Mike Senior Returns!

Mike Senior Returns!

From Sound Discussion by Ben Holmes, Nate Kelmes, Neil Merchant

January 28, 2026 · 1h 19m · Season 3 · Episode 1

About this episode

Mike Senior returns to discuss innovative techniques for recording a live 8-piece band efficiently while maintaining authentic performances.

Returning guest Mike Senior joins us for our Season 3 Premier (!!!) to break down one of the most ambitious recording projects you’re likely to hear about: tracking an entire 8-piece band live, on location, at speed — without losing the performance or your sanity. Mike walks us through how he recorded 13 songs in just a few days, capturing real performances instead of chasing perfection. We dive deep into: -Recording full bands live (and why it saves time) -Letting spill work for you instead of fighting it -Editing and fixing mistakes without killing the feel -Why mic choice, placement, and polarity matter more than plugins -How performance beats perfection every time -Building a portable, high-channel-count recording rig -Fast headphone mixes that keep musicians inspired -Mixing decisions that start before you ever hit record If you’ve ever felt stuck chasing “perfect” tracks in a home studio — this episode might completely reset how you think about recording. This is a must-listen for engineers, producers, and musicians who care about feel, momentum, and making records that sound human. Spektakulatius: https://spektakulatius.de/   Album: '10' (2014) Tracking Info…

People in this episode

Hosts: Ben Holmes, Nate Kelmes, Neil Merchant

Guest: Mike Senior

Topics covered

  • recording techniques
  • live band recording
  • music production
  • performance vs perfection
  • home studio tips
  • mixing and editing

Keywords

  • recording
  • live performance
  • music engineering
  • mixing
  • home studio
  • microphone placement
  • editing techniques

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Spektakulatius, Sound on Sound, Cambridge MT

Books & works: '10'

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