Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, go ahead and apply for coaching now.

We’ll show you how to produce, record, mix, and master your songs.

In your DAW of choice, and with only the plugins and gear you already own.

With unlimited feedback, full 1-on-1 guidance, and a custom music production plan made specifically for you.

Sounds interesting?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

--

Episode show notes:

There’s more mixing advice online than ever.

But here’s the real question:

Is it coming from people who actually make records… or people who make content?

In this episode, Benedikt and Manel react to answers from industry heavyweights Chris Galland and Joe Chiccarelli and compare them to common internet mixing advice.

The results are revealing.

Real pros barely care about many of the things you see everywhere online.

And many content creators ignore things that actual engineers call non-negotiable.

If you’re a self-recording musician trying to improve your mixes, this episode will help you separate hype from essential fundamentals.

What We Cover

• Should you high-pass everything?
• Do you really need to mix in mono?
• Are reference tracks mandatory?
• Should you always check your mix in the car?
• Is EQing to the key of the song a real thing?
• Do pros tune every vocal?
• Do you have to hard pan guitars?
• Are stereo imaging plugins essential?
• Should you always mix at low volumes?
• Does gain staging still matter in 2026?
• Is parallel compression overhyped?

And most importantly:

How do you know who to trust when learning mixing?

The Big Takeaways

• Context matters more than rules.
• The basics still win.
• You can ignore most of the fancy techniques and approaches until you've mastered the essential things.
• If advice sounds absolute, be skeptical.
• If someone never makes records, question their authority.

As Benedikt says in the episode:

Who This Is For

This episode is for:

• Rock, punk, indie, metal and alternative musicians recording themselves
• Producers overwhelmed by conflicting YouTube advice
• Anyone trying to get real results instead of chasing trends

If you’re serious about improving your mixes, this one will reset your priorities.

Want Real Guidance (Not Hype)?

If you want feedback and guidance from engineers who mix 200+ songs per year for artists and labels worldwide, audio pros who actively work with self-recording artists all the time:

👉 Apply for coaching inside The Self-Recording Syndicate

https://theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

We don’t teach trends.

We teach what actually works for your music.

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/304

--

Send 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!

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, go ahead and apply for coaching now.

We’ll show you how to produce, record, mix, and master your songs.

In your DAW of choice, and with only the plugins and gear you already own.

With unlimited feedback, full 1-on-1 guidance, and a custom music production plan made specifically for you.

Sounds interesting?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

--

Episode show notes:

This is the final episode of our full music production breakdown series.

We’ve covered songwriting, pre-production, gear, sound checks and recording.

Now we finish the record.

In this episode, we walk you through steps 6–10 of the real-world production process

• Session cleanup and comping
• Editing where necessary (timing and pitch)
• Moving from recording to mixing
• A structured mixing workflow that actually works
• The truth about mastering
• When to outsource and when not to
• Why AI mastering is not the same as real mastering (and when it can be an option)

If you’ve ever:

• Got stuck after recording
• Ruined a mix by overworking it
• Wondered if/how you should use a mix bus compressor
• Felt confused about gain staging
• Been disappointed by a bad master

This episode is for you.

We break down a proven, step-by-step framework that helps you:

• Keep objectivity
• Avoid rabbit holes
• Mix faster
• Preserve the magic you captured
• Finish songs properly

Because the goal after recording is simple:

Don’t mess it up. Don't reinvent it. Enhance it. Move it across the finish line.

The Mixing Framework We Teach

Here’s the structured approach we use inside The Self-Recording Syndicate:

1. Proper mix prep (organization + routing)
2. Rough mix (gain staging, levels + panning)
3. Mix bus setup & overall vibe and color
4. EQ cleanup + sweetening
5. Compression with intention
6. Creative effects (reverbs, delays, saturation)
7. Automation and movement
8. Mastering ( finishing, final formats, and quality control

Most people obsess over plugins.

The pros obsess over balance. In all ways. Not a static balance. But one that serves every part of the song, enhances it emotionally and guides the listener through the song.

🎁 Free Mixing Guide

If you want a clear system for balancing, gain staging and preparing your mix properly:

👉 Download the free guide:

theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes

🎯 Want Help Finishing Your Songs?

If you want personal guidance through all these steps:

Apply for coaching:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

Inside the Self-Recording Syndicate you get:

• Structured playbooks
• Detailed mix feedback
• Clear next steps to work on - always
• Templates
• Frameworks
• And 5 professional masters, as well as a full mix + mix walkthrough included

--

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

Send 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!

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, go ahead and apply for coaching now.

We’ll show you how to produce, record, mix, and master your songs.

In your DAW of choice, and with only the plugins and gear you already own.

With unlimited feedback, full 1-on-1 guidance, and a custom music production plan made specifically for you.

Sounds interesting?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

--

Episode show notes:

Recording music is about capturing magic moments.

In this episode of The Self-Recording Band Podcast, Benedikt and Manel are breaking down step 5 of the production process: the recording session — the moment where everything can either fall apart… or finally come alive.

You can have the right song, the right gear, the right room, and the perfect setup — and still end up with a lifeless recording if you don’t handle the human side of recording properly.

This episode is all about capturing exciting performances, creating the right vibe in the room, and making decisions that serve emotion over perfection.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why performance matters more than technical perfection (and always will)
• How to guide yourself or your band into better takes
• Why how you talk to performers can make or break a session
• The importance of preparation before hitting record
• How to avoid killing the vibe during vocal sessions
• When to record full takes vs. sections
• Why warm-ups are non-negotiable (and how pros do it)
• How to choose the right recording order for instruments
• Why vocals should not be an afterthought
• Simple systems for comping and editing while recording
• How to protect your sessions with smart backup habits

This episode is part of our start-to-finish production process series. If you haven’t listened to steps 1-4 yet, go back and start there — this series is designed to be followed in order.

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/302

--

Send us a text

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