Episode 90

Stephen DeAcutis: Working With Analog Gear

Stephen DeAcutis has been working professionally as a mixer, producer, engineer, writer, and performer since the early 1980’s, having honed his skills and training under such studio heavyweights as Andy Wallace (Rage Against the Machine, Nirvana), Kevin Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith), and Max Norman (Ozzy Osbourne) amassing credits that include such acts as Vanilla Fudge, Gladys Knight, Travers and Appice, Corey Glover, and Cyndi Lauper, to name a few.

He has been contracted by Sony, Interscope, LaFace, Miramax, Columbia, MTV, The Speed Channel, ESPN, Discovery, and numerous others.  From hard hitting rock and pop to death metal and country, you'll find few more experienced and musically intuitive than Stephen DeAcutis.

The achievements of mixing and production specialist Stephen DeAcutis have spanned decades, taken on several roles, and manifested into a diverse number of musical genres. But the common thread throughout these accomplishments has been the artist-friendly attention to detail and dedication of the man collaborators affectionately call “Stevie D.”

As the founder and operator of Sound Spa Productions, Stephen has applied his craft as a mixer, producer, engineer, composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist to help guide and realize the visions of some of the industry’s most elite artists and musicians.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

  • Taking the time to get sounds right at the source
  • Why “fixing it in the mix” doesn’t work
  • Achieving a “meter-stick” mix
  • Drum replacement
  • Why putting limitations on yourself can actually make for better results
  • Creating efficiencies with an analog setup
  • How recording at the same levels every single time can improve your speed
  • Reducing the number of decisions you need to make while mixing
  • Recording guitars with DIs
  • Finding the optimal mic positioning with guitar amps

To learn more about Stephen DeAcutis, visit http://www.soundspa.net/

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About the Podcast

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About your host

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Mike Indovina

Mike Indovina is a recording, mixing, and mastering engineer who has worked with hundreds of artists in multiple genres ranging from acoustic, pop/rock, hip hop, and more. In his time, he's been fortunate to work alongside artists such as KISS, Collective Soul, Ed Robertson (Barenaked Ladies), David Usher, and many more.

He's also the author of two Amazon #1 Bestsellers on music production, "The Mixing Mindset" and "The Recording Mindset.