Master Your Mix Podcast

Howard Bilerman is a Grammy-nominated musician, sound engineer & record producer who has been recording bands for over 30 years. As co-owner & head engineer of the hotel2tango recording studio in Montreal, Bilerman has enjoyed working with some of Canada’s most talented artists, as well as others from the USA, the UK, France, Italy, Scotland, Africa, Spain, Ireland, Switzerland, Portugal & Australia.
These include Leonard Cohen, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, The Arcade Fire, Coeur de Pirate, Peter Peter, U.S. Girls, Charlotte Cornfield, The Weather Station, Thalia Zedek, Vic Chesnutt, A Silver Mt. Zion, Basia Bulat, Nap Eyes, Murray Lightburn, Lhasa de Sela, British Sea Power, Bassekou Kouyate, Sam Roberts, Patrick Watson, Adam Cohen, Lou Doillon, The Webb Sisters, The Dears, Wolf Parade, Titus Andronicus, and many more.
He has been credited on over 500 records to date, including as an engineer on Leonard Cohen’s Grammy-winning song “You Want It Darker.” Bilerman has been a regular faculty member at Banff Centre, having helped to create their groundbreaking Indie Residency & Singer Songwriter programs.
Bilerman’s recordings have received international critical praise, and the hotel2tango is seen by many as being at the center of Montreal’s independent musical community.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Troubleshooting audio for video
What happens when you record with only 4 tracks instead of 40
The one job you have as a producer
How effects can date a record
What "convenience over sound quality" actually means when picking tools
When gear selection actually does matter (and when it doesn't)
Why a track that sounds bad in solo can be exactly right in the mix
The crowded-room analogy for why too many tracks kill clarity
Why using the same compressor on everything erases identity instead of building it
The difference between corrective and artistic effects, and why mixing up the two matters

To learn more about Howard Bilerman, visit: https://howardbilerman.com/

Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?
Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join: https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?
For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit https://masteryourmix.com/
Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/

Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:
The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:
Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/
Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/
Slapshot Delay: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/
Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/

ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25

Subscribe to the show:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?
Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com

Please leave a rating and review:
https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!

Eric Stenman is an LA-based producer, mixer, and engineer whose four-decade credit list runs from Deftones, Thrice, and Weezer to Daniel Caesar's Grammy-nominated Freudian and every AWOLNATION album since 2011's Megalithic Symphony. A decade running Red Bull Studios in Los Angeles gave way to overseeing AWOLNATION's own Malibu studio, where Stenman has helped engineer some of alternative rock's biggest, guitar-built (and famously bass-guitar-free) low end. Most recently, he's stepped from behind the board into the band itself, co-founding the metallic-hardcore project The Barbarians of California with longtime collaborator Aaron Bruno.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Why "I'll fix it in the mix" usually means more work later, not less
How Eric commits to compression and tone while tracking, instead of capturing it flat and safe
What changes once you start picturing the finished mix while you're recording
Why more experience means fewer decisions get pushed down the road
How this mindset shift cuts down on retracking and rebuilding sounds from scratch
How treating a song as a whole (instead of piece by piece) keeps a mix from falling apart
Why he avoids soloing individual tracks during a mix
How stepping away from a mix for a week changes what you hear when you come back
How he decides a mix is done, even when a client keeps sending notes
How Eric fills low end without ever touching a real bass guitar
What "translating" actually means across car speakers, earbuds, and Bluetooth speakers

To learn more about Eric Stenman, visit: https://ericstenman.com/

Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?
Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:
https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?
For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/
Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/

Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:
The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:
Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/
Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/
Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/
Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/

ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25

Check out our Sponsors:
Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?
Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com

Please leave a rating and review:
https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!

Jon Estes is a Nashville producer, mixing engineer, and multi-instrumentalist who works roughly 200 sessions a year, often as bassist, engineer, and producer on the same record. He's played on Kesha's Grammy-nominated Rainbow and Robyn Hitchcock's self-titled album, and produced and mixed full-length records for Jessie Baylin, Dara Tucker, and Langhorne Slim, most recently engineering and mixing rising country breakout Waylon Wyatt's 2026 debut Dustpiles. He also scores for TV (NBC, HBO, Disney) and video games (Fortnite). Estes runs a hybrid analog/digital studio in Nashville built around a 1" tape machine and a deep collection of vintage instruments.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The road to becoming a session musician
The plugin Jon calls his best mixing hack, and it's not an EQ or a compressor
What it actually means when you cringe listening back to your own mix
Why sending a mix out too soon has "no reward," even on a deadline
Why Jon calls some of the most famous mixes in music history "insanely bad," and doesn't mean it as an insult
Why he sometimes works to make a mix sound worse, on purpose
How to force objectivity when you’re wearing multiple hats on a project
The reason a different guitar or a different pick can beat any plugin move

To learn more about Jon Estes, visit: https://jonestes.com/

Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?
Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:
https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?
For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/
Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/

Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:
The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:
Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/
Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/
Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/
Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/

ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25

Check out our Sponsors:
Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?
Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com

Please leave a rating and review:
https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!

Craig Parker Adams is a Los Angeles-based recording and mixing engineer, producer, and guitarist with over 25 years of studio experience at his Hollywood-based Winslow Ct. Studio. He's contributed to 8 Grammy-nominated projects with 2 wins across Blues, Folk, Americana, and Latin Pop, including co-producing and engineering Dave & Phil Alvin's Common Ground and recording Gaby Moreno's ¡Spangled! with Van Dyke Parks. Since 2014, he's served as the exclusive mixing engineer for the Zappa Family Trust, overseeing archival releases drawn from Frank Zappa's legendary Vault, including The Hot Rats Sessions and The Mothers 1971.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Why he staggers when each band member walks in the door
The moment a legendary drummer got offended by his notes, and what happened next
What it's like mixing for a listener who catches every single mistake
What goes into mixing over a thousand Frank Zappa songs
Why adding your own take can quietly work against someone else's vision
The real reason clients send referrals before they've even heard the mix
Why he had to learn an entirely new recording system in five days

To learn more about Craig Parker Adams, visit: https://craigparkeradams.com/ and http://www.winslowctstudio.com/

Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?
Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:
https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?
For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/
Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/

Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:
The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:
Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/
Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/
Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/
Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/

ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25

Check out our Sponsors:
Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?
Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com

Please leave a rating and review:
https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!

Howie Beck is a Toronto-based mixer and producer whose credits include Feist, Barenaked Ladies, Ron Sexsmith, Walk Off The Earth, and Charlotte Day Wilson, whose breakout single "Work" he mixed and co-produced. Before turning to mixing full-time, Beck built a cult following as a solo artist, writing, performing, and recording every instrument on albums like Hollow and How to Fall Down in Public himself. He's been nominated for three Juno Awards in three separate categories: Album, Recording Engineer, and Producer of the Year, a rare spread that reflects his range. He now runs Studio H, a Dolby-approved Atmos mix room in Toronto's Queen West.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How four-track and ADAT recording forced him to commit to musical decisions
Why unlimited tracks can work against the editing process instead of helping it
The Prince song with no bass on it, and what it says about restraint
How Howie stays objective when working on his own music
Why he goes to tape for certain projects and what it changes sonically
His drums-first mixing workflow and the reasoning behind it
How he approaches vocal depth and space to make vocals feel forward in a mix
The tradeoffs of heavy vocal compression (breaths, sibilance, mouth pops)
Why he pulls up an artist's rough mix before he opens the real session
How demoitis shows up more today than it used to, and how he talks clients through it
Training his ears and body to trust his monitoring environment at different volumes

To learn more about Howie Beck, visit: https://www.howiebeck.com/

Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?
Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:
https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?
For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/
Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/

Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:
The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Get the latest plugins from Carve Audio:
Smashburger Compressor: https://carveaudio.com/smashburger/
Busboy: https://carveaudio.com/busboy/
Slapshot: https://carveaudio.com/slapshot/
Gas Can Amp: https://carveaudio.com/gas-can-amp/

ALL PODCAST LISTENERS GET 25% OFF. USE PROMO CODE: PODCAST25

Check out our Sponsors:
Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?
Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com

Please leave a rating and review:
https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!