ANAK Creates Podcast | The Art of Audio Engineering, Music Production and Creative Business

There's really no such thing as "the perfect DAW" (Digital Audio Workstation), however, there is a great DAW to suit everyone. A DAW needs to fit your needs and your workflow, and above all else, it needs to help you create your best, fastest, and easiest. For every person, those needs are different. In today's episode, I talk about this, since there is so much miss-information out there from people claiming the "perfect DAW" or "the BEST DAW" which, may be the case for them, but may not be at all for your needs. Things to consider when picking your DAW for those getting started: 1. The Features you need (Now and in the future) 2. Your Future Growth and where you want to end up 3. Compatibility - The computer or system you want to use, and other gear like Interfaces, plugins etc. 4. Collaboration - Who are you surrounded by, collaborating with, studios your working with etc. 5. The Price - What you get for what you pay, and what the cost will be (in time as well) to learn

Here are some tips for programming drums, both for drummers and non-drummers! Malcolm Cottle and myself talk about things to pay attention to as well as some techniques to improve the authenticity and realism of programmed drums. Malcolm, a proficient drummer and programmer himself, discusses from a drummer perspective why learning to program is such a great skill for drummers in general to have at their disposal. While real drums are great (we all love them) it's nice to be able to program drums well, and if they are done well they can then be indistinguishable in a final mix. Programmed drums aren't a problem, it's badly programmed drums that are a problem, so make sure you aren't doing that to yourself!

This is a problem that hurts more people than you think. Plugin cracks and software piracy is something that plagues the music industry, and piracy of the music in general. I felt I needed to talk about it, discourage it, and explain why it hurts everyone. Please do your part, don't be part of the issue, and don't be a hypocrite. This is my little PSA about software Piracy, who it hurts and why it hurts more people than you think.

We don't really think about the different factors that influence how we perceive music, such as our upbringing, life experiences, emotions associated with different aspects of the genre, artist or listening environment, age, and many more things. In this episode, Jay Riehl and I discuss how that influences music creators and music listeners, and how you can't appeal to everyone. The only real north star of music creation is how you feel within yourself about what you're creating (and the feelings of the team involved) and you need to allow that to flourish. If you try to hard to fit into what you think people want to hear, you'll miss that target and get no further, because everyone perceives things differently in ways you can't possibly hope to really understand.

Modern Music Production Techniques aren't hurting music, modern consumption is demanding to much and not allowing artists to write properly, as much was meant to be written. This is most obvious and easy to talk about in many modern metal and rock productions where drummers aren't given the time to really write their parts along the way and are instead brought in at the end of a production just to record. Drum parts are losing their authenticity because (in those situations) guitar players are writing the parts to go along with their guitar parts instead of drummers being allowed the time to write their parts. Many music critics blame this on modern recording and production techniques like editing and autotune, however this is not the problem of programming parts or editing, at the end of the day this is to do with the disruption of the entire flow of songwriting, and that is partially brought on by the demand consumers put on musicians to keep churning out music.

Mix notes are something that all producers, engineers, and artists have to deal with, wether giving or receiving them, they are part of music creation. However, it seems like many people don't totally know what to expect from mix notes, or what the processes and protocols around them are, especially newer artists. In today's episode, that's what we discuss, 10 of my top tips for dealing tip mix notes. This goes for both artists, what to give and what to expect, as well as mix engineers who are looking at what is "the norm" (if there is such a thing in music creation) when it comes to receiving mix notes from artists. Where it's okay to draw certain lines, or things to remind artists about. Basically, here's my guidelines to help your mix notes go smoother, and thus help preserve your working relationships.

2021 was a great year! This episode I wanted to do a bit of a recap of the highlights of the year for ANAK Creates, and a look into what next year is going to bring! What are some of your top accomplishments creatively of the last year?

In this episode I discuss the most common mistakes or oversights that I find people make in their mixes and productions. When giving my mix feedback, these are some of the most common threads of advice I keep giving. There's so much to cover, but this is a good overview of some common things to keep in mind while working on improving your mixes and productions! Check out my mix feedback! - anakcreates.ca/mixfeedback Use code HELLOFEEDBACK to get your first track free!

In this episode, I'm joined by our friend Malcolm Cottle to discuss the ups, the downs, and the technicals of confidently recording yourself as a one person show - the artist, producer, engineer or any combination thereof. Both Malcolm and I have been doing our own projects for years, where we need to be the creative brain as well as the technical brain in the project. While this is possible, there are a few tactics and safeguards we've developed and put in place to help us still achieve the best results possible. The biggest issue when you're doing the whole production yourself, is that it's easy to get to deep into it, and lose perspective along the way. Either you get burnt out and loose momentum, or you start changing to change things, while not actually making it better, just different (or possibly even going backwards and making it worse.) Today we discuss how we've done it, what our top tips are, what we like about doing it ourselves and how it effects our creativity and creative workflow having ALL the control.

Giving Feedback, Mix Notes, Production Notes, basically giving your thoughts on someone's creative outlet, is something that happens often, but need to be given in the right way. Well delivered thoughts, feedback or notes can go a long way to improve the project, and achieve the best outcome result, but can get there faster and strengthen the working relationship between those involved at the same time. In this episode I discuss how best to deliver that feedback to achieve the best results, and why it's so important. I describe the best delivery method as the “compliment sandwich”. This is when you start off your message saying something you like, then follow it up with something you want changed or aren't so keen on, then end off the whole message with another compliment or something you really liked about their work. It's important to give the notes of what you want changed by also adding in what you like. It's not just about giving them notes on what you don't like and what you'd like fixed and changed, but also about letting them know what you do like. On the receiving end, getting those notes is helpful to better understand what direction to take as adjustments are made. You don't want to just give criticism, you need to make sure it's helpful and constructive. Don't attack their choices and don't give vague notes, explain what you are thinking, so they can best serve your vision. If it's unhelpful feedback and notes, or doesn't give a further direction of what you're actually looking for, that will only serve to sour the working relationship, and ultimately not sure the project best. At the end of the day, we all just want the best final outcome to our project, and this is a very easy way be a pleasure to work with and bring your creative vision to it's full potential as well.

When it comes to making a record, and more importantly the budgeting of the record, many new artists are unsure where to start. There are many questions, without a lot of honest answers out there. Every audio professional is out there trying to convince you that their services are needed and essential and worth the price. As an artist, you need to sift through the noise and figure out what you, and your project, need. “What can we do ourselves without really compromising quality?” “What should we be putting our money towards?” “Can we even make a record with this budget?” There are no definitive answers to many of these questions, no one-size-fits-all solution. There are however, guidelines (not rules) that can help to point in the right direction. Every artist, project, and genre will be different. Then personal things like pre-existing knowledge, willingness to learn, budge and different constraints will also play a role in deciding your next move forward. In this episode I am trying to help artists understands what is involved, what can be approached more DIY without hurting the project, and what shouldn't be compromised on. This only scratches the surface of this topic but should help you better understand where to get started and what questions you should be asking. The Key Points: - Production and producers for pop/hip-hop/rap can play a big role in recording and mixing if you find the right producer. - For rock bands, having a dedicated producer (in the traditional sense of the roll) may not be the best use of money. - There's lot of recording that can be done with a home setup without compromising quality. Investing money and time into some basic home recording gear and knowledge can pay dividends as time goes on. - Using MIDI/programmed drums, virtual synths, guitar DI recording is not compromising quality when that's what you can afford. Amazing results can be achieved, especially when you have a good mixer on the backend. - Many artists are home recording vocals now as well, which is not a bad choice if you put some time and effort into making a basic home recording setup. - By putting time and effort into learning basic home recording, you save yourself time and money on recording studios, and stress while trying to complete everything in the budgeted studio time. - Mixing is the most important thing NOT to cheap out on. A good mixer can take home recorded material and turn it into an amazing production. Some mixers (if discussed with early enough) may also be willing to help guide you with your own recordings so you capture get all the right elements for them to do their job the best they can. - Getting an outside mixer is a great idea, giving you another set of ears and another creative perspective. - Mastering doesn't need to be top-of-the-line expensive, but don't cheap out either. It would be a shame to ruin a production with a bad mastering job. Ask your mixer if they master as well, or who they would recommend. (Feel free to ask me as well, I have some good and not overly expensive names.) - Don't just think because something costs more it's so much better and worth it completely. In the same vein of no paying for ego, these days there are many reasonably priced options for everything, so don't overpay before you really think about it and do your research.

Welcome to The ANAK Creates Podcast! I'm your host, Alex Krotz. My podcast is all about exploring the art of engineering and music production, what that means to different artists, producers and engineers and how it affects the creation process. Oh, and with a healthy dose of music business thrown in. We talk about all things related to music production, audio engineering, editing and mixing, career development, and the music industry. Learn from myself and my guests as we give you different perspectives and inspire your productions. I share my experience and insight of over a decade of working in the professional music industry with some of the biggest producers, engineers and artists. I have contributed to multiple audio engineering textbooks and continue to guest lecture at various audio engineering programs. For more info, full show notes and articles, my other helpful resources or more about me, check out anakcreates.ca Find the video version on YouTube - https://bit.ly/3EjwjSe

In this week's episode, I'm joined once again by Malcolm Cottle to talk about plugins, one of our favorite things. We discuss how lazy engineering can result from purchasing plugins without learning how to use them. To further knowledge growth, using a plugin need go beyond picking a preset, and dive into actually understand the fundamentals of why the plugin is doing what it's doing, and how it needs to be changed to best fit into your workflow or your mix. Everything in music creation is contextual. We dive into the fact that plugin presets are not a one-size-fits-all solution, but instead are a starting point and something to learn from. New plugins won't just solve your problem or achieve the sound you're going (regardless of the flashy marketing), time needs to be spent learning the tools inside-out to unlock its full potential. Malcolm and I also go through our criteria for new plugin purchases. 1. Do I have a plugin that already does the same thing? 2. Does this speed up my workflow or make something much easier? 3. Is this going to inspire my creativity? 4. Do I have a project to use this plugin on right away? 5. Is it on sale? (Why pay full price if you don't have to!) In the end, you need to be honest with yourself about why you are buying a plugin. It's only your own knowledge, workflow, bank account, creativity, and quality of work that will be impacted by not being honest and letting new flashy marketing overtake real knowledge acquisition. Think smart about new purchases before you get them, and then take the time to learn everything you can and apply them to your own workflow. It won't be two clicks and done, it requires trial and error, but the result is becoming a better producer and engineer.

Someones name attached to your project is not the one reason that's going to push your songs to the next level. You need a great production and a team willing to help achieve that. Sometimes artists get blinded by the though of having someones name attached to their project, they miss out that it may not actually be the best thing for their project, and they often overlook far better options that will get them further in the long run. Someones name can help, but often it's their connections and endorsement. If you pay for someones ego, and they don't actually care, then that won't happen and you could be left with no money and a mediocre production that you aren't even happy with. They key is finding someone who is hungry for your project and wants to dedicate so much more time and energy to helping you make it the best it can be.

Music Production, audio engineering, mixing, songwriting, basically any form of musical creativity has NO RULES and no Step by Step Processes that are set in stone. Yes, there are guidelines, and there and step by step instructions for certain processes to get you going in a general direction or a general sound, but they are fluid, always changing and meant to be bent and broken. When you push the limits of what you're told, that is when you find new things, and that's how you develop your unique sound and your own process!

Video Version! - https://youtu.be/jegDxzFevf4 To be successful, and allow yourself to thrive and have a long career (or hobby) you need to embrace your authentic sound as an artist, engineer or producer. If you think your sound is to strange and no one will like it, you're wrong. Don't try and water down your creations to please others, make what you like, and people will be attracted to that. Along with that, follow your gut instinct, even when trying something new, you can still just know if you enjoy it. If you wrote this song, and don't like it, and it becomes a massive hit, would you hate playing it night after night for the next 10-20 years? These are some of the things I talk bout in today's episode! This is episode 61, but it's the very first video version being released here on the ANAK Creates Podcast YouTube channel! If you like this, be sure to check out my main channel where I talk about all things audio engineering, production, productivity, mixing, editing and more! Also be sure to check out the past episodes as well, which you can find on your favorite podcast listening platform. youtube.com/anakcreates anakcreates.ca #podcast #episode61 #authenticcreation

There's a podcast I really enjoy listening to which is the "My Forever Studio" by MusicTech. If you haven't heard of it before, it's worth a listen and there's some really interesting discussions about gear choice and workflow due to gear choice as well. Basically, the guest has to pick their gear for their "forever studio" where budget is no limit, but they only have a set number of items they can pick and thus, choices need to be made. So today, to celebrate 60 episodes, and because I thought it would be fun, I did my own version of this (with a few bending of their rules to make my own rules) and go through my choices. This is more of my basic setup that I would take with me, rather then anything super crazy changing in my setup, but I don't think this will be the last! Comment on the episode with some of your picks! https://www.musictech.net/shows/my-forever-studio/

These days, social media is such a large part in how we get our information. Likewise when learning thing, we like to follow social media accounts who's posts are relevant to what we enjoy, such as making music. The problem is that most fundamental educational concepts and social media educators (if you can call them that) don't really take into account the whole of many concepts. In this podcast I talk about how social media might be ruining peoples creativity, how to tell and actual expert from a keyboard warrior in facebook groups, and why you need to look deeper into concepts or ideas shared in quick instagram posts, and not blindly believe the concepts you read. Many social media posts are like the "rule of thumb" or the cheatsheet version of the notes, which don't actually make sense when you don't understand where they come from. So make sure you do your own further research.

Gibson (yes, the 127 year old guitar manufacturer) recently announced they will be entering the record label business. Along with this announcement, they also said that the first record they will be releasing will be with Slash (GNR) in 2022. Gibson Records (which operates out of Nashville) is also a partnership between Gibson and BMI. So, is this good or bad for the music business and artist? According the statements from Slash & his manager, they were really excited about the deal saying that Gibson is focused on making this record label artist focused and in this deal, Slash will retain the ownership of his masters. This is a huge deal! In this podcast, I discuss my thoughts on this new endeavour for the brand, such as; Gibson's partnership with BMI and what that could mean, how Gibsons G3 (Gibson Generation Group) plays into this, how the brand is proving they are an artist focused brand, and what this whole thing could mean for the music industry and record label model as a whole moving forward. This could open up the door for so many opportunities for brand-run record labels which, if done correctly, could hugely benefit both the brands themselves as well as the artists, big and small. There's so much to talk about, let me know your thoughts on this and everything else I touch on in this episode!

I'm back! I had a little bit of a break after the last episode, and today I explain why, and what I was up to, along with the takeaway lessons to help yourself maximize your energy and prolong your creative energy and avoid burnout. It's important to find an activity and things that help refresh you that you can do BEFORE you burn out. Not all "breaks" are created equal, and in this episode I talk about what works for me and give some times to help you find what works for you.

Burnout is a real thing, and I feel like it his creatives hard. Because we love what we do, we sometimes don't notice the signs before it's too late. This week I talk about my experiences, how I notice I'm reaching a point I need a break to avoid real hardcore burnout, and how to deal with it if it's happening!

This is Part 2 of my chat with Jay Riehl about breaking into the industry, the networking and personal aspect of getting your foot in the door and climbing up the ladder to where you want to go. The biggest keys to the importance of making a good first impression, being a good hang and someone people want to be around, and showing your passion and drive to be learning and soaking up knowledge while not getting cocky. Even as technology changes and the world becomes more vast then ever, the way to break into the industry, meet people and make people like working with you has never changed, and that's what we discuss! Jay Riehl - jayriehl.com

This week we have an co-hosted episode with Jay Riehl! This is part 1 of a 2 part episode, because we ended up talking for a long time.. So tune in next episode for the conclusion to the chat! We discuss about getting started in the industry, the networking aspect and the personal aspect of getting your foot in the door and climbing up the ladder to where you want to go. The biggest keys to the importance of making a good first impression, being a good hang and someone people want to be around, and showing your passion and drive to be learning and soaking up knowledge while not getting cocky. Even as technology changes and the world becomes more vast then ever, the way to break into the industry, meet people and make people like working with you has never changed, and that's what we discuss! Jay Riehl - jayriehl.com

In today's music creation economy, the biggest currency to help producer, engineers and even artists, is credit. The ability to prove the work you have worked on, and getting acknowledged for the work you've done, can go a really long way for your career and your relationships. Likewise, messing that up, over crediting yourself or not giving credit where credit is due, can be detrimental. We're all in this together, so let's act like it! Here's where we can start, while we try and push other reforms for music credits as well *Cough, Spotify..*

This weeks episode I talk about my creative journey in gearing up to release my first single in a long time, YOU. This song has been part of a big transition in my life, and I talk about what it took to convince myself to release it, how releasing covers helped with that, and how some things to think about if you feel like you are in this same situation! I talked previously about my struggle with my creativity in recent months in Episode 32 - I lost my creativity | The journey of getting my creativity back, what happened and what saved it Check out the new single YOU - https://youtu.be/qZYTVUb20AA Also available on all streaming services - Artist: Alex Krotz

In this episode, I talk about some of the tips of I've learned to help engineers, producers and anyone else, learn and succeed in the music industry. This started with a question I got from someone looking to get their foot in the door with an internship at a large studio. In answering that question, I realized many of the tips apply to anyone wanting to learn and build themselves up in this industry. So I thought I'd share some of the tips I have learned and taught others before. As always, continue the conversation with me! anakcreates.ca or @anakcreates on Twitter & Instagram

This week we have our first co-hosted episode on the ANAK Creates Podcast!! I'm joined by Malcolm Cottle, who will be joining me for a monthly show (approx, but no guarantees) where we get to sit down and chat about various things! This week, we're discussing the trend of "live videos" on youtube, videos that are branded as "live" yet are clearly not really live, what we think about that, what that means for artists, and what we think actually deserves to be called "live". Very interesting discussion, with some very different opinions! Please, let us know your thoughts, let's continue the conversation! - @anakcreates or anakcreates.ca

This week's podcast is a little update video and some thoughts on some new updates! First, my new cover song My Head My Heart by Ava Max that just came out, Addict by Ellocin Daz, which I produced the track and made the video. Then we talk about my thoughts on the new Spacial Audio feature from apple announced at WWDC, and my thoughts of what that means moving forward! LINKS My Head My Heart Cover - https://youtu.be/6Zl_GIxa71g Gorillaback Productions - http://www.gorillabackproductions.com SG Studios & Scary Gnome Productions - https://www.scarygnomeproductions.com Elodie Adams - http://www.elodieadams.com Ellocin Daz - Addict Video - https://youtu.be/dFtLRCv9Zhs

In this week's episode, I'm joined by my friend Ryan Tuer from SG Studios and Scary Gnome Productions. We talk about Ryans journey in music, the process of building SG Studios, and then we talk about some practical tips for home recording musicians and aspiring engineers and producers looking to create a creative space for music recording in their home. What you need to get started, how it doesn't have to cost a ton of money, and where to go from there to create something in your home to get started and have decent sound, no matter what your living situation is, including sound panels if you're feeling crafty. A great episode with lots of knowledge and interesting insight from an expert! Connect with Ryan - https://www.scarygnomeproductions.com

This week's episode is a Listener Q & A! I love being able to answer your questions, so keep them coming! Shoot me an email over on anakcreates.ca or on Twitter or Instagram @anakcreates, as I will be doing more of these! This week's questions are: - Why did you choose Pro Tools? Why do you stick with it? - What was one of your favourite sessions you've ever done? - Why do you share your knowledge like you do? - I was watching your track breakdown from your Shawn Mendes cover, and when it comes to your productions, how do you plan out all the layers and get them all to fit together and the different parts? Do you have a specific approach? - How do you approach recording vocals or guitars, do you like to do a bunch of takes and comp later, or punch in each time?

During a recent episode with Jay Riehl, I asked him about his one piece of advice for up and coming engineers and producers to help with their productions. While we only briefly touched on it, I thought it was a great piece of advice and wanted to dive deeper and share some more of my own thoughts about what he meant and what we talked about. I discuss the importance of leaving space, not only in the actual writing of the song and the parts you create, but then also in the layering and recording to create the production. There has to be contrast between sections and tension vs release to create memorable moments.

Many people hate on music streaming, claiming it has ruined the music industry. I discuss how streaming saved already declining record sales and gave artists much more opportunity than ever before, if you view it the right way and embrace the reach and marketing that it gives you. Making a career is more possible than ever, it's just all about how you think about it. LINKS: EP 44 - anakcreates.ca/updates/ep44 Apple is paying 1cent a stream - https://9to5mac.com/2021/04/16/apple-music-says-it-pays-one-cent-per-stream-roughly-twice-what-spotify-pays/ EP 04 - Major Record Labels are fading, but what is replacing them affects everyone! - anakcreates.ca/updates/ep04 EP 02 - Is streaming killing the music industry? - anakcreates.ca/updates/ep02

Over the last few years, the major labels have been slowly loosing a bit of their grip. Due to their power, they are still able to put certain narratives out there that people believe, but in reality, they are not necessary for small artists, as many still believe. In this episode I talk about why this is the case, and what has enabled small artists to move past the idea that major labels are the only way to make a career in music.

This week we have a fun episode with our regular guest Malcolm Cottle, but instead of him being the guest, he did a full on takeover of the podcast, where he flipped it around and interviewed me! We talk about my approach to drum samples, the ethics of drum editing & editing in general, my thoughts on drum programming, sample augmentation and sample replacement. We go into how I few the creation of records as a form of art and editing is an extension of that, We wrap up with some practical advice for those getting into recording themselves, finding your sound and using others as inspiration, and how to know you have recorded enough layers of things to give to a mixer to achieve the sound you want. It's a great episode and a fun chat!

This week, we're diving deeper into something that we talked about with Malcolm Cottle back in Episode 37. While making is latest record, Malcolm tried a new tactic of getting a producer to help keep him on track. Even if you aren't hiring a producer, getting someone to help hold you accountable to your project, your goals and even just offer a 3rd party perspective to help you know what's right while making your decisions, is so important, and that's what I dive into in this episode!

I really believe that to become a better creator, and really allow yourself to express what you want through your craft, you need to understand and know the tools you have at your disposal to create what you want. In this weeks episode I talk about the importance of learning your tools, which in the case of music is your DAW, your plugins, your instrument. Starting from stock plugins, and building your toolbox up from there. This insight has been talked about and shared in pervious episodes as well, because it's the most important thing when it comes to being a better engineer, mixer and creator all around.

One of the most important parts of the production process, starts at the very beginning. The song. No amount of technology is going to save you if the song isn't great. If no one is tapping their foot, if no one can hum along or feel emotionally attached in some way, then no amount of great gear is going to make that song better. This is a deeper dive into this topic which we touched on in one of the latest episodes with Jay Riehl, EP 39 - How recording technology has changed and evolved the mentality of using it w. Jay Riehl

Jay Riehl was one of my first real mentors in the music space. Along with his business partner Ryan Tuer, took me under their wing at The Swamp studio back in the day, when I was just getting into high school. For years they taught me and I ended up engineering session for them before I went away to OIART (which was highly recommended by both of them). Over the years, we have stayed the closest of friends despite the age differences, still doing projects and hanging together. Like the brothers I didn't have. In this episode, I sit down with Jay to discuss the shift in recording technology and the difference in mentality around recording - what has changed and what hasn't. Check out Jay at jayriehl.com Check out his session work at theswamponline.com

With the growing demand for home studios, there's the problem of needing to make a less-then-ideally treated rooms sound good and translate well. This is one of the things that Sonarworks is aimed towards, which is a pioneer in speaker calibration software. Based on their recent announcement of the new SoundID Reference Software announcement, I wanted to talk about the whole concept of this "speaker calibration" or "room calibration" software, my thoughts, who and when it's worth getting and when it's not. Spoiler, I think it has it's place, but it's not for everyone.

While 2020 was difficult, creators adapted to use the tools they could to create things remotely, and it actually opened up some amazing new technology and workflows, as well as access to the whole world of collaborators! This week, I sat down (virtually, again) to chat with Malcolm Cottle about the newest Sons of Horus release that just came out on March 15th! This EP (the Revolution EP) was created almost purely over the internet (including mixed by myself), with many different feature guests on it (myself included) produced and created across borders. We chat about how that was possible, but also just more about the Sons of Horus Project in general, creativity and much more. Great to have Malcolm on the podcast as always. LINKS Sons of Horus Revolution EP - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sonsofhorus/revolution-ep?fbclid=IwAR20hY2bwe0Jhz72HxIVCerpE17x_UbvopNjXhb-JB-Ym9m6Hr8CQ4-vwEA Video for History Will Absolve Me - https://youtu.be/RL46tei3ytY Video for Intense but Orderly Work - https://youtu.be/GvhFFXgyw2Q

This week I am talking with Emmett O'Reilly, who is an old friend of mine and we've been making music together for years. Emmett is a part of a number of bands, including his own personal project, the Toronto punk band Pkew Pkew Pkew, and Stuck Out Here, as well as Owen Wilson and many more. Due to the recent pandemic, Emmett has crossed over the other side of music making. With the lack of live shows and performances, he dived headfirst into home recording and growing his skills with production and engineering. This podcast we talk about all things to do with his journey getting started, as well as his take on how this has actually helped him to become a better player, a better band member, and a better musician and songwriter overall. We also talk about how he sees this as a great path forward with his musical career and the big part this plays in the future of the music industry for any musician looking to make any kind of career in the modern music industry. Pkew Pkew Pkew - https://www.pkewx3.com Stuck Out Here - https://www.facebook.com/stuckouthere/ Emmett O'Reilly Solo Project - https://emmettoreilly.bandcamp.com/releases Sons Of Horus Release - COMING SOON!

The music business is changing, and for studios and freelancers, we need to change with it. The tools we use and approaches to building out businesses needs to grow as well, and today's guest is right on the for-front of that. Brady Hoggard is the founder of Sonido Software, which is a project management software system built specifically for recording studios (of all sizes) and freelance producers and engineers. It puts all the different tools someone needs to grow their business into one platform that just works together, instead of trying to cobble together a multitude of different softwares to get even the simplest tasks done. Everything from Contact and lead management, project organization, file transfers and mix feedback systems, to finances and todo list tracking. In today's conversation we talk about not only what Sonido offers, but also how anyone can up their game in todays music industry. At the end of the day, to make a living, we have to treat it like a business, and there are many things we all need to do to succeed in the shifting industry. Sonido Software - https://www.mysonido.com Story of a Studio YouTube - https://www.mysonido.com/story-of-a-studio/

It's important too be comfortable in order to create your best. If you're in a studio where you don't want to touch anything, is to fancy, or where you are strapped for time, that is not a good position to be in when it comes to being your most creative self. In this episode I talk about how make sure your comfortable, but still seek discomfort in other ways to create your best. I also give some examples of some things other artists have done to bring comfort into the studio with them to show you anything is possible!

I'm joined by Malcolm Cottle, an avid home recording hobbiest, who has been developing his skills for many years. He is a drummer who has perfected techniques for recording himself (and his drums) in his home studio, which is nothing fancy but yet he can make it really work. We dive into how he records himself, how he got the drum sounds for the There's Nothing Holding Me Back cover that we just released, and how we did this project despite being in different countries. He even gives a great starting advice and gear suggestions for people looking at getting into recording drums in their home studios. TNHMB Full Cover Video - https://youtu.be/5MvOjmQBQIw Gorillaback Productions - http://www.gorillabackproductions.com/ @cottlemac on Instagram LINKS - MALCOLM's GEAR Macbook Pro late 2014 - apple.ca Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56 - [Discontinued] Focusrite Octopre Dynamic - https://focusrite.com/en/adat-mic-pre/scarlett/scarlett-octopre-dynamic MICS Kick: CAD TM211 tom mic inside and KM212 kick mic in port hole Snare Top: Shure SM57 w. Wilkinson clamp top - https://wilkinsonaudio.com/products/sm57-90-degree-clamp Snare Bottom - Shure SM57 Toms: Seinheiser E604 dynamic cardioid Overheads: CAD CM217 pencil cardioid HiHat: ART m-6 - https://www.long-mcquade.com/18706/Pro_Audio_Recording/Microphones/ART_Pro_Audio/Matched_Pair_M-six_Pencil_Condenser_Mics.htm Room: Shure SM57 - https://www.long-mcquade.com/1092/Pro-Audio---Recording/Microphones/Shure/SM57-Unidirectional-Dynamic-Mic.htm Added to Setup Kick: Shure beta 91A condenser - https://www.long-mcquade.com/79034/Pro-Audio---Recording/Microphones/Shure/Beta-91A-Half-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone.htm Overhead: Rode M5 match pair - https://www.long-mcquade.com/23939/Pro_Audio_Recording/Microphones/Rode/Matched_Pair_of_Small_Diaphragm_Mics.htm?gclid=Cj0KCQiAyJOBBhDCARIsAJG2h5dOIdb9VPY0fNyph73JixY70yUpAbEkxdDs68MU3_RulRe7Sbk4jB0aAoQFEALw_wcBRoom: CAD CM217 CAD mic kit: CAD PRO-7 Drum Microphone Kit - https://www.long-mcquade.com/70128/Pro-Audio---Recording/Microphones/CAD/7-Piece-Drum-Microphone-Pack.htm

It's so important to take care of yourself and take time for yourself, outside of work or your creativity. This will drastically help your creativity and avoid you from becoming burnt out. In today's Podcast I talk about taking time for yourself, and also share my journey through some really hard times for me creatively, and how the new cover song I just released help me get through that.

It's so important for new (and established) producers and engineers to never get to stuck in their ways. Experimentation is the key to success and continually developing your sound. These days there are 2 different sides of this. A lot of online education about production and mixing is very exact, telling you the steps that you must follow. On the flip side, we have never had more tools at our disposal, no matter what level of production you're at. Step by step is not how it should be done, creativity needs to be fluid and experimentation is so important. That's what I dive into in this weeks episode! A nice little friendly reminder to break the rules in your productions and try random things you don't think are going to work. Don't be a preset warrior, make things better!

As 2020 comes to a close (one of the craziest years in my life time) I feel like it's only fitting to have a more personal episode, where I just talk a little about my key takeaways from the past year, what I liked, what was great about this year and what I'm looking forward to next year. I do some positive reflection and encourage you to do the same. While this was a crazy year, there are also some changes that have happened for the better, even if it feels like a roundabout way to get there. This marks the final episode of 2020, as I take a few weeks off from the podcast to gather my thoughts, plan, and come back strong in 2021. I hope you all have a great break and I'll see you on the other side! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

This week's podcast is inspired by a book I am currently reading called "The Practice - Shipping Creative Work" by Seth Godin. I wanted to explore the thought's I had while reading this and how they directly relate to audio engineering, mixing and music creation. I break the simple steps down into a formula for creators or those who want to be creators, on how to actually create. So many people call themselves creatives but don't consistently create anything. It's all about the practice, showing up, and there's no place to be making excuses about waiting for the proper "flow state" or "creativity to hit". An amazing book that I highly recommend checking out as well!

This week's episode I wanted to explore the push and investment in podcasting which both Spotify and Apple Music are doing. The competition that Spotify has started by investing Millions into podcasting is great, but I wanted to explore how this will effect their core music streaming service and it's artists. What is good, what is bad and what do I wish they would do for artists. While I do think that broadening their market and branching out into podcasting is good for them as a business, I am concerned about if they will leave music behind, or if this will create more innovation and investment into music and it's artists as well.

Spotify is a company I enjoy watching grow and develop new things. I don't always agree with them with what they do, however, they are continually innovating in their space. This episode I'm talking about their new "story" feature, which is currently in a testing period, but I wanted to touch on my thoughts of the good and bad route this feature could take, and where I think they need to go with this idea.

There are a million sides to every story, but the latest controversy about Grimes getting funding from FACTOR, while having an already successful career and not even living in Canada has sparked some questions. This isn't meant to bash her or her management company, as there are many sides to everything and it's impossible to know, however it's more about my thoughts about how it looks from the outside and what may be happening in the new landscape of government subsidized grants and funding. Full disclosure, I love Grimes and I think she's amazing, this is only meant to be a starting point for discussion, and I would love to hear your thoughts Twitter - @anakcreates anakcreates.ca