Studio craft, argued in practical detail.
Inside The Recording Studio turns studio craft into conversational problem-solving, with episodes on percussion, high-gain guitar, DAW choices, mix prep, and 2-bus processing. The tone is technical but loose, mixing real workflow advice with casual back-and-forth.
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Inside The Recording Studio is a hands-on music production show centered on the choices that shape recorded sound. It is not abstract theory. Recent conversations move through the exact problems that come up in real sessions: groove support, high-gain guitar tone, DAW selection, mix preparation, recording templates, panning, and 2-bus processing. The show has an easy, conversational rhythm. Morning mishaps, giveaway notes, and running jokes sit beside detailed talk about snare accents, hi-hat patterns, cabinets, speakers, key command sets, and compression behavior. That mix of looseness and specificity is part of the appeal. Technical points are usually framed as choices, not commandments. Percussion might be a subtle layer on the beat, or it might become the engine of a folk or Latin arrangement. A guitar tone might need weight, cut, or low-end grunt, depending on the cabinet and speaker path. A mix might benefit from hard left and right placement, or it might gain interest from gradual movement across sections. The show also spends time on workflow: what to do when client tracks arrive, how templates reduce friction, and why changing DAWs can disrupt habits even when the software is capable. Listener suggestions appear in the episode flow, which keeps the show tied to practical studio questions. There are occasional guests, including George Leger III in a studio workflow conversation. The overall feel is experienced, informal, and useful. It is best for people who already make music or recordings and want concrete ways to improve their process without being talked down to.
Made for: For musicians, producers, mixers, and home-studio builders who want usable recording and mixing guidance. It especially suits listeners who like technical detail delivered through relaxed conversation.
What sets it apart: The show stands out by comparing real working habits instead of handing down one fixed method. Its advice often lives in the small decisions: accents, routing, panning, templates, speaker choices, and when to leave mastering alone.
Unlock remarkable tips and tricks for improved recordings in your studio. Unusually great for beginners and professionals.
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Jody Whitesides and Chris Hellstrom make recording and mixing choices clearer by comparing practical methods, tools and audible tradeoffs.
Inside The Recording Studio turns production decisions into working conversations between Jody Whitesides and Chris Hellstrom. They compare methods rather than prescribing a single correct setup, moving from DAW preferences and key commands to vocal stacking, mix preparation,…
A two-inch speaker becomes a twelve-inch correction, and your high-gain tone gets wiser with the joke.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
Whitesides and Hellstrom weigh percussion that marks an accent against percussion that carries the groove.
Jody Whitesides and Chris Hellstrom get specific about what percussion does in a rhythm part. Whitesides describes adding flavor to beats two and four when the drummer accents them. Hellstrom more often favors a tambourine part that stays with the groove.
Jody and Chris compare their bus compression choices and what they leave for mastering.
A listener asks where mix-bus processing ends and mastering begins. Jody Whitesides and Chris Hellstrom answer by walking through what each does before a mix reaches that point. Jody rejects the idea that a mix can be pushed as loud as possible and then made louder in mastering.
Jody Whitesides and Chris Hellstrom discuss how key commands complicate a switch between DAWs.
Jody Whitesides and Chris Hellstrom consider whether changing digital audio workstations is worth the trouble when the current one works. Their focus is key commands: a task that takes one command in one DAW can take two or three in another.
Jody Whitesides and Chris Hellstrom discuss background vocal overdubs, correction tools and when to record another take.
Jody Whitesides and Chris Hellstrom discuss how to make background vocals sound big while keeping overdubs under control. They start with the different kinds of background vocals, then turn to parts that need help with pitch or timing.
Two studio owners test compression, latency, and guitar signal chains on real gear.
Brian Funk talks Ableton workflows, mastering, and songwriting with working musicians.
Real drum-recording talk from working players.
Music craft, from studio floor to screen.
Producers talking shop, tangents and blunt advice included.
Music craft, traced back to its source.
Steve Ouimette discusses the challenges of recreating iconic vocal performances for Guitar Hero games, including a failed attempt at Dave Mustaine and a successful hire of Steven Pearcy.
Jody Whitesides and Chris Hellstrom discuss percussion techniques in music production to enhance grooves.
Jody Whitesides and Chris Helstrom discuss tips and tricks for achieving high gain guitar tones in the studio.
Jody Whitesides and Chris Hellstrom discuss mixing workflow tips for better results on client songs.
George Leger III shares his background in music recording and studio workflow advice on a podcast anniversary episode.
Jody Whitesides and Chris Hellstrom discuss the importance and creation of DAW session templates for efficient recording setup.
Jody and Chris discuss the difference between mastering and processing a mix on a tube bus, diving into the history of mastering and its modern applications.
Inside The Recording Studio, Jody Whitesides and Chris Hellstrom argue that the best DAW is the one that fits a workflow, not the one with the loudest reputation.
Inside The Recording Studio, Jody Whitesides and Chris Hellstrom map out "big, giant background vocal production" through stacked harmonies, gang vocals, and Queen-style overdubs.
Jody White Sides and Chris Elstrom discuss the history and use of the Lexicon 480L reverb unit in modern music production.
Jody Whitesides and Chris Hellstrom discuss the basics of mixing music in Dolby Atmos and whether it's worth it.
Part two of an interview with Steve Ouimette discussing the challenges of finding a vocalist to mimic Dave Mustaine for Guitar Hero.