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Building a Studio, Analog vs. Digital, and Mixing Rock Guitars with Ryan Haft (Snarky Puppy, OM, Torche)

Metadata

title
Building a Studio, Analog vs. Digital, and Mixing Rock Guitars with Ryan Haft (Snarky Puppy, OM, Torche)
description
Ryan Haft and I dig into the joys of the studio, how to build a career as an engineer, and the similarities between live and studio sound. Ryan, a skilled mixer, engineer, and producer, calls Miami, FL home, where he operates Sun Burned Sound Studio as the owner. Since 2008, he has been dedicated to crafting records and ensuring they pack a powerful sonic punch. Notably, in 2023, Ryan earned the a Latin Grammy for his mixing work. His expertise extends to live sound, having worked with prominent acts such as OM, Torche, Snarky Puppy, and many others. He is also a guitarist in the bands Capsule and WRONG. Ryan's multifaceted talents and commitment to sonic excellence have solidified his presence in the music industry. Check out his website to hear his mixes and productions at RyanHaft.com
status
complete
date
2024-02-06
kind
guest
guestSlugs
  • ryan-haft
listenUrl
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lovemusicmore/episodes/Building-a-Studio--Analog-vs--Digital--and-Mixing-Rock-Guitars-with-Ryan-Haft-Snarky-Puppy--OM--Torche-e2fd3tp
lmwUrl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n131JF5p77s
appleUrl
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-a-studio-analog-vs-digital-and-mixing/id1567355195?i=1000644355821&uo=4
spotifyUrl
https://open.spotify.com/episode/39iubujQ7geaSXbYaO6OTv
youtubeUrl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_v6WEgvmFs
topicsDiscussed
  • Guitar
  • Mixing
  • Analog
  • Creativity
  • The home studio
  • Studio construction strategies
  • Live sound dynamics
  • Acoustic treatment
  • Creative space design
  • Collaborating with artists
  • Recording workflow essentials
hostNote
Ryan Haft built **Sun Burned Sound Studio** in Miami from scratch: which means he's both a practitioner and a facilities nerd. We start with his war story about losing sessions to gym vibrations from the building next door, which explains why he rebuilt with no parallel walls and two control rooms that can run simultaneously. The conversation earns its title: studio construction math, outboard gear vs. plugins in 2024 (his answer isn't what you'd expect), mixing rock guitars with a saturation approach that holds back transients without sounding held back, and how mastering has changed now that streams are the delivery format. He earned a Latin Grammy in 2023.
selectedMoments
  • label
    Struggles with studio noise
    startSec
    99
    note
    Ryan describes a frustrating experience with noise interference from a nearby gym while recording.
  • label
    Designing a new studio
    startSec
    201
    note
    Decision-making behind designing a new studio space.
  • label
    Mixing room functionalities
    startSec
    276
    note
    Ryan explains the dual control rooms in his studio that allow for different recording activities simultaneously.
  • label
    Choosing studio materials
    startSec
    351
    note
    Sound treatment and how specific design choices impact acoustics.
  • label
    Mathematics of sound design
    startSec
    510
    note
    Ryan clarifies the reasons behind avoiding parallel walls in studio design for optimal sound.
  • label
    Mixing efficiency and creativity
    startSec
    681
    note
    The conversation turns to how engineers can adapt to imperfect room acoustics.
  • label
    Outboard gear vs. in-the-box mixing
    startSec
    1091
    note
    Ryan shares his thoughts on when to use outboard gear versus plugins in the mixing process.
  • label
    Capturing the magic of sound
    startSec
    1246
    note
    Discussion on how to maintain the character of recording while using digital tools.
  • label
    The evolution of mastering
    startSec
    2853
    note
    Ryan discusses how the mastering process has changed in the age of digital streaming.
  • label
    Importance of good mixes
    startSec
    3379
    note
    Ryan reflects on his lifelong passion for music and its impact on his career.
excerptQuotes
  • text
    If everything was mathematically perfect then every studio would sound the same.
    startSec
    1005
    reviewed
    true
  • text
    You have the added benefit of now you can design it the way you want and for your needs.
    startSec
    219
    reviewed
    true
  • text
    Sound comes off speakers... and the idea of skewing walls a little bit allows for sound to scatter.
    startSec
    426
    reviewed
    true
  • text
    I like to aim for how I think they should sound on the way in.
    startSec
    1090
    reviewed
    true
  • text
    We're in a period of time where plugins have leveled the playing field pretty drastically.
    startSec
    1092
    reviewed
    true
  • text
    I think you can coax saturation in a way that holds back transients without sounding like it's holding back transients.
    startSec
    2616
    reviewed
    true
  • text
    It's a beautiful combination of control and harmonics... that's what sounds good.
    startSec
    2691
    reviewed
    true
  • text
    Every recording sounds different than the last time I recorded a drum set.
    startSec
    3382
    reviewed
    true
faq
  • question
    What are Ryan Haft's views on analog vs digital mixing?
    answer
    Ryan believes that both analog and digital have their strengths, but acknowledges that modern plugins can level the playing field significantly.
  • question
    How does Ryan Haft approach building a studio?
    answer
    Ryan emphasizes the importance of acoustic treatment, efficient space design, and tailoring the studio layout to the needs of the artists.
  • question
    What insights does Ryan Haft provide on mixing rock guitars?
    answer
    Ryan discusses the balance between achieving large, impactful guitar sounds while maintaining clarity in the mix.
transcriptPublished
false
draft
false

Content

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