Category: Season 3 – January

On this episode, James Paul Wisner (Paramore, Dashboard Confessional, Underoath) joins us for a conversation that goes in a ton of interesting directions, from amazing points related to artistry and mindset and deep into the technical end of things.

This is an extra long one, people. But we needed that added time to get in all the information that’s in this discussion. James is an amazing producer, and not only does he bring his impressive technical know how to the table, he also has philosophies for approaching his work that anyone could benefit from.

“For me, what motivates me, is wanting to get together with a group of talented guys, and bring out what their potential is.” – James Paul Wisner

ON THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

The benefits of being a multi-instrumentalist
Doing homework on a band before you get them in the studio
Setting clear goals, and making room for potential setbacks
Managing your personal space and not allowing negative influences to take hold
James’s approach to vocals
And much, much more

Links:

JamesPaulWisner.com

Time Stamps:

2:30 Discovering recording and the Beatles around age 11, 4 track + 2 track
12:00 Approaching writing from piano vs guitar
14:00 Multi-instrumentalist, thinking like a drummer
17:40 Listening to a mix of the Beatles with drums up and some Lars Ulrich talk
22:00 Learning about a drummer, talking to bands before production
23:14 Eyal’s metronome tip
30:38 Doing homework on bands before entering the studio
33:00 Importance of inter-band communication
35:00 Getting clear on the goal, be committed to it, but have space for potential bad moments
42:06 Developing vision
43:50 Gut check moment: change or nothing’s going to happen
56:30 Getting new clients, placing ads back in the day
1:00:44 Not letting all the potential reasons that things could go wrong get in your way
1:02:57 Actively removing negative influences, managing your personal space
1:12:00 Getting involved with Further Seems Forever, Underoath, Tooth and Nail records
1:17:00 Working with David Bendeth
1:23:04 Conveying to musicians that simpler is better
1:29:06 James’s approach to tracking vocals
1:32:06 The technical side of things: clocking, high resolution audio, power conditioning
1:44:00 Getting drum sounds, tube traps for home studios
1:48:48 Getting clear and powerful vocals
1:50:33 Handling mix notes
1:58:00 Programming, mixing digital sounds with rock productions
2:02:00 James’s biggest piece of advice for vocal production

Thanks for listening!
Sign up to our [cp_modal id=”cp_id_7934d”]mailing list[/cp_modal] to discover more!

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, Meshuggah, Gojira, Machine Head, and State Champs. Join now for instant access!

Leave any questions, comments, or feedback in the comment section below.

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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 learned working on analog gear
Why you shouldn’t be too much of a stickler about deals you’re offered
The process behind his recording with Fall Out Boy and others
And much, much more

Watch the video edition of the podcast

Thanks for listening!
Sign up to our [cp_modal id=”cp_id_7934d”]mailing list[/cp_modal] to discover more!

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, Meshuggah, Gojira, Machine Head, and State Champs. Join now for instant access!

Leave any questions, comments, or feedback in the comment section below.

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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

Watch the video Edition of the Podcast

Links:

EP51 | Drum Talk
Tips & Tricks 9 | Nailing Your Drum Setup

Thanks for listening!
Sign up to our [cp_modal id=”cp_id_7934d”]mailing list[/cp_modal] to discover more!

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, Meshuggah, Gojira, Machine Head, and State Champs. Join now for instant access!

Leave any questions, comments, or feedback in the comment section below.

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