Recording Studio Rockstars

What actually happens when you stop isolating everything and just let a band play together in the room?
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My guest today is Travis Harrison, founder of Serious Business Music, a Brooklyn-based studio known for capturing raw, honest performances from real bands. Travis joined me to talk about how his studio and workflow evolved over time - from early audio-only recordings to embracing video, hybrid setups, and modern tools - while still staying rooted in classic recording approaches.
We talked about recording bands live in the room, why Travis embraces bleed instead of fighting it, and how capturing the energy of a performance often matters more than perfect isolation. He shared how he'll use simple setups like a single M 160 ribbon mic on drums, how preparation and adaptability become critical when recording larger bands, and why letting musicians interact naturally can shape the sound of a record in ways plugins never will.
Travis also broke down his hybrid workflow, using tape as a tone-shaping tool rather than a rigid format - running tracks through a tape machine for color before moving into Pro Tools for editing and mixing. We discussed mic choices like using an SM57 on bass cabinets for midrange growl, routing and flexibility with a Soundcraft Ghost console, and how his Brooklyn studio has been shaped by real-world challenges like soundproofing, space limitations, and evolving technology. Throughout the conversation, we kept coming back to the balance between tradition and innovation - and why great records still come down to musicians, rooms, and decisions made in the moment.

 



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http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com
https://usa.sae.edu/
https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!
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https://www.adam-audio.com/
https://www.spectra1964.com
https://gracedesign.com/

https://pickrmusic.com 
https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy
https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/
Listen to the podcast theme song "Skadoosh!" https://solo.to/lijshawmusic
Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0RdFM4aImmogaEJBwV5pla?si=8b285a72dca7478a
 
If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review
 
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRoockstars.com/543

How do you turn your studio skills into a thriving artist career?
Ryan Prewett shares how funk, collaboration, and sync licensing helped him shift from producer-for-hire to full-time artist - and why building assets is the new record deal.
Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com
My guest today is Ryan Prewett, a Nashville-based artist, producer, and mix engineer known for blending classic funk and soul with modern pop and groove-driven production.

Ryan's work spans producing records, mixing, and building sample packs, and he's quickly carving out a name for himself in Nashville's creative community. His music captures the sweet spot between live musicianship and digital innovation - with an ear for timeless tone and modern punch.
 
 



THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com
https://usa.sae.edu/
https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!
https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!
https://www.adam-audio.com/
https://www.spectra1964.com
https://gracedesign.com/

https://pickrmusic.com 
https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy
https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/
Listen to the podcast theme song "Skadoosh!" https://solo.to/lijshawmusic
Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/60JKT1OkF9LpLFQ5SKBPg8
 
If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review
 
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRoockstars.com/542

How Did Michael Jackson's $98,000 Console Inspire the Ultimate Studio Compressor?
What happens when missile-grade engineering meets music?
Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com
Bill Cheney of Spectra 1964 joins me to reveal how a company born from aerospace tech became the secret sauce behind Stax, Ardent, and The Record Plant - and how that same precision lives on in Spectra's modern C610, STX mic pres, and new designs shaping today's studios.

Bill shares the incredible story of the $98,000 Spectra console built for Michael Jackson, how John Lennon, Elton John, ZZ Top, and others tracked through Spectra desks, and why their gear still defines headroom and musical accuracy sixty years later. We dig into RMS vs peak clipping, console restoration, plugin modeling with Chad Blake, and what makes Spectra's circuits run ice cold while sounding hot as hell.

If you've ever wondered why the most musical recordings in history still sound so alive, this episode takes you inside the circuits that made it possible.
 
 



THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com
https://usa.sae.edu/
https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!
https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!
https://www.adam-audio.com/
https://www.spectra1964.com
https://gracedesign.com/

https://pickrmusic.com 
https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy
https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/
Listen to the podcast theme song "Skadoosh!" https://solo.to/lijshawmusic
Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2TzboLsCf0C4mlKX1dNqtT?si=k3tHsiPgR3CRv-zuuo5GKA
 
If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review
 
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRoockstars.com/541

What happens when you sit down with an engineer who helped define multiple eras of music - from Foreigner to Timbaland - and he tells you the secret is still just listening for what feels good?
Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com
My guest today is Jimmy Douglass, legendary producer, mixer, and engineer whose career spans more than five decades. Jimmy began as a teenager at Atlantic Records in New York, making tape copies and quietly slipping into the back of sessions, where he learned by watching giants like Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin, and Jerry Wexler. He grew up in the era when you had to earn your way into the control room, and those lessons shaped everything that came after.


Jimmy talked about working on classic records for Foreigner, including helping mix Follow You, Follow Me when Genesis was still emerging, and cutting his teeth editing music for radio versions - including early work on King Crimson. He also shared memories of the post-punk era, mixing records for Gang of Four and Television, including the iconic Marquee Moon, and how those productions influenced his sense of space, energy, and performance.
Then Jimmy walked us into the world that many people know him for - his long-running creative partnership with Timbaland. He explained how Tim's rhythmic sensibility forced him to rethink timing, movement, and pocket, and stories of respectful sessions working with Snoop Dogg.
 
We also talked about longevity: how Jimmy stays inspired, how he keeps reinventing himself, why he still chases accidents and surprises in the studio, and the challenge of balancing instinct with intention across 50 years of making records.
If you love stories from inside the control room or want to understand how great mixers think, this episode is loaded with wisdom and wild history.
 
https://metalliance.com/


https://www.sheencenter.org/events/detail/studio-confidential-1



 
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com
https://usa.sae.edu/
https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!
https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!
https://www.adam-audio.com/
https://www.spectra1964.com
https://gracedesign.com/

https://pickrmusic.com 
https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy
https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/
Listen to the podcast theme song "Skadoosh!" https://solo.to/lijshawmusic
Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6voPl0icbbrLKCh7MqFiHe?si=7MKSFLWmT76HunqSyUQHLg

If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review
 
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRoockstars.com/540

What does it take to lead two of the biggest names in pro audio?
Phil Wagner shares how he went from NYC engineer to running SSL and Apogee - and why the best technology still starts with listening.
Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com
My guest today is Phil Wagner, a longtime pro-audio industry leader who's helped shape some of the most respected recording technologies in the world.


Phil began his career in New York City at Soundworks Studios, working hands-on as a recording engineer before moving into product development and leadership roles. Over the years he's served as President of Apogee Electronics, U.S. President for Solid State Logic, and has collaborated with legendary studios, artists, and manufacturers across the globe.


With decades of perspective bridging the analog and digital eras, Phil shares insights on consoles, converters, immersive mixing, and the business of audio, along with stories from the front lines of pro audio innovation.

A big thank - you to Fadi Hayek at SSL for the introduction!

 
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com
https://usa.sae.edu/
https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!
https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!
https://www.adam-audio.com/
https://www.spectra1964.com
https://gracedesign.com/

https://pickrmusic.com 
https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy
https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/
Listen to the podcast theme song "Skadoosh!" https://solo.to/lijshawmusic
Listen to this guest's discography on Tidal: 
https://tidal.com/playlist/a30de320-4f72-4ffe-a7cd-7dbd035f8dfb

If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review
 
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRoockstars.com/539