April 19–20 | 10AM–5PM | $495

Join Sweetwater Studios’ Shawn Dealey for a two-day, intensive recording workshop with Nashville-based rock duo Lips Speak Louder as we take a song from start to finish in Studio A. Shawn will take you through the process of everything from setting up the studio for recording to tracking and overdubbing to editing and mixing. You’ll learn to comp, edit, mix, apply EQ and effects, and make final decisions to perfect your mix. Your experience in this workshop will help you draw out the best in the musicians’ projects you record in your own studio.

This workshop is based around the creative recording process. We use Avid Pro Tools, but all the techniques can be used in a variety of different workflows. We recommend you have a basic knowledge of recording and some experience working in a DAW to attend this class.

April 19-20
10AM–5PM
$495

Join Sweetwater Studios’ Shawn Dealey for a two-day, intensive recording workshop with Nashville-based rock duo Lips Speak Louder as we take a song from start to finish in Studio A. Over two days in the studio, Shawn will take you through the process of everything from setting up the studio for recording to tracking and overdubbing all the way through editing and mixing. You’ll learn to comp, edit, mix, apply EQ and effects, and make final decisions to perfect your mix. Your experience in this workshop will help you draw out the best in the musicians’ projects you record in your own studio.

This workshop is based around the creative recording process. We use Avid Pro Tools, but all the techniques can be used in a variety of different workflows. We recommend you have a basic knowledge of recording and some experience working in a DAW to attend this class.

MEET THE INSTRUCTOR — SHAWN DEALEY

MEET THE INSTRUCTOR
SHAWN DEALEY

Equally comfortable mixing in an arena or a recording studio, Shawn Dealey has spent the last 20 years developing his craft as an in-demand recording engineer, mixer, and producer. Working with artists such as Counting Crows, Goo Goo Dolls, Jared James Nichols, KEN mode, Bootsy Collins, Propagandhi, the Weakerthans, and countless others, Shawn’s passionate approach to the art of recording, along with his hunger for new techniques, specifically Dolby Atmos mixing, keep him at the top of his game and can help you excel at yours.

MEET LIPS SPEAK LOUDER

It didn’t take long for Rachel Brandsness and Angela Lese — the ultra-talented pairing behind Nashville-based Lips Speak Louder — to realize they had a strong musical connection. Brandsness (guitar, vocals) and Lese (drums, background vocals) have seen and heard plenty during their combined 30-plus years of performing, touring, and recording across numerous musical genres. Lips Speak Louder holds nothing back in delivering a sound that is melodic yet edgy with catchy hooks that pack a punch. One minute, it evokes the raw alt-rock of the ’90s, and the next it commandeers the emotional indie rock of the 2000s that Brandsness and Lese grew up on and revere.

TOPICS & TECHNIQUES WE’LL COVER

DAY 1 — FRIDAY, APRIL 19

Overdubbing, Comping, and Preparing Tracks for Mixing

The basics of tracking a session
Setting up a tracking session
Choosing mics and positioning them for the best sound
EQing instrument sounds in the studio
Choosing the right outboard gear and where to patch it in
Setting up headphone mixes
Keeping musicians inspired
Tracking a session with Shawn and the band
Auditioning different mics and processing chains
Overdubbing instruments, multiple takes, and more

DAY 2 — SATURDAY, APRIL 20

Mixing to Yield Professional-sounding Results

Comping, editing, and mixing to yield professional-sounding results
Comping tracks — how to choose and assemble the best takes
Editing and finessing tracks with Pro Tools and third-party plug-ins
Prepping tracks for the mix session
How and when to use compression, EQ, and effects
Setting up a mix, including routing and grouping in your DAW
Employing automation to enhance the mixing process
Connecting outboard gear across your mix bus
Getting the most out of bus compression/processing
Making the final tweaks – how to decide when the mix is done
Deciding whether you need professional mastering
Knowing what mixes and mix versions you need to send to mastering

About Sweetwater Studios Workshops:

Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Paul Gilbert

Richie Faulkner

Imagine walking into a world-class studio and being coached by pro mentors while recording industry heavy hitters as you learn the trade, tackle new techniques, and overcome real-world, live-session challenges. Plus, because we’re a working studio serving an ever-evolving roster of incredible performers from a wide variety of genres, there’s always something new to learn. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned producer — if you’re passionate about making great recordings in a world-class, multi-studio facility, you’re in for an over-the-top treat!