Hanging Out With Chops

Send us a text Episode 4: Building a Home Studio – What You Really Need This one’s for anyone asking the #1 question I get: “What do I need to start a home studio?” In this episode, I break it all down—from the absolute basics to the high-end gear. We talk computers, interfaces, software, mics (from budget to baller), cables, stands, and everything in between. I run through popular brands and setups—Pro Tools, Ableton, Shure, Neumann, Telefunken, Apple vs. PC—and explain what matters most wh...

Send us a text Episode 3: From Tape to Tour – Stories Behind the Sound In this episode, we finally dig into the music—where it started for me, and how much it’s evolved. I talk about my first job working reel-to-reel tape, cutting and splicing audio with a grease pencil and actual tape glue. From there, it was early computers, underpowered CPUs, and recording on everything from Apple to Windows… even Lexus. I walk through what real-world recording schedules look like—pre-production, producti...

Send us a text Episode 1: Let’s Just Start In this first episode, I hit record and dive right in—no script, no filter. I talk about life in the recording studio, how things shifted during COVID, and what it's like being a dog dad through it all. I share my thoughts on AI music creation, play two wild examples made with Suno, and laugh through some ridiculous songs I made just for fun. Between the music and memories, I get into the kinds of late-night conspiracy talks that happen between take...

Send us a text Episode 2: Breakfast, Burps, and a Better Morning This one took a turn. I started out planning to talk about music—but one burp later, I was deep into breakfast. In this episode, I walk you through my unfiltered morning routine: making breakfast for myself, my wife, and Walter (our Chiweenie with strong opinions). I talk about daily walks along the water, clearing my head, and getting Walter’s business handled. From watching classic '80s Price is Right and Frasier reruns to th...