This week, we’re turning the mic around—literally.

Chris and Steve explore what it’s really like to record vocals on your own, in a home studio setup where you’re the singer, engineer, and producer… all at once. From gear choices and room noise to workflow hacks and accidental plumbing victories, this episode is both practical and painfully relatable. If you’ve ever chased the perfect take while dodging noisy kids, furnace hums, or the neighbor’s lawnmower—this one’s for you.

Self-recording is equal parts freedom and frustration, but with the right mindset (and a bit of creativity), it can also be incredibly rewarding.

• How to choose the right mic when recording yourself

• Why committing effects while tracking can actually be freeing

• Tips for building a self-recording workflow that won’t kill your vibe

• How to control tone with mic distance and positioning

• Ways to deal with room noise, family noise, and fan noise

• Why using two different mics for lead and background vocals can help your mix

• How to stay creative (and sane) while recording solo

• The reality of tracking vocals in a non-soundproofed house

• What to do when your perfect take is ruined by kitchen chaos

• Using mic position and off-axis techniques to tame harshness

• The joy of experimenting when no one’s watching

• How Chris’s plumbing failure turned into a vocal tracking lesson

• Workflow hacks: wireless control, DAW shortcuts, and phone/tablet remotes

• Using different mics—or even different mic angles—for variety in background vocals

• Why your forehead might actually sound great (don’t ask)

• Embracing late-night sessions and finding the quietest window to record

• Dealing with the curveballs of self-engineering: distractions, delays, and duct-taped mic tricks

Lyndon Aguilar from Manila asks: “Can you mix with closed-back headphones without using any of the AI sound-reference tools?”
Chris and Steve unpack the pros and cons, when they’d use them, and why headphone EQ (with or without emulation) makes a big difference—especially outside of the studio.

Recording yourself is a creative playground—messy, unpredictable, but full of freedom. Set up a workflow that inspires you, control what you can, and embrace the rest. Some of your best takes will come from the most unexpected moments.

Pro Home Recording with Cubase shows you how to get clean, polished recordings using the tools you already have.

From setting up Cubase properly to recording vocals, drums, guitars, and more—this course gives you a clear, step-by-step workflow that saves you hours of frustration and makes your tracks easier to mix.

➡️ Start recording like a pro with the tools you already own.
Check out PRO HOME RECORDING WITH CUBASE

Let us know in the comments or tag us on socials—we’d love to hear from you!

Got a question for a future episode?
📩 Submit your question here: Form Link
We’ll answer as many as we can in upcoming shows.

This week, we (Chris and Steve) are diving into one of the most emotional and surprisingly complicated parts of making music—recording vocals. It all started with a delayed omelet and a questionable bathroom comment, but somehow we ended up exploring everything from mic choice to the psychology of singers. If you’ve ever hit record and wondered why something felt off, this episode’s for you. It’s not just about capturing a voice—it’s about creating the right vibe, building trust, and knowing when to step back or push forward.

• Why vocal performances are more emotional than technical

• The importance of preamp vs. microphone selection

• Tips for managing compression and monitoring while tracking vocals

• The real reason some singers soar while others sink

• Why your talkback mic can make or break a performance

• How to manage singer "maintenance" and build trust

• When and how to comp and pitch-correct vocals
  
  

• Chris and Steve’s breakfast saga and the birth of the phrase "You go boy"

• The magic of choosing the right mic (and why it’s often not the most expensive)

• Monitoring secrets: how much vocal in the cue mix is too much?

• Why compression (recorded or not) can boost singer confidence

• Real talk about tracking reverb for singers

• Singer psychology: understanding pitch problems, fear, and vocal fatigue

• Why first lines matter most—and why they’re often recorded last

• Manual pitch correction workflows and the value of comping immediately

• Studio pranks, honesty, and the art of talkback diplomacy
  
  

Andy Tullus asks: "When using drum samples, should you try to find ones that are tuned to the original drums? Does it matter?" Chris and Steve unpack their philosophy, focusing less on pitch and more on character, vibe, and the "woof woof" vs "ping ping" factor.

Vocal recording is about building trust, emotional safety, and giving the singer an environment that brings out their best. The gear matters—but how you guide and respond to the performance matters more.

If you're ready to craft pro-level vocal mixes using only the tools in Cubase, check out my course:
The Ultimate CUBASE MIXING Masterclass
This course was made to help home studio folks like you take the guesswork out of mixing vocals and finally feel confident hitting export.

What’s your biggest challenge when recording vocals? Drop your thoughts below or tag us on socials!

Got a question for a future episode?
📩 Submit your question here: Form Link
We’ll answer as many as we can in upcoming shows.

Chris and Steve kick off this episode with some laughs and lighthearted banter about Fahrenheit vs. Celsius and the quirks of 24-hour time—but things quickly take a turn into one of the most honest and overlooked conversations about analog gear: what if it’s not just about the sound?

This episode dives into the emotional and tactile side of using analog hardware, exploring whether the real appeal is how it feels rather than how it sounds. Plus, for the first time ever, they bring a listener (and friend!) on live to join the discussion.

✅ Why analog gear still brings joy—even when digital sounds just as good
✅ The "psychology of the knob" and how physical gear can change your workflow
✅ Why "pleasure" might be a more important reason to use analog than we admit
✅ Chris and Steve’s favorite toys (not just tools!) in their studios
✅ Simple, real-world practices to get better at mixing every day

• Fahrenheit vs. Celsius, 24-hour clocks, and the struggle is real

• Sebastian's question: Is analog about sound or pleasure?

• Why touching a knob just feels different (and why that matters)

• Steve’s years with an SSL console—and why it’s now in storage

• Chris’s controller setup and the joy of not rolling around on a carpet

• What would you do if your mom gave you money for a big studio day?

• Listener Kyle calls in from his car (or maybe his new home?)

• The most fun pieces of gear we own—and why we love them

• Favorite mixing routines and how to actually practice mixing like a musician

• Why reverse-engineering a snare can make you want dinner and cry
  

Analog gear isn’t always about the audio quality. Sometimes, it’s about joy, inspiration, and the feeling of being connected to the process. And maybe—just maybe—that’s enough.

What’s your take on analog gear—do you use it for the sound, the feel, or both?

Drop your thoughts below or tag us on socials! We'd love to know what gear brings you the most joy in the studio.

We’d love to hear from you!
📩 Submit your question here: Form Link
We’ll answer as many as we can in upcoming shows.