Hanging Out With Chops
From studio sessions to breakfast rituals, from label life to life on the road—this is the real story behind the music. Join a Grammy-winning mix engineer as he shares raw experiences from years inside a major record label, unforgettable tour stories, daily routines, and lessons learned in and out of the studio. Whether you're an artist, audio head, or just love a good story, this podcast keeps it honest, soulful, and grounded in the creative grind.
Hanging Out With Chops
Episode 3: From Tape to Tour – Stories Behind the Sound
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, production, and post. The techs, the artists, the songwriters, and yeah, even the baristas who keep the sessions fueled.
Then we hit the road. I share three unforgettable live recording stories from my time on tour:
🎤 A fan battling cancer who made it to her last show on earth
🎖️ A soldier saying goodbye before his final tour in Afghanistan
🔊 A former inmate who held on to one cassette—and hope—for years
These aren’t just road stories. They’re reminders of how deep music can reach.
🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to this episode—raw, random, and real.
🔔 Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s coming next.
💬 Got thoughts, stories, or wild theories? Hit me up on socials or email [choppiechops@yahoo.com].
📡 Music in this episode created using Suno AI and my own twisted imagination.
Appreciate you being here. More chaos and conversation soon.