How do you use effects?-So much music is actually created "in the box" today that I don't see a line anymore between music and effects. Whole pop tunes are done on laptops with maybe a MIDI keyboard. I'm bothered by out-of-tune vocals, so a major revolution for me has been the ability to tune and time singers. When Auto-tune … Continue reading How do you use effects?→
What is your philosophy on compression?-Early on, my favorite tracking compressor was the LA-3A. You could use them on anything. I still use hardware compression when recording most individual tracks, even in the box, kind of a holdover from my tape machine days. I usually run the kick and the snare through the compressors in the Porticos, but not a … Continue reading What is your philosophy on compression?→
Talk about your career in jingles-Up until around 1970, jingles really were, uh, "jingles." Cute little ditties that were intentional earworms. Ask your grandmother to complete these lines: “You’ll wonder where the yellow went, when . . .” Or, “Mr. Clean gets rid of . . .” Then a change occurred. The goal became to make commercial music appealing in … Continue reading Talk about your career in jingles→
What’s your philosophy as a producer?-My philosophy may not be a lot of help to young folks out there because I started in the 70s on large frame analog consoles and tape machines. Even though we have Pro Tools and an S6 at TRC, my style retains elements from history. For example, we have quite a few analog preamps and … Continue reading What’s your philosophy as a producer?→
How do you use effects? - So much music is actually created "in the box" today that I don't see a line anymore between music and effects. Whole pop tunes are done on laptops with maybe a MIDI keyboard. I'm bothered by out-of-tune vocals, so a major revolution for me has been the ability to tune and time singers. When Auto-tune … Continue reading How do you use effects? 
Do control rooms matter? Don’t listeners all stream to earbuds now? - This is extremely important. Whatever you're mixing, you have to have a reliable and comfortable control room monitoring environment as a reference. Control room tuning and monitors have always been a passion of mine. Prior to my sabbatical from recording, Indy Studio A (the third main room I helped design) had a Russ Berger LEDE … Continue reading Do control rooms matter? Don’t listeners all stream to earbuds now? 
Why are you now mixing stuff for free for people you don’t even know? - I literally love to produce and mix, actually more even than recording tracks as a player or an engineer. I’m an experienced producer, but certainly not a famous one. So the call is out for stuff for me to mix. If material comes in that I can’t help or don’t have time for, I send … Continue reading Why are you now mixing stuff for free for people you don’t even know? 
What is your philosophy on compression? - Early on, my favorite tracking compressor was the LA-3A. You could use them on anything. I still use hardware compression when recording most individual tracks, even in the box, kind of a holdover from my tape machine days. I usually run the kick and the snare through the compressors in the Porticos, but not a … Continue reading What is your philosophy on compression? 
Talk about your career in jingles - Up until around 1970, jingles really were, uh, "jingles." Cute little ditties that were intentional earworms. Ask your grandmother to complete these lines: “You’ll wonder where the yellow went, when . . .” Or, “Mr. Clean gets rid of . . .” Then a change occurred. The goal became to make commercial music appealing in … Continue reading Talk about your career in jingles 
Are things being mic’d differently today? - In Studio Five, we don't have a big live room for tracking bands, just a nice big booth. One of the 4A had a reputation as a drum room, and several of the producers were using 20 or more mics on a drum kit. More than one on each drum, plus stereo overheads and three … Continue reading Are things being mic’d differently today? 
How has recording changed since you started out? - How has recording changed since you started out? A lot in many ways, and not at all in others. The factors that should stay the same are great musicians in the right acoustical environment and ambiance, a wide range of high-end mics expertly placed, and an experienced engineer and producer. Lots of folks have de-emphasized … Continue reading How has recording changed since you started out? 
Are you an “in the box” guy or an “out of the box” person? - I’m a hybrid, but falling farther and farther into the box. Almost everything I record goes through an analog preamp, usually one with tubes. I love our tube LaChappells, and we’ve got Rupert Neve, Avalon, UAD and Trident 80B channel strips. Back in 4A, where we had a big live room, we had almost 60 … Continue reading Are you an “in the box” guy or an “out of the box” person?