Knobs

Academy of Audio®

Knobs is an audio production podcast hosted by Melbourne producers and engineers Simon Moro and Terry Hart. Each episode dives into the real world of music production, mixing, recording, analog gear, digital workflow, studio culture, creativity, and the craft of making records. Expect conversations about signal flow, studio techniques, mixing philosophy, production approaches, gear, workflow, troubleshooting, and the countless little decisions that shape great sounding music. The format is intentionally conversational and improvised, more like sitting in on two experienced engineers talking in the studio between sessions than a polished interview show. Some episodes get technical. Some get philosophical. Some get ridiculous. Most involve at least one strong opinion about compressors. With decades of combined experience across commercial records, studios, education, and production, Simon and Terry bring a practical, grounded perspective to audio, without the ego and without pretending there’s only one “right” way to make music. Whether you’re a producer, mixer, engineer, artist, studio nerd, or simply obsessed with how records are made, Knobs gives you an honest look inside the world of audio production from people who genuinely live it every day. Hosted by Academy of Audio.

Episodes

  1. Analog vs Digital... but it's not what you think.

    27 May

    Analog vs Digital... but it's not what you think.

    KNOBS — Season 1 Episode 1 Analog vs Digital: Why Workflow Matters More Than Gear In the very first episode of Knobs, Simon Moro and Terry Hart dive headfirst into one of audio’s oldest arguments: analog vs digital. But instead of obsessing over whether tape sounds warmer or plugins perfectly model vintage gear, the conversation takes a different turn, exploring the psychology of workflow, creativity, speed, signal flow, and why the way you interact with audio can dramatically shape the outcome of a mix. Topics covered in this episode include: Why analog consoles encourage faster, more instinctive mixingThe hidden psychological impact of mixing with a mouseWhy speed matters so much in the first 20 minutes of a mixParallel workflow vs serial workflowSignal flow and why understanding it changes everythingGain staging and why analog-modelled plugins behave strangely on hot tracksWhy many producers overprocess audio in DAWsControl surfaces and recreating analog workflow in-the-boxHow limitations can improve creativityWhy physical interaction with music changes decision-makingPatch bays, compressors, SSL workflows, and throwing fadersThe difference between listening emotionally vs analyticallyWhy analog workflow can still matter even if you mix completely digitallyAlong the way, Simon and Terry also discuss: Avid D-ControlSoftube Console 11176 compressorsParallel processing chainsPro Tools workflowHybrid mixingAnalog console ergonomicsThe creative side of engineeringThe format is loose, improvised, and conversational, more like sitting in the studio listening to two engineers talk between sessions than a formal interview podcast. Hosted by Simon Moro and Terry Hart Produced by Academy of Audio Follow Academy of Audio: academyofaudio.edu.au

    28 min

About

Knobs is an audio production podcast hosted by Melbourne producers and engineers Simon Moro and Terry Hart. Each episode dives into the real world of music production, mixing, recording, analog gear, digital workflow, studio culture, creativity, and the craft of making records. Expect conversations about signal flow, studio techniques, mixing philosophy, production approaches, gear, workflow, troubleshooting, and the countless little decisions that shape great sounding music. The format is intentionally conversational and improvised, more like sitting in on two experienced engineers talking in the studio between sessions than a polished interview show. Some episodes get technical. Some get philosophical. Some get ridiculous. Most involve at least one strong opinion about compressors. With decades of combined experience across commercial records, studios, education, and production, Simon and Terry bring a practical, grounded perspective to audio, without the ego and without pretending there’s only one “right” way to make music. Whether you’re a producer, mixer, engineer, artist, studio nerd, or simply obsessed with how records are made, Knobs gives you an honest look inside the world of audio production from people who genuinely live it every day. Hosted by Academy of Audio.