The Studio Burned Down | What's Next?
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Feb 05, 2025•30 min•Season 4Ep. 133
Progressions: Success in the Music Industry
Conversations exploring creativity, productivity, and career growth in the music industry. Join in each week as Travis sits down with some of the industry’s best and brightest to discuss the mindsets and strategies that they use in their careers every day.
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Episodes
Howard Benson - Defining Modern Rock Production
Howard Benson is a Grammy winning rock producer who has made records with My Chemical Romance, Three Days Grace, Daughtry, All American Rejects, POD, and Hoobastank. In this episode, you'll learn about: Why having hits is a "numbers game" How producer royalties have changed over the past three decades How DAWs are hurting artists Disguising pop music as rock music The Howard Benson vocal chain How to find harmony parts, even if you don't sing Cowriting in Rock AI's role in modern songwriting and...
Jan 02, 2025•51 min•Season 4Ep. 132
Mat Leffler-Schulman - What Makes a Mix Great: Insights from a Mastering Engineer
Mat Leffler-Schulman is a mastering engineer who's worked with artists such as Jon Batiste, Blondie, Mary J Blige, Beach House, and many more. In this episode, you'll learn about: The Value of Working with a Human Mastering Engineer The Ethics of Using Stem Splitting to Alter a Mix in Mastering The Various Roles AI Could Play for Music Production Pros How to Address "Width" in a Master The Business Side of a Mastering Studio An Analog One Stop Shop Mastering Unit How to Setup a Project for Succe...
Nov 21, 2024•52 min•Season 4Ep. 131
Is Mix Tip YouTube Sabotaging Your Potential?
Travis shares how mixing and recording knowledge is shared today versus when he started and explains why the abundance of information can be both empowering and limiting. ⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️ https://www.travisference.com/2025plan 📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspod Connect with Me: 📬 Newsletter: https://www.travisference.com/subscribe 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressionspod 🎵TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@progressionspod 🐦 Twitte...
Nov 14, 2024•10 min•Season 4Ep. 130
Andrew Scheps - A Conversation About the Future of Audio and The Skills You Need to Be a Mix Engineer
Andrew Scheps is a Grammy winning engineer and mixer who has worked with Adele, Jay-Z, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, and many more. We chat about the future of audio recording, the implications of AI, the mindsets you need to succeed, and the skills every engineer must have. In this episode, you'll learn about: How AI Will Integrate into Mixing and Recording What Engineering and Mixing Will Look Like in 5 Years Atmos Lovers vs Atmos Haters Navigating the Ebbs and Flows of a Career in Audio P...
Oct 23, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 129
Is Mixing Dead? - A Pro Mixer's Opinion on The Future of AI in Mixing
Following the announcement of Spike AI, Travis discusses his thoughts on the inevitability of the us of AI in mixing and how it might affect the careers of future generations of engineers and mixers. ⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️ https://www.travisference.com/2025plan 📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspod Connect with Me: 📬 Newsletter: https://www.travisference.com/subscribe 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressionspod 🎵TikTok: https://tiktok.c...
Oct 03, 2024•17 min•Season 4Ep. 128
Brendan Dekora - Finding the Right Studio Clients and Building a Freelance Mixing Career
Brendan Dekora is an engineer and mixer with credits with artists such as Trent Reznor, Foo Fighters, Steven Wilson, and Muse. In this episode, you'll learn about: What You Need to Know as a Freelance Engineer to Align with your Clients Why “Vibe” is More Important than Skills How Authentic Content can be One of Your Best Tools Tips for Remote Mixing and Collaboration How to Navigate Moving into the Co-Production Role Drum Tuning and How to Get Great Drum Sounds How Being in a Major Music City C...
Sep 18, 2024•47 min•Season 4Ep. 127
Sam Fischmann - The TRUTH About Mastering in Modern Music Production (AKA: It's OK To Master Your Own Music)
Sam Fischmann is a cofounder of the audio plugin company Musik Hack. As a software developer and musician he is passionate about demystifying the mastering process and making it accessible to everybody by creating tools that enable musicians to focus more on the creative and less on the technical. In this episode, you'll learn about: The Truth Behind Loudness Standards Where the -14LUFS Target Came From Developing and Trusting Your Own Taste How Machine Learning Can Help Us Build Better Audio To...
Sep 04, 2024•57 min•Season 4Ep. 126
Why Big Credits Won't Change Your Life
Travis discusses the myths that people believe about big credits and how you should actually think of them. ⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️ https://www.travisference.com/2025plan 📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspod Connect with Me: 📬 Newsletter: https://www.travisference.com/subscribe 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressionspod 🎵TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@progressionspod 🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/progressionspod 🌐 Website: https://www....
Aug 22, 2024•8 min•Season 4Ep. 125
Nick Broste - Get Work and Stay Relevant as a Recording Engineer in 2024
Nick Broste is Chicago based audio engineer and musician who specializes in recording bands in ensembles in both studio and live settings. The spirit of removing the obstacles of artistic expression for artists is the driving force for Nick’s approach to recording and always puts the music first. In this episode, you'll learn about: How the Role of the Engineer Changes When There is No Producer The Best Way to Record a Vocalist that is Playing Acoustic Guitar Microphone Polar Patterns and How Th...
Aug 15, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 4Ep. 124
Is the Audio Tech Industry a Scam?
Travis talks about the year he spent NOT buying plug-ins and how the recording studio culture fuels the audio tech industry into trying to sell engineers everything. ⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️ https://www.travisference.com/2025plan 📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspod Connect with Me: 📬 Newsletter: https://www.travisference.com/subscribe 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressionspod 🎵TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@progressionspod 🐦 Twitter: ht...
Aug 01, 2024•10 min•Season 4Ep. 123
Why Music Producers & Engineers Should Make Content | with Marc Matthews
Marc Matthews is a music producer, mastering engineer and the host of the Inside the Mix Podcast. In this episode, you'll learn about: How Social Media and Content Can Be Networking The Value of Having a Strong Core Group of “Music Friends” Making What You Are Passionate About Is the Cost of Higher Education Worth it for Music? How Releasing Something Helps You Relate to Artists The Importance of Being a Life Long Learner Whether AI Mastering Tools Encourage Engineers to Ignore Their Own Sonic T...
Jul 25, 2024•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 122
3 Signs You NEED to Be Freelance
Travis discusses why he quit every staff engineering gig he had and how to know that you're ready to go freelance as a recording engineer, mixer, or producer. ⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️ https://www.travisference.com/2025plan 📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspod Connect with Me: 📬 Newsletter: https://www.travisference.com/subscribe 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressionspod 🎵TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@progressionspod 🐦 Twitter: https://t...
Jul 18, 2024•11 min•Season 4Ep. 121
Harper James - Is the “How” of Production Killing the “Why”?
In this episode, you'll learn about: Is Our Musical Taste Nature or Nurture Practicing Minimalism in Process How to Discover Your Sonic Preferences Is Our Musical Tastes Nature or Nurture How to Discover Your Sonic Preferences Why A-B Tests are a Sales Psy-Op How We Are Too Concerned with the Process of Making Records vs The Outcome How to Find Your Sound in the World of Internet Opinions What’s Worth Worrying About Connect with Harper James: 🌐 Website: https://www.harperjamesmusic.com/ 📸 Inst...
Jun 27, 2024•1 hr 35 min•Season 4Ep. 120
5 Habits that Will Put You Ahead of 99% of the Music Industry
In this episode Travis breaks down the five productivity tips that help him find work life balance and still deliver on a high level for his clients. In this episode, you’ll learn about: The Importance of Planning How to Beat Task Overwhelm The Secret to Operating at Your Highest Level Why Your Calendar Is Your Super Power Deep Work ⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️ https://www.travisference.com/2025plan 📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspod Connect with Me: 📬...
Jun 20, 2024•12 min•Season 4Ep. 119
How to Use Automation in Your Music Production Workflow | with Raphael Sepulveda
In this episode, you'll learn about: Soundflow Keyboard Maestro How to Use Automation to Speed up Workflow Why Consistent File Naming So Important Automating Complete Session Delivery and Stem Printing The Power of Pro Tools Track Presets Coding and Automation is a Skill just like playing an instrument How Making Music for Sync Differs from Making Records How to Hit All the Cuts when Composing for Ads Connect with Raphael 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raphaelsepulveda/ Grammy File Nami...
Jun 06, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 4Ep. 118
18 Years of Music Career Advice in 18 Minutes
From making coffee and sweeping floors to credits with Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons, and Ariana Grande... Travis breaks down the mindsets that have helped his career so far. In this episode, you'll learn about: The Engineering Philosophies that Get You Hired How to ACTUALLY Network The Importance of Business Avoiding Perfectionism Defining Success What He Wishes He Knew Before Starting in Studios ⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️ https://www.travisference.com/2025plan 📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTU...
May 30, 2024•19 min•Season 4Ep. 117
Will Atmos Replace Stereo?! A Conversation with Atmos Music Pioneer Steve Genewick
Steve Genewick is a recording engineer and mixer with over 30 years of experience working in some of the biggest studios in the world. In addition to being one of the top call engineers for big band, jazz, and orchestra sessions, Steve was also one of the first music mixers to work in Dolby Atmos. Many of the techniques he pioneered have shaped the people mix in the format today. In this episode, you'll learn about: How Atmos Could Replace Stereo How To Mix Stereo and Atmos at the Same Time Why ...
May 23, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Season 4Ep. 116
The Myth of Talent: How to Get World Class at Anything
Travis breaks down science of how to master any skill based on the research of Daniel Coyle and his book “The Talent Code” In this episode, you'll learn about: Hotbeds of Talent Throughout the World How to Build Skill Like You Build Muscle Myelin and the Role it Plays in Skill Mastering The Benefits of Deep Practice and How to Do It ⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️ https://www.travisference.com/2025plan 📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspod Connect with Me: 📬...
May 16, 2024•13 min•Season 4Ep. 115
What NOT to Do With an Opportunity
Travis reflects on the latest episode’s success on YouTube and how overweighting the follow up to a big win can prevent you from building on that momentum. In this episode, you'll learn about: Why we put so much weight on our next move after a big success or failure How overweighting opportunities have been setbacks for his mix career How “Quantity” plays into your career growth When to transition into the “Quality” phase of your career. ⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️ https://www.travisferenc...
May 09, 2024•12 min•Season 4Ep. 114
Is Mastering Dead? A Pro Mixer’s Opinion
Travis discusses how the democratization of technology and an oversimplified view of the mastering process is threatening to ruin it all together. In this episode you'll learn, How Technology is Rapidly Changing Mastering A Quick History of Mastering What the True Value of Mastering Is Should You Be Paying for Mastering ⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️ https://www.travisference.com/2025plan 📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspod Connect with Me: 📬 Newsletter: ...
May 02, 2024•10 min•Season 4Ep. 113
Prioritization, Goals, and Q1 2024 in Review
Travis reflects on the first quarter of 2024 and how he's prioritizing the next three months. In this episode, you'll learn about: Travis Reviews his Goals from Q1 2024 How Prioritization Drives Progress Progressions Website Updates Takeaways from the Latest Episodes ⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️ https://www.travisference.com/2025plan 📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspod Connect with Me: 📬 Newsletter: https://www.travisference.com/subscribe 📸 Instagram: ...
Apr 17, 2024•16 min
Gregg Lehrman, CEO of Output - How AI Will Transform Music and Creativity FOREVER
Gregg Lehrman is a music composer, producer, technologist, and entrepreneur. As the founder and CEO of Output, Gregg is working to inspire creativity for musicians with their groundbreaking suite of music production tools, which now includes their AI tool, Co-Producer. As a composer his work can be heard in countless feature films, TV shows, and ad campaigns including projects for the Smithsonian, Daily Show, Apple, Avatar, The Avengers, and Saturday Night Live. In this episode, you'll learn abo...
Apr 10, 2024•53 min•Season 4Ep. 112
Beating Burnout: How I Saved My Music Career
Everybody in the music industry expects to overwork and burnout at some point, but what if you didn't have to? What if you could avoid burnout altogether? It took getting to the point of hating every session I did to realize that we've been lied to about where burnout comes from. In this episode, you'll learn about: What Led Travis to Burnout How We Should ACTUALLY Be Thinking About Burnout What to Do When It Happens ⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️ https://www.travisference.com/2025plan 📺 WAT...
Apr 03, 2024•6 min•Season 4Ep. 111
Matt Rifino - 4000 Songs and Counting: Mixing the NBC Today Show
Matt Rifino is the music mixer for the NBC Today Show where he’s mixed over 4000 songs for some of the biggest artists in the world and received 5 Emmy’s over the course of his 20 years on staff. He also works with independent artists out of Studio C at the Barbershop Studios. In this episode, you'll learn about: Live Broadcast Mixing vs Studio Mixing Calibrating a Hybrid Mix Setup Mixing for 5.1 with the Stereo Downmix in Mind Working in NYC Recording Studios in the 90s and Early 2000s Why He S...
Mar 27, 2024•56 min•Season 4Ep. 110
Venus Theory: The Problem with Your Creative Career
Venus Theory is a sound designer, musician and content creator. His sound design work can be found in products from companies like UVI, Lunacy Audio, Arturia, and Spitfire Audio. On YouTube, his videos have inspired hundreds of thousands of creators and given them the tools and mindsets they need to a build their careers. In this episode, you’ll learn about: The Power of Practice and Why You Have to Start Bad What it Takes to Sustain a Creative Career Why More Musicians Should Identify as Creato...
Mar 13, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 4Ep. 109
The Music AI is Coming For Us! ...and other News from February 2024
Travis reviews his take aways from February and shares his thoughts on the current state of AI in the music industry and how we can prepare for it. Mentioned in the Episode: Suno AI YouTube Dream Tracks GET YOUR FREE RATE WORKSHEET ⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️ https://www.travisference.com/2025plan 📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspod Connect with Me: 📬 Newsletter: https://www.travisference.com/subscribe 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressio...
Mar 06, 2024•23 min
Streamline Your Mixing: A Guided Workflow Audit
In this episode,Travis Ference, a Grammy nominated recording engineer, examines his own mixing process through a detailed workflow audit. Follow along and analyze your own process in what is meant to be an interactive guide to optimize music production and mixing workflows for audio professionals. In this episode, you'll learn about: Travis' System from Initial Client Contact to Final Mix Delivery How to Analyze and Improve your Workflow Automations to Speed Up Workflow How Travis Plans to Impro...
Feb 28, 2024•15 min•Season 4Ep. 108
Capturing Hit Record Moments: Vocal Production Tips with Dana Nielsen
Dana Nielsen is a Grammy nominated recording engineer, mixer, and producer who's worked with artists such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers, SZA, Bob Dylan, Adele, and Post Malone. In this episode, you'll learn about: Vocal Production Techniques The Importance of Headphone Mixes The Art of Editing Musically Melodyne Vocal Tuning Tips Working with Rick Rubin Understanding Production is about the People, Not the Tools Running a 2nd Record Rig at All Times Translating Your Taste to Your Production Choic...
Feb 21, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 4Ep. 107
How to Set Your Rate: Defining Your Value as a Music Freelancer
Knowing what to charge is one of the hardest parts of working as a freelancer. In this episode Travis discusses how tracking his time for the last five years has helped him confidently define his rates and shares tips for how you can best determine what to charge for your services as a music production professional. In this episode, you'll learn about: How to determine your average hourly wage Why you need to understand your expenses How to make more money without directly raising your rate GET ...
Feb 14, 2024•11 min•Season 4Ep. 106
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