RSR495 - Brian Murphree - Soundporter Mastering Studio

Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com "It's all about the spirit, man." My guest today is Brian Murphree, a seasoned mastering engineer and founder of Soundporter Mastering, based just south of Nashville. With over 15 years of experience, Brian has dedicated his career to helping artists and mix engineers get the best possible sound. Since launching Soundporter in 2019, he’s worked with an impressive lineup of clients, including Grammy-winning producer Boo Mitchell, Melly Baldwin, and even the touring drummer for Justin Bieber. His mastering work has helped artists rack up hundreds of thousands of streams, all while keeping the process accessible to musicians at any stage of their careers. Brian’s journey started in the DIY world, playing in bands and handling mixing and mastering to bring underground artists' sounds to life—often on a tight budget. That hands-on approach shaped his philosophy of working closely with artists to ensure their mixes shine before they even hit the mastering stage. He’s also played bass with the surf rock band Daikaiju and punk band Random Conflict, giving him a deep connection to the raw energy of live music. In this episode, we dive into Brian’s path from musician to mastering engineer, the evolution of video and photography, and the science behind great acoustics and studio design. We’ll also break down mastering techniques like mid-side processing and Brian’s ‘do no harm’ approach to bringing out the best in every track. And, of course, we’ll swap a few punk rock war stories along the way! Are you ready to rock? You can hear Brian's backstory on episode RSR227 and check out the Youtube playlist of cool music he has helped create in the show notes. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction to Brian Murphree and Sound Porter Mastering 05:59 The Evolution of Video and Photography 18:06 The Importance of Studio Design and Acoustics 23:00 The Comfort of Studio Setup 30:59 Advanced Acoustic Treatment Techniques 45:41 Mastering Philosophy: Do No Harm 01:00:00 The Importance of Acoustics in Sound Quality 01:10:04 Waveforming Technology and Room Correction 01:22:14 Mixing Techniques and Compression Decisions 01:26:23 The Impact of Bit Depth on Sound 01:42:00 Mastering Techniques for Bass Guitar 01:50:01 Live Performance Dynamics and Audience Engagement 02:03:32 Networking and Technical Expertise in Music 02:10:26 The Advantages of Fiber Optic Networking 02:19:30 Engaging with the Music Community THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! The Ultimate Mixing Masterclass: http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com Adam Audio: https://www.adam-audio.com Native Instruments: https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! iZotope: https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! Roswell Pro Audio: https://roswellproaudio.com/ Make Believe Studio: https://www.makebelievestudio.com/mbsi Get your MBSI plugin here! Recording Studio Rockstars Academy: https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy The Toy Box Studio: https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Tac9DRw066N6elkRqb9fF?si=bb26781a7770465f If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/495