Eric Valentine Interview (Queens of the Stone Age, Slash) - Warren Huart: Produce Like A Pro

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Friend, Eric Valentine has worked with many incredible artists like Queens of the Stone Age, Smash Mouth, Good Charlotte, and Third Eye Blind. His list of credits goes on and on! Frankly his records sound amazing, his use of EQ is insanely good, subtle sculpting creating amazing transitions between sections! Not only is an amazing Producer, Engineer and Mixer he also co-founded UnderTone Audio where he designs professional audio equipment. In this video we get to talk about the UnFairchild, Eric's reimagining of the classic Compressor with mazing new features that not only recreate that legendary unit but take it to the next level!

[@harmonystudios1182]

Wonderful video Warren! Eric is open and honest and his records sound amazing

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Harmony!

[@spitfiremusic3997]

Wonderful video Eric and Warren !! Thank you both

[@synthdude7664]

Produce Like A Pro how much do you think of his ubfairchilds go for ? Can regular consumers buy ?

[@DanielGlenTimms]

That was really good. Brings back memories of when I lived at the top of Topanga and played Topanga Days. Another excellent video! Thanks for sharing. Eric is impressive.

[@Daneiladams555]

I toured with Eric, he was the drummer of my band "zenner" we opened for joe satriani a few times in '96 He's a great guy then and now

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi daniel ross great to hear!!

[@drummerjeroensimons]

It,s great to hear Eric found his place, his peace after years of hard work, my deep respect!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Jeroen, agreed, Eric is very inspirational!

[@drummerjeroensimons]

Thanks Warren!!, in the case of Oeksound, there is an alternative also for less money if people have less money to spent: DeFilter by Acon Digital...acondigital.com/products/defilter/

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Jeroen, thanks ever so much for the great info! You Rock my friend!

[@drummerjeroensimons]

Thank you for giving us chances to grow Warren!!! I,m having a blast mixing Katys song for the great PLAP academy here, I hope I can finish that this week. I don,t mix often, but I like to have an overview of things/music the best I can...Have a superproductive day over there!!!

[@Producelikeapro]

That's amazing Jeroen! You Rock my friend! It's wonderful having you in the Academy!

[@splashesin8]

Lots of great information. Thank you Eric & Warren.

[@Producelikeapro]

You're very welcome Audrey! Yes, Eric rules!

[@R.and.R.]

A great discussion with a very intelligent and talented guy. Astro Lounge was always one of my favorite albums.

[@Producelikeapro]

I agree! Great sounding album! Eric is extremely talented!

[@monkeyxx]

I love home studio setups. I love the specific "island" things people choose it's always so different.

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi monkey dangus agreed! This is where so many of us are heading! Thanks for watching!!

[@electricladyguitarsdevonuk1414]

I love the fact that Warren is still learning stuff! Great vid!!!

[@iwantappledumplings6187]

I agree! That shows real experience!

[@gropplife]

The UnFairchild sounds soooooo good, I saw Eric demoing it in Nashville a couple of years ago and have wanted one ever since. One Day

[@Producelikeapro]

I agree! Amazing sounding!!

[@danpeltier1354]

thank you ERIC for a look in on your home studio .

[@iwantappledumplings6187]

Yes!! Thank you Eric!!

[@MrObelisk2290]

I’m a HUGE, GARGANTUAN, COLLOSAL T-RIDE/VALENTINE fan. Saw all three shows they played in the Tampa St. Pete area and when they opened for Satch in south Florida. Mr Valentine’s engineering especially on T--ride drum sounds have been an influence on me that I often would reference when my tudents asked about drum recording/mixing when I taught sound engineering/music producton in college. BTW. I can easily see why you would like working in a non traditional audio just like David Gilmour's Astoria. Thank so much Warren.

[@mrufino1]

Jose M I never got to see them live and I wish I had, I love that album The tracks Geoff tyson posted at some point from their never released second album were very different but also very cool.

[@beebala3]

T-Ride!!! Still one of the most unique bands/records I've ever heard. I haven't found anyone else that really appreciated or heard about them.

[@mrufino1]

beebala3 that's one of my favorite albums ever. The production is incredible, and the album is almost all him, although Geoff Tyson is an amazing player, Eric did almost all of the guitars according to his gearslutz posts. Singer's voice can be tough to get used to for some people but I love everything about that album.

[@CarlyonProduction]

I love how decent and self aware he is. Always makes a point of saying ‘I’ve been really lucky’ or ‘I’m really grateful’ Freaking love this guy. He’s also absolutely brilliant and has an immense musicality.

[@splashesin8]

Very interesting to hear this again about the Unfairchild. 😃

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Audrey, yes, I'm very impressed with the UnFairchild!

[@TonysMusicChannel]

Probably one of the better interviews I've heard here. Very clearly understood everything discussed with important details. Kudos!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi TonysMusicChannel thanks ever so much! Yes, Eric’s confidence because of his innate talent makes this interview very easy to do!

[@craigie13]

Could listen to this guy all day

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Craig Hunter I agree a huge inspiration! Incredibly talented and hard working!

[@LaTigerGenesis]

Great interview! Death From Above is my favorite band. Just drums and bass but Eric made that record sound huge!

[@Producelikeapro]

I agree! HUGE sounding album!

[@chrishepburn1503]

Definitely not just drums and bass on the record. Amazing band!

[@mikewolfe9458]

So awesome. Would love to see you guys sit down for another one of these in 2024!

[@rbitrick]

I'd love to hear those Unfarichilds in use! Great video as always Warren! Love the channel!

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Ryan, yes! Me too! They sound amazing!

[@ddonahue3436]

I absolutely love the guitar sound on Queens of the Stone Age's No One Knows. So upfront and in your face. What's the secret?

[@sean_shimmer]

maxing mids at every stage possible, amp , console and then some more, and hollowbodys

[@BrendonInfante]

There is a sound on sound video on that I believe

[@jamiehovis7722]

josh has always used a bass amp for his guitar

[@strikebackstudios7592]

wow what anamazing conversation!!! truely one of my favorite videos ever!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much! Yes, I loved making this video! Eric is one of my favourite Producers, Engineers and Mixers!

[@mockingbirdproductions6479]

You both are amazing individually, but seeing you two together is absolutely amazing. Great chat!

[@adrianzadi]

8:30 Limitation gives you freedom somehow. totally right what eric says. Limitation makes you deal with those few things you have and keeps you moving forward instead of getting lost in sound.

[@sean_shimmer]

quality compression discussion

[@sean_shimmer]

inspiring to hear a dude go from unlimited resource of mics to mixing a entire kit with 1

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Sean, I agree! Eric is amazing source of inspiration!

[@Ansid106]

The best sound engineer out there!

[@davidjonathan3854]

wow!!! what a wealth of knowledge to be had on this video!!! sooo many tips and pointers!!! so rich of a content! Thanks Warren for putting this one together.. wow! so grateful

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi david jonathan thanks very much! Yes, Eric is a wealth of knowledge!

[@darrenross9168]

fantastic interview ,thank you Warren and Eric.

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Darren Ross thanks ever so much! Yes, special thanks to Eric for this wonderful interview!

[@spitfiremusic3997]

Amazing video!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!

[@andYz00m]

Smart cookie! Really fun to listen to Eric so easily describe complex things, fav engineer! Thanks Warren!

[@Producelikeapro]

andYz00m agreed! I am extremely impressed with both his amazing attitude and incredible work!! It speaks for itself!

[@pulsewhitey]

hi warren i got j37 from waves it helps the sound apart from that i havent really explored it.

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Gary, I'm really impressed with the J37 plug in!

[@crestiferj2689]

eric is the man. amazing drum and guitar sounds on so many great records. really unique tones. super nice dude.

[@christineewin7049]

Thanks !

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Christine! Thanks ever so much! I'm glad to be able to help!

[@philfyphil]

Slash's guitar sound is astonishing on the albums. The sound throughout is fantastic but my single 'desert island' sound would be where the guitars crash in on 'Not For me'. Absolutely sublime. If you take the greatest symphony ever written and play it on the best hi-fi in the World, that's Slash's guitar sound! What’s even more impressive is the total polar opposite in the sound of guitars in Queens Of The Stone Age. Another marvellous sound and completely fitting with the music.

[@Producelikeapro]

I agree 100% Phil! Wonderful comment!

[@felixm1716]

would love to hear the drumrecording he made through M160 and the Sturder. I realy like those minimalistic approaches when micing and recording drums!

[@Producelikeapro]

Felix Margraf yes! Agreed 109%!

[@ericgisclon8122]

Eric was T ride an amazing band A group would have deserved commercial success. He has a great career as a producer.I would have dreamed of another T-ride album.

[@chuckjuice1317]

Barefoot during interview...he he!

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Chuck Juice haha exactly my friend!!

[@Typenice]

Great vid Warren this guy is out of his mind!!!!! ....such a wealth of knowledge I love it!

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Typenice I agree! I learned so much from doing this interview!!

[@Typenice]

Produce Like A Pro all of your vids are great thanks for all that you do for our community!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks very much my friend! I'm so glad to be able to help!

[@nelsonstarr5356]

I loved this video but I wished you had also covered Eric's incredible EQ (MPEQ-1), that is one of the most unique and variable EQ's ever produced. I wish Eric would contemplate working with a third party to produce plugin versions of his Unfairchild, his custom Altec compressors and his revolutionary MPEQ-1. It seems they are conceptually superior, even to the originals, regardless of whether they would be quite as infused with analog mojo as the real analog units residing in Eric's studio.

[@builtbybill72]

Another great one Warren. Awesome.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Bill!!

[@rhettjamespietzman6390]

I have been using soothe plug from the first day it came out. It always on my mix bus... Love it.. also great Video

[@Producelikeapro]

Lovely Rhett! Thanks for the info!

[@That1Guy]

Is this plug-in best on the mix bus? Or y’all using in on individual instruments ? I have to buy it after what has to be the highest endorsement ever

[@peterbrandt7911]

Well, I'm far away from beeing a pro mixer, but I'd love to have one of these modded Fairchilds. I'll never have, but dreams are still for free. On the other hand, I'm looking forward to trying out that HOFA plugin. And again a very interisting interview. (While I still would love to see Brian Eno and / or Alan Wilder^^)

[@nicolas870]

Awesomeness

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Jay!

[@TheChriselo]

I think its such a shame that Eric is gonna let go of Producing/recording, I was really looking forward to so much more from him. I really thought that if Guns'n'Roses did come up with a new album with slash and Duff that Eric would be the top guy to do it. I think his records are just so easy to listen to, and I reckon that is his goal. Its the way a record 'should' sound in my opinion.

[@richardthelionheart01]

So, in a nutshell - get the Soothe Audio plug in, leave it on the preset, leave it in the box, and...done. :) Yeah - there's more to it - but that bit was genuinely surprising.

[@2dollarcrew]

Sooth is so good. I just bought it bc of this video.

[@Producelikeapro]

Fantastic Timmy!!

[@2dollarcrew]

Produce Like A Pro the plugin needs the “warren” demo treatment though.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Timmy! We will see! Haha

[@pellevastano]

Seeing the two fairchild-like compressors in his rack is giving me gear jealousy and inadequacy problems. It almost motivates a man to make his own pro audio company just to one up Mr. Valentine.

[@Producelikeapro]

haha indeed Pelle!

[@miasampaoli7587]

muy bueno video!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Hola Mia, muchas gracias!

[@L.A.W.Studios]

Just Finished ...please don't take offense, but did this get 'shortened' for some reason? Really wanted to see rest of gear, and especially hear the digital vs 7.5 IPS comparison...hmmm Oh well, still great, with loads of interesting info, thanks again Warren...*thumbs up*

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha no it didn't! But we should definitely do a part deux!!

[@elvagabundovatti]

Super interesting. Thanks a lot.

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Carsten, I'm so glad to be able to help! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

[@ashtaylor5236]

Just tried out the Soothe EQ, what a game changer!!! ,😮

[@flicotube]

Cool Stuff! Thanks

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks every much Tom!

[@vesalaasanen2158]

Cool video! And SOOTHE!!! :)

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Vesa!

[@amdenis]

The Strauss are an awesome range of monitors-- but do you find them fatiguing as primary mains? The definitely don't distort and push the mids like the NS-10's.

[@PaulEubanks]

Those Strauss monitors are ~$8k for a pair if anyone was wondering. :)

[@worlds8843]

Hey Eric Hey guys! thank you so much for your videos I love your channel!! Quick radom question PLEASE , I am not a producer but Im fumbling my way through preproduction of our next album , on my own. I love the sound (not the beat) that starts off in this song.. is it an organ? Organ and synth? Im trying to reproduce this sound... any plugins you recommend?? I have Logic Pro Thank you SOOOOOO much!!!

[@girolamo5637]

Hi, Just wondering what Kind of Converter does Eric use?? Thanks

[@janminor1172]

So what’s the bad news for the unfairchild?

[@Producelikeapro]

Can't think of anything? haha

[@janminor1172]

Produce Like A Pro I meant the price :) can’t be cheap!

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha well, it's not 'cheap', however compared to original Fairchild and other reissues it is considerably 'cheaper'! With that amount of components there is no way to make a really cheap version without skimping on the quality!

[@peacecoast]

Wish we got to hear those drums!

[@wado1942]

That's why I always refused to do "day rates". You bust your butt for 12-14 hours every day for 8-hours of pay. You get more done the first day but everybody (band included) runs out of steam and winds up dragging their feet the rest of the session; hating life and everything till you're done. With actual 8-hour days, people keep up their energy and their spirits much better; the session gets done faster and IMO, better.

[@rekindle]

Did anyone catch what Overstayer box Eric had in the rack there? - Thanks

[@STEVEFINNERTY]

cool vid

[@bluematrix5001]

Great video Warren "Beatles" Huart :P

[@ranchoestudio2081]

would have to be Albini, and all ready for the best album at the history...

[@theglovefactory]

Great stuff. Any idea what brand that monitor controller is?

[@OlofBerggren]

Yeah, just reacted to that... Eric built his own gear but he monitors thru the JBL M-Patch 2, cheapest thing you can get.... Oh well, love his productions so getting a CraneSong Avocett is just overkill apparently ;)

[@theglovefactory]

Cool thanks Olof!

[@hansgrueber8169]

I eat my Fruit Loops out of a Strauss speaker every morning...

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha nice Hans!

[@letravaildegodard7537]

Ohhhh, so that is the guy Josh Homme is talking of, in God is on The Radio in backwards ?

[@UrbanCrunkMovement]

Can someone confirm what he's talking about @ 38:00. When he says the sample offset of ~8000 samples is he talking about the time it takes the signal to go from Pro Tools out to his J37 record head then get read by the play head and back into Pro Tools? Great interview I love how refined his taste in gear and techniques are, amazing technical knowledge to share.

[@rjb7569]

Not much in the way of sound treatment, it looks like. I'm always reading about how important it is, yet in studio interviews with a number of these successful guys, they have little in the way of studio treatment. Puzzles me a bit.

[@ParthPandya1992]

Another great episode! Thank you Warren and Eric! :) You might find Eric Johnson's studio in Austin worth doing a tour of as well! He's got some interesting gear there. Here's some info on his studio: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGHVlGl4ZpaUeZY

[@Producelikeapro]

That would be an amazing Tour indeed!

[@spiderlab2526]

Hair dye meets teeth whitener!

[@chemaromero5870]

He is God

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Chema, I would agree that Eric is probably one of the best Producers/Engineers and Mixers in the World!

[@chemaromero5870]

@@Producelikeapro Totally agree. He has worked with so many great people and I'm a fan of his work. Thanks to this video, I was able to learn more about him. I'm making a project about him in one of my classes; Business in the Music Industry and Entertainment. Thanks for the information!

[@darlenesheffield9835]

Amazing video! Eric certainly is one of the greatest Producers/Engineers and Mixers of the last 20 years! Great video Warren!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Darlene! I agree 100%!! Eric is incredibly talented!

[@anders671]

Eric looks like a more handsome Nick Cave

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha I'll let him know Ander!

[@anders671]

Produce Like A Pro also great job as always, Warren. Is always a pleasure watching your stuff. And I believe we were all expecting to hear that drum sound through the J37.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Ander! I really appreciate you kind words! Haha Yes, I wanted to hear it as well!

[@noiserelay4215]

Hahaha I’ve always thought he looks like nick cave

[@bradferguson9840]

Valentine is clearly a bloody genius.

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Brad Ferguson I completely agree!

[@samuelherring9587]

Awesome video, great content as always but can someone please explain to me exactly how that man can POSSIBLY be 49?

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Samuel, good genetics!!

[@84kjk]

Guy could pass for early/mid 30’s

[@MrMemyselfandi415]

Woah! Did he just say he's 49 and has a two month old? This guy is a legend.

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, he was then. We are the same age, Gen Xers with kids!

[@MatthewDiamante]

I'm at work right now. Googled this guy's credits. Definitely going to come back to watch this later!

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes Matthew! He's a very talented producer/mixer/person! I hope you enjoy it. Many Thanks!

[@TheChriselo]

He is the best imo. Have a listen to the slash records. he has this knack of making a record crystal clear and aggressively punchy yet it sounds so plush at the same time. really easy to listen to and not fatiguing in the slightest. genuis

[@Producelikeapro]

I agree TheChiselo! One of a kind, probably in Top 5 greatest!

[@allmetaliswelcome]

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes! haha

[@americanliving4473]

There’s never enough Eric footage out there. Thanks Warren

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha agreed! Thanks ever so much! I'm glad to be able to help!

[@GoatsoundRecording]

I really wanted to hear the drum sound in that room!

[@Producelikeapro]

GoatsoundRecording haha me too!!

[@noisesoundtonevibe]

Just phenomenal. Eric Valentine is one of the wizards. There are only a handful, so interviews like this one are precious. Fascinating man with incredible records and a brain I'd like to pick for days on end. Please have him on again soon! Thank you so much Warren and Mr. Valentine for doing this.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much! Yes, Eric is amazing!! I'm glad to be able to help!

[@danpeltier1354]

I love my home studio I can look out but I love to be in a big studio to .

[@Producelikeapro]

Definitely Dan! Both have pros and cons!

[@splashesin8]

Wow! 😀

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Audrey! That's very kind of you!

[@Microtonal_Cats]

Two of my favorite engineers in the same room.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Michael!!

[@DavidRosario69]

I know that John McBride loves Fairchilds, so ... Blackbird?

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi David, yes, indeed! John does love Fairchild's!

[@khronscave]

10:48 Those will be Scan-Speak drivers, recognized the woofers almost from the first second.

[@Producelikeapro]

Fantastic! They sound amazing by all accounts!

[@JulesFox]

Insightful stuff. I will go and listen to the T-Ride album in your honour!

[@Producelikeapro]

Nice!

[@carlkolthoff5402]

Great interview! From the looks of it, those Strauss monitors uses Danish Scan-Speak drivers. In the DIY audio community they've got a reputation for being amongst the best money can buy! Really enjoyed this episode, thank you.

[@Producelikeapro]

Fantastic Carl! Thanks ever so much! I have only recently heard of them! This is fantastic info!

[@allpdmusic]

I know this is an old video but wow..great interview of a really cool guy. Lots of good info. Thanks Warren!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!!

[@martijnvandongen]

Awesome. Thanks a lot for another great video Warren! Love you channel!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thank you ever so much Martijn!

[@thedormantmonkey]

Wonderful this one!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Cornelis!

[@WillJukedTheBox]

“We want everyone to be able to afford one” costs 10 thousand dollars lmao

[@BlackenedNL]

This guy produced the Songs for the Deaf record, I probably heard that record 250 times in my life. Thank you Warren my friend for another great video!

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, indeed! Wonderful album!

[@mishastone]

He actually just recorded (not produced) a few songs and then the band kicked him out, Josh actually called him a "schmuck" in an interview once.

[@chikensee]

QOTSA's records label at the time Interscope records forced Eric Valentine to produce it but hes a bitch Josh didn't like him and got rid of him look up the old interviews lol hilarous stuff

[@mrcoatsworth429]

@@chikensee Sounds more like Josh is the bitch

[@revolvers4483]

49 years old!? He looks like he's just turned 29

[@xaptronic]

I've been watching Eric Valentine talking about qotsa, slash and then this. This guy seems to know a bewildering amount about audio.

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Alex. I agree, he really is the man!

[@splashesin8]

I had to go back and hear that again, about the Soothe!! 😃

[@Producelikeapro]

Audrey Sims fantastic!

[@louderthangod]

Audrey Sims Kurt Ballou also really spoke highly of this plugin.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks LouderthanGod!

[@iwantappledumplings6187]

Thanks for showing us Eric's new studio warren!

[@Producelikeapro]

You're very welcome Apple!

[@powlobo.m.b.]

Amazing video as always - yet one of those that makes you wonder if it is possible to make my production sound anywhere close to the real deal when you live on a budget.. anyways thanks so much for the great video!

[@Bring_MeSunshine]

Missed this the first time round, but very happy to have caught up with this video. I'll admit that at times, Eric's level of tech knowledge sounded like an alien tongue, but you feel yourself pulled along for the ride because of the fascination, and still learn stuff en route

[@MarkHolden73]

loved this one 30ish mins in really enjoyed hearing how the hardware components affect the sound this is a road/path I should of gone down earlier in life. Maybe its time to take a turn

[@jt-yt9yy]

Was really excited about this with the UnFairchild and all. Very well done! Every one of these I watch, I learn about another piece of cool vintage gear I never heard of that someone has found a cool use for.