The Savvy Producer | Productivity and Efficiency in Music Production

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#68: Lucas Fournier on Building a Client Base Through YouTube, Avoiding Nightmare Clients and Tackling Remote Production Work

2024-11-1353:53

This week I have a fantastic interview to share with Lucas Fournier! Lucas is a multi-instrumentalist music producer from Toronto, Canada. Currently working remotely from his home studio in Tiny, Ontario, he specializes in producing and arranging emotional indie tracks for artists all around the world, often featuring lush emotive strings, atmosphere, and vocal layers. We chatted about how Lucas is leveraging YouTube to build his client base, avoiding nightmare clients and how he tackles the challenges of remote production projects. Marsden Mastering - ⁠https://www.marsdenmastering.com/⁠ Connect with Lucas: ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Website⁠

#67: 3 Mistakes I've Made in My Music Production Career

2024-10-3020:12

As well as being a good excuse to ramble on about studio stuff, this podcast is all about sharing my experiences, observations, mistakes made and lessons learned throughout my years as a freelance studio pro. I've definitely made my fair share of mistakes since I started doing this, so I thought I'd share three of the biggest ones I've made on my journey so that you can identify them, avoid them or overcome them yourself! Marsden Mastering - https://www.marsdenmastering.com/

#66: Software I Use Every Single Day (Aside From My DAW)

2024-10-1512:02

We love talking about what DAW we use and what plugins are popular right now, but what about the other pieces of software that allow a studio to run efficiently day to day? In this episode, I wanted to share 4 pieces of software that help me to run my mastering business as efficiently as possible and let me put as much energy as possible into being creative. I think every studio could benefit from implementing these four pieces of software, or at least similar alternatives. Marsden Mastering - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://marsdenmastering.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

#65: AI Mixing... Is This the End of Mix Engineers?

2024-10-0319:17

Let's talk about Spike AI then... Spike Stent caused quite a stir amongst the community this week when he announced his new AI Mixing tool. The comments were full of anger and fear from mixers around world, but is it really going to replace you? As a mastering engineer, who's job has been put into question by AI tools and all-in-one master buss processors for the past few years now, I wanted to share my opinion and delve into some of the pros and cons of a world with AI Mixing. Marsden Mastering - ⁠⁠⁠https://marsdenmastering.com/⁠⁠⁠

#64: Why I Love ITB Mastering

2024-09-2315:35

As somebody with a very minimal studio setup, people are often curious about my workflow, so I thought it was about time I shared a deep dive into why I love working in the box with two big takeaways for anybody in a similar position. I talk about: - Why I prefer the sound of digital - How following a conventional path may be stifling your creativity - Letting go of imposter syndrome when it comes to gear Marsden Mastering - https://marsdenmastering.com/

#63: Kara Greskovic on Building Camaraderie With Artists, Growing in a Music City and Staying Creative

2024-09-0940:24

This week I have a wonderful interview to share with LA based producer, Kara Greskovic. We chatted about how being in a music city has impacted Kara's career as an up and coming producer, her move from Nashville to LA, how Kara stays productive, creative and inspired in the studio and why building a sense of camaraderie with your clients is so important. Connect with Kara - https://www.karagreskovic.com/ https://www.instagram.com/karagreskovic/ Marsden Mastering - ⁠https://marsdenmastering.com/

#62: Charles-Henry Volk on Minimal Mixing Setups, Marketing The Old-School Way and Enabling Creativity as an Engineer

2024-08-2845:21

This week I have an amazing interview to share with UK based mix engineer, Charles-Henry Volk. We had a great chat about how fostering community has positively impacted Charles’ career and growth as a mixer, his journey with monitoring and how he’s landed on a minimal, laptop and headphones set up and how he enables creativity and experimentation as much as possible with his artists. Connect with Charles - https://www.instagram.com/charleshenryvolk/ Marsden Mastering - https://marsdenmastering.com/

#61: The Problem With Mastering Studios

2024-08-2010:31

Does your mastering engineer care? Or are you better off using AI at this point? In this episode I wanted to talk about a theme that I've seen with some engineers in the industry and why I think there's always a better option. There are also two key take aways that will help you to build a happier career in music for yourself and for your clients. Marsden Mastering - ⁠⁠https://marsdenmastering.com/⁠⁠

#60: How Much Should You Charge?

2024-08-0811:32

How much do you charge for your services? Based on what most audio professionals are charging, probably not enough. In today's episode, I wanted to talk about strategies for pricing your skills, making sure that you're able to earn a comfortable living and building a business that lasts long into the future. Marsden Mastering - ⁠https://marsdenmastering.com/⁠

#59: Benjamin Wilson-Scott on Building the Perfect Production Space, Remote vs In Person Sessions and Approaches to Social Media

2024-07-2325:40

This week I have a wonderful interview to share with UK based, award winning producer and songwriter, Benjamin Wilson-Scott. Benjamin has worked with Indie heavyweights like Half Moon Run, Shura, Benjamin Francis-Leftwich, Fickle Friends, Jon Bryant and many more. In our interview we chatted about Benjamin's approach to starting a fresh production and nailing the artist's vision, his approach to social media and his recent journey converting a derelict garage, into a purpose built production and songwriting space. Connect with Ben: Website - https://www.benjaminwilsonscott.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/benjaminwilsonscott YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@benjaminwilsonscott Marsden Mastering - https://marsdenmastering.com/

#58: Too Much Work On? Here's How to Avoid Feeling Snowed-Under

2024-07-1207:57

Ever feel like you've taken on too many projects? In today's episode I wanted to share some advice that I apply every day to avoid feeling overwhelmed and snowed under when the workload is heavy. Marsden Mastering - https://marsdenmastering.com/

#57: 3 Things I Don’t Do as a Full Time Audio Professional

2024-06-2711:40

I'm always getting asked what's made the difference when comes to being full-time in audio. A running theme in mastering (and music production in general), is that it's the things you have the discipline not to do that really make the difference - and I think that's true in the bigger picture too. So in this episode, I wanted to share 3 things that I never do as a full-time audio professional. Marsden Mastering - ⁠⁠⁠https://marsdenmastering.com/

#56: How to Finish More Mixes

2024-06-1212:41

When you’re nearing the end of a project it’s so easy to overthink, keep tweaking in the pursuit of something "better", doubt yourself or get anxious about finally sending your hard work to your clients. In this episode I wanted to share 3 things that will help you when it comes to calling your projects done and getting them over the finish line. I discuss: - The big mistake engineers are making around deadlines - How to prevent your clients from dragging projects out for too long - Tactics to avoid overthinking and imposter syndrome when you're mixing Marsden Mastering - ⁠⁠https://marsdenmastering.com/

#55: I Got Caught up in a Scam

2024-05-2207:36

Let me tell you about the time I got caught up in a scam... This episode is all about something that happened early on in my career and the two big lessons you can take away from it. I talk about: - How my name was used on work that had never touched my studio - Why transparency will make or break your music career - The right way to handle an unhappy client Marsden Mastering - ⁠https://marsdenmastering.com/

#54: The Music Industry is Broken (But here are some positives)

2024-05-0906:16

The music industry is in a bad place... artists are barely getting paid from streaming, the monetary value of music is plummeting and venues/promotors aren't exactly helping either. There's no hiding from this, but in this episode I wanted to share some silver linings and positives about working in music right now. I talk about - Why there's never been a better time for audience building - How industry gatekeepers have been pushed aside - How music discovery is in a better place than ever - Why I couldn't have built my mastering business 20 years ago Marsden Mastering - https://marsdenmastering.com/

#53: How to Get Clients

2024-04-2416:34

So how do you actually build a client base? I'm asked about this almost daily and it's something I love nerding out about, so I figured it was probably time I recorded an episode about it. I cover: - The 5 things that haven't worked for me - The lead generation method that my mastering business is built on - Why social media doesn't have to be stressful www.marsdenmastering.com

#52: Are You Mixing Too Slowly? How to Speed up Your Workflow!

2024-04-1209:49

Lower income, long hours, no free time and unhappy clients - These are all risks of spending too long on your mixes. In this episode I wanted to share my advice when comes to speeding up your workflow, so that you can boost your hourly pay, take on more projects and get better mixes while you're at it! I explore: - The two biggest factors in speeding up your mixing - Why mixing faster delivers better results - How to be more instinctive when you're mixing Marsden Mastering - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://marsdenmastering.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

#51: 5 Things That Ruin a Perfectly Good Mix

2024-03-2812:32

Are you sabotaging perfectly good mixes? This episode was inspired by an Instagram post I made last week that good some really good conversations going about the things that can ruin a great mix. I talk about: - Why you should use limiters with care - The one opinion that matters more than anybody else's when it comes to a great mix - Why you might be ruining your low-end Marsden Mastering - ⁠⁠⁠https://marsdenmastering.com/⁠⁠⁠

#50: 3 Big Differences From When I Started Mastering to Now

2024-03-1209:35

Things change a lot when you've been working on your craft for years and years and sometimes, you wish you'd learned those lessons sooner in your career. In this episode I wanted to share three big differences in the way I work now vs when I was just starting out. I talk about - Why I love working on headphones - Why you should go against the grain and be different - How trying to desperately prove your worth could be holding you back - The biggest factor in being decisive in the studio Marsden Mastering - ⁠⁠https://marsdenmastering.com/⁠⁠

#49: Owen Korzec on Communicating with Artists, Studio Workflows as a Multi-Instrumentalist and What Makes a Great Production

2024-02-2745:06

This week we have Boston-based producer and mixer Owen Korzec on the show. We deep dive into Owen's unique approach to communicating with artists and getting the best out of their project, his studio workflows as a multi-instrumentalist and what he feels makes a great finished production. Follow Owen: ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Website⁠ TikTok Marsden Mastering - https://marsdenmastering.com/

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The Savvy Producer | Productivity and Efficiency in Music Production