Insights In Sound

It takes years of work and dedication to become an overnight success, and Mark Parfitt's journey is a case in point. Time in the trenches in school and in the studio prepared him to make the most of opportunity, and his recent work with Justin Bieber has brought him well-deserved recognition.

Despite being the "new kid" in the Immediate Family, Steve Postell's career has been a long and winding road, replete with songwriting, production, jingles, touring, and a whole lot more. He fills us in on a truly multi-faceted career.

Thanks to Jackson Browne and Groove Masters Studios for the time and space.

Adam Moseley began his career at Trident Studios in London as a chef and construction worker, working his way through the ranks to engineer and produce recordings with U2, Lenny Kravitz, Rush, Kiss, and many more. We talk about his approach to production, the creative process, and the lessons he brings to his classes at UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.

Insights In Sound - Brian Kehew, Producer/Engineer - Season 14, Episode 1 (131)

Calling Brian Kehew's career diverse is something of an understatement. He's an accomplished engineer, producer, author, educator, musician, technologist, restoration expert, remixer, and so much more, with a breadth of understanding and a near endless trove of anecdotes and perspectives. We met in his Los Angeles-area studio for a wide-ranging conversation that could have easily spanned several hours.

From Electric Lady to Capitol Studios, Michael Frondelli has brought his "A-game" to a long and eclectic career as recording engineer, producer, label owner, activist, and entrepreneur. We take a deep dive into his fascinating journey.

Few people have been at the helm of more classic recordings than Bill Schnee. His discography encompasses some of the most memorable albums and artists of the late 20th century, and his book "Chairman at the Board" is a testament to the music and technology of the era. We met up in Nashville for a fun and informative chat.

John Jennings' career has been anything but ordinary, from musician to tech guy to ribbon mic evangelist. We get into the long and winding road that led him to Royer Labs.

Jim Messina's musical journey is remarkable in its length and versatility. He's been a successful songwriter, producer, engineer, publisher, and of course, artist. He played bass with Buffalo Springfield and co-founded Poco, but he's best known for his work with Kenny Loggins, with Loggins & Messina ultimately selling more than 20 million albums before going on to successful solo careers. He continues to record, perform, produce, and mentor younger artists.

In an industry filled with unique career paths, Gil Griffith has forged his own, combining a love of music and technology with a keen grasp of business and a passion for connecting with other creatives. We hung out for a wide-ranging chat on career, technology, music, and discovering what you're good at.

Insights In Sound - Mixing In ATMOS - Season 13, Episode 3 (#123)

We got together with two of our favorite producers, Matt Wallace and Will Kennedy, to delve into the ever-evolving conversation about immersive audio and mixing in ATMOS. With a growing catalog of mixes under their collective belts, they bring a breath of clarity to a murky and over-analyzed topic.

Insights In Sound - Will Turpin, Bassist/Producer - Season 13, Episode 5 (#125)

He's best known for his work as bassist for '90s rockers Collective Soul, but Will Turpin boasts a long and diverse career of his own as well. We caught up with him at Real to Reel Studios, the facility his father opened in the 1970s.

Insights In Sound - Candace Stewart, Studio Manager - Season 13, Episode 4 (#124)

It takes a vast mix of mad skills and a touch of neurodiversity to manage the organized chaos of a multi-room studio. Candace Stewart is one of the best, and has always brought her own inimitable style to the gig. We met up at the iconic East West Studios for a raucous and wide-ranging chat.

The endorsements game is about much more than free stuff. Done well, it’s a two-way street that benefits both artist and manufacturer. Understanding artist relations, marketing, and how you, as an artist/influencer, fit into the equation is key to establishing and maintaining good relationships. We sat down with Dino Monoxelos (Ampeg) and Brian Ali (Roland) to talk about how the game has changed in the modern social era. 
Recorded live at the #nammshow 2023.

Insights In Sound - Scoring for Picture - Jeff Rona - Season 13, Episode 2 (#122)

We visited with award-winning film and TV composer Jeff Rona for a conversation about scoring for film, TV, and gaming in today’s fast-changing media landscape, and to talk about his book, "The Reel World."

Insights In Sound - Happy Accidents - Season 12, Episode 10 (#120)

While pre-production and preparation are always important aspects of a recording, often the best and most memorable parts of a recording are completely unplanned. We sat down with engineer/producer Ross Hogarth and musician/producer CJ Vanston to share some anecdotes about the unexpected.

Insights In Sound - So You (Don't) Want to Be a Rock & Roll Star - Season 12, Episode 9 (#119)

Not everyone dreams of being a rock star, and not all rock stars are on stage. The music industry is a vast community of interesting and creative people with career paths that are anything but typical. We chat with Simon Jones (Yamaha Guitar Group) and Sean Halley (Strymon) about what a "day job" looks like in today's music industry.

Recorded live at the NAMM Show 2023.

Insights In Sound - Livestreaming for Musicians - Season 12, Episode 8 (#118)

Live from the NAMM Show, here's our panel on "Livestreaming for Musicians" with William Golde from PTZOptics, a company that's been disrupting the DIY video space with great cameras and awesome educational content to get you going. If you're curious about live-streaming and just dipping a toe in, or already podcasting and looking to up your game, these folks will get you on the right track.

Insights In Sound - Steven Miller, Producer/Engineer - Season 12, Episode 7 (#117)

Steven Miller is a bit of a music industry Zelig. His productions run the gamut from Windham Hill and Dave Matthews to Pink and Jonas Brothers. He helped Steve Jobs introduce the Apple Macintosh, and created the ubiquitous Ocean Way Drums library. We met up with him at the legendary East West Studios in Hollywood.

Insights In Sound - Sound Design: Your Brain's the Best Plug-In - Season 12, Episode 6 (#116)

In today’s world of nearly unlimited audio processing power and options, the sonic possibilities for sound design are greater than ever before. But despite a nearly unlimited array of plug-ins and processors, inspiration still comes from the individual. We hear from veteran sound designers Drew Schlesinger, Rick Allen, and Charles Maynes on having a focused and purpose-driven approach to creating a sonic canvas for the most challenging projects.

Recorded live at the NAMM Show 2023.

Insights In Sound - Michael Beinhorn on the Making of "Rockit" - Season 12, Episode 5 (#115)

In the early 1980s, the music industry was caught in the midst of a cultural upheaval. The slick, heavily-produced sounds of progressive and corporate rock were running headfirst into the raw power of punk and HipHop, with upstart artists creating their own scene in major cities across the globe, and the birth of MTV bringing it to living rooms everywhere. New York was one of the epicenters of this cultural melting pot, with an underground music scene that was rife with experimentation and inspiration. With then-partner Bill Laswell, Michael Beinhorn was one half of the production team Material, whose music was increasingly impacted by the burgeoning cultural shift. In 1982, a chance meeting led to collaborating on Herbie Hancock’s epic recording Rockit! and the album Future Shock. We met at the NAMM Show to chat about the birth of that recording and the impact of the music, culture, and the MTV era.