Episode 90 - Jon Castelli
Show Notes:
Live with Matt Rad - Episode 90
April 26, 2022
w/ Jon Castelli - Week 73
Show notes by: Bradley Will
Atmos Mixing
Jon:
Apple devices are now defaulting to having Spatial Audio on by default, so mixers need to be careful that their clients aren’t hearing their mixes for the first time with this feature enabled, or else they may get the wrong impression about the work that you’ve done when it doesn’t translate as intended.
Quite often I prefer the stereo fold-down of my Atmos mix to my stereo mix that I did for the same song.
‘Older’ by Gracie Abrams is a good example to compare.
Mike Miller and I have discovered how to mitigate most of the short reverb effect that listeners get on stereo Atmos mixes.
If you hear a great Atmos mix in the room, there is nothing like it. However, if my experience doesn’t translate to the stereo fold-down that everyone else is hearing then I’m not doing my job.
PSA: Turn off head tracking when you listen to anything other than video games.
Q: What is the approach you have to mixing a record with a sample?
Matt:
I’ve only ever done it on tracks that I’ve produced and the sound is already where I want it.
You have to ask “what is the sample doing in the song”?
That will inform how you treat it. Listen to what it’s complimenting and how it adds up in the track.
Jon:
When mixing in Atmos you have to do a lot more work to give the sample a sense of space.
In stereo I tend to leave it where it’s at, based on how the producer sent it.
Sometimes the sample rip isn’t of high quality, so I’m trying to reinstate some of the missing lower harmonics.
I’m assessing how the drums in the sample are reinforcing and interacting with the added drums.
Don’t be afraid of splitting the sample into sections throughout the song.
Treat the sample section by section and act accordingly.
Sometimes you need to put it on a new track and do some filtering to accentuate the focal point of the sample.
What’s something you wish you’d known earlier in your career?
Jon:
Take things less personally.
Matt:
Just enjoy yourself more and don’t stress out so much.
Be honest with yourself about what you’re good at and then either take the opportunity to improve at those things or collaborate with people who are good at them.
That communal component of this is important.
Know how to pick good people.
Don’t get deep into business with people who aren’t trustworthy or unreliable.
Be smart about the decisions that you make getting involved with others.
This is something I see people early in their career stumble over the most as they’re learning.
Who you work with is more important than what you’re working on. This is how you’re going to have the most career success.
If you’re going to pick a manager or an attorney don’t just pick them based on your conversations with them. Pick them based on what other people will tell you about them.
Do the things that make you uncomfortable.
Q: When did you experience the most rapid period of growth in your career?
Jon:
I can think of three times that that happened:
When I was in Long Island with my studio and people started to come in with work that was going to be released professionally.
When Tony Maserati brought me on to collaborate on a mix with him.
Leaving Tony and having to do it for myself and prove myself.
After I had my first hit song with Khalid’s ‘Talk’. I then had 300+ songs to mix in the next year and I had to improve my output.
Matt:
When I have an intense commitment to the thing that I’m doing.
My first One Direction gig.
When I first started working for Eric Valentine.
Getting into a place that has high stakes and high pressure will up your game. Though I don’t always recommend it.
It’s taken a lot of stress and a lot of focus to get to this point. That’s where the rapid growth comes in.
If you put yourself into a high stakes scenario it will focus your brain.
Q: Any tips on forecasting the timelines of projects? How do you deal with this as a producer balancing multiple projects?
Jon:
I’ve never missed a deadline by it being my fault. Ever.
It’s always been a missed file.
If someone asks me to deliver at a certain time then I say yes and have it to them on schedule.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
I’m working to complete your project as quickly as possible because I understand what it means to be excited about the momentum of the project.
Matt:
The reliability and consistency of delivering is a big part of why people get hired.
It’s difficult to manage these deadlines.
The immediate questions is always “when can I hear things by?”
I try to be very communicative with my clients.
If it’s not looking like I’ll make the deadline for the production then I reach out and let them know as early as I can.
Consistent communication is very important. Give the team updates as you go along.
This is what really separates people from those who can make good-sounding stuff and those who get it done.
Jon:
If you’re a producer and you’re making an album with an artist in a month, then you can budget out that time more predictably. The expectations are different because you’re focused entirely on them.
Quite often we should be writing and producing for 2-3 days out of the week and then the remaining days should be spent mixing and finishing the records.
Matt:
The ability to juggle multiple projects is what allows some very successful people to be successful.
No matter what the timelines are they are someone who can be relied on to deliver.
Q: How do you think about mix moves translating live?
Matt:
On the production end, it’s important to consider where the music will be played. A stadium? The club? Someone’s home? and then tailoring the sounds/song to that environment.
It’s important to think about the context for the song.
Jon:
If you’re mixing for someone who’s playing stadium music you don’t want to deliver a super maxed-out loud mix. The PA system wants a dynamic mix that’s stemmed out and with which and Music Director can mix it to be as impactful as possible.
Matt:
Things are less band oriented these days, but sometimes it’s important to visit the band at a show and experience their live show.
