Pro Tools Expert Podcast

In this week’s podcast Julian is  joined by Ashea, Dom Morley and Steve DeMott who discuss ‘How much do traditional analogue rules still apply today?’All four of us are producers/mixers of slightly different vintage, so it would be interesting to go around the table and hear a little about which techniques & practices we learned from and perhaps how that affects our workflow today. Gainstaging, 32 bit recording- Is anyone working with this?Analogue workflow (e.g. making decisions early, capturing “the sound” from the start vs. capturing a clean sound to manipulate later, etc).Mixing/Producing in and out of the box, we compare techniques and results.Favourite analogue emulation plugins, how do they compare to the real deal?Finds Of The WeekJulian - The Rest Is Politics PodcastAshea - Techivation M-De-EsserDom - PSP Audio BinAmpSteve- Dynaudio 9S subwoofer

In this week's Episode Julian is joined by Ashea and James Richmond, they discuss the new product releases of July 2023.Talking PointsAir- Sprite SSL G3Scheps Omni Channel 2Slate Digital VIRTUWavesFactory EqualiserRME FirefaceSound Particles Audio MatrixFind Of The WeekJulian - Focusrite VocasterAshea- Oura RingJames- DADlink from DAD/Avid

In this week's episode Julian and Ashea are joined by George Tizzard and Rick Parkhouse of SUPER-Hi talking about the creative vision and technical decision making behind a chart hit. Talking PointsStarting a track, what is your approach, does it change depending on the vibe/artist?Producing for very established artists, what is the process, how involved are the labels/artist in the sound and how does that differ to writing your own material?Making the ‘right’ decisions in production is very important, how do you deal with decision making?Samples, presets, sound design, any go to plugins that you use.Behind the track: Choose a track, either as Super-Hi or Red Triangle that you’d like to share with us. What was the production process ?Working together, do you have set roles? How to work successfully as a production duoThoughts on A.I, are you already embracing this, if so how?Favourite studio gear and why?Find Of The WeekJulian - The Songs Of David Bowie - Songbook 1973Ashea- Sonible- Smart GateRick- Kilo

In this week's Podcast Julian is joined by Ashea and Ian Shepherd for a discussion about about mastering in the streaming age.Ian Shepherd is a mastering engineer of 25 years experience who has become well known for his work around the detrimental effects of the loudness wars. He runs the Production Advice blog and hosts The Mastering Show podcast.Talking PointsMastering for Streaming Platforms, let’s talk specificsLoundness Normalisation and Album NormalisationLoudness Wars, are they still a thing? Do we still need loud masters?True Peak Limiters vs normal limitersClippingWidening mixesFinds Of The WeekJulian - Genelec GRADE ReportsAshea - Pope AudioIan - AM coustics, Who Killed the KLF

In this weeks podcast Julian is joinned by Ashea and Eli Krantzberg.  We have a belated discussion of the new releases in June 2023 and having two experienced Logic users on the show we have a discussion of Logic and the significance of the coming of Logic to the iPad.Finds of The WeekJulian - Genelec 8341 and 7350AAshea- Cableguys ShaperboxEli - The Private Equity Buyout Of Music Production

Following up from our podcast looking at how post mixers use the new expanded Track Widths in Pro Tools 2023.6 Julian and Ashea are joined by Steve Genewick and Nathaniel Reichman to discuss Atmos for Music and whether track widths beyond 7.1.2 are significant for music mixers.Finds Of The WeekAshea - Gearfest UKNathaniel - Auto Align 2Steve - Vanguard Audio V44SJulian - UAD Capitol Mastering Compressor

In this week’s Podcast Julian is joined by Ashea, Gareth Nuttall and William Wittman who discuss fixing in the mix. Can it be done successfully?Finds Of The Week:Julian - Space Lens in Clean My MacAshea- Avid Collab with Audio Movers or CHAPEAGareth - Hi Hat Bleed TrickWilliam- Dr. Tver Robert pedal by Aclam 

In this weeks episode Julian is joined by Ashea, Roger Guerin and Korey Pereira. They discuss the extended track widths introduced in Pro Tools 2023.6 and what they mean for Atmos mixers.Let’s go round the table and talk about each of your current work and how affected by Atmos it is.What has changed in Pro Tools 2023.6 regarding Track Widths?What is the 7.1.2 ceiling and why does it exist?How is greater track widths better? Lets talk about beds vs objects and channel agnosticism. Why is 7.1.4 better than 7.1.2. What about 9.1.6, how does speaker density affect the listening experience?What about the two approaches to getting greater widths out of pro tools beds vs static objects. To what extent is this new?Are these changes going to affect how you work?Finds Of The WeekJulian - The Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition Vol 1 Ashea - Steinberg SpectralayersRoger - Amie loudspeakers by Meyer SoundKorey - Kraken DET Speech Recognition Beta

In this week's episode Julian and Ashea are joined by Greg Tan and Steve DeMott to discuss producing music for picture.Talking PointsWhat is the creative process when composing music for movies/video games. How do you approach capturing the desired mood and atmosphere?What’s the collaborative process like with directors, producers, and other members of the creative team to understand their vision and translate it into musical compositions? When/how does a brief arrive? What factors do you consider when creating a score that complements the visual content?Working with Deadlines: How do you manage your time and resources effectively?Working with sound libraries or creating custom sound effects for TV and movies? How do you ensure that the sound effects align with the overall audio mix?Best Software synths, plugins, gear etc…Are there any specific strategies you use for revisions, feedback, project management, storage space and backups?Talking PointsGreg - Agency on NetflixSteve - Audioscape D-Comp LimiterA

In this week’s edition Julian is joined by Ashea, Reid Caulfield and James Richmond. We discuss the announcements made at Apple’s WWDC 2023, particularly the much anticipated Apple Silicon Mac Pro.Talking PointsMac Pro - Who needs it when the Mac Studio exists?PCI cards - how relevant in 2023?Upgradeable SSD is back (kind of)New Mac Studio and M2 UltraGame Mode in macOS SonomaApple Vision ProFind Of The WeekJulian - WaterhaulAshea -Meta AI ToolReid - GoyoJames - Auto Bounce

In this week's Podcast Julian and Ashea are joined by Russ Hiughes. they discuss the new releases of May 2023.Talking pointsGenelec 8381A Monitors Announced | Production ExpertAIR Music Technology Delay Pro Plugin Released | Production ExpertApple Logic Pro For iPad Announced | Production ExpertPlugin Alliance BX Masterdesk PROToontrack EZkeys 2 ReleasedFind Of The WeekRuss - Akai MPC Key 61 Ashea - UMG- AI Startup PartnershipJulian - Mimestream

In this week's Podcast Ashea is joined by Russ Hughes and Alex West, a BBC Radio DJ who works with up and coming bands as part of BBC Introducing. They discuss what makes a radio hit in 2023?Finds Of The WeekRuss - I/O by Peter Gabriel Alex - Fizz At Great Escape Ashea - Slate Digital Storch Filter

In this week's podcast Julian and Ashea are joined by Ary Maudit and Iggy B, both working engineers who spend part of their time working at Strongroom Studios in London. In this podcast we discuss the role of studios in 2023.Finds Of The WeekAshea - Flower Pot Dessert at Bill’s Julian - Mix To Mobile, routing to a Wifi SpeakerAry - Bloody MaryIggy - Kara Jackson

in this week’s episode Julian and Ashea are joined by songwriter producer publisher and A&R Greig Watts. We talk about songwriting, the role of producers inthe songwriting process and Eurovision.Talking PointsTo what extent these days are songs written in a DAW?How involved are producers these days in the development of a song and how has that changed over the years?How many unfinished songs/tracks do you have on your hard drive and do you ever go back to finish them, if not why would you abandon them?When is your favourite time to write, during the day/at night and do you think that can affect your perception?How important is the overall mix, production, and song when pitching to labels/publishing?EurovisionWhat are 3 plugins that you can’t live without?Finds Of The WeekGreig -  Jailhouse cafeAshea - Softube Model 80Julian - Christmas Beach Barbecue

In this week's podcast Ashea is joined by Russ Hughes and Reid Caulfield. They discuss the importance of workflow, as inspired  by Russ' article Sound or Workflow - What Matters Most?Talking pointsRuss, in your article you talk about the importance of workflow, what inspired that article?In his recent article on plugins which he uses on every mix Julian found that none of the plugins he listed were there exclusively because of their sound, it came down to familiarity, ubiquity because they were stock plugins or workflow because they were available as AAX DSP plugins, Does this illustrate this point?Examples of gear/plugins and have significantly helped speed up or simplify your workflow?A.I and how that will help us as producers and engineers.Find Of The WeekRuss - Acon Digital Dialog ExtractReid - SoundflowAshea -  Waves Superapp Performer

In this week's Podcast Julian and Ashea are joined by Russ Hughes to discuss the new products released in April 2023.Toontrack EZkeys 2 AnnouncedNeumann MT 48 Audio Interface AnnouncedSound Radix Auto-Align 2 ReleasedAntares Auto-Tune EFX+ 10.0 and Auto-Key 2 ReleasedSpeed Up Collaborative Mixes With Nugen JotterFinds Of The WeekJulian - Sonnox EnvolutionAshea - Grimes AI 50% RoyaltiesRuss - Freakonomics Podcast - Swearing

In this week's episode Julian is joined by Ashea and NAMM stalwart James Ivey to discuss the show and the products which were being shown!JulianSound Radix Auto Align 2Yamaha DM3Sound Particles Skydust 3DYamaha CK88JamesVangard Audio Labs - Stereo Tube/Valve Condenser MicNektar CS12 Channel Strip Controller.Antelope Audio Atlas i8 Active SpeakersFender Rhodes Mk8AsheaDreamtonics VStudioEclipsed Sounds

In this week's Podcast Julian is joined by Stian Aagedal of Acon Digital. They discuss Plugins, computers, processing and AI.Finds Of The WeekStian - MusicLM from Google ResearchJulian  - Benidub Audio Electronics Digital Echo

In this weeks edition Julian is joined by Russ and Platinum selling songwriter and producer Ashea. They discuss developments and releases in March, including a discussion of the Waves subscription announcement and subsequent retraction.Waves…Audient iD24 1st lookFabfilter Twin 3 Synth Virtual Instrument - Expert ReviewPro Tools 2023.3Cranborne Audio Carnaby 500 Harmonic EQ AnnouncedFinds of the WeekAshea - Musikhack Master PlanRuss - Cranbourne Audio Camden EC1 PreampJulian - The Lazarus Heist

In this week's Podcast Julian is joined by Matt Lange and Greg Chin of Avid. We discuss Avid’s new monthly content program Sonic Drop.Finds Of The WeekJulian - Kimchi Grilled CheeseMatt - Cello bow on Jackson 8 stringGreg - Aikido Pioneers - Prewar Era by Stanley Pranin