Vance Powell STUDIO TOUR and Interview

➡️➡️Learn more Vance Powell: Multi Grammy Winning Engineer, Mixer, & Producer: bit.ly/2MOxFwH
Vance Powell is 6x GRAMMY winning recording/mixing engineer and record producer. He's based in Nashville where he works out of Sputnik Sound alongside studio owner and fellow GRAMMY-winning producer, engineer, and songwriter, Mitch Dane. We met with Vance to talk about the origins of his career and tour his amazing room at Sputnik!
Vance's extensive credits cover a wide range of genres from rock, blues, and country to hard rock/metal, pop, and rap.
A handful of artists he's worked with include Chris Stapleton, Jack White, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, The White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys, Jessica Simpson, Clutch, Red Fang, Wolfmother, Seasick Steve, Black Prairie, The Revivalists, Tinariwen, JEFF the Brotherhood, Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes, and Martina McBride. He's even worked with such diverse acts as Insane Clown Posse!
➡️➡️Check out Sputnik Sound here: www.sputniksoun...
❤️My Favorite Plugins:
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➡️Renaissance Compressor:
❤️GEAR:
➡️UK Sound 1173: bit.ly/2BniUHM
➡️$299 Kali Audio Studio Monitors: bit.ly/2QaQF6P
➡️Apollo x16: u.audio/apollo...
➡️Apollo Twin: u.audio/apollo...
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[@Producelikeapro]

Whose story would you like to hear next? Let me know below!

[@joeSG100]

dave schiffman !

[@robertknutar1803]

Todd Rundgren!

[@mange586]

Dann Huff

[@HerrNox]

Rick Rubin probably has plethora of stories. Trent Reznor would be very interesting as well and I'm sure he'd be more than inclined to talk about producing instead of doing a traditionnal "NIN" interview.

[@fatinthemiddle]

Sylvia Massey

[@LeonPhythian69]

I pretty much based my entire workflow for a final year degree project on Vance's workflow or approach, I absolutely love how he works in the studio, I would love to spend some time there just listening and watching. Thank you for spending the tie with hi and letting us share in the time.

[@Producelikeapro]

Leon Phythian yes! It actually seems straightforward to me, although some are saying it seems complex! However, I grew up aspiring to consoles so maybe I just live the approach?

[@billyhughes9776]

Vance is the man! Love his work. Nice!

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Billy! Yes, he is!!

[@trevor4835]

"no EQ, who cares" this is my kind of dude!!

[@mwdollar]

Another winner!! Warren is selfless putting all this great information out there for us to learn. Thank you from one audio educator to another.

[@llywelyngruffydd8474]

Vance's mixes are crazy good sounding

[@monkeyxx]

what a character! a real nuts and bolts audio guru, loved the episode

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi monkey dangus agreed! Great guy! Amazing studio!!

[@thecapsicumkid4740]

Gear'in'ell! That's some hardware!! This was a welcome break from chopping up your drum samples (castle & blackbird)....which I am absolutely loving of course! I love Vance's work!

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi The Capsicum Kid haha thanks ever so much my friend!!

[@darlenesheffield9835]

Vance is THE man!

[@bigkickleo]

Vance is the FKNG MAN!!! LOVE his approach, attitude, POV, aesthetic... TRULY hope there is a Pt2 and 3!! And iinside the mix of some of his work!!! Thx Warren!! 👊🏼🦁

[@franswessels810]

JEEZZZ, What a marvellous guy this is. My brain went into overload..... This is character from start to finish, wish we never loose this type of studio's !! Thanks Vance and Waren, you made my day. (Also a lot of ideas for my own studio under construction). Frans

[@christophstoll1848]

"Broken Woofers went Aluminium!" - it's probably a classic, but I never heard that before. All the best to them!

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Christoph Stoll haha yes! Love it!!

[@claytonaudiopro]

" I was like ... O K.." Classic

[@Bring_MeSunshine]

I think I missed this vid at the time, because of other commitments. We do like Vance, for his nerding-out, and no, I've never knew anything about him, other than I probably heard you or someone else mention his name. Love the fact that he wanted to play you bits of kit in the studio. Love the fact of another WORKING studio, looking as colourful as Aladin's cave, come fairground fun-house. Love the barn wood, love the bare-arse upfrontery plain talk of the man and his little red dots telling you it's probably too loud. You get the feeling that you would probably walk away from a session there with some 'chunky' sounds. Cool vid, great beard

[@curtisburns]

Vance is the man.

[@Producelikeapro]

Curtis Burns yes he is!!

[@danialdevostmusic]

Fascinating talking about mastering engineers. Mika Jussila saved a record for me. It was my bands first album that we had worked on for 4 years and my mixing time my objective ear was totally gone. It was amazing how mixes that I thought were good had some major problems that I did not hear until Mika pointed them out. As soon as he did it was like my ears came back and it was like "what was I doing?" Remixed the album and it turned out way better., Great final line of defense!

[@nickaleo7]

This is any engineers dream studio! I’m absolutely blown away must be over half million dollars worth of gear. Unbelievable! What kind of material does he have over the NS-10 tweeters?

[@L.Scott_Music]

The original fader port had button that aren't as sensitive to simple touch. He should be able to use the fader without button issues. Probably not really that big a deal for him though.

[@LouisLinggandtheBombs]

Sylvia Massey is my hero! A visit with Sylvia would be amazing!

[@yobhsiFehT]

Wowzas. Easily, instantly one of my favorites of this kind of video! 😄 And I think I was Like no.420, so... happy days 🤷🏼‍♂️ lol Thanks always, Warren!

[@Producelikeapro]

yobhsiFehT Aw Shucks! Thanks ever so much my friend!

[@Eventual420]

It looks like a lot of gear but it’s all pretty modest. Of them all I like the 910 and Pcm42’s, the Analog Outfitters as well. Liked the way he patches his gear into the faders. Dreamy studio.

[@Projacked1]

my goodness that studio....

[@jasonwilliams9129]

I recorded through that very SSL before Vance got it! Its a great board.

[@Producelikeapro]

Jason Williams thanks for sharing!

[@mewzishun1]

That monotron made my lab start howling from across the room while watching this... lol. 🤣😂

[@seancampbell98]

what a humble guy

[@farosonico]

Im right handed but i´ve always used the Faderport with my left, cuz then i can still use the mouse with the right. To me it works perfect!

[@10tonrecords95]

I like him. Good interview.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!!

[@jurgenschuler8389]

I have a question for Vance: Since you work both, entirely in the box, and using your most wonderful hammers and saws, do you prefer recording and mixing using your outboard gear mainly for sonic reasons or do you like working that way? Thank you very much! And, Warren, this is one of the, if not the best interview. Thanks to you, too!

[@lahattec]

Interesting that his NS-10 tweeters are so close together. I wonder why.

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Clay, I imagine for the perfect seating position!

[@ER_aka_RAM]

A lot of Vance’s technical limitations seem solvable… SSL probably has a proprietary file format, so those flash drives aren’t going to work (unless formatted). Reaper can be run virtually on a Raspberry Pi, so no computer required… but he’s got such a solid workflow why bother 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@kieranniemand2939]

The AES19 video brought me here :P

[@lahattec]

I want more hammers!!! Dammit.

[@Producelikeapro]

Clay LaHatte haha indeed

[@sansocie]

I"m with you Clay!

[@utubehound69]

@@Producelikeapro I really like this guy Vance kinda ol skool haha , there's a bit of me in his way of seeing things. Thx so much for all you do Warren we love you man.

[@jacksonshuazzy1143]

Nice hat!

[@volgalgzkaradagoglu]

Wow! When you entered Mitch’s control room, your voice dried out instantly. And I could hear that from s**tty free, old samsung earbuds

[@FifthnLincoln]

1:05:40 The Plugin Alliance emulation of the Acme is cool :D

[@acommon]

I think it's funny that Mr. Powell thinks computers are too compacted, then has that confusing mixing setup at 1:21:00 😄😄

[@davetbassbos]

I wish I had a job where I could grow a beard like, actually I just wish I could grow a beard like that.

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi davetbassbos haha I hear you! My wife would never let me! Haha

[@jjboogie1]

How do people dislike this?

[@martincaz7772]

1:03:30 Hey, I have the Montron Duo and Monotron Delay, you can go down the rabbit hole making sounds on those tiny things for hours! lol

[@martincaz7772]

All analog too!

[@klauth_Yksyn]

Linda Perry !!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes!! Linda!!

[@rcraigbateman]

Ardent. Memphis.

[@claytonaudiopro]

Hey Warren should do a tour of greg wells new studio ;)

[@thesoundtree]

I ready like to to see a 101 on signal flow from recording to mixing. when I see someone like this with so much out board gear getting what you want patched in so its usable must be a nightmare I didn't see a patch bay. Also he said the house was 900 sq ft that can't be right.

[@Bertanica1979]

I believe I saw a large patch-bay in the far left rack when they were looking at the rack gear. Go to 59:37 and it is on the left of the screen.

[@AlbertWeijers]

I have a faderport that's placed on my left, because in my right hand I have the mouse, for us poor people without big consoles.

[@3ATTR1X]

No Burl?

[@meghanus007]

Missed the part where he speaks about his burl audio gears.

[@realraven2000]

17:10 speak for yourselves. yanks :D :D I could never understand how the least significant number ended up in the center in American dates.

[@Producelikeapro]

Realraven2000 yes, indeed! The way Vance does it makes the most amount of sense to me!

[@realraven2000]

Cubase will always autoincrement the counter of the project file when something is changed or you save a new version. Making mixes I always add a counter, too. Good for comparisons and referencing, but having the (sortable YYYY-MM-DD) date in the file name is obviously great too. I would tend to use 4 digits for years as I was 33 when we partied 1999.

[@MrBeblis]

The general public doesn't care or has no clue if the song is mastered too loud or not, or if it pumps if they like the song the will buy the product. So selling millions of albums doesn't mean it was mixed it mastered well

[@targetpanicrecords]

Nope nope nope nope nope nope yeah that’s cool nope nope nope let’s try this nope nope nope nope you know what I mean? Yep

[@JeremyHorn]

Listening to Vance talk reminds me how dumb I am. That guy is a real engineer.

[@Producelikeapro]

Jeremy Horn no you are not dumb at all!! Vance would say he is just learning! All the greats, Jack Douglas, Shelly Yakus you make them, they all are just learning as they go my friend!! The experts are the ones telling you that your doing it wrong! Meanwhile you’re the one making music they are the ones telling you off! I’d much rather being making music than critiquing!

[@dwaynewyatt3]

AMAZING!!!! Saw his videos on puremix, and man o man does he do some creative stuff. Loved the interview Warren as always!!! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@Producelikeapro]

Great stuff!

[@learnerforever6933]

Wow great 👍🏼 thanks Warren. Please in part 2 we want to see the tracking room / vocal booth in details along with mic locker and some discussion on his preferred or goto mics. Thanks again 🙏🏼

[@Producelikeapro]

Absolutely!!

[@learnerforever6933]

Produce Like A Pro 🙏🏼😃

[@Producelikeapro]

Learner Forever you Rock!!

[@matty6strings131]

Learner Forever OMG YES!!!!! I hope that interview happens sooner than later.

[@shawnwait6207]

I have not seen an interview with him in a while. Glad hes still kicking the rock scene in the teeth. Keep on rocking Vance and Warren.

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Shawn Wait Thanks ever so much my friend!!

[@lahattec]

Regarding recalling mixing where the outboard gear was used, does anyone record the final tracks back in as new tracks, with the processing on? If so, that would make doing mix tweaks for adjusting a level easier because you have the track as processed.

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Clay, many people record tracks from the SSL into their DAW and then mix those in-the-box! That's a great technique and makes recall very fast indeed!

[@corbanboutot293]

Warren, I’m wanting to start the academy but wanted to know if it’s still worth it if I only have FL 20 Signature edition to mix with. What do you think? Also do you have any promos going!?

[@Producelikeapro]

Corban Boutot if you would like to email us at [e-mail] just mention I sent you and this message!

[@matty6strings131]

Corban Boutot I’m a 3rd year member and now Master Class Alumni. YES mate SO very worth it!

[@corbanboutot293]

matty6strings thanks! I’ll be signing up tonight!

[@emilybowie4592]

Love Love Love this video. Vance has an amazing studio. I’m a big fan of a lot of the music he is a part of. Thanks for another amazing educational and inspiring video, Warren!

[@MontyCraig]

This studio is so over the top! Thanks for doing this guys!

[@danolivier4899]

yes! this is the one I've been waiting for.

[@Producelikeapro]

Fantastic Johnny!

[@robinmiller7958]

Even if I was wealthy I couldn't make my recording process this complicated. The signal path reveal at the end gave me a headache!

[@hoborec]

Such an awesome studio! And Vance himself is pretty damn cool to, not least for throwing a great party during Namm! =)

[@PJ....]

I've been filing mixes (& other things) the exact same way for 20+ years 190809 (Y/M/D) makes life so much easier ...

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, agreed! Very simple and smart!

[@songboy40]

Interview Don Was about producing.

[@marcosaruca5283]

Warren love your videos....can we get a new intro please

[@ArthurStone]

Thanks Warren and Vance. Awesome and inspiring. Much appreciated : D

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Arthur!!

[@khronscave]

I appreciate the hat...

[@Producelikeapro]

I wish I could pull them off! Never been a hat guy! Haha

[@khronscave]

@@Producelikeapro I'm not sure about the grammar of that first part :) But i meant the inscription on Vance's hat (no sarcasm).

[@andrewarbogast1]

These videos make me realize how LITTLE I know about gear, recording, and mixing! haha

[@Producelikeapro]

That's quite alright Andrew! I'm always learning and I guarantee Lance, even with all his knowledge would day the same thing! The greats are always learning, so you are in good company my friend!!

[@marysaysso755]

Awesome! I don't even need to watch to know I love this video. Now I will watch.....

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much my friend!!

[@Archaic1Eye]

What a tour and interview. Mr. Powell is a veritable compendium of knowledge and expertise, I will look for more from him. I won't even start talking about his total gear nerds paradise ... Great stuff once again Warren.

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, Vance is wonderful! Thanks ever so much

[@chophii526]

Can’t go back there, prototype guitars Warren continues walking 😂 Love it!! Amazing studio, awesome interview, thank you, Warren!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Daniel C haha indeed! They looked great!!

[@chophii526]

Produce Like A Pro That’s awesome!! 🙂🎸

[@khronscave]

17:00 I do that too, with the photos for my blog (so far) :P

[@Producelikeapro]

Very cool!

[@khronscave]

@@Producelikeapro It's a case of working *with* the idiosyncracies of pieces of technology. And/or getting them to work for you.

[@Producelikeapro]

Khron's Cave amazing!

[@khronscave]

@@Producelikeapro Not really, "only" common-sense :P (Which, as the saying goes, is no longer all that common nowadays...)

[@falconismbot9370]

I like his approach to his work. He knows what he likes and he's specific enough to set everything up that way. Great interview and tour!

[@ROLLINGLIONSTUDIO]

What’s the Replay mode mixing? So in Replay/masterflip, the long faders send to the (selected) busses and he patches (the equipment on the buss) returns to any small fader ??

[@iDSMB1]

Maybe Mario Caldato Jr.?

[@LasseHuhtala]

How cool was that place?! My geek-o-meter blew up.

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Lasse, agreed! Amazing!!

[@Boungustatio]

What's the cool tabletop box with the red and black knobs in front of the ADR Gemini Easyrider? Thanks!

[@terrydoylemusic]

Great interview! Love the gear and stories. He is definitely a reference for me in sound and approach.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Terry! You Rock my friend!!

[@thedreamclockproject1113]

What an amazing studio ! Please do a part two asap !

[@alfonsothegreat4481]

This place is better than Disneyland

[@Electricowlworks]

Thanks so much for this video, Warren! Vance is the man and I enjoyed my visit to Sputnik Sound. Lot's of great take-aways from this video. I'm definitely going to give his Richard Dodd SSL Bus Comp settings a try. Cheers! - chaz

[@Producelikeapro]

Electric Owl Works fantastic l!! Thanks ever so much my friend!! I appreciate all of your amazing comments!

[@ClarenceMongado]

The WTF America cap is the winner here.

[@rachidajewher8649]

the most replayed action in this video i also replayed this moment without thinking he was explaining and he checked the watch so people are replaying to see if he really did that thinking it's inapropriate hhhhh i mean no the dude is busy but it's a nice guy he is explaining everything

[@Frank55]

The magic is in the beard...

[@Producelikeapro]

Frank55 haha maybe! Samson and his hair? Vance and his beard?

[@thiswillprobhrt]

Where in the beard though. It’s so fkn vast!

[@Doctaj54]

the SSL tip was a cool.

[@kickdust4499]

Is there anymore, anyone has on the guy building his own version for the ssl computer on the Pi unit ? Or which forum I can find it all on ?

[@tomasenciso6817]

Hi warren, How does Vance use his avocet? does he patch the mix buss from the console to the avocet? just wondering where is it in the chain and how he uses it with the console, thanks!

[@translationstations]

"I hate eveything I do" "I listen to it a year later, and I'm like - ehh, it's not bad".. Haha... so real & true! 😉

[@666DemonCleaner]

Sure his studio is amazing, but that beard is on another level.

[@mhousestudios1887]

Marvelous! 😎

[@LeeDaHitman]

This guy wit the beard kicks some serious Ass!. Cool Dude

[@Victorp1612]

H910 flickering between .99 and 1 ... that used to annoy the studio owner I worked in .. How many times was I told to fix it ? can't remember

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Vixo P that’s the exact setting we all use my friend!!

[@RollYourOwnProductions]

As great as the equipment and workflow is at Sputnik the biggest draw for me is the opportunity to meet and work with Mr. Powell...

[@Producelikeapro]

Agreed 100%! A huge talent!!

[@CAMMYSINCLAIR]

hearn they went aluminum, whoosh

[@thedaveut]

Why cant we look right??

[@kevincornell9027]

Love Vance's hat!

[@khronscave]

Ditto.

[@paulotonedef]

What about 060606? Spookay!

[@elftone9301]

Always love your interviews! Any chance of getting Roy Thomas Baker? Cheers!

[@Producelikeapro]

That would be AMAZING!!

[@jophilippi1378]

I mean I donˋt know Mr. Powell, just from videos, but he really seems to be nice guy and a loveable nerd

[@Producelikeapro]

Jo Philippi yes! He’s a great guy!

[@trevor4835]

this guy is so intriguing

[@JornLavoll]

if i understood it correctly, warren's joke is briliant "and then they went aluminum".

[@JornLavoll]

I thouht it was very funny at least :P

[@Producelikeapro]

@@JornLavoll Thanks ever so much my friend!

[@noguano]

Like for beard!