Secret Sonics 191 - Matt Huber - The Hyper-Focused Mixing Engineer

Matt Huber is a mix engineer based out of LA, CA, USA! In our conversation Matt and I go deep on the following:

His journey from Arkansas to LA (via Nashville)
Delegation & scaling
Niching down
Atmos

His approach to mixing

Getting bright (but not harsh) vocals

Mixing into a limiter

Why he buys every single plugin

The quality of high vs. low track-count

Advice for those getting started

And so much more!

You can learn more about Matt at https://matthuber.co/

You can follow Matt on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/mattjhuber/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

Sauce Segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMXee-O4uj0

References:

Joan - https://www.instagram.com/songsbyjoan/
Soothe - https://oeksound.com/plugins/soothe2/
God Particle - https://cradle.app/product/the-god-particle/
AOM Invisible Limiter G3 - https://aom-factory.jp/products/invisible-limiter-g3/
Boys Like Girls - https://www.boyslikegirls.com/

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for editing this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 190 - John Velasquez - Fostering a Community Around Music

John Velasquez is a music producer, mixer and songwriter based out of LA, CA, USA! In our conversation John and I go deep on the following:

The importance of humility
How he has built a community of creatives that he collaborates with
Mindfulness
Being real
Patience
Working with a team
Getting artists to deliver great vocal performances
The cry test
Limitations are good
The mix = the arrangement
His new studio
Be yourself

And so much more!

You can learn more about John at https://linearmanagement.com/index.php/john-velasquez/

You can follow John on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/thisisntjohnv/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

Sauce Segment: https://youtu.be/QukinUmMBsk?si=Fuo1DlGS93L6t5Ll

References:

Zella Day - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zella_Day
Local Natives - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Natives
Vacations - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacations_(band)
You Sexy Thing - https://youtu.be/MhRXOOc_p-0?si=s3bbL3JyYzNoozvB
Shawn Everett - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawn_Everett
Dave McNair - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2023/6/11/secret-sonics-185-dave-mcnair-an-audiophiles-approach-to-mastering

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for editing this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 189 - Enoch Yang - Future-Proofing Your Audio Business with Systems

Enoch Yang is a systems and operational management specialist (in addition to being a music producer and artist), based out of Charlotte, NC, USA! In today's episode, Enoch offers a hands-on roadmap for implementing effective systems within your audio business. This approach can help you streamline your business and focus more energy on your core work. In our conversation, Enoch and I go deep on the following topics:

When to start implementing systems and what to focus on
Future-proofing your business
How to leverage your website and social media
AI and the future of tech
Real-world case studies of system implementation 
The benefits of automation

And so much more!

You can learn more about Enoch at http://www.enochyang.com/secretsonics/

You can follow Enoch on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/_enochyang/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References 

Enoch's previous episode - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2021/10/31/secret-sonics-119-enoch-yang-forging-an-authentic-path-in-music

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 188 - Daniela Rivera - Letting the Music Shine in the Mix

Daniela Rivera is an Emmy-nominated and multiple-Grammy participating audio and mixing engineer based out of Atlanta, GA, USA! She's also the Governor of the Recording Academy's Atlanta Chapter. In our conversation Daniela and I go deep on the following:

Her Journey starting with a Korg Triton keyboard
Assisting for legendary mixer Phil Tan
Coming up the traditional studio route
The Atlanta music scene
Working the Soundbetter platform
Her approach to low-end
Getting great pop vocals
Stereo bus enhancement techniques
Restoring bad vocal recordings
Noise reduction
Just do it
Don’t be afraid to show off
Being elected as a Governor in the Recording Academy

And so much more!

You can learn more about Daniela at https://linktr.ee/drivmusic

You can follow Daniela on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/drivmusic/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

Sauce Segment: https://youtu.be/UxyDP8ju4Fc

References:

Korg Triton - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korg_Triton
Mannie Fresh - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannie_Fresh
Stargate - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stargate_(record_producers)
Phil Tan - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Tan
SoundBetter - https://soundbetter.com/
Dave McNair - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2023/6/11/secret-sonics-185-dave-mcnair-an-audiophiles-approach-to-mastering
Reggie McBride - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggie_McBride

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for editing this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 187 - Stephen Cole - Making Eclectic Records

Stephen Cole is a music producer, mixing engineer, musician, and the owner of What Studio based in Liverpool, England, UK! In our conversation Stephen and I go deep on the following:

Being a self-taught product of the bedroom recording boom
Building up a palette of sounds and recognizing the context of a sound
Building a studio in a church
Getting great drums sounds and relying on the room
It’s all fake, pick your fake
The importance of quick decision making
Transparent communication with artists
Having separate spaces for recording and mixing
Tracking a band in a room with headphones on
How video affects a performance
Living a creative life

And so much more!

You can learn more about Stephen at https://www.whatstudio.info/

You can follow Stephen on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/itsstecole/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

Sauce Segment: https://youtu.be/Qe5JgG9K0n0

References:

Joel Hamilton - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Hamilton
POSTMUSIC - https://www.youtube.com/@POSTMUSICLiverpool
a.P.A.t.T. band - https://www.youtube.com/@apatt
Fracture - https://glitchmachines.com/products/fracture/
Tim Ferris on Colin and Samir - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROymrQKsxSM

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for editing this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 186 - Travis Ference - Strategic Audio Workflows

Travis Ference is a Grammy-nominated mixing engineer and the host of Progressions, a podcast about finding success in the music industry. Travis is based out of LA, CA, USA! In our conversation Travis and I go deep on the following:

Fatherhood and time management
Soundflow, scripts, and other shortcuts
Is AI coming for mixing engineers?
Content creation and the surplus of noise on the internet
Travis’s approach to stem processing
Raising your rates
ROIs on a mix
Is technology helping us?
Investing in your health
Sidequests don’t help your mix
Selling yourself authentically

And so much more!

You can learn more about Travis at https://travisference.com/

You can follow Travis on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/tference/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

Sauce Segment: https://youtu.be/w3ycs8MCzmg

References:

Soundflow - https://soundflow.org/
Bounce Factory - https://www.bouncefactory.net/
Phil Weinrobe - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2023/5/14/secret-sonics-183-philip-weinrobe-music-productions-unorthodox-thinker
Colin and Samir - https://www.youtube.com/c/ColinandSamir
Goldclip - https://www.schwabedigital.com/
Ebony Smith - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2020/6/14/secret-sonics-050-ebonie-smith
Carl Bahner - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2021/10/10/secret-sonics-116-carl-bahner-serving-and-nurturing-artists

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for editing this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 185 - Dave McNair - An Audiophile's Approach to Mastering

Dave McNair is a multiple Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer based out of Winston-Salem, NC, USA! In our conversation Dave and I go deep on the following:

His journey in audio and mastering
Why mastering engineers work so quickly
How bass and vocals are paramount in a mix
Mastering with mixing in mind and vice versa
Correcting a good mix made with bad monitoring
Dave’s journey in Hi-Fi
The relationship between Hi-Fi and pro audio
Moving the studio into his living room and his current set-up
When to go out of the box and when to stay put
Leaving lots of headroom out of the box
Staying healthy
Why you shouldn’t be afraid of failure
Work on music you like
Don’t give up

And so much more!

You can learn more about Dave at http://www.davemcnairmastering.com/styled-3/index.html

You can follow Dave on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/mcsnare/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References:

Episode on the Attack and Release Show - https://attackandreleaseshow.fireside.fm/135

Scott Hull - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2023/4/30/secret-sonics-182-scott-hull-mastering-stellar-records

Acora Acoustics - https://www.acoraacoustics.com/
Snarky Puppy - https://open.spotify.com/album/6a1HtLhd3zNccXRNUZ23ge?si=5El4fyDoQAGrnG9zkzjq4Q
Charlie Hunter - https://open.spotify.com/album/1PU5pGYM7iglfvhAPkdCou?si=DX_7Q1--Qf2dKwonMk8l_w
Bob Schneider - https://open.spotify.com/album/2FGW9TD4aWhdSIo0oQx6qu?si=vzKKHxWCQHO6yX-iTZ0Gkg

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for editing this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 184 - Noam Levinberg - Manifesting Successful Pivots in Audio

Noam Levinberg is a mastering engineer and the owner of the brand new plugin company, Safari Pedals! He's based out of Tel Aviv, Israel. In our conversation Noam and I go deep on the following:

Lessons from building the audio department at a sync company
You don’t have to smash the dynamics for sync music
Headroom and dynamics
Things are getting quieter
How he built his new plugin company, Safari Pedals
What’s under the hood of his plugins
Why he says no to mixing and only masters music now
Hybrid mastering approaches
When to say yes to everything (and when not to)
Listening to more music helps
Moving studios
Enjoying the journey from point A to point B
Don’t be afraid to reach out to people

And so much more!

You can learn more about Noam at https://www.noamlevinberg.com/

You can follow Noam on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/noamlevinberg/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References:

Safari Pedals (Promo Code secretsonics20 at checkout) - https://safaripedals.com/collections/all

Noam's first episode - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2020/11/1/secret-sonics-070-noam-levinberg

Artlist - https://artlist.io/

Crookwood mastering console - https://crookwood.com/audio-mastering/m1-mastering-console/

Sontec EQ - https://gearspace.com/board/high-end/1223319-sontec-432c-eq-holy-grail-mixing.html

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for editing this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 183 - Philip Weinrobe - Music Production's Unorthodox Thinker

Philip Weinrobe is a record producer, mixing engineer, and the owner of Sugar Mountain Recording in Brooklyn, NY, USA. He's worked with talented artists such as Adrianne Lenker (Big Thief), Theo Katzman (Vulfpeck), Alanis Morissette and many others! In our conversation Philip and I go deep on the following:

Accidentally getting into recording by building studios for people including Shahzad Ismaily
How record making is a series of thousands of decisions and how he tries to simplify the process
Why he’s against playback of recorded takes
How he uses short bursts of audio to get a bigger picture of the sonic landscape
Avoiding headphones at all costs
Working within the constraints of the human brain
Recording for bleed
Off-axis mic coloration
Room Treatment
Never referencing other mixes on studio monitors
Never bouncing files pre-mix!
Keeping consistent but limited work hours
Saying yes to opportunities 

And so much more!

You can learn more about Philip at https://www.philipweinrobe.com/

You can follow Philip on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/ithinkimphil/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Safari Pedals (Promo Code secretsonics20 at checkout) - https://safaripedals.com/collections/all

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References:

Theo Katzman - https://open.spotify.com/album/4LsFjd6Se6lEsughB7sXhF?si=whtT3wViTceTxPH0AqhXsQ
Shahzad Ismaily - https://pirecordings.com/artists/shahzad-ismaily/
Figure 8 Recording - https://www.figure8recording.com/
Adrianne Lenker - https://open.spotify.com/album/2Qt8Z1LB3Fsrf6nhBNsvUJ?si=YKYo5ZQ6Q3yWrj8S_PHRaQ
Sugar Mountain - https://sugarmountainrecording.com/
Susan Rogers - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Rogers
Jan Jelinek - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Jelinek
Thinking Fast & Slow - https://amzn.to/3MopPIp
Mixing with Your Mind - https://amzn.to/3Mn7gV0

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for editing this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 182 - Scott Hull - Mastering Stellar Records

Scott Hull is a 40-year veteran Grammy award-winning mastering engineer and the owner of Masterdisk based in Peekskill, NY, USA. In our conversation Scott and I go deep on the following:

Landing a Masterdisk internship and working with Bob Ludwig
Leading an interdisciplinary life
Striving for excellence
The role of the engineer
His approach to mastering
Avoiding overprocessing and doing more with less
Becoming familiar with your monitoring
Human hearing and perception are malleable
Mastering is a perspective
Analog vs. Digital mastering
Mastering and cutting for vinyl
Amazing Steely Dan and John Mayer stories
Rolling with the chaos
Decision-making and having a successful mindset

And so much more!

You can learn more about Scott at https://www.masterdisk.com/scott-hull

You can follow Scott on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/masterdisk_nyc/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Safari Pedals (Promo Code secretsonics20 at checkout) - https://safaripedals.com/collections/all

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References:

Bob Ludwig - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Ludwig

Masterdisk - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masterdisk

Bobby Owsinski - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/7/5/secret-sonics-151-bobby-owsinski-birds-eye-view-of-the-audio-industry

Sam Moses - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/1/30/secret-sonics-130-sam-moses-finishing-records

Two Against Nature - https://open.spotify.com/album/2MJc2N3eFVT0ZabBN4zc32?si=oTCQgW0nQtGNwdqdxI3J2g

Room for Squares - https://open.spotify.com/album/3yHOaiXecTJVUdn7mApZ48?si=_CJKTf92RGyXDvM2oJE2wg

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for editing this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 181 - Joe Gilder - Setting Yourself Up to Create Music

Joe Gilder is a music producer, mixing engineer, musician and songwriter based out of Nashville, TN, USA! He's also the owner of Home Studio Corner and now the content creator for The Recording Revolution. In our conversation Joe and I go deep on the following:

Getting started at Sweetwater as a sales rep
Creating value for clients
Working efficiently
How he streamlines making great video content
Being fast and in the flow while recording and producing
Getting it right at the source
Stock plugins as guardrails
Top-down mixing
Tracking guitars
Collecting ideas to stem creativity
It’s ok to have imposter syndrome 

We can do hard things

And so much more!

You can learn more about Joe at https://www.homestudiocorner.com/about

You can follow Joe on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/joegilder/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References:

Home Studio Corner - https://www.homestudiocorner.com/free
Recording revolution - https://www.recordingrevolution.com/
Start by John Acuff - https://amzn.to/41OIhz5
In Rainbows From the Basement - https://youtu.be/DWuAn6C8Mfc
Staredown EP - https://open.spotify.com/album/3oTnYerScs0AK35swgBRvu?si=RGDygQW9THCvWRhhp6JRzQ

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for editing this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 180 - Lu Moreno - Having the Artist's Back

Luis "Lu" Moreno is a mixing and mastering engineer, the co-founder of In The Mix Studios, and the founder of MidSide Sound, based in LA, CA, USA! In our conversation Lu and I go deep on the following:

Work/life balance
Becoming an audio engineer
Creating community and being a "Go-Giver"
How Lu and Dee Kei met
Low end theory
It’s the ear, not the gear
Revisions
How he masters his own mixes
Monitoring
Pokemon cards as an incentive to grow
Prioritizing your relationships over your career

And so much more!

You can learn more about Lu at https://www.midsidesound.com/about-lu

You can follow Lu on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/masteredbylu/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References:

Dee Kei Waddell - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/4/17/secret-sonics-141-dee-kei-waddell-the-way-of-the-mixer
Bob Horn - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2023/1/1/secret-sonics-172-bob-horn-perceptive-and-adaptive-mixing
The Go-Giver - https://amzn.to/3U2a8ZK
Sekou Bunch - https://www.tcelectronic.com/artists/artist.html?artistId=sekou-bunch#:~:text=Sekou%20Bunch%20is%20an%20accomplished,of%20music%20during%20his%20career.
Voice of God - https://www.uaudio.com/uad-plugins/special-processing/little-labs-voice-of-god.html
Strauss NF3 - http://www.strauss-electroacoustics.com/produkte-en/mastering-monitors/se-nf-3/se-nf-3
Beyerdynamic 770s - https://amzn.to/3JVR0I4

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for editing this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 179 - Luke Fiadino - Heavy Approaches to Composition

Luke Fiadino is a music producer, mixing engineer, and composer based out of Philadelphia, PA, USA! In our conversation Luke and I go deep on the following:

Getting work in metal
Writing with artists
Composing guitar parts
Lessons from Alan Shacklock
Programming Drums
Producing vocals
Templates and routing
Avoiding the solo button
How metal is moving online
Writing regularly and putting in the reps
Writing things that make you laugh
Getting management

And so much more!

You can learn more about Luke at https://www.statesidemgmt.com/luke-fiadino

You can follow Luke on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/lukefiadinosound/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References:

Carl Bahner - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2021/10/10/secret-sonics-116-carl-bahner-serving-and-nurturing-artists
Alan Shacklock - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Shacklock
Getgood Drums - https://www.getgooddrums.com/
Cape Kong - https://www.instagram.com/capekong_official/
Sam Pura - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/10/30/secret-sonics-164-sam-pura-launching-bands-with-impactful-records
Alex Crescioni - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/8/14/secret-sonics-156-alex-crescioni-bringing-heavy-records-to-life

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for helping edit this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 178 - Aaron Beaumont - Novel Approaches to Creativity

Aaron Beaumont is a music producer, mixer, and composer based out of Brooklyn, NY, USA! In our conversation Aaron and I go deep on the following:

His background as a composer
Working with the Gregory Brothers
How limitations actually foster creativity
Managing quick turn-around times
Humor and engineering
Mangling songs together by splicing words and creative use of Melodyne
NYC vs LA
Reverb and space creation
Getting bombastic drums
Going back to basics
Breaking out of cycles
The gardener vs. the architect as creative dichotomies and when to use them

And so much more!

You can learn more about Aaron at https://www.aaronbeaumont.com/about

You can follow Aaron on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/aaronbeaumont/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References:

The Gregory Brothers - https://www.youtube.com/@schmoyoho
Baby Audio Crystalline - https://babyaud.io/crystalline
Eventide SP2016 - https://www.eventideaudio.com/plug-ins/sp2016-reverb/
Sunset Studios Chamber - https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/trsunsetsound/
Audiothing Spring Verb - https://www.audiothing.net/effects/springs/
Acoustica Ash - https://www.acustica-audio.com/store/products/ash

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for helping edit this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 177 - Jennifer Ortiz - Networking and Building Trust in Audio

Jennifer Ortiz is an audio engineer, mixer, and podcaster based out of LA, CA, USA! In our conversation Jennifer and I go deep on the following:

Freelance engineering in LA
Networking and building relationships

Building Trust
Podcasting
Getting into Atmos
Getting gritty sounds
Using mid-side techniques in mixing
Parallel vocal processing
Getting into the "zone"

Enjoying the journey

And so much more!

You can learn more about Jennifer at https://www.jnymixedit.com/

You can follow Jennifer on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/jny.mixedit/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References:

True Peak Hour (Jennifer's podcast) - https://www.truepeakhour.com/
Christal Jerez - https://www.christalssoniclab.com/about
Waves Smack Attack - https://www.waves.com/plugins/smack-attack-transient-shaper#drum-mixing-tricks-manipulate-pitch-and-attack
Little Radiator - https://www.soundtoys.com/product/little-radiator/
Waves Sibilance - https://www.waves.com/plugins/sibilance#how-to-fix-harsh-rap-vocals
Dynaudio LYD48 - https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LYD48BKL--dynaudio-lyd-48-3-way-powered-studio-monitor-left-side-black

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for helping edit this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 176 - Matt Boudreau - The Road to Atmos

Matt Boudreau is a stereo and Atmos mixing engineer based out of the Bay Area, CA, USA! He's also the host of the incredible Working Class Audio podcast. In our conversation Matt and I go deep on the following:

His journey getting into Dolby Atmos
Buying speakers, rebuilding and tuning the room
The financials of Atmos and getting work
Podcasting
Having patience with your career
Taking the business side of things seriously
Taking cold showers to supercharge his day
Staying inspired by audio

And so much more!

You can learn more about Matt at https://www.mattboudreau.com/

You can follow Matt on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/matt_boudreau/

WCA IG - https://www.instagram.com/working_class_audio/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References:

Steve Genewick - http://stevegenewick.com/
Andrew Scheps - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Scheps
Brad Wood - https://www.instagram.com/bradwood_producifer/
Working Class Audio - https://www.workingclassaudio.com/
Tim O’Sullivan - https://youtu.be/qFUEVPIeagQ
Kim Rosen mastering - https://www.knackmastering.com/about/

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for helping edit this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 175 - Cameron Lister - Forming His Own Voice in Production

Cameron Lister is a mixing/audio engineer and music producer based out of LA, CA, USA! In our conversation Cameron and I go deep on the following:

Musical influences
The ups and downs of his career
Selling yourself
Believing in yourself
Social Media
Cameron’s philosophy on how you find your artistic voice
Don’t be afraid of failure
Synths
Bottom-up mixing
Not using templates
Monitoring
Productivity hacks
Cultivating a client-base

And so much more!

You can learn more about Cameron at http://www.cameronlister.com/

You can follow Cameron on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/cameronmixesmusic/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References:

Travis Ference - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2021/9/26/secret-sonics-114-travis-ference-redefining-success-in-music
Maynard Ferguson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maynard_Ferguson
Tony Hoffer - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Hoffer

Jumper - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRYZijLZR-Q&ab_channel=ThirdEyeBlindVideos
Maniac - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GCNUeTFSbA&ab_channel=MichaelSembello-Topic

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for helping edit this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 174 - Delegation: The Dos and the Don'ts with Carl Bahner

Carl Bahner is a mixing engineer based out of Lancaster, PA, USA! In today's episode, we discuss the dos and the don'ts of delegation. We go deep on the following topics:

Bottlenecks
Bahner's first pancake principle (LMAO)
Don’t assume the delegatee's experience
Start with a menial task
Insecurity
Fair wages
Deadlines and availability
The team

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/listen

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References 

Carl Bahner's previous episode - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2021/10/10/secret-sonics-116-carl-bahner-serving-and-nurturing-artists

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 173 - 5 Lessons I'm Applying to My Mixing in 2023

Here's a little Solo-cast I recorded where I go over 5 lessons I learned this year on Secret Sonics that I'm applying to my mixing in 2023. A bit of a departure from the usual interview format but I hope you dig it! 

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

Episodes I referenced:

Bob Horn - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2023/1/1/secret-sonics-172-bob-horn-perceptive-and-adaptive-mixing
Evan Morgan - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/2/6/secret-sonics-131-evan-morgan-manifesting-intent
Daniel Silberman - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/3/6/secret-sonics-135-daniel-silberman-driving-the-stereo-bus
Tim O’Sullivan - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/9/18/secret-sonics-158-tim-osullivan-fostering-inspiration-in-the-studio
Brian Bender - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/4/3/secret-sonics-139-brian-bender-leaning-in-to-authenticity
Mikko Gordon - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/10/23/secret-sonics-163-mikko-gordon-establishing-an-aesthetic
Neenah - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/4/24/secret-sonics-142-neenah-exploring-the-mix
Brent Hendrich - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/5/22/secret-sonics-146-brent-hendrich-working-on-what-matters-in-audio
Josh Bonanno - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/7/24/secret-sonics-153-josh-bonanno-minimalist-mixing

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 172 - Bob Horn - Perceptive and Adaptive Mixing

Bob Horn is a multi-platinum Grammy Award-winning audio and mixing engineer based out of LA, CA, USA, known for working with artists such as BTS, Usher, Timbaland, NeYo, Lupe Fiasco, and so many more! In our conversation Bob and I go deep on the following:

His journey from Berklee, to Nashville, to LA
Working with Neff-U
Learning from his clients
Working with BTS
His approach to mixing
Feel vs. Technician mindset
Getting amazing low-end 
Frequency masking
Heavy-handed editing from the mixer’s chair
Paying attention to all the details
Sidechaining
Matching all 7 BTS vocalists in a song
Being cognizant of your attitude

And so much more!

You can learn more about Bob at https://www.bobhornmixing.com/bio

You can follow Bob on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/bobhornmixing/

***Thanks to our sponsors!***

Carl Bahner's resources for studio professionals - https://www.carlbahner.com/resources

Progressions with Travis Ference - https://www.progressionspodcast.com/

***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t

You can listen to the "Sauce" segment in its entirety here - https://youtu.be/KGQD_hKUd8s

***BRAND NEW!*** SECRET SONICS PATREON - patreon.com/benwallickmusic

References:

Nicholas Di Lorenzo - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2021/10/17/secret-sonics-117-nicholas-di-lorenzo-pushing-boundaries-beyond-mastering
Neff-U - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theron_Feemster
Shachar Boussani - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/9/11/secret-sonics-157-shachar-boussani-going-all-in-with-mixing
Dave Pensado - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Pensado
Manny Marroquin - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manny_Marroquin
Trackspacer - https://www.wavesfactory.com/audio-plugins/trackspacer/

Bob's Pro Mix Academy course - https://youtu.be/Dek-3UYfryI
Donald Philip - https://www.instagram.com/itsdonnybravoo/
Sonobus - https://www.sonobus.net/

Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!

Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for helping edit this episode!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben