Studio Stuff

Studio Stuff Podcast | Back Then vs Now: Did We Lose “Pro” Recordings?

Everyone loves the idea that “back in the day” recordings were more professional. Big studios, serious engineers, real consoles, musicians who rehearsed, and fewer tools to hide behind. But is that actually why those records feel so good… or are we mixing up “professional,” “better,” and “more human”?

In this episode, we unpack a listener comment that turns into a bigger conversation about source material, limitations, modern workflows, and why some top engineers are actually using fewer plugins than ever.

What We Dig Into:

What “professional recording” really means (and how the definition changes over time)

Why the sonic bar is higher in 2026 than it’s ever been

The hidden downside of unlimited plugins and endless options

Why older records often feel more “human” (performance, commitment, interaction)

The “fix it later” mindset and how it changes how people record

Why limitations can lead to faster decisions and stronger mixes

How channel strips can force better listening (and better choices)

The cumulative effect: one channel strip vs 24 across a session

A real-world challenge: mix with only a channel strip (and compare results)



👉 Got a question for us?
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We pull topics directly from your questions and YouTube comments.

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It really helps more home studio folks find Studio Stuff.

We started this episode the way all professional audio conversations begin… by accidentally starting a mini civil war at breakfast over hash browns. Then we pivot into two really solid listener questions: one about whether a mixer still matters in 2026 (and what it can actually do for you in a home studio), and another about amp sims, effects order, and proper gain staging when recording DI guitars.



What We Dig Into

Why a mixer can still be super useful today, even if you mix “in the box”

The best modern use cases: tracking, monitoring, more inputs, zero-latency headphone mixes

When it makes sense to use the mixer as your main interface

Console reality check: does summing actually help, or is it just “try it and see”?

Amp sim workflow 1: commit the sound while recording (like a real amp)

Amp sim workflow 2: record clean DI first, then dial tones later (commitment-free)

Gain staging basics for amp sims: hit the input sweet spot, then control output so you’re not cooking the channel



Topics & Stories

Chunky vs shredded hash browns: the debate nobody asked for, but everybody needed

Pineapple on pizza: friendships were tested

The “mint condition SSL” running joke (first owner, minimal kilometers, maybe some tears)

Waffle House wisdom: “I used to could.” (Legendary.)



Listener Q&A

Richard (Barrie, Ontario):
“Why is there never talk about the actual mixer? Is it just a conduit for ins and outs, or can it help during mixing? I just bought a Mackie… what can I take advantage of?”

Callen:
“I record DI guitar and use Amplitube / VST Amp Rack. Where should the amp sim go in the chain, and how do you reconcile that with gain staging?”



Final Takeaway

A mixer isn’t automatically “better” or “worse” than mixing in the DAW. It’s a tool. If it helps you track faster, monitor with zero latency, commit better sounds earlier, or simply makes the process feel better, it’s doing its job. Same with amp sims: hit the right level into the sim, keep your output sane, and choose whether you’re committing now or later.



👉 Got a question for us?
📩 Submit it here: Form Link
We pull topics directly from your questions and YouTube comments.

And if you’re digging the show, hit follow/subscribe and leave a quick review.
It really helps more home studio folks find Studio Stuff.

AI is no longer a “someday” conversation. It’s already baked into tools we use, workflows we rely on, and decisions we’re making in the home studio, whether we call it AI or not.

In this episode, we break the whole thing down like producers, not philosophers. Where does AI actually help? Where does it get in the way? And what parts of the process still need a human with taste, intention, and a point of view?



What We Dig Into

The moment AI went from “cool trick” to “daily reality”

Songwriting vs demoing: where AI can speed things up fast

Why AI drums still don’t feel like a real drummer (even after editing)

Production mindset shift: “I can fix that later” as a creative unlock

Mixing with AI-assisted plugins: when it’s just a better starting point

Mastering with Ozone: why “perfect” doesn’t always sound right

The difference between tools, presets, and true AI (and why it’s confusing)



Topics & Stories

The “Canadian sorry” story that completely broke a comedian’s set

The “Cindy/Sandy Winters” AI song moment and the emotional reaction

The reality check: the audience might not care, but you might

“Everything is AI now” marketing and how to filter the noise



Listener Q&A

No listener Q&A this one, but we want your questions for the next episodes.



Final Takeaway

AI can make you faster. It can even make you better. But it still can’t replace the one thing that makes your music yours: taste, intent, and human perspective. Use it like a tool, not like a replacement.



👉 Got a question for us?
📩 Submit it here: Form Link
We’ll answer as many as we can in upcoming shows.

And if you’re digging the show, hit follow/subscribe and leave a quick review.
It really helps more home studio folks find Studio Stuff.

Alright… let’s talk about the question we hear constantly: “How many plugins do you use on a vocal chain?”
Because the real answer isn’t a number. It’s a mindset.

In this episode, we zoom out and talk about the categories of vocal processing that actually matter: fixing what’s broken, controlling dynamics, shaping tone, then adding space and vibe. We walk through how we think about order of operations (clip gain ➝ corrective EQ ➝ compression ➝ enhancement ➝ effects), why multiple “small” moves often beat one aggressive plugin, and how to stop chasing a “radio vocal” by stacking random inserts.

Also, we may or may not compare vocals to… turds. (You’ll understand.)



You’ll Learn:

Why plugin count is misleading (and what to focus on instead)

The “Fix ➝ Control ➝ Enhance ➝ Effects” framework for vocals

Why corrective EQ before compression often makes mixing easier

How we think about two-stage compression (peaks vs leveling)

When a second de-esser makes sense (and why it’s not “wrong”)

How EQ placement changes everything once a vocal is controlled



Topics & Stories:

WhatsApp vs Signal vs Marco Polo… and “your everyday podcast friend”

The “make all your turds a similar size” clip gain philosophy

Steve’s Pro Tools insert situation (in the year of our Lord 2026)

“Salt is awesome… until it’s too much” (aka over-processing)



Final Takeaway:

Stop asking, “How many plugins do I need?”
Start asking, “What am I trying to achieve right now?”
Fix what’s distracting, control what’s unstable, enhance what’s worth highlighting, then add space that serves the song.



👉 Got a question for us?
📩 Submit it here: Form Link
We’ll answer as many as we can in upcoming shows.

And if you’re digging the show, hit follow/subscribe and leave a quick review.
It really helps more home studio folks find Studio Stuff.

We started this episode sipping tea and joking around… and somehow ended up in a full-on therapy session about plugins.

A listener comment kicked it off: “Sometimes it feels like I spend more time buying and setting up plugins than making music.” Yep. Been there. So we unpack where that urge comes from, why the “next plugin” feels like it’ll fix everything, and how we personally draw the line between useful tools and dopamine shopping.

And to make it extra practical, we answer a listener question about oversampling: what it is, when it matters, why it can reduce aliasing, and why enabling it everywhere can absolutely destroy your CPU.

Special thanks to our sponsor, Audient. https://audient.com/

What We Dig Into:

The biggest reasons we keep buying “one more plugin”

How to tell if a plugin is actually helping your mixes (or just your mood)

Why we still reach for the same familiar tools most of the time

A simple rule to decide when a new plugin is worth it

What oversampling is (and what aliasing actually means)

When oversampling matters most (and when it’s overkill)

Topics & Stories:

“How do they make decaf coffee?” becomes a philosophy debate

The “collection” trap: buy 2 more, save more, own everything

Seeing a plugin you forgot you already bought (painful… and real)

The “24 tracks” question: how many different EQs and compressors are you actually using?

Why “good-looking plugins” can weirdly influence creativity

AI plugins as the next “take my money” wave

Listener Q&A:

Oversampling in plugins:
Where to use it, why it can reduce aliasing in non-linear processing (saturation/limiters), and why it’s usually not a make-or-break factor for your mixes.

Final Takeaway:

Plugins aren’t going to save you. If you buy one, buy it on purpose: save time, solve a real problem, or unlock a sound you truly can’t get otherwise. And for oversampling… understand it, use it selectively, and don’t let it become the new rabbit hole.

👉 Got a question for us?
📩 Submit it here: Form Link
We’ll answer as many as we can in upcoming shows.

And if you’re digging the show, hit follow/subscribe and leave a quick review.
It really helps more home studio folks find Studio Stuff.