Episodes

  • 264: This Is How Much We've Spent On Our Own Education - And What We Got Out Of It (Full Breakdown)
    May 14 2025

    Send us a text

    Your next step:

    Figure out if you are a great fit for The Self-Recording Syndicate!

    theselfrecordingband.com

    Our coaching community and platform is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever.

    • Grow your audience on Spotify with songs that don't sound "demo-y".
    • Be taken seriously by your peers, fans and other musicians.
    • Make records that sound as good as your favorite songs in your playlist.

    You have two options to get there:

    1. Apply for unlimited, personal 1-on-1 mentoring (results guaranteed) - This is by far the fastest and best way to achieve your goals. Your gonna be working 1-on-1 with an experienced studio pro until your project is done. On your own songs, from your (home) studio and in your DAW of choice.

    2. Sign up for any of our video courses on recording, editing, or mixing. All of the video courses include 90 days of group coaching and community access inside the Syndicate. You can upgrade the courses to 1-on-1 mentoring anytime.

    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 (Benedikt) want to make a super transparent episode, breaking down all the courses, coaching, seminars, events etc. I've bought over the years.

    How much I've spent on them and what I got out of them.


    Here's why:

    I want to let you know that I practice what I preach. And that investing in my skills has impacted my life, my bands and my audio career in a massive way.

    I wouldn't offer education to others if I didn't believe in it myself. And I wouldn't be a good coach if I had never experienced great education myself.


    And Manel has invested heavily in his education, as well. Which is what brought him here. It has enabled him to have a full time career in audio


    So, in this episode Manel and I are breaking it all down. The good, the bad, the ugly. Including the cost and the return on it.

    We're sharing the key to getting a return on those things and our philosophy going into any type of education.

    I'm also sharing what I've done when I was broke.

    And I'm sharing different types of education and mentoring. Not just coaching and courses.

    It's mainly focused on music and audio education, of course. But I'm also sharing examples outside of that.

    Enjoy!

    --

    For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/264

    --

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

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 23 mins
  • 263: The Hidden Power of Song Key: Better Vocals, Better Vibe
    May 7 2025

    Send us a text

    Your next step:

    Figure out if you are a great fit for The Self-Recording Syndicate!

    theselfrecordingband.com

    Our coaching community and platform is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever.

    • Grow your audience on Spotify with songs that don't sound "demo-y".
    • Be taken seriously by your peers, fans and other musicians.
    • Make records that sound as good as your favorite songs in your playlist.

    You have two options to get there:

    1. Apply for unlimited, personal 1-on-1 mentoring (results guaranteed) - This is by far the fastest and best way to achieve your goals. Your gonna be working 1-on-1 with an experienced studio pro until your project is done. On your own songs, from your (home) studio and in your DAW of choice.

    2. Sign up for any of our video courses on recording, editing, or mixing. All of the video courses include 90 days of group coaching and community access inside the Syndicate. You can upgrade the courses to 1-on-1 mentoring anytime.

    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:


    Picking the right key for your song is not just a technical decision — it can completely change the vibe, energy, and emotional impact of your track.


    In this episode, we break down how the key of a song affects:


    • Vocal performance and emotional delivery
    • The feel and tone of your instruments
    • Songwriting choices and arrangement
    • Technical implications, like capo placement, alternate tunings, or switching to baritone or 7-string guitars


    We talk about how to find the key that brings out the best in your vocalist, how to avoid songs that feel flat or strained, and why pushing a singer slightly outside their comfort zone can sometimes make a good performance great.

    And the best part: We're not only talking about it, we're also showing you audio examples, so you can experience it yourself.


    Whether you’re just writing a new track or preparing to record vocals, this episode will help you make better key choices and get a more powerful result.

    Enjoy!

    --

    For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/263

    --

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

    Show more Show less
    55 mins
  • 262: Why Your Song Feels Off: The Truth About Tempo, Timing & Groove
    Apr 30 2025

    Send us a text

    Your next step:

    Figure out if you are a great fit for The Self-Recording Syndicate!

    theselfrecordingband.com

    Our incredible coaching community and platform is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever.

    • Grow your audience on Spotify with songs that don't sound "demo-y".
    • Be taken seriously by your peers, fans and other musicians.
    • Make records that sound as good as your favorite songs in your playlist.

    You have two options to get there:

    1. Apply for unlimited, personal 1-on-1 mentoring (results guaranteed) - This is by far the fastest and best way to achieve your goals. Your gonna be working 1-on-1 with an experienced studio pro until your project is done. On your own songs, from your (home) studio and in your DAW of choice.

    2. Sign up for any of our video courses on recording, editing, or mixing. All of the video courses include 90 days of group coaching and community access inside the Syndicate. You can upgrade the courses to 1-on-1 mentoring anytime.

    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:


    This is an episode about the importance of choosing the right tempo for your songs and getting the timing and feel right.

    Here's why this matters:

    Way too many artists neglect this during their songwriting and preproduction process. But this affects the overall feel and impact of the song more than any plugin or mixing technique ever could.

    And we're not just talking about the importance of choosing the right tempo. We're also showing you what we mean with timing and feel.


    You'll be hearing different audio examples on the episode:

    • Pulling vs pushing
    • To grid or not to grid
    • Adding a bit of a swing feel


    We're also gonna talk about the difference between genres and styles, how to create tempo maps and a couple of interesting tips and tricks that we've learned over the years.

    Enjoy!

    --

    For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/261

    --

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

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 4 mins
  • 261: The Ultimate Guide To Kick Drum EQ (With Audio Examples)
    Apr 24 2025

    Send us a text

    🚀 Apply for personal 1-on-1 mentoring by Benedikt and the team (including access to all of our programs): theselfrecordingband.com
    --

    Don't need 1-on-1 coaching (yet)? Here are our individual programs (video courses plus access to group coaching inside The Self-Recording Syndicate):


    ➡️ Get Access To "Mix-Ready: The Band-Recording Essentials": theselfrecordingband.com/mixready
    ➡️ Get Access To "Mixes Unpacked": theselfrecordingband.com/mixesunpacked
    ➡️ Get Access To "Dead-On Drums": theselfrecordingband.com/deadondrums
    ➡️ Get Access To "Guitar Setup Masterclass - With Diego Casillas": theselfrecordingband.com/guitarsetup
    --
    🎁 Free video guide + checklist "Standout Mixes": theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
    --
    Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
    theselfrecordingband.com/community

    --

    Episode show notes:

    A while back we did an episode on how we EQ kick drums. Now we're doing it again, but this time even more in-depth and with audio examples.

    So you can actually hear what we're talking about and how it all sounds when applied.

    You're gonna learn how the different frequency ranges sound and feel when it comes to kick drums and how you can then apply this knowledge to make intentional decisions in your next mix.

    You'll be able to:

    • get the low end right
    • shape the midrange and top end to work with the style, genre and context of your song
    • make it cut through a dense mix if necessary
    • identify frequency issues and fix them quickly with EQ

    Enjoy!

    --

    For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/261

    --

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

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 13 mins
  • 260: AI Update - Are Audio Skills No Longer Needed Now? Have Mixing Engineers Been Replaced?
    Apr 17 2025

    Send us a text

    🚀 Apply for personal 1-on-1 mentoring by Benedikt and the team (including access to all of our programs): theselfrecordingband.com
    --

    Don't need 1-on-1 coaching (yet)? Here are our individual programs (video courses plus access to group coaching inside The Self-Recording Syndicate):


    ➡️ Get Access To "Mix-Ready: The Band-Recording Essentials": theselfrecordingband.com/mixready
    ➡️ Get Access To "Mixes Unpacked": theselfrecordingband.com/mixesunpacked
    ➡️ Get Access To "Dead-On Drums": theselfrecordingband.com/deadondrums
    ➡️ Get Access To "Guitar Setup Masterclass - With Diego Casillas": theselfrecordingband.com/guitarsetup
    --
    🎁 Free video guide + checklist "Standout Mixes": theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
    --
    Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
    theselfrecordingband.com/community

    --

    Episode show notes:

    We needed to do another AI episode.


    So many things have happened since the last one. So many new "intelligent" tools came out. AI audio news are posted almost every day now.

    And some of these new products, even the ones made by big established audio brands, are being marketed as "autonomous" mixing tools. That "will do the same things you would do - but faster and better."

    Wow. Pretty bold claim. But is it true?

    And is everything we do here now irrelevant?

    Do we no longer need audio skills, because mixing and mastering are now (or soon) happening fully automatic?

    And if that really works, what do we then focus on?


    Maybe it won't be that different, after all...


    Let's discuss!

    --

    For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/260

    --


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

    Show more Show less
    54 mins
  • 259: What Self-Recording Artists Are REALLY Struggling With
    Apr 9 2025

    Send us a text

    🚀 Apply for personal 1-on-1 mentoring by Benedikt and the team (including access to all of our programs): theselfrecordingband.com
    --

    Don't need 1-on-1 coaching (yet)? Here are our individual programs (video courses plus access to group coaching inside The Self-Recording Syndicate):


    ➡️ Get Access To "Mix-Ready: The Band-Recording Essentials": theselfrecordingband.com/mixready
    ➡️ Get Access To "Mixes Unpacked": theselfrecordingband.com/mixesunpacked
    ➡️ Get Access To "Dead-On Drums": theselfrecordingband.com/deadondrums
    ➡️ Get Access To "Guitar Setup Masterclass - With Diego Casillas": theselfrecordingband.com/guitarsetup
    --
    🎁 Free video guide + checklist "Standout Mixes": theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
    --
    Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
    theselfrecordingband.com/community

    --

    Episode show notes:

    We want to address 2 common things that we get from self-recording artists.

    Whenever they join our Facebook group or when they sign up for our emails that we send out, we ask them what they are struggling with the most.

    Here's what they say (it's almost always one of two things):

    1. I don't have / don't understand the gear (or plugins)
    2. Mixing


    So we wanted to make this episode because both of those things are almost never their real problems. Or at least not their biggest ones.


    A couple of things we cover in this episode:

    • Don't let a lack of money or lack of equipment hold you back. And don't waste money on the wrong things.
    • Understanding the equipment is only a very small part of it.
    • You're struggling with mixing because you are fighting your recordings and because you're focussing on the wrong parts of the process.
    • You haven't developed your ears, taste and vision, yet.


    Enjoy!

    --

    For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/259

    --

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

    Show more Show less
    50 mins
  • 258: "I'm not a professional musician or producer" - Does this mean your art isn't worth it?
    Apr 2 2025

    Send us a text

    🚀 Apply for personal 1-on-1 mentoring by Benedikt and the team (including access to all of our programs): theselfrecordingband.com
    --

    Don't need 1-on-1 coaching? Here are our individual programs (video courses plus access to group coaching inside The Self-Recording Syndicate):


    ➡️ Get Access To "Mix-Ready: The Band-Recording Essentials": theselfrecordingband.com/mixready
    ➡️ Get Access To "Mixes Unpacked": theselfrecordingband.com/mixesunpacked
    ➡️ Get Access To "Dead-On Drums": theselfrecordingband.com/deadondrums
    ➡️ Get Access To "Guitar Setup Masterclass - With Diego Casillas": theselfrecordingband.com/guitarsetup
    --
    🎁 Free video guide + checklist "Standout Mixes": theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
    --
    Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
    theselfrecordingband.com/community

    --

    Episode show notes:

    I get this all the time:

    People reach out or download our resources, listen to the podcast etc. because they want to get better at recording or mixing.

    But then, when I get to talk to them and they find out what it takes to get really good at this they immediately say:

    "I don't want to do this professionally. It's just a hobby."

    As if it was not worth it to put in the effort, time, money or whatever it would take in their situation.


    So I wanted to ask you:

    How many of the artists you worked with are professionals?

    And for those who are not:

    Do they now think it was worth putting in the effort to make it sound awesome?


    I think the fact that it is just a hobby doesn't mean it's not worth it. I think many people will regret that they never made a really great record.

    And on the flip side I think most artists who have made a really great record don't regret it. They are super proud of what they've created and often view it as a bucket list item and something that will still be around when they're gone one day.

    So let's discuss this topic and hopefully help you realize your dreams instead of self-sabotaging by talking yourself out of going after your dreams.


    Enjoy!

    --

    For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/258

    --

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

    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • 257: Why you should learn to record yourself (even if you're not making your own records)
    Mar 26 2025

    Send us a text

    🚀 Apply for personal 1-on-1 mentoring by Benedikt and the team (including access to all of our programs): theselfrecordingband.com
    --

    Don't need 1-on-1 coaching? Here are our individual programs (video courses plus access to group coaching inside The Self-Recording Syndicate):


    ➡️ Get Access To "Mix-Ready: The Band-Recording Essentials": theselfrecordingband.com/mixready
    ➡️ Get Access To "Mixes Unpacked": theselfrecordingband.com/mixesunpacked
    ➡️ Get Access To "Dead-On Drums": theselfrecordingband.com/deadondrums
    ➡️ Get Access To "Guitar Setup Masterclass - With Diego Casillas": theselfrecordingband.com/guitarsetup
    --
    🎁 Free video guide + checklist "Standout Mixes": theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes
    --
    Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
    theselfrecordingband.com/community

    --

    Episode show notes:

    Have you ever been in a situation where you had to replace a band member for a show? If you have, chances are that it was painful to teach someone the songs. This episode will help you with that.


    And not just that. There are countless good reasons for why every musician should learn to record themselves.


    Being able to record yourself well has many benefits. Not just the obvious ones.

    If you are able to capture your songs well and then have multitracks or stems ready for anyone to practice to and learn the songs, it will make finding and training fill-in players that much easier. And it will improve your own performances, as well.


    On this episode we're sharing with you:

    • A simple approach to multitrack recording
    • What matters and what doesn't
    • All the benefits of being able to record yourself
    • Storing and archiving the material
    • Building a rolodex of session players


    Enjoy!

    --

    For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/257

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

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 1 min
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