniques like sidechaining. They also get into the nuances of reverse-engineering guitar tones, the potential pitfalls of copying settings from Nail The Mix sessions without understanding the context, and the importance of having your own “true north” as a mixer. It’s a super insightful chat that hits on both the technical and business sides of being a modern producer.

Products Mentioned

Timestamps

[3:17] Adding a sub and recalibrating your monitoring environment
[5:29] Overcoming a lack of mixing stamina (it’s a psychological game)
[8:07] How to handle situations where a band adds way more vocal layers than planned
[11:36] Taking responsibility when you’re the one who instigated the extra work
[13:58] A beginner’s question about the role of sidechain compression
[15:26] Why George Lever barely ever uses sidechain compression in modern mixes
[18:03] Why beginners should focus on fundamentals over advanced techniques
[22:12] Learning to hear the subtleties of distortion
[24:11] Reverse engineering tones you like by using Match EQ
[26:16] The problem with just copying settings from Nail The Mix without context
[28:01] Why EQ matching a DI isn’t a silver bullet for getting a great guitar tone
[30:26] A discussion on achieving work-life balance as a producer
[31:51] George’s personal approach to structuring his day for maximum productivity
[35:36] The benefits of “purging” plugins and limiting your options to boost creativity
[38:50] The business pros and cons of having a small personal studio vs. a large one
[42:11] How to professionally get out of a project when you disagree with the client
[44:23] George’s experience working with a self-contained band like Loathe
[47:29] Advice for working with your first client and whether to send rough mixes

Anton Delost: Modern Songwriting, The Power of Collaboration, and Imposter Syndrome

Anton Delost is a producer, songwriter, and mixer based in Toronto, where he shares a studio with URM alum Sam Guaiana. He’s built a solid resume working with artists like Silverstein, Hollow Coves, and Cleopatrick. He recently signed a publishing deal with Drew “Wzrd Bld” Fulk’s company, In The Cut, which is a testament to his songwriting chops.

In This Episode

Anton Delost drops in for a laid-back but super insightful chat about the realities of being a modern songwriter and producer. He and Eyal get into why trying to perfectly recreate old-school sounds or genres can backfire, and how Drew Fulk taught him to stop overthinking originality and just write a great song that connects with people. They discuss the crucial role of collaboration, exploring why rock could learn a thing or two from the team-based writing sessions common in pop and hip-hop. Anton also shares some real-world career advice, stressing the importance of getting out of your comfort zone, traveling to network (without a creepy agenda), and surrounding yourself with people who raise your own standards. From dealing with imposter syndrome when working with rockstars to the psychology of pushing through creative blocks, this conversation is packed with wisdom for anyone trying to navigate the creative and business sides of the industry.

Products Mentioned

Avid Pro Tools

Timestamps

[4:37] The pros and cons of amp sims vs. real amps
[7:53] Reviving old genres with a modern spin
[10:00] The Greta Van Fleet / Led Zeppelin comparison
[12:54] Subconsciously adopting the “pop-punk accent”
[16:38] Drew Fulk’s advice on not overthinking originality in songwriting
[18:11] Why mainstream listeners don’t care about repeated chord progressions
[23:36] Using dynamics to create uniqueness in heavy music
[32:04] The “never say no” rule in a session
[35:50] The power of collaboration and bouncing ideas
[38:14] The myth of the solo genius vs. the reality of teamwork
[40:06] Why rock music needs more collaboration like pop and hip-hop
[47:16] The importance of traveling and expanding your network
[55:27] Getting networking wrong: approaching people with an agenda
[59:13] How to deal with a lack of inspiration when songwriting is your job
[1:05:28] The danger of working in isolation and losing sight of “the bar”
[1:08:33] When an artist’s high standards are justified vs. when they’re being a nutcase
[1:13:59] Dealing with imposter syndrome when working with rockstars
[1:16:01] Why bigger clients often have fewer mix notes
[1:25:13] The duality of “trusting yourself” in the creative process
[1:27:02] Why imposter syndrome never really goes away