Master Your Mix Podcast

Brian Rajaratnam is an American audio engineer best known for his Grammy-winning work on Flowers by Miley Cyrus. He won a Grammy Award at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards for his contributions to the global hit, collaborating alongside Kid Harpoon, Tyler Johnson, Michael Pollack, Spike Stent, and Joe LaPorta. The song became one of the most commercially successful releases of 2023, surpassing one billion streams on Spotify and earning six Grammy nominations. Rajaratnam received two nominations connected to the project and was ultimately recognized in the Best Engineer/Mixer category for his role in shaping the record’s polished, radio-dominant sound.
Born and raised in New Jersey to Sri Lankan parents who immigrated to the United States, Rajaratnam initially pursued a pre-med track in New York with aspirations of becoming a doctor, following a traditional path often encouraged within South Asian families. However, midway through his studies, he made the pivotal decision to leave medicine behind and commit fully to music—a passion rooted in childhood visits to Sri Lanka, where he first learned piano at his aunt’s home before expanding to multiple instruments. Determined to build a career in the music industry, he enrolled at Berklee College of Music, earning a degree in audio engineering in 2017. After graduation, he worked his way up through studio roles, eventually becoming an assistant to Kid Harpoon and contributing to major projects, culminating in his breakthrough success as an award-winning engineer on “Flowers.”
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Why “nothing really matters” when tracking
Transitioning from pre-med studies to audio engineering
Being open to diverse projects
Building confidence in your skills
Having flexibility with your workflow
Anticipating the next move
Working on Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers”
Making revisions to your songs
Compartmentalizing the stages of your workflow
What great vocal engineering consists of
Setting up your sessions for speed
Recording Kings Of Leon
Getting solid bass tones
Tracking with compression

To learn more about Brian Rajaratnam, visit: https://www.soundbetter.com/profiles/278196-brian-rajaratnam
Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?
Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:
https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?
For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/
Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/
Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:
The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Check out our Sponsors:
Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?
Send them to [email protected]

Please leave a rating and review:
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Nathan Yarborough is a Grammy-nominated recording engineer based in Nashville, TN. His credits include albums from Deftones, Korn, Code Orange, Mastodon, Alice In Chains, and Halestorm. Nathan began his career as a musician who eventually realized he loved the craft of recording more than playing and performing. After attending recording school in North Carolina, he moved to Nashville to look for work in a recording studio. An internship at Blackbird Studio opened the door to a 20-year career and allowed him to learn from some of the best engineers and producers in the industry.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How Nashville studios record 5 full songs in under 3 hours
Tracking live off the floor vs. recording instruments separately
Adapting your engineering to the production styles of different producers
Preserving the signature sound of artists like Deftones, Korn, and Alice In Chains
How to track drums with a focus on clarity, separation, and body.
Finding weird places to put mics
Spot-micing cymbals
The challenge of maintaining phase relationships between multiple mics
Capturing heavy guitar tones

To learn more about Nathan Yarborough, visit: http://nathanyarborough.com/
Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?
Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:
https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?
For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/
Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/
Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:
The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Check out our Sponsors:
Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?
Send them to [email protected]

Please leave a rating and review:
https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!

Jason Livermore received his first snare drum at the age of three. Years later, Jason took up bass and guitar, but returned to drums because he liked them better. In junior high, Jason discovered punk rock. His first vinyl purchase was the infamous “Milo Goes to College”. He played in various bands throughout high school and college, recording some of these himself. After college, he decided that recording was probably going to be cooler than selling beer for Miller, his job at the time.
Upon hearing that ALL was opening the Blasting Room in 1994, he moved to Fort Collins to land the job of a lifetime. Jason has been working at the studio ever since, and in 2015 he became co-owner alongside Bill Stevenson. He has worked on about 95% of the albums that have come out of the studio. Jason has also played drums for Wretch Like Me, Drag the River, Bill The Welder, Soul City Missionaries, and The Virginia Sisters.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Finding trust in yourself that you know what you are doing
Mixing punk drums
How a drummer’s technique will change your approach to micing and tuning
How to tune drums
To polish your tracks or keep them raw? How to know when to edit
Creating tempo maps
How a particular type of guitar bridge cut his recording time in half
Choosing string gauges for getting the most clarity with your guitars
How to set up multi-amp blends
Using phase alignment tools

To learn more about Jason Livermore, visit: https://theblastingroom.com/mastering/
Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?
Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:
https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?
For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/
Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/
Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:
The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Check out our Sponsors:
Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?
Send them to [email protected]

Please leave a rating and review:
https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!

Ryan Ellery is a recording and mixing engineer based in Oakland, California, known for her work in the emo, punk, indie, and hardcore scenes. With over a decade of experience and credits on well over 100 releases, Ryan has worked with artists such as Mom Jeans, Self Defense Family, Graduating Life, Snooze, and many others. She operates primarily out of Sharkbite Studios, where she combines classic analog tools—like a Daking MKII Console—with modern digital workflows to capture performances that feel energetic, honest, and emotionally direct.
Ryan’s approach centers on collaboration and communication, adapting her recording and mixing methods to serve each artist’s vision rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all sound. Whether tracking bands live to preserve raw energy or taking a more detailed, layered approach, her goal is to balance clarity with character—especially in genres where authenticity and feel matter more than polish. As both an engineer and a musician, Ryan brings a performer’s perspective into the studio, helping artists translate their ideas into recordings that connect with listeners while still standing up sonically.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
You don’t know what you don’t know
Working with Sam Pura
Figuring out our personal workflow
Working on genres you aren’t familiar with
Adjusting your tracking approach to get the best out of an artist
Questions to ask clients before entering the studio so that everyone is on the same page
Capturing a live feel in recordings
Knowing when/when not to use drum samples
Working on multiple songs inside a single session
Mixing fast and not sweating the small stuff

To learn more about Ryan Ellery, visit: https://www.ryanellery.com/
Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?
Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:
https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?
For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/
Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/
Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:
The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Check out our Sponsors:
Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?
Send them to [email protected]

Please leave a rating and review:
https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!

Dan Malsch is a highly respected mixer and audio engineer with over two decades of experience helping artists bring their creative vision to life. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and deep musical sensibility, he has worked with everyone from emerging indie bands to internationally recognized acts.
With a strong foundation in both the technical and artistic sides of audio production, Malsch has built a reputation for clean, powerful mixes that preserve the emotion and authenticity of the performance, particularly in rock and metal. His work spans mixing, mastering, sound design, and immersive audio, where he continues to push his craft forward.
Throughout his career, he has collaborated with renowned producers and mixers, including Andy Wallace, David Bendeth, Toby Wright, Jim Morris, Ross Hogarth, and many others. In addition to his studio work, Malsch is a mentor to aspiring engineers, sharing his knowledge through workshops and educational programs.
His projects have received both critical and commercial acclaim, including two Grammy nominations for his work with Ghost, solidifying his reputation as a go-to engineer in modern music production.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Overcoming self-doubt
Investing in your craft/skills
How to network properly
Lessons learned from working with Andy Wallace
Co-mixing
Why he doesn’t use drum busses
His master bus chain
Being consistent with the gear you use
Why it’s smart not to use extreme panning all the time
Creating movement and excitement with automation
The strategic ways he uses mono and stereo busses
Being mindful of noise in plugins
The importance of getting your hearing checked
Why gear doesn’t matter
The challenges of working with artists who don’t commit to their tones

To learn more about Dan Malsch, visit: https://www.danmalschmusic.com/
Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?
Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:
https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?
For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/
Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/
Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:
The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Check out our Sponsors:
Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?
Send them to [email protected]

Please leave a rating and review:
https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!