Master Your Mix Podcast

Mike Indovina
Master Your Mix Podcast

Helping musicians, engineers and producers create professional recordings and mixes from home so you can showcase your talents in the best way possible and grow your career.

  1. 4D AGO

    Tokyo Speirs: How Pro Bands Balance Creativity & Work

    Tokyo Speirs is a multi-Platinum-certified Canadian record producer, audio engineer and songwriter from the Greater Toronto Area. He has worked with many charting artists via Walk Off The Earth, such as Lindsey Stirling, Lukas Graham, Phillip Phillips, Gabriela Bee, USS, and Luminati Suns. With certified gold singles such as “Fire in my Soul,” Platinum on their 2019 full-length album "Here We Go," which peaked as the #1 selling pop album in America (Nielsen’s Pop Album Chart), #3 on Canada’s Top Albums Chart, and debuted in the Top 5 on Billboard’s Album Sales Chart, and Platinum on their latest Album “Stand By Me” which included the Platinum-certified smash hit “My Stupid Heart,” with the help of viral TikToks and creative live performances. He has co-written and co-produced the Pokémon Journeys theme song, Disney’s Go Away Unicorn and Blade Runner Black Lotus.     Using unconventional samples, creative lyrics and unique recording techniques, Tokyo pushes the boundaries while reigning in the weirder side of pop. Having also gained respect in songwriting and mastering, at the end of the day, he's just a friendly engineer (friendgineer?) who strives to draw intimate, captivating performances, whether that means invisibly recording or pushing talent as far as possible to get the take. He is currently working and performing with Walk Off the Earth, producing Luminati Suns, as well as dipping his toes into video production and live production. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Finding your niche in productionBeing strong-willed to push your skillsLetting experimentation inspire creativityWorking and writing with Walk Off The EarthTreating music as a jobThe inner workings of a successful bandSetting up roles for different members of a bandRecording unique instrumentsPrioritizing during the recording and mixing stagesKnowing when to spend time on something vs. moving onScheduling your life around musicHow he organizes his files, sessions, and ideasHow to make choruses that are huge To learn more about Tokyo Speirs, visit: https://www.instagram.com/friendgineer/ Check out Walk Off The Earth on tour: https://tour.walkofftheearth.com/ And check out their latest single: https://orcd.co/breakingmyheart Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/   Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Check out our...

    1h 60m
  2. JUL 9

    Justin Francis: Creating Space For Vocals

    Justin Francis has a knack for channeling emotion through sound. His multi-faceted and innovative recording approach as a Grammy award- winning engineer, mixer, and producer has led to a lineage of work with a range of artists across an eclectic spectrum of musical genres. Raised in western Pennsylvania and now having immersed himself in the Nashville music scene for well over a decade, he has worked alongside artists like Sheryl Crow, Kacey Musgraves, Tyler Childers, Lake Street Dive, Justin Timberlake, Madison Cunningham, Gary Clark Jr, Sarah Jarosz, and Lauren Daigle. Justin’s dedication to serving the song, paired with an intention to advocate for and uplift artists, makes him one of the most sought-after creative minds in music today. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Moving to Nashville to break into the industryGoing freelance after years of working in a big studioServing parts, not instrumentsThe importance of starting a mix with volume and panning onlyCreating space for vocals in a mixSidechaining instrumentation based on vocalsSetting up your sessions to help you work efficiently and have ultimate control over your processingBeing intentional with effectsHow tracking with effects can change the vibe of a sessionLearning to let go and not constantly tweak your settingsWorking with Sheryl Crow and Maddison Cunningham To learn more about Justin Francis, visit: https://www.jryanfrancis.com/ Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/   Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/...

    53 min
  3. JUL 2

    Phil Greiss: Chasing Your Instincts

    Phil Greiss is a French-Canadian producer, songwriter, mix engineer, and multi-instrumentalist known for his genre-blending work in global pop and Latin music. He co-wrote and co-produced the chart-topping hit “Savage Love” by Jason Derulo and Jawsh 685, earning a 2021 ASCAP Pop Award. Greiss was also behind the production and mixing of J Balvin’s “Mi Gente,” which became a massive global success and earned him Latin Grammy nominations and over 68× RIAA Platinum certifications. Launching his career in France with acclaimed albums for artists like Corneille and Zaho, Greiss broke into the international scene after co-producing Willy William’s “Voodoo Song,” which became the foundation for “Mi Gente.” Since then, he has worked with high-profile artists including Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, David Guetta, and BTS, producing hits like “Goodbye” and “Metele Al Perreo.” His recent work continues to bridge cultures and genres, solidifying his role as a leading force in contemporary pop and Latin music. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Following your passions, despite societal/parental pushbackTrusting your earsLearning to understand the “sound” of your plugins/hardwareThe key to success as a songwriterWhat publishers are looking for in a songwriterBeing a “finisher”Balancing creativity vs. technical: how to prevent each one from harming the otherWriting songs for viralityUsing clipping in your mixesWorking with limitationsBuilding your workflow for predictable results To learn more about Phil Greiss, visit: https://about.me/philgreiss Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/   Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to a href="mailto:questions@masteryourmix.com?subject=MYM%20Podcast%20Question" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    1h 5m
  4. JUN 25

    Ryan Worsley: How to Create Polished, Controlled Vocals

    For more than 20 years, Ryan Worsley has been studiously, methodically, prodigiously, and obsessively honing his craft. Most recently, he was nominated by the Juno Awards for Recording Engineer of the Year (2020), but he was first recognized by the Western Canadian Music Awards in 2015 with his first award for Engineer of the Year. He has since won Producer of the Year twice (2019, 2022). Ryan’s collaboration with Juno Award-winners Dear Rouge (Universal Music Canada) has been particularly fruitful. He produced, wrote, and mixed their LPs Black To Gold (2015), PHASES (2018), and Spirit (2022), resulting in five Top 10 singles on the Canadian Alternative Chart—including a #1 with “Fake Fame” in 2022. He also produced, co-wrote, and mixed Monowhales’ Daytona Bleach, which earned four Top 10 singles on Canadian rock radio and contributed to the band’s Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year (2022). Ryan has worked with a wide range of artists, including Willow, Said The Whale (Arts & Crafts), Hotel Mira (Light Organ), Mathew V (604 Records), The Royal Foundry, and Shaun Frank. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Is knowing music theory problematic?Why it’s a good thing to work with poor musiciansHow to keep objective when working multiple roles on a projectMaking songs grow and building excitementUnderstanding how radio affects your mixesAutomating your mix for impactBlending samples with real instrumentationAchieving natural dynamics in a songHow to pick samples efficientlyMaking your vocals feel controlled and polishedKnowing when to double vocalsHow to process layered vocalsUsing parallel processing on vocalsCompressing vocals To learn more about Ryan Worsley, visit https://www.echoplantsound.com/ryan Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/   Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix...

    1h 3m
  5. JUN 18

    Jordon Beal: Attention to Detail When Editing

    Jordon Beal is a songwriter, producer, and engineer based in Chicago, IL. He made the leap into audio full-time in 2010 after working with legendary producer Sylvia Massy on a series of singles with his former band. Although his position in the band was uncertain, the studio experience sparked a deeper passion—he realized he felt far more fulfilled behind the glass than on stage. That moment became the catalyst for his career in audio. Since then, Jordon has built an impressive portfolio, working on records for artists such as Intervals (including their Juno Award-winning album), Silverstein, The Devil Wears Prada, Architects, Conquer Divide, Veil of Maya, Divide The Fall, Cane Hill, Janus, and LIMBS. His behind-the-scenes collaborations have also connected him with top-tier producers and engineers, including Sam Guaiana, Adam “Nolly” Getgood, Joey Sturgis, Sylvia Massy, and Phil Pluskota. In addition to production, he’s carved out a niche in editing and session prep work—an area that now makes up a significant portion of his schedule and showcases his precision and attention to detail. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Working with Sylvia Massy as an artistHow to eliminate “red-light syndrome”Going with your gut instinctRecording keeper takes while writing songsMaking moves with intentAdjusting your processes to fit the artist’s preferencesWhy double tracking with the same guitar can be problematicThe secret to getting your guitars to sound massiveWhy good editing starts at the tracking stageEditing guitars: Where you should make your cuts if you want the best soundThe pros and cons of time-stretchingUsing different time-stretching algorithmsUsing drum trigger spikes: Why they’re so helpful Using Soundflow to save time and work efficiently To learn more about Jordon Beal, visit: https://www.facebook.com/jordon.popp Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/   Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: a...

    1h 16m
  6. JUN 11

    Simon Grove: How to Get Killer Bass Tones (Revisited)

    Simon Grove is a music producer based in Sydney, Australia.  Having an equally strong musical background as a bass player and guitarist, he is able to bridge the division between engineer and musician seamlessly. This allows him to create records with technical precision whilst retaining the music's intended character and dynamic.  Simon has built a vast catalogue of clients from around the world, including Protest The Hero, Plini, Intervals, Richard Henshall, Stephen Taranto, Owane, Tashka, and many more. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Becoming a session musicianWhat makes a great bass tone?Using parallel processing on bassSimon’s live and in-studio signal chains for bassKick and bass relationships: Deciding whether the bass should sit above or below the kick drumHow to shape your kick drums to fit the tempo of your songs (to get more clarity out of them)His plugin, GrovebassHow to make ghost notes be heard clearly in a mixGiving snare drums their own spaceHow the thickness of a drum affects the toneWhy he avoids using gates on drumsWhy editing is so important (even if you have great musicians and performances)Working on instrumental music: How to give lead guitars their own spaceTracking techniques for getting tighter guitarsThe importance of tuning for tone To learn more about Simon Grove, visit: https://simongrove.com/ Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/   Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Check out our Sponsors: Want more Mixing or Mastering clients? Communicate your true value with MixFlip: https://mixflip.io/?affiliate=mym Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to a href="mailto:questions@masteryourmix.com?subject=MYM%20Podcast%20Question" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    1h 22m
  7. JUN 4

    Ben Greenberg: Analog Thinking While Working in Digital

    A classically trained guitarist who studied composition at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, Manhattan native Ben Greenberg is a prolific record producer, engineer, songwriter, and performer who coheres conservatory training with a deep history across many different genres of underground music. Known as a founding member of respected industrial/metal group Uniform and a former member of The Men, Zs, and many more, Greenberg has been described by Ben Ratliff of the New York Times as “a good musician [...] and boss of his own one-man guitar project, Hubble.” Ben’s rich and varied performance history ranges from over two decades touring with bands to performing for legendary composers like Glenn Branca and Terry Riley. In the year 2000 Greenberg began assisting Grammy-award winning engineer Mike Marciano at Systems Two Recording in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. It was here that he learned the fundamentals of recording on 2” tape alongside early Pro Tools systems. He would go on to build his own recording studio in Brooklyn (Python Patrol) and work out of world-class studios all around the globe (Electrical Audio, The Magic Shop, Strange Weather, The Pool, Sonic Ranch). Greenberg’s studio credits include Danny Elfman, Depeche Mode, Drab Majesty, Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Junglepussy, Show Me The Body, Drew McDowall, Black Marble, and Christeene, among many others. His process attends to the essence of the artist’s vision and exacts a cultivated philosophy of sound upon them. The result is something between organic and synthetic: A magic that locks in the music’s emotional resonance with the listener. Since the 2010s, Greenberg has produced and mixed award-winning scores for film and television. He is the principal engineer to the scores of composer Brian McComber (ex-Dirty Projectors), including the A24 productions It Comes At Night and Krisha, as well as Kingdom of Silence (Showtime), 16 Shots (Showtime), Little Woods (Neon), Mickey and The Bear (Utopia), and Fair Play (Netflix), among others. Greenberg was Randall Dunn's mix assistant for the Jóhann Jóhannsson score to Panos Cosmatos’ 2018 film, Mandy (SpectreVision), and Dunn’s co-engineer for the 2022 score to Julio Torres' Problemista (A24). Greenberg has also mixed Ella Van Der Woude’s scores for Something You Said Last Night (Elevation Pictures) and Silver Haze (EMU Films), and in 2024 he won a Cinema Audio Society award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing - Documentary, for his stereo and surround mixes of JD Samson’s score for Sam Green’s 32 Sounds (DofMP). IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Starting music production at a young ageFinding jobs in the music industryDealing with parents who might not understand your passionsWorking on metal, jazz, and everything in betweenSwitching your workflow for different genresUnderstanding what to listen for with compressionHow to approach a new mixWhy volume and panning are your most important toolsDetermining when plugins are worth purchasing Working with Danny ElfmanPurposely doing less To learn more about Ben Greenberg, visit: https://circularruin.com/Ben-Greenberg Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/   Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: a...

    1h 16m
  8. MAY 28

    Michael Pepe: Writing Songs That Have Feeling

    Mike Pepe is an L.A.-based producer/songwriter, outstanding in the alternative scene with crossover appeal. Recent releases and sessions include The Struts, Charlotte Sands, Taking Back Sunday, Mod Sun, Cassadee Pope, Bryce Vine, Plain White T’s, Matty Healy, and Dashboard Confessional. Notable syncs include EA NHL 25, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and Ball and the Family. He has a talent for developing indies and helping get them label deals, most recently Senses (Hopeless Records) and Diva Bleach (Thriller Records). Regular writing and production partners include Lil Aaron, Imad Royal, Ilan Rubin, The Futuristics, Mitchy Collins, Curtis Peoples, Blaise Railey, Kate Morgan, and Smrtdeath, among many others. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Working with John FeldmanHow to keep tracks interestingBeing tested throughout your careerChallenging yourself to write bad songs on purposeThe challenges of being a songwriter professionallyBeing a songwriter, without music theory trainingThe skills of a great producerProducers vs. songwritersBeing pigeonholeed by your successesHow to empower the artists you work with Thinking based on feeling, rather than being technically mindedMaking choruses feel giant To learn more about Mike Pepe, visit http://instagram.com/mikepepemusic Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes? Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/   Want additional help with your music productions? For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/ Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/ Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books: The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/ Check out our Sponsors: Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix Have questions you’d like answered on the show? Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com Please leave a rating and review: https://masteryourmix.com/review/ Thanks for listening!

    1h 27m
5
out of 5
25 Ratings

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Helping musicians, engineers and producers create professional recordings and mixes from home so you can showcase your talents in the best way possible and grow your career.

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