PODCASTS
Secret Sonics 146 – Working On What Matters in Audio
Learn more about my story – Attending SAE and getting my first audio gigs from my job at Starbucks. Going deep into my approach to production, mixing, communication with mastering engineers, mixing templates, and getting more minimalistic in my approach with experience. We talk about embracing content creation, setting goals, holding myself accountable, working on what really matters, and so much more!
Progressions EP 75 – Mixing in Cubase, Nashville Home Studios, and Holding Yourself Accountable
Some of the things we covered on the podcast:
- Big Studio vs Home Studio Paths
- The power of specific goals
- Working on pop music in a country town
- Using blind A-B tests when mixing
- Working with an accountability coach
- Mixing in Cubase
- Attending SAE
- Reflecting on your past work
- Mixing as you produce
- Noticing what your clients think you do best
- Navigating the slow patches
- Investing in your growth
- Mix Prep and file delivery
Master Your Mix EP 133 – How Limitations Foster Creativity
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:
- How networking can happen where you least expect it
- Getting started as a freelancer: How to survive the rough early days
- Traps to avoid when getting started
- When/if you should niche down your audio services
- How to get in the heads of artists before you start working on their music
- Making room for vocals in a mix
- Separating prep time from mix time
- Listening to rough mixes: How to know what elements are important to keep in the final mix
- How working with limitations fosters creativity
- Exercises to strengthen your audio skills
Pro Audio Profiles EP 13
Episode Highlights
- 🎙️ My passion for music and electronics as a child and how it led to a career in the Pro Audio field.
- 🎓 Attending SAE for an audio program and starting my career with internships, including working on music for daytime television and with a renowned producer, Pete Stewart.
- 🎵 Initially embracing various roles in production, engineering, and mixing but found my true calling in mixing.
- 🎶 Working with artists both locally and globally, providing remote mixing services.
- 🎤 The importance of communication with artists, pre-production, and experimenting with arrangements to craft a unique sound.
Stokes Sound EP 18 – Freelance Mixing
Learn about my journey from doing everything to specializing in mixing, social media’s role in my business, the difference between working with artists and producers, work-life balance, 20 years of freelancing, maintaining productivity, and hear the things that I wish I’d known sooner.
Episode Timestamps
- [00:33] About Brent.
- [03:27] Specializing in mixing.
- [06:00] Using social media.
- [10:02] Dealing with artists and producers.
- [11:42] Mixing for self-produced artists.
- [15:42] Brent’s workflow.
- [28:39] Gainstaging.
- [33:50] Levels before mastering.
- [36:39] Brent’s work-life balance.
- [41:51] Freelancing.
- [45:59] Tuning.
- [49:47] Brent’s social media formula.
- [54:03] How to be more productive.
- [55:50] 3 things Brent wishes he’d known earlier.
Notable Quotes
- “The better the producer and the better the song, the easier it is to mix.”
- “Use your ears more than you do math.”
- “You’re a business.”
- “You’ve got to let people know who you are.”
- “You’re going to be doing things other than just audio at times.”
Inside The Mix EP 114 –How to Maximise Productivity in Music Mixing
Topics discussed 👇
- Productivity and Organization in Music Mixing
- Freelance Mix Engineering
- Importance of Mixing Backup
- Effective Organization and Workflow Efficiency
- Importance of Taking Breaks in Work
- Future Organization and Productivity in Music
- AI, Record Labels, and Productivity Myths
Check out the episode here
Music Production Podcast EP 349 – Mixing Pop Music
Some of the things Brian and I covered on the episode:
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Why you don’t need to go to a University to be a mix engineer
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How I approach mix translation
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Why I use lots of saturation
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In what order I mix things in
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Taking Breaks
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Why I love working on Pop Music and how it differs from other genres
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How crucial those first few hours are for setting the tone of your mix
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How I use reference mixes and why the rough mix is important
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3 things you can do to make your mixes better overnight
The Savvy Producer Podcast EP 45 -Niching Down, Balancing Efficiency With Creativity, and Thoughts on Atmos Mixing
Home Studio Hangout EP 96 -The state of studio education, being solely a mix engineer, and why rough mixes are INCREDIBLY important!
ARTICLES
“WORKING WITH BRENT IS LIKE HANDING HIM A VINTAGE, RUSTY 1972 CAR AND WATCHING HIM MAGICALLY TRANSFORM IT INTO A SLEEK, ROARING NEW FERRARI.”
“BRENT TOOK THE TIME & EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT DEVON OAKLEY AND I WERE LOOKING FOR IN A MIX, AND YOU CAN HEAR IT IN HOW THE FINAL PRODUCT SOUNDS LIKE ONE SEAMLESS VISION!”
“JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE MIX OF LOWERCASE EX!!! YOU KILLLLLLEEED IT I’M OBSESSED. WE ALL COULDN’T STOP TALKING ABOUT HOW SPOT ON YOU WERE!”
“I LOVE WORKING WITH BRENT! HE HAS A PHENOMENAL EAR AND HIS PROFESSIONALISM, CLEAR COMMUNICATION, AND ABILITY TO REALIZE AN ARTISTIC VISION MAKE FOR AN EFFICIENT AND ENJOYABLE MIX PROCESS. HE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND AND NEVER FAILS TO DELIVER AN INCREDIBLE-SOUNDING MIX!”
“BRENT DILIGENTLY MAKES SURE THAT EVERY NUANCE OF SOUND HAS IT’S SPACE IN THE SOUND SPECTRUM. IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO BE DISAPPOINTED.”
“I’M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT IT’S NOT WHAT YOU HAVE BUT WHAT YOU KNOW. LUCKILY BRENT HAS BOTH, GREAT GEAR AND A SUPERB DIAMOND-IN-THE-ROUGH TALENT!”
“WHEN I HEARD THE FINAL MIXES OF OUR TUNES I WAS BLOWN AWAY! BRENT’S WORK IS TOP NOTCH AND HIS MIXES ARE PERFECTION!”
“BRENT IS MY ‘GO-TO’ GUY FOR MIXING. HE HAS A QUALITY EAR FOR THE MIX AND AN ARTISTIC APPROACH TO SOUND PLACEMENT. BRENT IS TO MIXING AS VAN GOGH IS TO PAINTING.”
“BRENT HENDRICH IS A FABULOUS ENGINEER. I CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON A GREAT-SOUNDING “SPANKING” MIX FROM BRENT! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIM!”
“EVERY STEP WITH BRENT IS LIKE A ONE-ON-ONE EXPERIENCE AS IF YOU’RE IN THE STUDIO TOGETHER SIDE-BY-SIDE! PROFESSIONAL, PATIENT AND CREATIVE. ONE OF NASHVILLE’S BEST!”
“IN EVERY WAY BRENT HENDRICH IS A PROFESSIONAL. HIS QUALITY EAR FOR MIXING AND OUTSIDE THE BOX APPROACH TO MAKING RECORDS MAKES HIM A TALENT THAT ARTISTS SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER.”
“BRENT IS ABSOLUTELY AN AUDIO GENIUS! I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT HIS WORK. HE’S THE BEST OF THE BEST!”