In this episode of Prepping for the Studio, Roy Silverstein and Brian Scheuble discuss the intricacies of Dolby ATMOS with guest Matt Boudreau, host of the Working Class Audio podcast. Topics include the evolution of Matt's career from drummer to producer/engineer/mixer/masterer, the basics of ATMOS technology, its implementation in music, potential future directions, economics, and practical insights on preparing stereo mixes for ATMOS. You'll also hear opinions on the artistic and technical challenges of this immersive audio format, and understand the steps and considerations necessary when transitioning to or incorporating Dolby ATMOS into your studio recordings.   00:00 Introduction to Prepping for the Studio 00:20 Meet the Hosts and Guest 01:35 Matt Boudreau's Journey in Audio 04:52 Understanding Dolby ATMOS 08:34 The Evolution and Future of ATMOS 25:00 Creative Uses of ATMOS in Music 33:24 Economic Aspects of ATMOS 36:18 Monetization and Physical Sales for ATMOS 37:48 Transitioning from Stereo to ATMOS Mixing 39:25 Stems vs. Multi-Tracks in ATMOS Mixing 45:37 Deliverables and Listening to ATMOS Mixes 49:43 Mastering ATMOS Mixes 58:28 The Future of ATMOS and Consumer Awareness 01:05:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts   Check out Matt at these links: Websites: https://www.mattboudreau.com/                  https://www.workingclassaudio.com/ Instagram: @matt_boudreau                     @working_class_audio   Dolby ATMOS studio list: https://professional.dolby.com/music/dolby-atmos-music-studios/   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio".   Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) and Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com) If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

In this episode of Prepping for the Studio, hosts Roy Silverstein and Brian Scheuble are joined by music producer Danny Kalb. They discuss the intricacies of preparing for a studio session, managing interpersonal dynamics within a band, and offer practical advice for musicians on how to get the most out of the studio and your working relationships with audio professionals. Key topics include the importance of pre-production, handling mix revisions, and balancing artistic vision with technical execution. Danny shares his experiences working with notable artists like Beck and Ben Harper, emphasizing the critical role of communication and preparation to achieve the best possible outcome in recording sessions.   00:00 Introduction to Prepping for the Studio 00:28 Meet the Hosts and Guest Introduction 01:01 Danny Kalb’s Early Career and Background 05:17 Transition to Los Angeles and Working with the Dust Brothers 07:24 Working with Beck and Other Notable Artists 10:22 Challenges and Tips for Musicians in the Studio 14:27 The Role of a Producer and Pre-Production Insights 20:47 Mixing Expectations and Common Issues 27:45 Importance of References 31:24 Overdubs and Instrument Balance 32:31 The Importance of Mixing in Context 32:47 Learning and Evolving in Music Production 34:13 The Power of Muting 35:13 Navigating Feedback and Collaboration 37:36 The Role of a Mixer and Producer 39:14 The Studio Environment and Dynamics 46:38 The Impact of Interpersonal Dynamics 57:19 The Importance of Pre-Production 01:00:49 Outro and Contact Information   Check out Danny at these links: Website: https://www.dannykalb.com/ Instagram: @dannykalb   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio".   Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) and Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com) If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

In this episode of Prepping for the Studio, host Roy Silverstein (Brian Scheuble was "out of the office") speaks with Richard Carrasco, a studio owner, engineer, songwriter, musician, and specialist in making music for Sync Licensing.  Discussions include an overview of sync licensing, Richard's journey from playing in punk bands to focusing on sync music, and practical advice for musicians looking to break into the field. Key topics covered are the importance of building a music catalog, understanding the different types of sync deals (exclusive vs. non-exclusive), the significance of using live instruments, and the role of performance rights organizations. Richard also emphasizes the importance of patience, networking, and maintaining proper documentation in the sync music business.   00:00 Introduction to Prepping for the Studio 00:34 Meet the Guest: Richard Carrasco 01:12 Sync Licensing: An Overview 01:52 Richard's Journey in Music and Sync 04:04 Defining Sync and Its Importance 05:43 The Business of Sync Music 08:30 Genres and Moods in Sync Music 11:03 Creating and Delivering Sync Music 13:50 Building Relationships in the Sync Industry 28:13 Legal and Financial Aspects of Sync 35:43 Discussing Studio Costs and Song Production 36:46 The Importance of Being Your Own Producer 38:13 Work for Hire Agreements in Sync 39:50 Building a Music Catalog for Sync 45:50 The Role of AI in Sync 50:52 Understanding Sync Deals and Agreements 56:27 Using Virtual Instruments in Sync 01:02:32 Final Thoughts on Getting into Sync Licensing 01:08:21 Podcast Outro and Credits   Check out Richard at these links: Website: https://www.fullwavestudios.com/ Instagram: @fullwavestudios   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio".   Host: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com)   If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

In this episode of Prepping for the Studio, hosts Roy Silverstein and Brian Scheuble speak with Richie Beretta, an engineer, mixer, and producer with some serious credits (Beyoncé, Diplo, Major Lazer) and something to say! Richie shares insights into his journey from a musician in New York to an established producer now living in San Diego. Topics covered include his early influences, the evolution of his career, the role of trust between artists and producers, the creative process, and hot takes on emerging technologies like Dolby Atmos. Richie also discusses common pitfalls artists face in the studio and his approach to making the most out of every recording session.   00:00 Introduction to Prepping for the Studio 00:23 Meet the Hosts: Roy and Brian 00:42 Special Guest: Richie Beretta Joins the Show 01:04 Richie's Background and Journey in Music 02:50 The New York Music Scene and Rockwood Music Lounge 04:57 Richie's Early Musical Influences and Family 07:25 First Experiences with Recording and Pro Tools 10:09 Transition to Professional Music Production 18:25 DJing and Remixing in New York 24:03 Challenges in the Music Industry 30:46 Working with Independent Musicians 37:35 The Joy of Mixing and Multitracks 38:11 The Importance of Rough Mixes 41:16 Gain Staging and Plugin Effects 45:04 Production Process Insights 50:19 Common Mistakes Artists Make 55:36 Hot takes on Dolby Atmos 01:11:27 Final Thoughts and Contact Info   Check out Richie at these links: Website: richieberetta.nyc Instagram: @richieberetta   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio".   Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)   If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

In this episode of Prepping for the Studio, hosts Roy Silverstein and Brian Scheuble speak with Tavia, an artist/musician/songwriter/producer with extensive studio experience. Tavia shares her journey of jumping straight into studio work, her songwriting process, and how she prepares for studio sessions. Key topics include the importance of preparation, collaborating with producers and session players, sitting in on studio sessions to learn, and her recent ventures into sync licensing. Tavia also discusses the practical steps musicians should take before recording and how to get the best results from studio time.   00:20 Welcome intro 00:34 Meet Tavia: Musician and Producer 01:51 Tavia’s Songwriting Journey 03:49 Choosing the Right Studio 10:16 The Importance of Preparation 15:10 Overcoming Studio Challenges 19:52 Staying Inspired in the Studio 24:10 Taking Breaks and Staying Connected 24:36 Collaborating with Other Songwriters 25:04 Organizing Studio Sessions and Legal Contracts 25:57 Remote Collaboration Tools 28:40 Hiring and Working with Session Players 33:00 Choosing and Working with Producers 38:22 Getting into Sync Licensing 40:40 Efficient Songwriting and Production for Sync 45:48 Conclusion and Contact Information   Check out Tavia at these links: Instagram: @taviabreen   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio".   Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)   If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

In this episode of Prepping For The Studio, hosts Roy Silverstein and Brian Scheuble are joined by Max Allyn from Recording Fund to discuss how musicians can fund their recordings through alternative methods.   Max shares the origins of Recording Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides no-strings-attached grants to artists for recording purposes. The conversation explores the challenges musicians face in financing their work, the process of applying for grants, and the broader context of the music industry, including the limitations of major and indie labels.   Key points include the importance of preparation in the studio, the evolving landscape of music funding, and the ongoing efforts to support diverse and determined artists.   The episode also touches on the undervaluation of music in the digital age and considers potential avenues for positive change in the music ecosystem.   00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:23 Meet Max Allen from Recording Fund 01:13 The Origin of Recording Fund 02:16 Challenges in Music Funding 03:40 Recording Fund's Mission and Process 12:46 The Role of Major Labels Today 20:02 The Indie Label Landscape 25:11 Funding Your Own Recordings 35:23 The Struggles and Hopes in the Music Industry 36:08 Encouraging Signs and Bandcamp's Role 39:02 Challenges with Streaming and Artist Compensation 42:37 The Importance of Studio Recording and Preparedness 51:34 Marketing and Promotion for Artists 54:49 The Decline of Live Music and Touring 58:51 Positive Changes and the Future of Music 01:06:20 Final Thoughts and Encouragement   Check out Recording Fund at these links: Website: www.recordingfund.org Instagram: @recordingfund   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio".   Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)   If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

In this episode of Prepping For The Studio, Roy and Brian speak with singer and vocal coach, Shelbi Bennett. I've known Shelbi for many years starting with the amazing vocal work she did for the San Diego band, The Midnight Pine. She has an incredible voice and has been a great resource as a coach for my studio clients to help them improve their vocal abilities. If you're a singer, you will certainly get a lot out of this episode.   Some topics we discuss include:   -The very real struggle of singing in a studio and being under a microscope while everyone watches -Techniques used in vocal coaching sessions outside of the studio -Advice on what to do in the weeks leading up to your vocal session -Advice on what to do the night before and morning of your session -What to have on hand at the session to help you get through it -Advice on getting through singing struggles in the moment -The art of doubling -Advice for singing with emotion in the studio -Working the mic and taking input from the engineer -Improving your "esses"   Check out Shelbi at these links: Instagram: @buffalobisonbuffalo Email: shelbibennettsings@gmail.com   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio". Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)   If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

In this episode of Prepping For The Studio, Roy and Brian speak with Mastering Engineer, Sam Kumar Tandon, of Rose Quartz Mastering.  We dive deep, sometimes even above my head, into various mastering topics that should help you as a musician choose the right mastering engineer for your music, communicate with them effectively, and know when the sound is right.   Some topics we discuss include:   -Low touch vs. high touch mastering -Honoring the intention of your music -Making your music sound right from the beginning instead of relying on mastering to fix it -What is translation? -How to pick a mastering engineer -The validity of your mixer doing the mastering or using automated mastering -Attended vs. unattended mastering sessions -Loudness of masters -What the heck is dither and dBTP? -mastering for different release mediums   Check out Sam at these links: https://www.rosequartzmastering.com/ https://www.tandonhouse.com/ Instagram: @rosequartzmastering   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio". Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)   If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

In this episode of Prepping For The Studio, Roy and Brian speak with musician/engineer/mixer/producer, Ariel Levine. You may recognize Ariel's name because he took the idea Roy had for the podcast theme song and actually made it into reality.  This episode is a fun one as we kvetch (Yiddish for complain) about annoying things people do in studios. As much as we have fun here roasting our clients, we really do love you and this was just a silly Prepping For The Studio episode that I thought you might get a laugh at too (and still maybe learn a thing or two about not being "that guy").   Some topics we discuss include:   -The making of the PFTS theme song -Showing up on time -Not micro-managing the engineer -Giving your engineer time for breaks and eating -Too many mix revisions -Allowing time to make rough mixes or bouncing out raw tracks -Forgetting to tell the engineer about important things before a session -Complaining about too much time setting up or getting sounds -"walking off accidentally" with studio equipment -fighting with your bandmates in a session -moving mics when you shouldn't -not giving credits or proper credits -haggling on price -last minute cancellations   Check out Ariel at these links: https://www.ariellevine.com/ https://www.instagram.com/theariellevine/   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio". Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)   If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

In this episode of Prepping For The Studio, Roy and Brian speak with engineer/mixer/producer/YouTuber/educator, Cato Zane, mostly on the subject of making demos.   Some topics we discuss include:   -The purpose of your demo and how that affects your goals in making it -The basic setup one would need to make a demo -Cheap acoustic cheats for your home to make your recordings sound better -Which DAW should you use -What you can do at home that might be useable in the final production and what you should definitely leave to doing at a studio -Under-utilized production ideas to consider   Check out Cato at these links: https://www.catonoise.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@catonoise https://www.instagram.com/catonoise/ https://www.facebook.com/catonoise/   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio". Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)   If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

Roy discusses the future of the podcast.

In this episode of Prepping For The Studio Roy and Brian cover the following topics: -What is mastering? -How to choose a mastering engineer -Loudness -Dynamics -How to evaluate a master and give effective revision notes -Backing up everything -The case for using professionals for your music   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio". Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)   If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

In this episode of Prepping For The Studio Roy and Brian cover the following topics: -What is mixing? -How to choose a mixing engineer -Attended vs unattended mixing sessions -How to give pre-mix notes -How to listen to a mix and give effective revision notes -What alternate mixes you might need -Why and when do you need "stems"   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio". Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)   If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

In this episode of Prepping For The Studio Roy and Brian cover the following topics: -More about what goes on in a tracking session -Different ways to go about "making takes" -How to overcome recording anxiety -The importance of performance and playing/singing with emotion -Comping -Editing -Tuning -Overdubbing -Rough mixes   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio". Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)   If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

In this episode of Prepping For The Studio Roy and Brian cover the following topics: -What events happen at a tracking session proceeding hitting record -The engineer's setup process -The musician's setup process -Tuning and treating drums in the studio -Dealing with guitar buzz -Vocal warmups -Setting your space for comfort and good vibes -The process of getting your "tone dialed" -The basics of the audio signal chain -Talking about sonics with your engineer -The importance of the headphone experience for musicians -Understanding latency and how it can affect you -Committing to sounds vs. playing it safe   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio". Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)   If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

In this episode of Prepping For The Studio Roy and Brian cover the following topics: -How to prep for your tracking session -Effective practicing -The importance of memorizing your parts and lyrics -Making sure your instruments are in good shape -Things you should bring with you to your session   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio". Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)   If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

In this episode of Prepping For The Studio Roy and Brian cover the following topics: -How to pick a studio and engineer that meet your needs -Different types/quality of studios -Isolation booths -The sound of live rooms -Studio "vibe", location, parking, lodging -Finding an engineer -Evaluating an engineer's work and demeanor -Using the house engineer -Engineer as de-facto producer -Figuring out how much time you need to book -What to focus on if the budget is tight   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio". Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)   If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

In this episode of Prepping For The Studio Roy and Brian cover the following topics: -Planning out your tracking session -Various ways to go about recording a song -Should you hire session players? -Analog vs digital recording   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio". Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)   If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

Topics for this episode of Prepping For The Studio include: -The importance of pre-production -Working on your songs before booking studio time -How do things like arrangement, tempo, and key of your song affect the recording? -Should you hire a producer? -What is it like working with a producer?   Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio". Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)   If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

Roy Silverstein and Brian Scheuble introduce themselves and the podcast. The 50,000 foot view of the recording process is discussed to give you a broad overview of how a record is made. Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio". Hosts: Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com) Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)   If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com   If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.