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:

On this episode, you'll learn what it takes to turn a voice memo on a phone, or a very rough song idea, into a finished song that can then be recorded and mixed without compromise.

If you want to work with us and apply for our coaching, you need to have songs written and ready to be recorded.

You need material that is pretty much ready to go, so that we can walk you through the production process and make sure you get exceptional results recording and mixing those songs yourself.

Manel is exceptionally great at this part of the process, the writing and pre-production. So we're letting him walk us through his approach step-by-step.

This is great for you in many ways:

If you want to self-produce your songs and plan on working with us through our coaching, you can prepare and get your songs ready for that.

If you don't want to do that yourself, you can contact us and bring Manel on to your team, so he can work with you on getting your songs ready at the highest quality.

If your plan is to go to a studio, you can prepare for that session properly to make the most out of it. Your engineer/producer will love you for it. ;)

Either way, you'll walk away prepared and ready to kill it on your next project without cutting corners.

So, walk us through your process Manel! What are the steps you go through with every artists to get them the results they want?

Let’s go!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/279

--

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. 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:

We made this episode because we see artists make the same mistake again and again. We don’t want you to make it too.

We call it a “rookie mistake.” That means it’s something beginners often do. And yes, this can even happen to people who have played music for years, but never made a record the right way.

Some of you might think, “I’m not a beginner.” But if you are making this mistake, you are. At least when it comes to making records that have a chance to be heard and enjoyed by more than just your friends and family.

And when it comes to making music that sounds so good you’ll be proud of it forever. Music that can play right next to your favorite songs and still hold up in quality.

If you keep making this mistake, that will never happen.

So please listen to this episode and take it seriously. This advice comes from over 15 years of full-time work in audio. From thousands of projects with hundreds of artists and labels all around the world.

What we share here is true for pretty much everyone. Don’t think you’re the one exception. Do what works.

Let’s go!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/278

--

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

Our coaching community, The Self-Recording Syndicate, is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever.

If you apply for personal mentoring, we'll first jump on a completely free call so we can give you feedback, build a custom plan for you and help you figure out the best way forward.

🚀 Here are all the details, let's go:

theselfrecordingband.com

--

Episode show notes:

We are 277 episodes into this podcast and haven't really touched on mastering. We did an episode on loudness and one where we explained what mastering actually is. But we really only scratched the surface.

Today we're finally going a bit deeper and we're doing it with an amazing guest.

Slatin is joining us on the show today. Slatin is an award winning mastering engineer, based in Madrid, Spain. He is also a DJ and artist himself and despite his current career in electronic music, he actually has a heavy metal background.

There's lots to talk about and I'm super excited to have him on the show. So without further ado, here is Slatin for you!

--

Some of the topics we covered in this episode:

• What are microdynamics?
• Slatins past in a heavy metal band
• Mixing/mastering different genres
• Slatins work as DJ - He played at Tomorrowland this year
• Slatins mastering process
• The low end in different genres
• Outsourcing mastering vs doing it yourself
• The peace of mind aspect of mastering
• Transparent mastering vs adding a lot of color and character to masters
• Mixing vs mastering vs stem mastering (under which circumstances is stem mastering a good idea?)
• Workflow and speed - How important is a good workflow for home studio producers who can do it all without time pressure?
• Auditioning gear in the mastering process (especially limiters)
• Digital vs analog

Enjoy!

--

Slatins website:

www.slatin.pro

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/277

--

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

Our coaching community, The Self-Recording Syndicate, is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever.

If you apply for personal mentoring, we'll first jump on a completely free call so we can give you feedback, build a custom plan for you and help you figure out the best way forward.

🚀 Here are all the details, let's go:

theselfrecordingband.com

--

Episode show notes:

In this episode, Benedikt is joined by Adam Croft from the band The Grand Caravan. A group that makes music for wandering souls and vibe-chasers, rather than sticking to any one genre.

They talk about Adam’s journey as a musician, his time in our coaching program, The Self-Recording Syndicate, how the band has evolved over time, and what it was like working on their latest recordings.

Adam shares his experience going from home recording setups to professional studios, and the lessons he’s picked up along the way.

This one’s full of honest insights about growth, learning, and staying passionate - whether you’re tracking at home or in a fancy studio.

Adam and Benedikt also get into the balance between focusing on feel vs. getting caught up in the technical side of things, and how collaboration and spontaneity often lead to the best creative moments.

--

Some key takeaways from the conversation:

• The Grand Caravan is a band built on vibes, not strict genres.
• Adam is all about learning, growing, and keeping the creative fire alive.
• Home recording is awesome, but sometimes a pro studio can take things to the next level.
• Don’t try to master everything at once. Pick one thing to focus on and really learn it.
• earn to trust your ears. Gear and theory are cool, but what you hear is what really matters.
• The process and having fun along the way matters just as much as the final result.
• And above all, if you love making music, don’t hold back. Just go for it.

Enjoy!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/276

--

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

Our coaching community, The Self-Recording Syndicate, is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever.

If you apply for personal mentoring, we'll first jump on a completely free call so we can give you feedback, build a custom plan for you and help you figure out the best way forward.

🚀 Here are all the details, let's go:

theselfrecordingband.com

--

Episode show notes:

I hear it all the time. It's one of the most common problems that people run into:

"My vocals never seem to sit right in my mixes."

"The vocals are buried in the mix and when I turn them up, they are too loud."

"I want the vocals to be "in the mix" but still clear and audible all the time."

"I want the vocals to be upfront, but not on top of the mix too much."

"What do I do to make my vocals sit well in the mix?"

The vocal is the most important element in most mixes. So, I don't think I have to explain why it matters to get it to sound right.

It's what connects with your listeners, it's what tells the story, gets the message across and it is the most unique thing about your music that won't sound like anyone or anything else.


So we've made this entire episode, diving deep into all the things you can do to make sure your vocals sit perfectly and feel just right:

• Timing and pitch
• EQ
• Compression
• Sibilance control
• Effects
• Depth and distance between vocal layers

Enjoy!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/275

--

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

Our coaching community, The Self-Recording Syndicate, is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever.

If you apply for personal mentoring, we'll first jump on a completely free call so we can give you feedback, build a custom plan for you and help you figure out the best way forward.

🚀 Here are all the details, let's go:

theselfrecordingband.com

--

Episode show notes:

Have you ever written something in a burst of raw emotion - only to cringe at it a year later? Or maybe the opposite - you sat on a song too long and lost the magic?

In the age of AI-generated music and the flood of music that's technically fine and engineered without flaws, but still incredibly boring, what is it that music fans want most?

The human connection. Stories. Emotion. Art that is relatable and authentic.

So let's talk about that part of producing music some more. Let's explore different ways to approach it and how they lead to different results.

What you'll learn from this episode:

• Writing/producing fast and in the moment vs letting it sit for a while
• Writing songs in the moment, when you are going through something versus writing them some time later
• Same with producing
• The Emotional Argument:
  • In an AI-dominated, overpolished era, what listeners crave isn’t just clean production—it’s connection.
    • Why immediacy can lead to:
      • Raw energy
      • Honest storytelling
      • Unfiltered performances
    • Why hindsight can lead to:
      • Deeper insight
      • Refined songwriting
      • Better arrangement decisions

“Is one more ‘authentic’ than the other - or is it just a different kind of truth?”

As an example we talk about Manel's upcoming and already partly released album.

And his experience producing the album (writing the songs 2/3 years ago, then revisiting them 1 year ago, and mixing them now)

• What changed emotionally or musically during that time?
• Were there parts he wanted to keep but didn’t connect with anymore?
• Did letting things sit help or hurt the creative flow?

We also mention some famous examples, like Taylor Swift, Kurt Cobain, Metallica, Radiohead, or the Foo Fighters.

And finally, we talk about the producer’s dilemma:

When producing others:

• Do you push for emotion in the moment or help refine over time?

As a self-recording musician:

• Are you capturing a moment—or sculpting art from memory?

And, of course we add some practical advice and action steps for you before we wrap it up.

Enjoy!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/274

--

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

Our coaching community, The Self-Recording Syndicate, is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever.

If you apply for personal mentoring, we'll first jump on a completely free call so we can give you feedback, build a custom plan for you and help you figure out the best way forward.

🚀 Here are all the details, let's go:

theselfrecordingband.com

--

Episode show notes:

People obsess over amps - but totally ignore the cab. Let’s change that.

In this episode, Manel and Benedikt dig into why the cabinet you’re using (or the IR you’re loading) has way more impact on your tone than most folks think. You’ll hear real-world guitar and bass examples where the amp stays the same - but the cab changes everything.

We’re showing how different speakers, cabinet types, mic placements, and even small tweaks to an IR can make your tone tighter, more aggressive, warmer, darker - whatever the song needs.

So whether you’re using real amps and mics or working fully in-the-box with amp sims and IRs, this episode will help you dial in better tones by starting where it really matters: the cab.

What we cover:

• Why your cab (or IR) matters more than your amp
• The difference between open-back and closed-back designs
• How speaker types and cabinet construction affect tone
• Why mic choice and placement can make or break your sound
• Examples of tone changes just by swapping cabs
• How to find the right IRs for your mix
• Why a classic 4x12 with an SM57 still works - and when to try something else

Takeaway:

Don’t sleep on your cab. If you want your guitars and bass to sound pro, this is where the magic starts.

Enjoy!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/273

--

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

Our coaching community, The Self-Recording Syndicate, is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever.

If you apply for personal mentoring, we'll first jump on a completely free call so we can give you feedback, build a custom plan for you and help you figure out the best way forward.

🚀 Here are all the details, let's go:

theselfrecordingband.com

--

Episode show notes:

We sat down with one of our Self-Recording Syndicate members Jason W Taylor.

A busy entreprenuer and dad who is making his rock'n'roll dreams come true after taking a 20-year break from music.

Jason is a self-recording artist, based in Texas, USA, who just released his first couple of songs under the artist name Aught Sicks.

We have helped him remotely during the production phase of his music and we helped him build and set up his home studio from scratch.

Then after the recording and editing was done, I (Benedikt) mixed the songs. It was a super fun collaboration and I’m really stoked about the results.

Jason is also a very busy entrepreneur and dad, so he has limited available to work on his music. Which just goes to show that you can do it and realize your dreams, even if you have a lot on your plate.

And finally, Jason used his new recording skills to create badass music for the live events he is doing with his company. He wrote a song specifically for those events and created a karaoke version that he is now regularly performing in front of a live audience, which creates a whole new experience for everyone attending the shows.

Not too long ago I had the honor of being a guest on Jason’s podcast, We Code You Launch. Now it’s the other way around and it’s time to tell Jason’s story.

So without further ado, here's Jason W Taylor, aka Aught Sicks!

Enjoy!

​CodeLaunch Website

Aught Sicks on Spotify

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/272

--

Send us a text

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