Secret Sonics

#256 - The Subtle Art of Layering Percussion

Ben and Carl share some of the techniques they use to add percussive depth without cluttering your mix. Learn why texture beats rhythm, how to stretch samples for superna

#255 - Energy Vampires Are Killing Your Career

What happens when a successful music producer realizes he’s been working with the wrong people for years? Carl reveals the moment everything changed after his first child

#254 - The Shelf-Life of Major Credits

Learn the three essential principles that turn your biggest credits into sustainable income, why Grammy winners still struggle to find work, and how to position yourself

#253 - Dave Stagl: Leaving Artists Speechless with Dolby Atmos

Learn why one of the most experienced immersive audio engineers believes most people are approaching Dolby Atmos completely wrong, and discover the emotional framework th

#252 - The NEW Business of Mixing

What happens when a mixing engineer accidentally builds clients in 30 countries while living in Pennsylvania? Carl discovered that global currency differences and economi

#251 - Context Context Context (Vocals Pt2)

What makes a vocal feel perfectly placed… or totally disconnected? This week, we’re getting way past plugin chains and diving into the real work of vocal mixing: context

Quick Announcement: Taking a Week Off to Celebrate 6 Years and 250 Episodes

Quick Announcement: Taking a Week Off to Celebrate 6 Years and 250 Episodes - because we deserve it! 

#250 - Are We Making Vocals Too Perfect? (Pt1)

Two cranky engineers accidentally reveal why your technically perfect vocals sound emotionally dead In this episode, Ben and Carl dive into why the "mistakes" you're fix

#249 - Are We Hearing the Bass, or Just Feeling It? (Pt2)

In this episode, Ben & Carl get into the gritty business of making bass actually work in a mix. Not just technically — but emotionally, musically, and physically. We chal

#248 - Our Wildly Different Bass Philosophies (Pt1)

We didn’t mean to go this deep—but here we are. This week, we cracked open the bass rabbit hole and just kept falling. What started as a casual chat about tracking techn

#247 - The Drummer's Divide: Two Wildly Different Approaches to Drum Production

Think there's only one "right way" to record and mix drums? Think again. In this revealing episode, Ben and Carl dive deep into their completely opposite approaches to dr

#246 - Template Updates: The Unsung Hero of Efficient Mixing

In this "nerdy episode," Carl and Ben dive into a topic that affects many producers but rarely gets attention: updating your mixing templates. They explore how these livi

#245 - Why You’re Afraid to Charge More (And What To Do About It)

Raising your rates sounds simple… until you actually try to do it. In this special episode, Carl breaks down the real reasons studio pros avoid increasing their prices -

#244 - You Don't Need Permission: Why Creatives Hold Back & How to Move Forward

In this episode, Ben and Carl dive deep into the psychology of permission-seeking that stops so many creative professionals from taking the next step in their careers. Th

#243 - Creating Unforgettable Client Experiences

How do you create such an amazing client experience that artists wouldn't dream of working with anyone else? Carl unpacks key insights from Will Guidara's "Unreasonable H

#242 - Limitations > Creativity

Why do children create fearlessly while professional producers get stuck staring at blank DAW sessions? In this insightful conversation, Ben and Carl explore the counteri

#241 - Inspiration: Where to Find It, How to Nurture It, and Why It Matters

Ben and Carl tackle the all-too-familiar challenge of creative burnout and share surprisingly effective ways to reignite that creative spark. When you're creatively stuck

#240 - Forging New Directions: Chasing What Feels Right in Music & Creativity

What happens when you finally get an ADHD diagnosis at 39 and start noticing real changes in how you work? Or when you realize you’re craving more human energy in a music

#239 - Reference Mixes: When They Should (and Shouldn’t) Guide Us

In this episode, Ben and Carl dive into that tricky moment we all face: deciding when to follow a reference mix and when to trust your own instincts. Sparked by Carl's cu

#238 - Time Management: Why Productivity Advice Fails Music Pros

In this candid episode, Ben and Carl tackle the unique time management challenges faced by music professionals - especially ones with ADHD and kids. They explore why many