Podcast | TechMuze Academy

After a bit of a break… We’re back! In this episode we dig into some more listener questions. We talk keyboard shortcuts, website building and the tips and tricks segment discusses the benifits of using reference mixes in your workflow and the correct way to implement this simple technique. For more info on building your band/studio website in fifteen minutes watch this video. Enjoy!

Dave Chick of Inside Home Recording gave me a hard time about my comment that “mono is dead”. (Love you Dave!) Although there are very few mono playback systems these days there are still many mono listening situations to be aware of. Allow me to set the record straight by explaining my approach to ensuring that my mixes maintain mono compatibility. Press play below to listen!

I received a bunch more listener comments and questions so I thought I’d better address those now! Some things we cover: Questions about the MixLessons.com membership course and community How to get that sub low thud on your kick drum Integrating Superior Drummer with Cubase And more! Click PLAY below to listen. Click Play To Listen... Download Listen in a New Window iTunes Stitcher SoundCloud Leave a Review Clammr It Subscribe via RSS Subscribe on Android

In this episode we flip the script back to music production techniques. We’ve taken a short break form the artist promotion blueprint series to discuss Listening Techniques. Listen now to learn some simple tricks to help you maintain a fresh perspective on your mixes and to avoid the perils of ear fatigue (also known as “Potato Ear”) Click Play To Listen... Download Listen in a New Window iTunes Stitcher SoundCloud Leave a Review Clammr It Subscribe via RSS Subscribe on Android

In this episode we discuss how to choose your domain names, Who to buy them from and where to host your website. Take the mystery out of it all and get your website up and looking great in no time! Your website is your most valuable asset online and should be approached as such. You don’t need to know any html code of any other such language to build a stylish and functional website to host your party on! Click Play To Listen... Download Listen in a New Window iTunes Stitcher SoundCloud Leave a Review Clammr It Subscribe via RSS Subscribe on Android

Part 1 in a series on how to use the web to promote your band or your music. In this episode we discuss the importance of designing your ideal fan and how to do so. Marketers refer to this as your “Customer Avatar” and the creation of your avatar serves as the basis behind everything you will do from this point onward. Always keep your avatar profile on hand when you start building your “House” (aka website) and start publishing content to gather fans. If you don’t have a clear idea as to who you are speaking to, how will you ever know what to say? Listen to this episode to learn more. Tip: If you want to see an example of  an extremely targeted and engaging band website, check out my buddy Joes’ “house”. His band is called Hail The Villain and the online party they’ve created is awesome! Take a Look.  Click Play Below To Listen Now! Download Listen in a New Window iTunes Stitcher SoundCloud Leave a Review Clammr It Subscribe via RSS Subscribe on Android

Don’t you wish you could turn your music production hobby into a source of income? Maybe you don’t need a full-time income but at the very least you may want some help paying for that new piece of gear you’ve been eyeballing! Well, the good news is YOU CAN! I want to take some time right now to teach you how. In this episode of the TechMuze Podcast I lay down the foundation for how you can use the web and the various web 2.0 services out there to insert yourself into the places where your potential fans and clients are already hanging out. We discuss the appropriate way to interact with these folks to cause them to WANT to do business with you. The most important thing you need to do TODAY is to set up a website on your own domain to act as the hub of your online presence. If you don’t already have your own website (for your band or studio or anything else you may be doing) you are missing the boat!!! If you want to learn more about how you can take full advantage of  this new Music Economy, I strongly recommend you check out my buddy Greg Rollett. He has put together an awesome tutorial series covering everything you need to know about building a responsive fan list, driving traffic to your bands website, how to sell your music easily and much more! Check it out HERE! Here are some links to the services I recommend to establish your own web presence and begin collecting a list of potential customers that you can build a relationship with and ultimately make money from: BlueHost – This is where you can register you very own domain name and also host your website. This is the service I use and highly recommend. You can register your domain for only $10/year and hosting is only $6/month! Click Here To Sign Up At BlueHost (note: signing up with BlueHost through this link will also help support the TechMuze Podcast!) WordPress – This is the simplest, most powerful way to build your own website even if you don’t know a thing about html or programming! Oh, and it’s FREE! MailChimp – This is where the gold is found! You want to start building a list of fans and prospects from DAY 1! People who opt in to your email list are basically raising their hand and saying”Yes, I want to hear from you”. This is how you can begin building a trusting relationship with you fans and potential clients. Youtube – Do I really need to explain? We use sites like YouTube and the other Web 2.0 sites as a way to provide value to our audience. FaceBook – Set up a FaceBook page for your business needs. Don’t use your personal profile as Facebook encourages pages for business. Twitter – This is another great way to reach out to thousands of people who may be very interested in what you have to offer. Also, you can find and follow all of the people YOU are interested in. If you’re not already on Twitter, What are you waiting for? It’s FREE! This is just a short list of some of the things you NEED to do to make yourself known amongst the people who might be happy to do business with you if only they knew who you were. Let me know what you think! Leave a comment under this post. We’ll talk soon, Dezz Download Listen in a New Window iTunes Stitcher SoundCloud Leave a Review Clammr It Subscribe via RSS Subscribe on Android

This week it’s an all Q&A session! You asked… I answered! Topics include: The pros and cons of USB microphones Using e-drums to trigger EZDrummer The freeNAS operating system Firewire vs USB Audio Interfaces.   Download Listen in a New Window iTunes Stitcher SoundCloud Leave a Review Clammr It Subscribe via RSS Subscribe on Android

This week we talk all about how to get the most out your computer. I lay out for you some simple steps you can take to maximize the performance of your system through optimizing your start-up or login items. Also, there is a strategy you can use to distribute tasks between multiple hard drives to further boost your PC’s performance. Turn that PC into a lean mean recording machine!   If you haven’t already done so, Sign up for my free Mixing “Mini-Course” over at MixLessons.com. It’s a multi-part video series on the core concepts of modern mixing… and it’s free! Download Listen in a New Window iTunes Stitcher SoundCloud Leave a Review Clammr It Subscribe via RSS Subscribe on Android

A little philosophical rant this week on TechMuze! In this Google/Youtube world we live in it’s become increasingly easy to learn almost anything you might ever need to know. My advice is to take advantage of this fact and expand your skill set to encompass every aspect of, not only your personal craft, but everything that relates to your craft. Now, I’m not suggesting you spend every waking hour studying but as you encounter issues in your production workflow treat that as another opportunity to learn something new and to add another tool to your toolbox (so to speak).   Also this week, an ear training session focused on the attack control of the compressor. What does it do? What does it sound like?   Finally, MixLessons.com is LIVE! Enroll today in the webs most thorough and methodical step-by-step course on modern in-the-box mixing. Complete with downloadable session files and exercises for you to import into your own studio to practice with and hone your mix chops. Join a community of helpful members with big brains to pick and accelerate your learning curve considerably! I’ll see you in the member forums! Download Listen in a New Window iTunes Stitcher SoundCloud Leave a Review Clammr It Subscribe via RSS Subscribe on Android

This week on TechMuze we discuss the importance of gain stages in your signal path. When you add a plugin to a track, it’s important that you adjust it’s output so as not to alter the volume of the track (unless, of course that’s your intention). Also, Listener Mike asks a question about the analogue portion of my studio. You can learn more about that at TechMuze.tv. Just watch my home studio tour! Download Listen in a New Window iTunes Stitcher SoundCloud Leave a Review Clammr It Subscribe via RSS Subscribe on Android

In this “long awaited” episode of TechMuze we go Inside Home Recording with Dave Chick. Dave and I chatted for a little over an hour on his show. Search “Inside Home Recordoing” in iTunes and subscribe today. Also, MixLessons.com is almost ready to unleash! Sign up for free mixing videos in your in-box!   – www.MixLessons.com – See you there! Download Listen in a New Window iTunes Stitcher SoundCloud Leave a Review Clammr It Subscribe via RSS Subscribe on Android

In episode 12 we have a little chit-chat (and demonstration) about the basics of phase and polarity as it relates to your music productions. What should you listen for? How do you check for phase issues in your recordings? If you have any further thoughts on the topic, leave a comment here or over at the TechMuze Facebook page. Download Listen in a New Window iTunes Stitcher SoundCloud Leave a Review Clammr It Subscribe via RSS Subscribe on Android

In this episode I rant a little on the difference between the HARD SKILLS (technical) and the SOFT SKILLS (creative) of music production. Learning to get beyond the “static mix” and breath life and emotion into your mixes by “mixing to the feature” of each section of the music! Leave a comment! Download Listen in a New Window iTunes Stitcher SoundCloud Leave a Review Clammr It Subscribe via RSS Subscribe on Android

In Episode 10 of TechMuze, I demonstrate a practical use of a psycho-acoustic phenomenon referred to as the HAAS Effect. Learn to play some neat tricks on your own brain by exploiting the way the auditory system determines directionality through the phase relationship between the left and right ears! If you have questions or comments about this episode, leave a comment either here or on our Facebook Wall! Download Listen in a New Window iTunes Stitcher SoundCloud Leave a Review Clammr It Subscribe via RSS Subscribe on Android