TSRB Podcast 045 - Happy Holidays

[00:00:00] Benedikt: [00:00:00] I just, yeah, I just didn't know. It was the word for that. I Alika it's the German word for it. I know that. 

Malcom: [00:00:05] Yeah. Oh, of course.

Benedikt: [00:00:09] Yeah, whatever. I mean, so I think it's one of the most disgusting things on the planet. This is the self recording band podcast, the show where we help you make exciting records on your own, wherever you are, DIY style. Let's go.

Hello and welcome to. The self recording band podcast. I am your host Ben at the time, and I'm here with my friend and cohost Malcolm Owen flood. How are you? Hello? 

Malcom: [00:00:38] Hello. I'm great, man. I'm good. I'm like three cups of coffee in ready to go. We've been talking about gear and studio upgrades and move and all sorts of stuff already before we jumped into this.

So it's a good morning so far, man. How are you? 

Benedikt: [00:00:51] I'm good as well. Thanks a little. I mean, I think this year was just a little too much. Uh, so yeah, 

Malcom: [00:00:58] it kind of feels, 

[00:01:00] Benedikt: [00:01:00] feel the stress and everything, so I'm good, but also exhausted to be honest. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. 

Malcom: [00:01:08] Yeah. I, uh, I mean like, you know, time is just a construct, man.

It's all, you know, whatever is, is a year, but I mean, I mean a year is a scientific thing as well, but at the same time, it shouldn't really like, it's not like 20, 21 is. In nature just different than 2020, right. It's the same seasons happened, but, uh, I really am stoked that 20, 2017, all that said, I'm like, Oh God.

Benedikt: [00:01:34] Yeah, exactly, exactly. Same here. It's things have been completely different than what I expected them to be. Like. We all expected something different, I guess. And, uh, yeah, I dunno. I'm also thinking the same as you did, just like. I don't know if it's going to be better as soon as we 21, because like all the things that didn't get done will still not be done in 2021.

And we still need to figure [00:02:00] things out and we still, uh, yeah, the whole COVID thing will not be over. I don't know. But. 

Malcom: [00:02:07] Yeah. Unfortunately, it's not a light switch that we just got to flick at new years. Nope, 

Benedikt: [00:02:12] Nope. Not at all. But I still think that we should like take a little break at the end of this like constructs.

So that is a year. And like just take a little break, reflect on maybe what 2020 taught us. Um, because there are some things that. Yeah, that, I mean, there's always something positive, you know, in, Oh, you can see and stuff in like even a year like this. And there's been a lot of things that this year has taught myself.

And I just think it's time to reflect a little, think about what we can do differently next year. Even if next year is not going to be any different or better, even like, let's say it's going to be even worse or it's going to be the same or whatever. Maybe we can react to it differently. Maybe we can do [00:03:00] different things despite the situation.

Like, I think it's worth thinking about that stuff. And the number one thing that it taught me was that I'm a very, I figured out that I'm a very, very impatient person. I always knew I am, but like, I'm more impatient than I even thought I was, I would be. So, um, I kinda was a Dick to myself sometimes because I would get frustrated over things that I didn't get done and like, Uh, sometimes I blamed it on myself.

Sometimes I blamed it on the year, but bottom line is I did my best. Some things didn't get done or will get done later, but I just, yeah, I just, I need to be more patient. I need to be a little more calm. Um, and I, yeah, it's like, like the stoic thing where you can't control certain things that happen, but you can't control how you react to them.

That's the thing that I need to really. [00:04:00] Remember in June, 2021 and just be okay with whatever happens as long as I do my best, I guess. Yeah. 

Malcom: [00:04:07] The start of this whole thing, that 2020 started in January. Whoa. But like, it really started in March when, when the world shut down, that was like, that's like really what I feel like the era that we're living in right now began, um, and.

I think like a lot of people got depressed, um, to some, some descent or some degree in that period. And I was thinking about that, cause I definitely went through a weird phase, um, where it's just like, you know, life was flipped upside down and, and. I was thinking about it. And it was like, I had to come face to face with what was an obstacle versus an excuse.

And what I had been saying were obstacles were now just excuses because I had all the time in the world to accomplish things. Right. Um, and they still weren't getting done. So like, what was that about? And that was like a weird thing for me, but like, I feel like I learned a lot through that [00:05:00] and I don't know, overall I'm actually thrilled with what was accomplished this year.

It was just. Harder to do it than usual. 

Benedikt: [00:05:11] Yeah, I kind of, I kind of agree, 

Malcom: [00:05:13] but if the world flipped back to normal right now, we're all like better trained athletes in a sense, like we've, we've learned how to do things in worse circumstances. So if we get back to it, easier way of living, we're just going to be like prime to machines, ready to go.

Um, like the amount of musicians that have developed recording skills this year with, or without our podcast is incredible. Um, my, my mixing skills are, are way ahead, you know, like, like my remote workflow is just like a new animal as well. Um, like all of these new kind of skill sets that we've just had to maybe we already use, but now it had to be developed to another level to continue to thrive are just.

They're they're better than they were. So I think that's something we can be grateful for. 

Benedikt: [00:05:57] Totally, totally. It's interesting. You say [00:06:00] that way, because for me it was kind of, I agree with what you said, but for me it was kind of the opposite way around. So when this all started in spring, I was like, well, Like it's the shitty situation, but at the same time, I was kinda happy for the extra time that I got.

And I thought, well, that's like, for me personally, like time-wise, that's a perfect timing because I can now finish my course and work on all this stuff because nothing else is happening, you know? So I figured even like boost my productivity, I would get my course done faster and people would need it more than ever not now.

And so I thought it's the perfect situation for that thing. Not in general, of course, but. But then I realized that this wasn't true because I have a family and I have a life outside of audio and business and stuff, and they of course needed me and I wanted to be with them because we like current quarantine.

And like all the, like staying at home a lot, kindergarten is closed and everything I needed [00:07:00] to be with my family more than before. And I didn't want to leave them alone. As much. And so that's, 

Malcom: [00:07:07] that's kind of what I mean is that, uh, like those, the time was your excuse before all of a sudden everything changed and mind you you're.

Right. You didn't get more time. Um, but we had to like, kind of realize that it's it's life and, and, and circumstance. It's not just like, whatever we're like saying like this is stopping us. It's a lot of stuff stopping us. So we actually had to deal with it, right. Yeah, yeah, 

Benedikt: [00:07:30] yeah. Sorry. No, no. Yeah. It's only right.

Yeah. And then, and then. Later in the year, I sorta started to panic. Like when everyone else was already done with panicking, I started to panic because I realized, Oh God, I'm not getting things done. I'm not getting the course done that I've announced. I don't know when will be when it will ever be done, because all of a sudden my mixing projects, um, came back and I got more work than ever, which is great.

But then the calendar filled up and I need to provide for my family. And that's my main job. So I haven't earned a single, [00:08:00] um, Uh, I haven't heard anything with the self-reporting band yet, so I need to focus on mixing music still. And I had had a lot of work, a lot of great projects to work on, but I looked at my calendar and I saw, and I realized that there's no room left to finish this course and to work on all this, all these things that I had planned.

And the only time window that I had was in spring and that's over and gone. And like, I spent that time with the family a lot, which is great and the right thing to do, but yeah. And then I started to panic because I couldn't see. Uh, the light at the end of the tunnel anymore. And yeah, and then I mixed, I tried to get all these things done.

Um, and now I'm starting to get a little more calm again, and I'm starting to realize that I did everything I could and I just, I had to adjust to the situation and now, but now it's time to also time to stop. Using these [00:09:00] excuses and try, and now it's the time to come up with a new plan. Like most of the projects are over.

Now I can start over again. Now I need to finish everything that I set out to do. And, uh, yeah, that's basically it, but I like, I really panicked. I really had a phase this year where it was hard. It was really, really hard because I was. Saying a couple of times to my wife, for example, that I, maybe I just won't finish this course.

Maybe I just, I'm just going to abandon it because it will never get done, you know, but it did and how it's finished finally uploaded. And I can finally release it in the new year here. And I think it's going to be better than it would have been earlier. So that's also good. I had a chance to improve everything.

Yeah. Yeah. 

Malcom: [00:09:44] Yeah. I mean, and I mean, just think about this podcast. Like we started this recording this podcast before all the COVID stuff happened and now we're like a year and we're over a year since we started recording probably. Right. Yeah. Is that right? Did we, [00:10:00] we checked this other week, but I can't remember what it was, but I'm pretty sure we've, we've passed it now.

Um, which is just amazing, dude. I love that. Um, and. Like we've learned so much about what people want to learn about and, and all that. So like the podcast has come so far in itself. Um, podcasts, meetup, December 31st. That's the one I just found. That's pretty cool. 

Benedikt: [00:10:22] Okay. Then close to here. 

Malcom: [00:10:23] Yeah. Yeah. I mean maybe there was another one, but that's definitely a.

One of them that that's cool. Uh, 

Benedikt: [00:10:32] we made through this podcast as well. The people who have reached out to us, the engagement that grew over the year, um, the opportunities we got through it, like it. Yeah. It's, it's totally something we should be grateful for. Also the fact that we did miss a single week, it's also something that we can, we can be proud of despite this year.

So it's not that we didn't get anything done. We mixed a ton of records. You did, you. Dove into this whole film set, whatever sound world that I have no [00:11:00] idea, but you know, you just did completely new things that you didn't expect yourself probably. And yeah, so we did a lot of things. Just, it was just different than we thought it would be.

Malcom: [00:11:13] It was so different. I mean, when we started this, I was, I had just launched like just launched stone mastery, which is my mastering facing company. And I thought that was going to be like, I thought 12 months from now, that's all I'll be doing. And, uh, the world had different plans for me. Um, I'm doing more mixing than I've ever done in my life now.

And, and a lot of producing still as well. So it's like the, there was, I'm going to butcher it, but, uh, uh, a fellow that we both highly respect, um, Chris Graham said that your career is like a mix of what you want to do. And what people want you to do or something like that. People, the universe of music wanted me to keep mixing and producing the records.

[00:12:00] And, uh, you have, like, I found a fell back into that. I'm still mastering stuff for people, but it's like a total change in what I thought was the future. It is amazing. And then, yeah, and then the TV stuff as well, it's. It's all different. None of my podcasting. I mean, we've, I've got this show with you. I've got my own show.

Uh, and I I'm, so I'm doing hours and hours of podcasting every week, like clockwork and, uh, that, that didn't exist in my life a year ago. 

Benedikt: [00:12:26] Yeah. Yeah, totally, totally. And it's yeah, you're right. It's become so normal now. I can't even think how it was like without podcasting it's so it's so normal. I've done my other podcast for two years.

Now, this one for over a year. Yeah, exactly crazy. But why are we talking about all this? Because I think what we just wanted to use this episode to kind of do a recap of this year to reflect, reflect back on what we've learned from this year. And also to just [00:13:00] wish you happy holidays. Yes. 

Malcom: [00:13:02] Happy holidays.

Benedikt: [00:13:03] Yeah. Happy holidays everyone. And say, thank you for listening to the show, because as we said, we are very grateful for the show and for our audience, for the engagement we get for your messages, for your, um, posts in the Facebook community, for the emails we get, where everything will really grateful and yeah, just happy about all of that.

And we just wanted to let you know that this is the case and we just want it to do. An easy episode saying you that and yeah. Talking about this crappy year and finding some things that weren't as crappy. 

Malcom: [00:13:34] Absolutely. Yeah. Hopefully this podcast and the self recording bank community has been helpful for you through all of this and giving you something to focus on and skills to develop and the tools you need.

Um, Honestly, when I get like a DM from one of you, it's like, it's just like, my day is like, Oh, this is so cool. It's working. People are actually like learning from this. I'm like, it's not just us pissing in the wind. So [00:14:00] people actually find it useful. So that's really cool. Also there's been people reaching out.

Lately that have been like, Oh, like long fan got in on episode two. And I'm like, where have you been? Like, why didn't you reach out before? So if you're one of those lurkers, that's just been listening from afar for an entire year, please reach out. Um, yeah, I mean, we've got the self recording band community on Facebook, which is the best place to reach out to us.

But also, you know, we tote personally on our, our Instagrams and stuff like that. Um, Yeah, I love that. It's cool. Seeing like the stories and it's I like people adding me on Instagram. 

Benedikt: [00:14:34] Yeah. Yeah, totally. I agree. A hundred percent with that. What's also great. Was that I just recently, or like right now I am mixing, it's like the last bigger project of this year.

I'm mixing a record for a band. That they I've known them before, but the person in the band who's doing the recording, the tech person in the band is a listener, um, this podcast. And he's also one of my tests students. He was in the course from the [00:15:00] beginning, even though the course is not even finished yet.

Um, I'm uploading the last couple of videos now, but. He's been like with me and with what he's been following, what we do here and what I do on this platform for about a year or so, or even like a little more than that. And he took everything very seriously. Uh, and he's like the poster child of students, like he's the, you know, like the, he did everything, um, As good as, as well as he could and followed every advice and took everything to heart and really implemented everything.

And now I got his tracks from Hispanic to mix, and these are some of the best mixes that I've ever done. Like just because the source material is so great. And because it's a really, really well done DIY record. Um, so shout out to a love 40 down, that's the name of the band. They delivered tracks that are really like recorded and produced to a pretty high standard.

With minimum, like equipment, like cheap interfaces, couple of great mix, of course, [00:16:00] but like nothing spectacular recorded in them. Basement and rehearsal room and they just took the advice, implemented it, ask questions, improved, make mistakes improved again. And they did that over the course of this year and what they finally delivered.

It's just awesome. So, and that makes me really, really happy because it is proof that it works. It's proof that the course works. It's proved that the podcast has an impact on people. And this is like the best way for me to end this year to listen to these mixes and just be happy that I. Guided the span through the whole process.

Malcom: [00:16:33] Oh, it it's, it's totally making a difference, man, that the tracks I get to mix the same thing. Like just, maybe it's one thing they took away from, from the podcast. And it's just fresh guitar strings, just becoming the joke on the podcast. But honestly, like when I went into the studio with a band and they all had fresh strings, even the bass player and like, I'm like, Yes.

Yes. And it's because they listened to the podcast. I mean maybe, but in this case it [00:17:00] was, I asked, but, um, like it's really helping them and that in turn helps us when we end up doing the mixer master for them. So it's really cool. I'm so happy about it. 

Benedikt: [00:17:11] Yeah. By the way, the guy who always, who attacked us in the comment with the fresh strings meme, This week, that's the guy from this band.

That's twice. That's the basis that I've left 40 down at the, the one who records all their stuff. And he's exactly the guy I was talking about. 

Malcom: [00:17:29] That's great. Yeah. 

Benedikt: [00:17:32] Yep. Um, so yeah, tons of things to be grateful for and. By the way, if you're wondering what course I'm talking about, if you've not like, just recently started listening to the show, um, I've been working on a really, really in-depth recording course for bands record themselves.

It's it's called the self recording band Academy. It's like a flagship course that covers everything from songwriting. Um, to like obviously recording, getting your [00:18:00] equipment right, getting the right equipment, setting everything up room acoustics, tons of like, um, mindset, philosophy sort of lessons. And then of course also the technical engineering part, like all the way through to export and consolidating your files so that you have tracks in the antidote well-produced well engineered, um, that can be turned into solid gold in the mixing process.

So. That's the course that I've been working on. I was planning to release that course way earlier. So I wanted to really sit in spring or summer at the latest, I started doing a better project with a couple of students in February, end of February. Um, 20, 20, but as I said, everything just, uh, went a little different and um, now it took almost a year to get this finished, but now it is finished and I've been uploading videos during the last couple of days and I'm going to release it to the public early 20, 21.

And if you [00:19:00] want to be part of that program, if you want to join that course, if you want to buy the course and. Um, go through the whole program. You can sign up for a waiting list and be the first to know, and you'll also get a little special deal if you do that. So if you go to the self recording band.com/academy waiting list, you can sign up there.

And, um, yeah, you'll be among the first batch of. Students that get the final version of the course. And I can't wait to start this because I now see that it really works. I now see the first results of people who went through the course and yeah, I'm just super excited for it. It took way longer than I planned, but it's been, it's like it turned out even better and it's going to be very, very soon.

So sign up there. That's one thing that I wanted to let you know. And other than that, I have kind of a new year's resolution. That's. A little different because it's actually that I, I want to do less next year. So what I'm going to do is I'm not going to [00:20:00] announce anything new before I've implemented everything that I've already announced this year, because everything went so differently.

So the course, one thing, and also the things that I announced about the podcast and the whole platform. So our interview episodes, the expert episodes, where we ask people from Facebook groups, the like, Community episodes where we include like feedback from our listeners, all that sort of stuff that I've been announcing.

I won't announce anything new. Even like sometimes I just have an idea and I want to put it out there in the world, but I just won't do that now until everything has been done that I wanted to do. So that's sort of my resolution. It's going to be 

Malcom: [00:20:40] this January. Yeah. Sorry. It's going to be a busy January.

Benedikt: [00:20:44] Yeah, exactly. I mean, I don't know if it's going to be all done in January. I just keep on grinding and keep on doing it until it's finished. But what I can say is the course is done and will be out very soon. And what I can also say is the next couple of episodes will be some of those [00:21:00] will be the episodes that have been just talking about.

So next week we'll do an episode where we asked. Like, uh, people who run Facebook groups, popular home, recording, Facebook groups, or audio, Facebook groups in general, we ask them a question and we gonna, we're gonna feature them on our show on the podcast and comment on their advice and give like our advice on the same topic.

So that's going to be the first expert episode. Let's call it that way because these people observe. Thousands of DIY engineers every single day in their groups. And we just figured we were going to ask them what they were like. Yeah. Because they, they probably have the answer to some questions. Um, that's going to be the next episode.

And then we're going to do a couple of interview episodes. I can't really tell you who it's going to be, but we're going to start with, um, interview episodes and yeah, that's how we're going to start off 2021. Great. 

[00:22:00] Malcom: [00:22:00] I'm so stoked. It's going to be fun, man. And I am so glad your course is almost out what we've been building towards this whole time.

So, yeah, that's great. Um, definitely sign up for the, have you pitched the waiting list yet? 

Benedikt: [00:22:16] Yes. The self recording band.com/academy waiting list. Um, and also if you go, if you just go to my website, the self recording band.com. On the top, right? Yeah. There, it says Academy. And you just click on that and you get to the same page.

So you can do the director, go to the self recording, band.com/academy waiting list, or just click Academy on our homepage. And yeah, you can sign up for this waiting list. And, um, you're gonna, I mean, I, I think, or I'm sure if you keep listening to the show, we're going to let you know when the course is available, but still it's worth signing up for that waiting list.

I'm just going to say that. So. Yeah. 

Malcom: [00:22:56] Yeah. I'm sure there's a perk to being in there. So yeah. Do that. [00:23:00] And, uh, yeah, thanks again for listening to everyone. Um, I'm gonna quickly give a shout out to my other podcasts because there has been some crossover and that's really cool to hear that people are liking both podcasts.

So just in case you don't know, I run another podcast called. Your band sucks at business. And it's a business podcast for bands trying to navigate the music industry. So like, you know, trying to find management, marketing, branding, and all that kind of stuff. Um, and actually we've got like a bunch of good guests that have just come out guest episodes and a couple more before the year ends.

So definitely jump on there and check that stuff out. And if you like it again, please connect with us on Instagram and, uh, And, uh, the self recording band page. This is great hearing from you all. And I know there's people that are listening that still haven't done that. So get out there it's, it's where our community lives and it's, it's a cool spot on the internet.

Benedikt: [00:23:49] Totally agreed. Yeah. And I can highly recommend Malcolm's podcast. Um, I've been, I've been late as well with listening to it. I like, I started listening to it a couple of months ago and I haven't [00:24:00] listened to every single episode, but the ones that I've listened to were awesome. I liked the interviews.

Especially. Yeah, 

Malcom: [00:24:06] that's what I was starting to take 

Benedikt: [00:24:07] one, I guess. And I'm sorry. Yeah. It's, it's just a great, a great show in some parts of it really go together well with what we are talking about on this show sometimes because it's a lot about mindset and the mindset and productivity things, especially those are present in both those podcasts and yeah.

Yeah. 

Malcom: [00:24:29] It's honestly, a business podcast or no, it's honestly like a self-improvement mindset podcast disguised as a business podcast with lessons in between. But so much of it is just trying to like sharpen your own, you know, your main tool, which is you. 

Benedikt: [00:24:45] Exactly. So again, what is, what's the URL? Where, where should people go?

If you want to check out your podcast, 

Malcom: [00:24:51] uh, your band sucks@business.com or just, you know, any podcast app, Spotify or whatever. You'll find it as well. 

Benedikt: [00:24:57] Awesome. Very, very cool. Yeah, [00:25:00] do that. So, um, let's wrap it up again. Happy holidays, everyone. And, uh, take a, take a break as well. Think best reflects. Think about what this year has taught you, what you might or might not do differently next year.

Hope you can find some positive things as well in all of that and, uh, excited for what's to come. Yeah, 

Malcom: [00:25:21] have a Ramit and eggnog and a worse ramen eggnog. So not a thing in Germany,

man. I've already had like an entire card in the bag dog, but not today. Obviously I wouldn't, I'd be pretty belligerent, but uh, yeah, ramen eggnog. That's the thing, man. You gotta try it. If you like egg knock, you have to like eggnog. 

Benedikt: [00:25:47] I still didn't understand what you even talking about, man. 

Malcom: [00:25:50] Do you know what eggnog is?

No. Okay. Wow. All right. Uh, I don't know how to explain this. It's like a very creamy drink. Um, [00:26:00] what is eggnog in Germany? 

Benedikt: [00:26:03] Heck no, I'm just gonna, I guess I can't. Uh, is it it's eggnog? Oh yeah. I just, yeah, I just didn't know. It was the word for that. Eierlikör it's the German word for it. I know that. Yeah.

Malcom: [00:26:17] Oh, of course, Eierlikör.

Benedikt: [00:26:20] Yeah. Um, Yeah, whatever. I mean, whatever you want. So I think it's one of the most disgusting things on the planet.

Malcom: [00:26:33] Yeah. It's all right. If you like it, have a, have a cup of Ireland or whatever it was called.

Alright. Let's let's wrap this up before we lose any more listeners. Exactly. All right. Okay. See ya. See you next week. 

Benedikt: [00:26:50] Bye.