Prepping For The Studio

Prepping for Metal with Harrison Whitecloud

In this episode of Prepping for the Studio, hosts Roy Silverstein and Brian Scheuble are joined by metal recording specialist Harrison Whitecloud.
Harrison shares his extensive knowledge on preparing for a studio session, focusing on the unique challenges of recording metal.
Key topics include the importance of practice, instrument maintenance, techniques for drummers and guitarists, the role of editing, and specific recording tech setups. Harrison also dives into vocal techniques for screamers, emphasizing the necessity of proper vocal training and technique.
The discussion is both technical and practical, aimed at helping metal musicians maximize their studio sessions.
 
00:00 Introduction to Prepping for the Studio
00:29 Meet the Hosts: Roy and Brian
00:35 Season Three Preview
01:10 Introducing Harrison Whitecloud
01:36 Harrison's Journey into Metal
02:41 Recording Techniques and Studio Experiences
17:04 The Importance of Drum Preparation
20:28 Advanced Drum Recording Tips
29:50 Guitar Recording Insights
33:12 Guitar Maintenance Tips for Metal Musicians
34:34 Recording Techniques for Metal Guitars
39:00 Editing and Mixing Metal Tracks
40:58 Essential Gear for Metal Musicians
41:37 Bass and Drum Synchronization
46:27 Vocal Techniques for Metal Singers
58:50 Recording Metal Drums: Room and Equipment
01:00:03 Mixing Metal: Special Effects and Client Communication
01:03:01 DIY Metal Recording: Challenges and Tips
01:06:18 Conclusion and Contact Information
 
Check out Harrison at these links:
Websites: https://www.whitecloudaudio.com/
Instagram: @whitecloud.audio
 
Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio".
 
Hosts:
Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com)
and
Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com
 
If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

Lessons from Decades Past with Dennis Weinreich

In this episode of Prepping for the Studio, hosts Roy Silverstein and Brian Scheuble sit down with Dennis Weinreich, an Orange County–born engineer/producer who has lived in London since 1971 and worked in major studios during the 70s and 80s.
Dennis shares his path from recording bands as a kid to opportunities at studios like The Village, and later working his way through the London recording scene including becoming an assistant to Ken Scott. The conversation focuses on what modern artists can learn from earlier eras of recording.
Some topics discussed include:
-How the three-hour session system shaped preparation, efficiency, and performance
-“Dark corners” in songs and why live-tested material often records better
-What’s missing when artists self-produce
-How too much time and unlimited tracks can lead to meandering sessions, overcrowded arrangements, and losing the “heart” of the record
-When piecemeal modern workflows can actually help bass/drums fit dynamically later in production
-Why vintage gear isn’t the main reason classic records last
-How limitations (few EQs, few tracks) pushed better mic placement, decisions, and commitment
-Practical advice: rehearse and demo critically before the studio, aim for fewer strong takes, and focus on performance
-The idea of “going for number three” to keep evolving creatively instead of repeating past hits
 
00:00 Welcome to the Podcast
00:45 Meet Dennis Weinreich
02:15 Early Recording Hustle
06:56 First Pro Studio Break
08:07 Village Recorder to London
12:45 Scorpio Sound and Big Records
14:46 Building a Post Facility
18:24 Why Old Records Lasted
19:21 Three Hour Session Era
24:25 Producers and Perspective
29:13 Tainted Love Hook Lesson
32:34 Overdubs Versus Vision
34:26 Producers Who Tell The Truth
35:40 Scott Walker Vocal Production
37:51 Engineers As Multi-faceted “producers”
42:53 Four Track Recording Era
44:26 Modern Workflow Pros/Cons
50:14 Performance Beats Vintage Gear
53:12 EQ Limits And Mic Myths
55:29 Preparation And The Sweet Spot Of Takes
01:00:28 Chasing Hits Versus Originality
01:04:35 Wrap Up And Contact
 
Check out Dennis' interview conducted by Roy in Tape Op magazine here:
https://tapeop.com/interviews/170/dennis-weinreich-an-american-engineer-in-london
Feel free to reach out to Roy if you want to get in touch with Dennis.
 
Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio".
 
Hosts:
Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com)
and
Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com
 
If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

Prepping for Hip Hop with Justin Truelove

In this episode of Prepping for the Studio, hosts Roy Silverstein and Brian Scheuble are joined by engineer/mixer/beat maker, Justin Truelove, a longtime guest engineer at Rarefied Recording who specializes in Rap/Hip Hop.
Justin shares his background, early starts with Pro Tools, GarageBand, and Reaper, and how he moved into recording rappers through local connections.
We discuss what hip hop artists should prioritize when choosing a studio and engineer, purchasing beats properly, and building relationships with producers.
We cover practical prep: rehearse delivery, memorizing lyrics, managing comfort and psychology in the booth, and avoiding an over-reliance on autotune, amongst other topics.
 
00:00 Intro
00:41 Meet Justin Truelove
01:42 Justin’s Early Recording Journey
03:08 From GarageBand to Reaper
05:56 Finding Rarefied Recording
08:22 Why Hip Hop Artists Choose Studios
10:23 Gear Basics and Engineer Fit
13:25 Session Goals and Prep Files
15:47 Beats, Stems, and Better Mixes
19:29 Working with Local Producers
23:10 Beat Licensing Explained
24:40 Buying beats Versus Collaboration with a Producer
26:34 Autotune Tips
29:32 Vocal Prep And Practice
34:35 Studio Psychology And Comfort
36:46 Last Minute Hip Hop Sessions
38:59 How Long Recording Takes
42:53 Deliverables
44:13 Substances And Session Etiquette
46:30 Be On Time!
48:38 Wrap Up And Contact
49:02 Outro
 
Check out Justin on Instagram:
@mixedbytruelove
 
Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio".
 
Hosts:
Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com)
and
Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com
 
If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

Prepping for Release with Brian Witkin

In this episode of Prepping for the Studio, hosts Roy Silverstein and Brian Scheuble are joined by entertainment lawyer, label owner (Pacific Records), and musician, Brian Witkin, to discuss the business side of releasing music.
Just as you have to prep for a studio session, you also have to make sure all your ducks are in a row before releasing a song, EP, or album! Brian gives a great overview of various things one should be thinking about and doing ahead of your release.
 
NOTE: While Brian Witkin may be an attorney, please consult your own lawyer or consultant in the field before making any decisions on the business side of your music career. This podcast episode is simply a conversation with some helpful insights.
 
00:00 Welcome to the Podcast
00:42 Meet the Guest, Brian Witkin
01:09 Music Is a Business
02:46 PROs Explained
05:05 Split Sheets and Songwriting
09:44 Two Copyright Basics
10:56 Copyright Registration Steps
12:19 Masters, Labels, and Publishing
19:28 Streaming Royalties Breakdown
21:47 Distributors and Publishing Opt Ins
25:27 Aggregator Picks and Bandcamp
27:52 Physical First Strategy
28:54 Exclusives And Merch
30:10 Label Role And Contracts
31:04 Work For Hire Basics
32:34 Producer Points Explained
34:57 Label Services Breakdown
36:31 Release Lead Time Planning
38:12 Radio Publicity Touring
42:59 Do You Need A Label?
43:47 Managers And Building Team
45:33 Social Media Content Machine
47:14 Music Videos And Sync
51:06 Long Game Mindset
54:36 Wrap Up And Where To Find Brian
55:05 Final Credits And Outro
 
Check out Brian at:
https://brianwitkin.com/
Pacific Records:
https://pacificrecords.com/
 
Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio".
 
Hosts:
Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com)
and
Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com
 
If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

Prepping Your Guitars with David Mead

In this episode of Prepping for the Studio, hosts Roy Silverstein and Brian Scheuble are joined by guitar tech and musician, David Mead, to discuss prepping your guitars for recording.
Drawing on his background in vintage guitar shops, auto body work, playing/recording/touring, and his Magnetic Heaven guitar repair/flipping business, David explains what a setup optimizes—action, fret buzz, intonation, etc.
He covers how climate and temperature shifts affect guitars, storage and humidification, and why setups may need adjustment after travel. For electrics, he highlights pickup height, noise/RF interference, and how magnet pull affects feel and tone. He also discusses string gauge and material choices, break-in time for recording, and preferences around new vs. used strings.
 
00:00 Welcome and Introductions
00:33 Meet David Mead
01:26 Vintage Guitar Store Origins
02:49 Burnout and Recession Years
03:53 Auto Body Shop Lessons
05:54 Bands and Tech Philosophy
08:33 Back in Business on Reverb
10:38 What a Guitar Setup Fixes
11:48 Tension Changes and Fret Buzz
15:56 Intonation and Contact Points
23:22 Strings and Gauge Choices
27:11 When Setups Go Wrong
30:21 Truss Rod Discussion
33:34 Climate and Guitar Storage
34:35 Fret Sprout and Rehydration
37:09 Humidifying Methods
39:55 When Is a Guitar Totaled
40:35 Legendary Repair Stories
45:11 Why Martins and Gibsons Record Well
47:09 Electric Pickups and Noise
49:51 Pickup Height and Magnet Pull
51:52 Noiseless Pickups Debate
54:34 Strings for Studio Sessions
55:46 New vs Used Strings Timing
59:42 Drums Tease and Wrap Up
01:04:01 Show Outro and Credits
 
Check out David at:
https://www.magneticheavenmusic.com
Instagram: @magnetic.heaven
Reverb.com store: https://reverb.com/shop/magneticheaven
 
Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio".
 
Hosts:
Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com)
and
Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com
 
If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.

Prepping Your Drums with David Mead

In this episode of Prepping for the Studio, hosts Roy Silverstein and Brian Scheuble are joined again by guitar/drum tech and musician, David Mead, to discuss prepping your drums for recording.
This is a part two of our conversation with David that started last episode with a discussion on prepping your guitars. Since he is also a drummer and has a lot of experience dealing with drums too, we decided to have him back to talk about shells, heads, cymbals, and the like.
We also get into talking about tuning and dampening. Considering how important drums are for your recordings, this is definitely an episode to check out.
 
00:00 Show Intro
02:42 Why Drums Matter
04:38 Shells And Bearing Edges
10:42 Out Of Round Problems
14:38 Lugs And Hardware Fixes
16:31 Choosing Drum Heads
22:03 Coated Vs Clear Heads
24:35 Tuning And Head Seating
32:02 Tuning Technique And Tools
34:48 Drum Snobs
35:47 Tension Tuning Fails
36:47 Orchestral vs Ringo Tuning
38:10 Hands On Tuning Method
38:41 Bottom Head Strategy
40:56 Concert Toms
43:20 Impact of Shell Woods
45:03 Vistalites Live Vs Studio
46:13 Kit Sizes And Big Kicks
49:49 Cymbals
54:59 Cymbal Keyholing
56:36 Drum Treatments
01:00:16 Gels Tape And DIY Mutes
01:03:58 Cymbals Cant Be Fixed In Post
01:06:53 Choosing And Auditioning Cymbals
01:08:58 Wrap Up And Where To Find David
01:10:12 Final Outro Credits
 
Check out David at:
https://www.magneticheavenmusic.com
Instagram: @magnetic.heaven
Reverb.com store: https://reverb.com/shop/magneticheaven
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Drum tuning book:
https://www.drumacoustics.com/
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Please visit http://www.preppingforthestudio.com for more info and to download the free ebook, "A Musician's Guide To The Recording Studio".
 
Hosts:
Roy Silverstein of Rarefied Recording (www.rarefiedrecording.com)
and
Brian Scheuble (www.brianscheuble.com)
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions please email Roy: info@rarefiedrecording.com
 
If you love this podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts on.