Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

Our coaching program and community is called The Self-Recording Syndicate. It’s the best resource in the world for artists who record their own music.

Inside, we work with you one-on-one and connect you with a super positive community of artists and producers worldwide, so you don't have do go it alone. We help you record and finish songs you’ll be proud of forever.

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, you can apply now. We’ll show you how to produce, mix, and master your songs. Right in your own home studio. At the best quality possible.

As part of the program, we even mix a song for you, in your DAW of choice, and with your plugins only. And then we'll do an in-depth mix-walkthrough, showing you everything we've done. It's your custom mixing course based on your own song!

And it doesn't stop here: You'll also get the session file, so you can study the mix and create starting points and templates for your other songs. 🤯

And this is only a fraction of what we can do for you if you join our coaching program, The Self-Recording Syndicate.

If we accept your application, we’ll first have a free call with you. On this call, we’ll make a custom plan just for you. If you don’t love this plan, you don’t have to pay anything and you can walk away.

Sounds fair?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

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Episode show notes:

We get asked all the time: “Which plugins should I buy?”

Here’s the truth: you don’t need hundreds.

You need a tight, well-understood toolbox you can reach for in any situation. In this episode we share the 10 plugins we’d keep for the rest of our lives, explain exactly why they made the cut, and point you to stock alternatives where it makes sense.

DAW-agnostic, rock-ready, and focused on what actually moves the needle for self-recording artists.

What You’ll Learn

• Why fewer tools = faster, better mixes. Master a handful instead of collecting everything.
• The 10 essential plugin categories we’d keep forever—plus stock options where they work great.
• How to prioritize: instruments, amps, and samples first; plugins second.
• When to reach for color vs clean, and how to avoid “option paralysis.”
• A simple upgrade path that prevents wasted spend and shiny-object syndrome.

Action Steps

1. Listen to the episode
2. Pick one plugin category you’re weakest in and commit to practicing it for a week. Then go to the next one.
3. Build your 10-plugins template (one plugin per category, pre-loaded where it makes sense. Ready to go).
4. Mix one song using only these 10. No extras.

(We don’t take money to push brands. If we recommend something on the podcast or YouTube, it’s because it works.)

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/286

--

Send us a text

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com

Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

Our coaching program and community is called The Self-Recording Syndicate. It’s the best resource in the world for artists who record their own music.

Inside, we work with you one-on-one and connect you with a super positive community of artists and producers worldwide, so you don't have do go it alone. We help you record and finish songs you’ll be proud of forever.

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, you can apply now. We’ll show you how to produce, mix, and master your songs. Right in your own home studio. At the best quality possible.

If we accept your application, we’ll first have a free call with you. On this call, we’ll make a custom plan just for you. If you don’t love this plan, you don’t have to pay anything and you can walk away.

But if you do love the plan and want to work with us, here’s our promise:

You’ll have at least one finished, pro-sounding song within 6 months. That’s the minimum, you can do way more! And if it doesn’t happen, we’ll keep working with you for free until it does.

Sounds fair?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

--

Episode show notes:

How should you approach your live show? Should you go all in with backing tracks, click tracks, and a tightly structured set? Or should you keep things 100% live and raw, without backing tracks or even a click track?

In this episode, Manel dives deep into both worlds. He shares what it’s really like to play completely live versus using clicks and tracks, and talks about the pros, cons, and practical realities of each setup.

From spontaneous, free-flowing shows to perfectly synced festival sets, this episode breaks down everything you need to know to make the right choice for your band. Based on your style, goals, and budget.

In This Episode:

🎸 The pros and cons of playing with no click and no backing tracks

💻 The structure and consistency that come with click tracks and playback setups

🎚️ How to build a reliable backing track rig that actually works live

🎤 The psychological side - why some musicians love the click and others hate it

💡 How audience perception of “authenticity” might not be what you think

⚡ Hybrid setups and emergency plans: finding a middle ground between both worlds

💰 Budget and logistics - when backing tracks make a small lineup work

Why It Matters:

Your live setup affects everything: The energy, the sound, the consistency, and even your reputation. Understanding the tradeoffs will help you create shows that fit your music and feel right for you and your audience.

Key Quote:

Join the Conversation:

How do you run your shows? Do you prefer the raw energy of playing fully live, or the precision of playing to a click and tracks? Let us know - we’d love to hear your take.

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/285

--

Send us a text

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com

Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

Our coaching program and community is called The Self-Recording Syndicate. It’s the best resource in the world for artists who record their own music.

Inside, we work with you one-on-one and connect you with a super positive community of artists and producers worldwide, so you don't have do go it alone. We help you record and finish songs you’ll be proud of forever.

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, you can apply now. We’ll show you how to produce, mix, and master your songs. Right in your own home studio. At the best quality possible.

If we accept your application, we’ll first have a free call with you. On this call, we’ll make a custom plan just for you. If you don’t love this plan, you don’t have to pay anything and you can walk away.

But if you do love the plan and want to work with us, here’s our promise:

You’ll have at least one finished, pro-sounding song within 6 months. That’s the minimum, you can do way more! And if it doesn’t happen, we’ll keep working with you for free until it does.

Sounds fair?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

--

Episode show notes:

Van Holzen just dropped a fantastic new record. And it's not just the songs, the production is really exciting and interesting, too.

The album is called "SOLANG DIE ERDE SICH DREHT", and today on the podcast we sat down with Flo (Florian Kiesling) from Van Holzen and Phil (Philipp Koch aka Kidney Paradise) from Heisskalt, who co-produced the record.

So it is a partly self-produced album and a project that we can all learn a lot from.

We went deep into the making of this record. From writing under the Greek sun, to cramming into an 8m² Berlin studio, to locking in drums and bass at Toolhouse Studios.

This conversation is full of lessons for self-recording artists:

• Why they chose to ditch perfection and keep imperfection as part of their sound
• How they managed to capture huge, punchy drums without relying on samples
• How they've achieved this dark, low-end heavy sound, without making it dull and lifeless
• The thought process behind their clean, punchy bass tone in a genre where most go with heavy distortion
• How shifting environments (Greece → Berlin → Toolhouse) shaped the songs
• The mental and emotional hurdles they faced starting this record after a difficult couple of years - and how they pushed through
• What it really takes to co-produce your own band’s record without losing perspective

This is not just gear talk (though we nerd out plenty about snares, ribbon mics, and pedals). It’s about the intention behind the sound, the decisions that shaped the vibe of the record, and what other DIY musicians can learn from their process.

If you care about authentic performances, raw energy, and making bold production choices, this episode will inspire you to rethink how you approach your own music.

👉 Listen to Van Holzen’s new album “SOLANG DIE ERDE SICH DREHT” everywhere music is streamed
👉 Check tour dates and info at vanholzen.com

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/284

--

Send us a text

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com