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Music Production
Audiology
Mastering Engineering
Hearing Protection
Digital Audio Workstations
Mixing and Mastering
In-Ear Monitors
Hearing Loss
Musicians
Mixing Techniques
Mixing
NAMM
Film Scoring
Video Game Music
Tinnitus
Edm
AI In Music
Studio One
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Microphone Techniques

"Sound Discussion" is a monthly podcast hosted by Ben Holmes, Nate Kelmes, and Neil Merchant. Each episode, we roll up our sleeves and dive into practical topics surrounding music production, recording, songwriting, mixing, and mastering.

Join us for candid conversations that demystify the creative and technical aspects of music making. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, our hosts... more

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Artwork for Sound Discussion

Latest Episodes

After more than 500 episodes of  @RecordingStudioRockstars , Lij Shaw has spent countless hours exploring how other producers, engineers, and artists make great records. In this episode, we flip the script and explore the artist behind the podcast.

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YouTube

Just a heads up! We are switching to sequential episodes away from seasons.

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Big thanks to  @ChordElectronicsLtd  for supporting this episode. Their British-built DACs and headphone amps bring true studio-level detail into the listening experien... more

YouTube

Big thanks to chordelectronics.co.uk/ for supporting this episode. Their British-built DACs and headphone amps bring true studio-level detail into the listening experience, with gear used everywhere from hi-fi setups to world-class studios.

more

YouTube

Join us as we explore the world of DIY music gear, circuit building, and the passion for creating unique soundscapes with Nick Vivid. Discover how building your own equipment can transform your music production and performance. In this episode, Nick ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Lij Shaw
Award-winning producer and owner of Toy Box Studio
Toy Box Studio (Nashville, TN)
Episode: Lij Shaw: From Recording Studio Rockstars to Rediscovering the Artist Within
Tom Vaughan
Engineer and bassoonist at Chord Electronics
Chord Electronics
Episode: Tom Vaughan - Chord Electronics
Sylvia Massy
Producer and engineer known for fearless, boundary-pushing techniques
Independent/Recording Artist & Studio Owner
Episode: Sylvia Massy: The Art of Fearless Recording
Nick Vivid
Artist, engineer, circuit builder, studio owner, DIY touring manager
Independent
Episode: Crafting Your Unique Sound - Nick Vivid
Jim Haviland
Audio engineer, producer, and Seattle scene insider who worked in major studios and on pivotal records
Independent/Studio X/Bad Animals lineage mentioned
Episode: Inside Seattle’s 90s Music Scene with Jim Haviland
Mike Senior
Audio engineer; behind Mixing Secrets and Recording Secrets
Mike Senior / Cambridge Music Production
Episode: Mike Senior Returns!
Marc Matthews
Creator of Inside The Mix podcast; music production and mixing educator
Inside The Mix
Episode: Podcast Growth for Music Producers with Marc Matthews
Nate Saggio
Producer, mixer, and artist discussed as guest.
Cleveland-based musician and producer
Episode: Nate Saggio: Creating With Limits and Intention
Gregor Beyerle
Software, Product Specialist at PreSonus (Fender)
PreSonus (Fender)
Episode: Gregor Beyerle on Studio One, Workflows, and the Future of DAWs

Hosts

Ben Holmes
Host of Sound Discussion
Nate Kelmes
Host of Sound Discussion
Neil Merchant
Host of Sound Discussion

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 23 ratings
  • Exceptional content!

    These episodes just continue to amaze me, and really serve to expand my thoughts on how I approach my music. So much great content that is truly thought provoking, educational, and entertaining, all at the same time. Thanks guys for the effort you are putting into this! I know that I personally benefit from this and I’m always looking forward to the next episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Don M - Coastal Audio Works
    Canada2 years ago
  • IMPOSTER

    Thank you guys, really enjoyed the podcast. I am encouraged after hearing that you all have similar misgivings about your talents and have given it a name: Imposter Syndrome. I am 72 and am currently going thru Home Studio Corner recording, mixing and mastering, along with a guitar course, (Guitar Mastery Method) I can hear my inner voice saying at least twice a week, “you should just stop all this nonsense and do something productive, you’re not up to par!”

    It’s when I have trouble with a new ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bendenite
    United States2 years ago
  • Sounds Promising

    I just found out about this podcast through Joe Gilder. Enjoyed the first podcast immensely. I’m looking forward to future episodes and keep the information flowing gentlemen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rowens1777
    United States2 years ago
  • Great podcast!

    You had me at Joe Gilder! Haha. Although I’ve only just dipped my toe into the music world, hearing from these guys is encouraging and entertaining. Even as I am newb, I can tell they are smart and experienced. Thanks for the listen! Good luck with future episodes!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dbogz
    United States2 years ago
  • Very good.

    A generally useful and normal level talk. It’s like having coffee with your friends who are all growing through the same things you are.

    Subscribed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lesstubeeveryday
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the down-to-earth, hobbyist-friendly approach.
Guests bring real-world experience; topics stay focused on music creation.
Well-produced insights that are practical and instantly useful.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tom Vaughan - Chord Electronics
Q: If upgrading one thing in a modest home studio, what gives the biggest return?
The hosts and Vaughan converge on prioritizing the listening interface—quality headphones or monitors—because the listening reference drives decisions across the workflow, and better electronics amplify what you hear and fix, or reveal, issues in the mix.
Tom Vaughan - Chord Electronics
Q: Is it vital for studios to have high-end DACs given people listen on phones and car systems?
Vaughan argues that while many listeners use modest setups, upgrade of the monitoring chain remains important for producers and engineers to hear more detail, along with room treatment and headphones, to ensure the recorded music translates well across playback systems.
Tom Vaughan - Chord Electronics
Q: What am I going to hear that's different?
Vaughan explains that the DAC's ability to look beyond two samples, consider surrounding samples, and predict the waveform between samples yields a more accurate, natural reproduction, which listeners perceive as more 'real' and emotionally engaging.
Lij Shaw: From Recording Studio Rockstars to Rediscovering the Artist Within
Q: What inspired the shift from primarily engineering to writing and releasing music of your own?
He explains that the drive to create, especially after helping others realize their musical dreams, grew louder as he aged, and that balancing collaboration with personal artistic goals became essential to staying fulfilled.
Lij Shaw: From Recording Studio Rockstars to Rediscovering the Artist Within
Q: Can you tell us about your origin story and how you ended up in Nashville?
Lij describes moving from Boston to Nashville via years of exploration in architecture and music, discovering a passion for recording and engineering, and ultimately choosing Nashville as a place to build records and a career.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Sound Discussion

What is Sound Discussion about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, hands-on show focused on music production, recording, mixing, and mastering. Across episodes, the hosts and guests share real-world techniques, gear philosophies, and studio workflows—from DIY setups and budget gear to on-site tracking and live-room strategies. Conversations blend technical tips with personal anecdotes, industry trends, and a healthy respect for craft over brand-name gear, making it a solid resource for engineers, producers, and musicians looking to improve their process and sound. Notable touches include a strong DIY ethos, deep dives into hardware and software workflows, and thoughtful discussions about the evolving role of AI and technology in music creation.

Where can I find podcast stats for Sound Discussion?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Sound Discussion. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Sound Discussion and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Sound Discussion get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Sound Discussion, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Sound Discussion?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Sound Discussion, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Sound Discussion have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Sound Discussion has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Sound Discussion?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sound Discussion:

1. Master Your Mix Podcast

How many episodes of Sound Discussion are there?

Sound Discussion launched 3 years ago and published 31 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Sound Discussion?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Sound Discussion?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Sound Discussion from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Sound Discussion?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Sound Discussion. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Sound Discussion?

Recent guests on Sound Discussion include:

1. Lij Shaw
2. Tom Vaughan
3. Sylvia Massy
4. Nick Vivid
5. Jim Haviland
6. Mike Senior
7. Marc Matthews
8. Nate Saggio

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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