Ever finish an album and realize every song sounds… just a little different?
Yeah... we’ve all been there. In this episode, we dig into how to keep a full record sounding cohesive without killing the vibe or getting lost in “template land.”

We share our real-world album mixing workflow: how we craft a strong “first-song” mix, build a flexible mix template, what actually carries over between songs (and what definitely doesn’t), and how to reference yourself as you go so your record feels like one connected piece of art.

Then we switch gears into room correction, do you really need it if you’ve already “learned” your room? We talk about what works, what doesn’t, and why acoustic treatment still beats software (but both can play nice together).

Huge thanks to Audient Audio for supporting the show 👉 https://audient.com

You’ll Learn:

• Why the first song sets the tone for the entire album

• How to mix faster using a smart, flexible album template

• What to copy between songs (drums, bass, lead vox) and what to rebuild

• How to prevent “album drift” and keep your sound consistent

• The truth about room correction vs. room treatment

• How calibration tools can actually help dense rock or punk mixes

Topics & Stories:

• The joy of “Select All → Delete” to build a new mix template

• Why we still reference earlier songs while mixing

• Ballads vs. rockers: when reverb and ambience should change

• Different studios, different drummers—how we tie it all together

• The Denny’s breakfast redemption arc (we went back!)

• Chris’s clouds are almost on the ceiling—progress!

• Audient iD44 goes on a Euro trip: high-quality preamps in carry-on form

Listener Q&A:

Shoutout to Arthur from MCC for the album consistency question,
and to Tomas from Norway for asking about room correction and calibration tools.

Final Takeaway:

Make your first mix the North Star for your album.
Use smart templates, reference often, treat your room first, and let every song serve the record.
Consistency doesn’t mean boring—it means connected.

👉 Got a question for us?
📩 Submit it here: Form Link
We’ll answer as many as we can in upcoming shows.

Ever record with delays, reverbs, and panning to “get the vibe,” then wonder if you should wipe the slate clean before the final mix? In this episode we unpack where the mix actually begins—during tracking or at mixdown—and how we decide what to keep, what to reset, and why. Then we answer a great listener question about routing: should your FX sends (like drum reverbs) return to the drum bus or go straight to the mix bus?

Huge thanks to Audient Audio for supporting the show 👉 https://audient.com

You’ll Learn:

• The benefits (and risks) of “mixing as you go” while recording

• When we hit RESET at mix—and the few things we keep from the rough

• How to build a recording template that sounds good with low latency

• Why cue-mix psychology matters: give performers what helps them sing/play better

• FX routing 101: returning sends to the instrument bus vs straight to the 2-bus

• A simple VCA workaround if your FX aren’t following bus automation

Topics & Stories:

• Chris finally mounts the studio panels (they’re straight, which means… outside help 😅)

• Tracking with performance-defining delays (hello, The Edge)

• Steve’s take: compression/reverb in the cans can mess with feel (for some artists)

• Jazz vs pop/rock: when we skip the drum bus—and when we go tight/together

• Templates that won’t choke your session during tracking, but scale for mixing

• Sponsor shout: Audient’s ORIA Mini gets a mention

Listener Q&A:

Shoutout to Neil Higgins! His question: “Should my FX sends return to the instrument bus (e.g., drums) or straight to the mix bus?”

Short answer: Both can work. If FX return to the drum bus, they’ll ride and pump with drum-bus processing and automation—tighter, more cohesive. If they go to the mix bus, they’ll bypass drum-bus processing—often more open and independent. Choose by ear; a VCA pair (drum bus + drum FX) can keep automation in lockstep when split.

Final Takeaway:
There’s no single “correct” starting line for a mix. Be intentional: track with enough vibe to inspire, then decide whether to reset or build on it. For FX routing, pick the path that best serves how your buses are processing—and how you want elements to move.

👉 Got a question for us?
📩 Submit it here: Form Link
We’ll answer as many as we can in upcoming shows.

We’ve all felt it: you see the fancy meter, the iconic logo, the higher price tag—and suddenly it “sounds” better. This week we unpack placebo in the studio: how visuals and expectations shape our judgment, why blind tests change everything, and why different versions of the “same” unit can legitimately sound different. We also share practical A/B methods you can try today and a slick Cubase Control Room trick to solo just your reverb return.

Special thanks to our sponsor, Audient.

You’ll Learn:

• Why expectation bias and visuals can trick your ears

• How to set up blind A/B tests that actually help you decide

• Why an “original” vs a “clone” isn’t a morality tale—it’s a tool choice

• How two of the same analog units can diverge over time

• A fast Cubase Pro method to hear only your reverb return

Topics & Stories:

• Coffee, wine… and why blind tastings map perfectly to audio

• Watching meters vs. trusting first impressions

• A/Being hardware vs. plugins without knowing what’s playing

• The “nowhere bus” vs. Control Room Listen (L) in Cubase

• Why arguing online about $129 plugins is a waste of studio joy

• Big thanks to Audient Audio (iD interfaces + ASP preamps) for powering real-world sessions

Listener Q&A:
“In Cubase, how do I solo the FX reverb return without hearing the dry source?”

• Cubase Pro Control Room method: Use Listen (L) on the FX channel and set Dim to 0 in Control Room so only the FX return is heard.

• Alternate approach: Advanced routing (e.g., a “nowhere”/mute bus workflow) to isolate returns without breaking send balances.

Final Takeaway:
There’s no universal “best”—only what serves the track. Blind test more, stare at the meters less, and let your choices be intentional.

👉 Got a question for us?
📩 Submit it here: Form Link
We’ll answer as many as we can in upcoming shows.