In this episode of UNSUNG season 2, hosts Matt Soczywko and Mirek Stiles are joined by GRAMMY-winning engineers Chuck Ainlay and Michael Romanowski for a conversation about immersive audio, stereo, Atmos, AI restoration, and the future of music production.
Known for work with artists including Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, George Strait, Taylor Swift, and Miranda Lambert, Chuck and Michael explore how recording, mixing, and listening habits are continuing to evolve. From immersive mixing and binaural playback to AI-assisted restoration and the changing relationship between live performance and recorded music. The episode looks at where music production is heading next and what may be gained or lost along the way.
UNSUNG is a podcast from Audiomovers that explores the untold stories and creative processes behind the music we love. Each episode features producers, engineers, mixers, and composers shaping records and soundtracks across genres and industries.
Audiomovers software is used by professional engineers and creators worldwide, across countless GRAMMY-winning records, major film productions, and global releases.
➡️ Learn more about Audiomovers – Audiomovers.com
➡️ Listen to this episode on Spotify
#ChuckAinlay #MichaelRomanowski #UNSUNGPodcast #AudioEngineering #MusicProduction #ImmersiveAudio #DolbyAtmos #MixingEngineer #MasteringEngineer #MusicTechnology
Timecode
00:00 A casual chat among Audio Engineers
00:42 The real mission of the Recording Academy
04:56 How MusiCares supports the Music Community
08:08 Golf tournaments and keeping the team together
09:47 The true challenges of being an Audio Professional
12:19 Winning a Grammy and the reality of studio life
16:01 Should you ever go back and remix a record?
17:37 Inside British Grove Studio and the legendary Red 51 Console
19:06 Why we are still obsessed with vintage recording gear?
20:27 When it pays to break the rules in engineering
21:34 The long journey from surround sound to immersive audio
25:13 Technical headaches: The truth about Immersive Mixing
35:56 Making creative calls in Atmos Mastering
37:42 The deliverables nightmare: Making art translate everywhere
40:04 Taming the room: The battle for perfect immersive sound
41:47 From early DAWs to the Hard Disk revolution
45:59 A quick look at our technical podcasting setup
46:56 Keeping the passion alive in the studio
50:00 How the industry has shifted since our early days
52:30 Building the foundation: the Rock House Studio story
53:45 Career highs from Nashville to London
56:31 Mark Knopfler, Peter Frampton, and some legendary Pub stories
1:02:31 How a motorcycle trip led to a career in Mastering
1:08:25 The future of albums in an immersive listening world
1:10:52 New innovations pushing the boundaries of sound
1:14:02 Could AI and Quantum Computing restore lost music?
1:16:51 Rethinking stereo and immersive recording techniques
1:20:01 Production vs. Performance: Capturing the live energy
1:21:43 How live and recorded music are evolving together
1:23:28 Technology’s real impact on modern music creation
1:26:16 Looking ahead: Immersive audio and the future of the industry
1:29:15 Looking back: The path from Mono and Stereo to today
1:30:15 What nobody tells you about Immersive Production
1:33:12 Quickfire round: Our favorite studio picks
1:37:15 Finding the magic in iconic, historic studios
1:38:42 The pros and cons: Home setups vs. professional studios
1:39:20 Music is a communal experience: Final thoughts
