RSR523 - Chris Andrews - From Basement to Atmos Mixing, SSL Sigma, and Building a Studio

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"Music’s too fun not to have fun making music." In this episode, I talk with Chris Andrews, a seasoned producer, mix, and mastering engineer who has worked with artists across the globe. From his Dolby-approved Atmos studio, Monument Sound, nestled at 7,400 feet in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Chris delivers stunning immersive mixes that compete at the highest level of the music industry. His story begins in a basement studio in Virginia and evolves through years of military service, technical refinement, and relentless creativity.
We talk about Chris’s current studio setup, his go-to tools like the SSL Sigma, and how Forte AI and Soundflow are revolutionizing his workflow. He shares advice for audio professionals on avoiding debt, maximizing creativity, and treating music as both an art and a business. This one’s packed with insight and inspiration!

My guest today is Chris Andrews, a 25-year veteran producer, mix, and mastering engineer based in Monument, Colorado. He got his start running TBR Studio—The Basement Recording Studio—for seven years before moving to Denver in 2007, where he balanced a day job while refining his craft by night. That dedication led to the creation of Monument Sound, a private studio set 7,400 feet up in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

In 2022, he leveled up his studio with a Dolby-approved ATMOS mixing room, allowing him to deliver immersive, three-dimensional mixes that help artists compete in today’s evolving audio world. While he’s worked with artists all over the globe across many genres, his heart is in rock, pop, and country. And when he’s not mixing music, he’s lending his post-audio talents to indie film projects.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction and Setup
03:07 Chris Andrews: A Journey Through Music and Audio
05:56 The Evolution of Chris's Studio
08:58 Military Background and Its Influence on Music
11:59 Advice for Aspiring Audio Professionals
14:52 Exploring Chris's Current Studio Setup
18:02 Understanding the SSL Sigma and Mixing Techniques
27:02 Understanding Control Surfaces and Workflow
27:56 Exploring Forte AI: The Future of Mixing
32:05 Streamlining Mixing with Soundflow
35:56 The Power of SSL Channel Strips in Mixing
43:58 Customizing Your Mixing Setup with Soundflow
01:02:15 The Jam Session Begins
01:04:50 Mixing Techniques and Atmos Experience
01:12:10 The Importance of Stems in Mixing
01:21:25 Effects and Atmos Mixing Strategies
01:28:44 Capturing Unique Sounds in Home Studios
01:32:16 Tuning Powerful Vocals in Rock Music
01:36:44 Mastering in the Atmos Mixing Process
01:41:05 Marketing Strategies for Music Studios
01:52:11 Advice for Aspiring Music Producers

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ATMOS:
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