Chris and Steve kick off this episode with some laughs and lighthearted banter about Fahrenheit vs. Celsius and the quirks of 24-hour time—but things quickly take a turn into one of the most honest and overlooked conversations about analog gear: what if it’s not just about the sound?

This episode dives into the emotional and tactile side of using analog hardware, exploring whether the real appeal is how it feels rather than how it sounds. Plus, for the first time ever, they bring a listener (and friend!) on live to join the discussion.

✅ Why analog gear still brings joy—even when digital sounds just as good
✅ The "psychology of the knob" and how physical gear can change your workflow
✅ Why "pleasure" might be a more important reason to use analog than we admit
✅ Chris and Steve’s favorite toys (not just tools!) in their studios
✅ Simple, real-world practices to get better at mixing every day

• Fahrenheit vs. Celsius, 24-hour clocks, and the struggle is real

• Sebastian's question: Is analog about sound or pleasure?

• Why touching a knob just feels different (and why that matters)

• Steve’s years with an SSL console—and why it’s now in storage

• Chris’s controller setup and the joy of not rolling around on a carpet

• What would you do if your mom gave you money for a big studio day?

• Listener Kyle calls in from his car (or maybe his new home?)

• The most fun pieces of gear we own—and why we love them

• Favorite mixing routines and how to actually practice mixing like a musician

• Why reverse-engineering a snare can make you want dinner and cry
  

Analog gear isn’t always about the audio quality. Sometimes, it’s about joy, inspiration, and the feeling of being connected to the process. And maybe—just maybe—that’s enough.

What’s your take on analog gear—do you use it for the sound, the feel, or both?

Drop your thoughts below or tag us on socials! We'd love to know what gear brings you the most joy in the studio.

We’d love to hear from you!
📩 Submit your question here: Form Link
We’ll answer as many as we can in upcoming shows.

Do You Trust your Studio Monitors or AirPods? Studio Stuff Podcast | Q&A Episode 7 When do you call a mix finished? In this Q&A episode, we answer a question from Marshall in Dallas: “Do you trust your monitors, or test it on other systems before sending it off?” We get into our own habits—like why the car isn't always the gold standard, how AirPods became the new "real world" reference, and why taking a break (and turning off your screen!) might be the most powerful mix move of all.

Drums are the heartbeat of a track—but getting them to feel right in the mix? That’s a whole other story.

In this episode, we (Chris and Steve) pick up where we left off in Part 1 and dive deep into the art of mixing drums. From building the sound around overheads to layering samples, managing reverb, debating time alignment, and even feeling bad for the neglected hi-hat mic—we cover it all.

If you've ever wondered how two mixers with totally different workflows approach drum mixing (and still somehow get great results), this one's for you.

✅ Why we both start mixes with overheads—and how it changed our drum sound.
✅ How to decide if your overheads are for cymbals or the whole kit.
✅ When drum samples are essential—and when they just get in the way.
✅ Our personal routing setups (and why they might be overkill).
✅ How we handle phase, time alignment, and why we don’t always agree.
✅ Tricks for taming hi-hats and bright cymbals without killing your tone.

📌 The overhead-first approach: why it works and what to watch for.
📌 Our favorite sample stacking techniques (and why we name them like pizza toppings).
📌 Drum bus setup, parallel compression, and how not to overdo it.
📌 Why clipping might be your drum mix’s best friend.
📌 Room samples vs. reverb plugins: what we reach for first.
📌 “Mixing with your eyes” (yes, we admit it… pretty plugins matter).
📌 Silencer, Soothe, and our favorite tom gating tricks.
📌 What we do when our mix “falls apart” at the loud parts.
📌 How we build a drum sound that fits the whole song—not just soloed drums.

🎙️ “Should I time-align overheads to the snare—or just leave them?”
🎙️ “What’s the point of using room samples instead of reverb?”
🎙️ “How many drum samples are too many?”

We talk about all of these… and probably overthink most of them.

There’s no one right way to mix drums. It’s about making creative choices that support the song. Whether you're stacking samples or working with raw tracks, the goal is the same: make it feel good.

What’s your go-to drum mixing trick? Do you mix from a drummer’s perspective—or the audience’s?

Drop your thoughts below or tag us on socials!

We’d love to hear from you!
📩 Submit your question here: Form Link
We’ll answer as many as we can in upcoming shows.