Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, go ahead and apply for coaching now.

We’ll show you how to produce, record, mix, and master your songs.

In your DAW of choice, and with only the plugins and gear you already own.

With unlimited feedback, full 1-on-1 guidance, and a custom music production plan made specifically for you.

Sounds interesting?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

--

Episode show notes:

Most self-recording artists overcomplicate backing vocals, or ignore them completely, because they're having a hard time coming up with something interesting that really helps the song.

Both are mistakes.

Backing vocals and harmony layers can be the difference between a boring, amateur sounding chorus and one that hits.

They make great lead vocals even stronger and give a chorus the lift that it needs.

In this episode, we break down two simple, powerful approaches to backing vocals that can completely transform your songs. And we're using real session examples you can actually hear and apply.

If you’ve ever felt like your chorus is missing something, this is probably it.

🚀 Want Our Personal Help Applying This To Your Own Songs?

If you want feedback on your vocals, your arrangements, or your mixes…

…and a clear plan to turn your demos into finished releases:

👉 Apply for coaching:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

We’ll listen to your music, create a custom plan for you, and help you execute it step by step.

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to:

theselfrecordingband.com/308

Send a text

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com

Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, go ahead and apply for coaching now.

We’ll show you how to produce, record, mix, and master your songs.

In your DAW of choice, and with only the plugins and gear you already own.

With unlimited feedback, full 1-on-1 guidance, and a custom music production plan made specifically for you.

Sounds interesting?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

--

Episode show notes:

Setting up your first home studio is exciting. It’s also very easy to waste time, money, and energy on the wrong things.

In this episode, Benedikt and Manel look back at their early recording days and share six lessons they wish someone had told them when they started. Some of these mistakes cost money. Others cost years of slow progress.

If you’re building your first recording setup or upgrading your current one, this episode will help you focus on the things that actually matter.

The goal is simple: to help you skip the beginner mistakes and make faster progress with your music and recordings.

What You’ll Learn In This Episode

• Why buying cheap gear is not always a god idea and can cause unnecessary headaches
• The real reason beginners waste money on too much gear
• What matters more than most studio equipment
• The monitoring mistake that makes mixing almost impossible
• The hidden skill gap most self-recording musicians don’t realize they have

If you’re a self-recording musician and want expert feedback on your recordings, full guidance while improving your setup, and the fastest way to getting your songs to sound truly professional - apply for coaching inside The Self-Recording Syndicate.

We’ll analyze your setup, your songs, and your workflow and help you build and implement a clear plan to improve your recordings.

Apply here:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to:

theselfrecordingband.com/307

Send a text

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com

Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, go ahead and apply for coaching now.

We’ll show you how to produce, record, mix, and master your songs.

In your DAW of choice, and with only the plugins and gear you already own.

With unlimited feedback, full 1-on-1 guidance, and a custom music production plan made specifically for you.

Sounds interesting?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

--

Episode show notes:

What does a drum recording session for a real record look like?

Not a theory lesson.
Not a generic tutorial.

In this episode we walk you through a real drum recording session from start to finish.

The session was for the Swallow’s Rose album “The Beginning”, and we documented the entire process while recording drums for the record.

That means you’ll see the real decisions behind the drum sounds:

• drum and cymbal selection
• tuning decisions
• room setup and acoustics
• mic choice and placement
• analog processing
• recording techniques

And the thinking behind every step.

This is not meant to be a strict “how to”.

Every record is different.

But the principles behind these decisions are the same fundamentals that make all great recordings work. If you understand why things are done a certain way, you can apply those ideas to your own projects in whatever space and setup you have.

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• record drums in a home studio or rehearsal space
• want more professional drum sounds
• struggle with mic placement and drum tuning
• want to understand what actually matters during a drum recording session
• want to make your programmed drums sound more realistic (yes, those principles apply to MIDI drums, as well - understanding how drum sounds work in general is key, whether it's a real drummer or a programmed performance)

If you’re listening to the audio version, you might want to watch this one on YouTube, because a lot of the value comes from seeing the session itself.

⸻

About The Record:

The session featured in this episode is from the Swallow’s Rose album “The Beginning.”

Singles from the record started releasing in 2025, with the full album scheduled for early 2026.

The mixes you hear in the video are extremely close to the final versions, although the finished record includes some small revisions after the session shown here.

Check out the released record to hear what it sounds like on the final album version.

⸻

Want Help Finishing Your Own Record?

Inside The Self-Recording Syndicate, we help self-recording artists turn demos into finished releases they’re proud of.

This isn’t a generic video course.

We work with you one-on-one, helping you:

• build a recording workflow
• improve your productions at the source
• make better mixing decisions
• finish your songs and releases consistently

If you want a personal production plan for your next record, apply here:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

If we think you’re a great fit, we’ll do a free first call with you and build a custom roadmap for you.

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to:

Send a text

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com

Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, go ahead and apply for coaching now.

We’ll show you how to produce, record, mix, and master your songs.

In your DAW of choice, and with only the plugins and gear you already own.

With unlimited feedback, full 1-on-1 guidance, and a custom music production plan made specifically for you.

Sounds interesting?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

--

Episode show notes:

Most of the low end advice online sounds clean, structured, and logical.

But it also makes a lot of mixes smaller.

In this episode, Benedikt and Manel break down five common low end mixing myths.

This is a “never do this" episode.

It’s about understanding what’s really happening in the low end so you stop fixing problems you don’t actually have.

🎯 The 5 Low End Myths We Break Down

1. “If the kick fundamental is at 60Hz, cut the bass at 60Hz.”

2. “The bass needs to live above or below the kick.”

3. “High-pass everything except kick and bass.”

4. “Below 100Hz there can only be kick and bass.”

5. “You must carve out space or they’ll mask each other.”

🔑 What Actually Makes Low End Work

1. It Starts at the Source

• Drum choice and tuning
• Sample choice
• Bass instrument choice
• String choice
• Performance
• Timing
• Arrangement
• Key of the song

If you pick the right sounds, faders alone often get you 80% there.

2. Think in Terms of Energy

Low end is about:

• Relative amounts of energy
• Transient interaction
• Sustain overlap
• Glue vs separation
• Context with mids and highs

Sometimes the problem isn’t in the low end at all.

Sometimes it’s guitars masking kick attack.

Sometimes it’s too much midrange hiding bass character.

3. Timing Changes Everything

Slightly offset bass timing can:

• Reduce low end buildup
• Extend groove feel
• Increase clarity

Impact is often about transient alignment, not EQ moves.

4. Control Buildup Dynamically

Instead of static carving, try:

• Multiband compression
• Dynamic EQ
• Transient shaping
• Shortening sustain

Control the moments where energy spikes — don’t gut the whole instrument.

5. Stop Fixing Problems You Don’t Have

This might be the most important takeaway.

If it sounds good, don’t “optimize” it.

🚀 Want Direct Help With Your Mix?

Inside The Self-Recording Syndicate, we help self-recording rock, metal and indie artists build mixes that feel powerful and emotionally right — without mixing by numbers.

You get:

• A custom step-by-step music production plan
• Unlimited personal feedback
• Clear next actions
• Ongoing guidance
• All the resources you need to fill in knowledge gaps and become confident in your recording and mixing abilities

Apply here:

👉 theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

Free first call. Money back guarantee. No pressure.

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to:

Send a text

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com

Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, go ahead and apply for coaching now.

We’ll show you how to produce, record, mix, and master your songs.

In your DAW of choice, and with only the plugins and gear you already own.

With unlimited feedback, full 1-on-1 guidance, and a custom music production plan made specifically for you.

Sounds interesting?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

--

Episode show notes:

There’s more mixing advice online than ever.

But here’s the real question:

Is it coming from people who actually make records… or people who make content?

In this episode, Benedikt and Manel react to answers from industry heavyweights Chris Galland and Joe Chiccarelli and compare them to common internet mixing advice.

The results are revealing.

Real pros barely care about many of the things you see everywhere online.

And many content creators ignore things that actual engineers call non-negotiable.

If you’re a self-recording musician trying to improve your mixes, this episode will help you separate hype from essential fundamentals.

What We Cover

• Should you high-pass everything?
• Do you really need to mix in mono?
• Are reference tracks mandatory?
• Should you always check your mix in the car?
• Is EQing to the key of the song a real thing?
• Do pros tune every vocal?
• Do you have to hard pan guitars?
• Are stereo imaging plugins essential?
• Should you always mix at low volumes?
• Does gain staging still matter in 2026?
• Is parallel compression overhyped?

And most importantly:

How do you know who to trust when learning mixing?

The Big Takeaways

• Context matters more than rules.
• The basics still win.
• You can ignore most of the fancy techniques and approaches until you've mastered the essential things.
• If advice sounds absolute, be skeptical.
• If someone never makes records, question their authority.

As Benedikt says in the episode:

Who This Is For

This episode is for:

• Rock, punk, indie, metal and alternative musicians recording themselves
• Producers overwhelmed by conflicting YouTube advice
• Anyone trying to get real results instead of chasing trends

If you’re serious about improving your mixes, this one will reset your priorities.

Want Real Guidance (Not Hype)?

If you want feedback and guidance from engineers who mix 200+ songs per year for artists and labels worldwide, audio pros who actively work with self-recording artists all the time:

👉 Apply for coaching inside The Self-Recording Syndicate

https://theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

We don’t teach trends.

We teach what actually works for your music.

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/304

--

Send a text

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com

Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, go ahead and apply for coaching now.

We’ll show you how to produce, record, mix, and master your songs.

In your DAW of choice, and with only the plugins and gear you already own.

With unlimited feedback, full 1-on-1 guidance, and a custom music production plan made specifically for you.

Sounds interesting?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

--

Episode show notes:

This is the final episode of our full music production breakdown series.

We’ve covered songwriting, pre-production, gear, sound checks and recording.

Now we finish the record.

In this episode, we walk you through steps 6–10 of the real-world production process:

• Session cleanup and comping
• Editing where necessary (timing and pitch)
• Moving from recording to mixing
• A structured mixing workflow that actually works
• The truth about mastering
• When to outsource and when not to
• Why AI mastering is not the same as real mastering (and when it can be an option)

If you’ve ever:

• Got stuck after recording
• Ruined a mix by overworking it
• Wondered if/how you should use a mix bus compressor
• Felt confused about gain staging
• Been disappointed by a bad master

This episode is for you.

We break down a proven, step-by-step framework that helps you:

• Keep objectivity
• Avoid rabbit holes
• Mix faster
• Preserve the magic you captured
• Finish songs properly

Because the goal after recording is simple:

Don’t mess it up. Don't reinvent it. Enhance it. Move it across the finish line.

The Mixing Framework We Teach

Here’s the structured approach we use inside The Self-Recording Syndicate:

1. Proper mix prep (organization + routing)
2. Rough mix (gain staging, levels + panning)
3. Mix bus setup & overall vibe and color
4. EQ cleanup + sweetening
5. Compression with intention
6. Creative effects (reverbs, delays, saturation)
7. Automation and movement
8. Mastering ( finishing, final formats, and quality control

Most people obsess over plugins.

The pros obsess over balance. In all ways. Not a static balance. But one that serves every part of the song, enhances it emotionally and guides the listener through the song.

🎁 Free Mixing Guide

If you want a clear system for balancing, gain staging and preparing your mix properly:

👉 Download the free guide:

theselfrecordingband.com/standoutmixes

🎯 Want Help Finishing Your Songs?

If you want personal guidance through all these steps:

Apply for coaching:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

Inside the Self-Recording Syndicate you get:

• Structured playbooks
• Detailed mix feedback
• Clear next steps to work on - always
• Templates
• Frameworks
• And 5 professional masters, as well as a full mix + mix walkthrough included

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.c

Send a text

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com

Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, go ahead and apply for coaching now.

We’ll show you how to produce, record, mix, and master your songs.

In your DAW of choice, and with only the plugins and gear you already own.

With unlimited feedback, full 1-on-1 guidance, and a custom music production plan made specifically for you.

Sounds interesting?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

--

Episode show notes:

Recording music is about capturing magic moments.

In this episode of The Self-Recording Band Podcast, Benedikt and Manel are breaking down step 5 of the production process: the recording session — the moment where everything can either fall apart… or finally come alive.

You can have the right song, the right gear, the right room, and the perfect setup — and still end up with a lifeless recording if you don’t handle the human side of recording properly.

This episode is all about capturing exciting performances, creating the right vibe in the room, and making decisions that serve emotion over perfection.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why performance matters more than technical perfection (and always will)
• How to guide yourself or your band into better takes
• Why how you talk to performers can make or break a session
• The importance of preparation before hitting record
• How to avoid killing the vibe during vocal sessions
• When to record full takes vs. sections
• Why warm-ups are non-negotiable (and how pros do it)
• How to choose the right recording order for instruments
• Why vocals should not be an afterthought
• Simple systems for comping and editing while recording
• How to protect your sessions with smart backup habits

This episode is part of our start-to-finish production process series. If you haven’t listened to steps 1-4 yet, go back and start there — this series is designed to be followed in order.

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/302

--

Send us a text

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com

Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

👉 If you already have songs written and want to get them release-ready, go ahead and apply for coaching now.

We’ll show you how to produce, record, mix, and master your songs.

In your DAW of choice, and with only the plugins and gear you already own.

With unlimited feedback, full 1-on-1 guidance, and a custom music production plan made specifically for you.

Sounds interesting?

🚀 Click here for all the details:

theselfrecordingband.com/coaching

--

Episode show notes:

Great recordings don’t start with plugins. They start before you ever hit record.

In Step 4 of the Production Process, Benedikt Hain and Manel Espinosa break down setup and sound check: the often-skipped "day one at the studio".

This step separates frustrating home recordings (with lots of things to fix later) from mixes that fall together effortlessly.

This episode walks you through how professionals capture great tones at the source, why mic placement matters more than mic choice, how room acoustics influence your sound far more than you think, and how small setup decisions can save you hours (or days) of mixing later.

If you’ve ever felt like your recordings are technically fine but never quite sound right — this episode explains why.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why pros don't just “fix it in the mix” — and why you shouldn’t either
• How to find the best recording spot in any room (even untreated ones)
• Simple acoustic tricks that dramatically improve vocal and instrument recordings
• Why instrument setup (strings, heads, tuning) matters more than expensive gear
• How mic placement can change your sound more than swapping microphones
• Real audio examples showing how small mic movements create massive tonal changes
• How proper monitoring improves vocal performances instantly
• Why vibe, lighting, and comfort directly affect the quality of your takes
• How basic checklists prevent session-killing mistakes

Who this episode is for:

• Self-recording musicians and bands
• DIY producers working from home studios or jam spaces
• Artists frustrated by muddy, harsh, boring, or lifeless recordings
• Anyone who wants mixes that come together faster — with less guesswork

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/301

--

Send us a text

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com