Category: Simple Life Studio

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It’s a statement: Simple Life Studio

Recording Acoustic Guitar

Where True Emotions Transcend Boundaries

It is a powerful statement

In the vast expanse of the virtual world, where distance and borders blur, lies the Simple Life Studio – an online mixing and mastering haven for country and rock artists. Led by the skilled audio engineer, Toby Schuetgens, this studio is not just another name in the digital soundscape. It is a powerful statement that celebrates the soulful connection between true emotions, traditional values, and music.

As the sun sets on the tranquil horse ranch that houses Simple Life Studio, Toby sits in his cozy studio, ready to embark on a musical journey with artists from all corners of the globe. The digital age has bridged the gap between distance and creativity, and now customers from any country can send their audio material via the internet, seeking Toby’s expertise to breathe life into their music.

Simple Life Studio

One such artist, Maria, resides in a bustling city far away from the countryside where the studio lies. Frustrated with the cold and mechanical sound of mainstream studios, she stumbled upon Simple Life Studio. Drawn by the promise of authenticity and raw emotions, Maria chose to entrust her music to Toby’s care.

With a click of a button, she uploaded her recordings, and Toby got to work. Despite the virtual distance, Toby’s dedication to keeping it simple and genuine transcended the digital realm. He listened intently to each note, discovering the heart of Maria’s songs. He understood that her music wasn’t about glitz and glamour; it was about telling a story, painting a picture of life’s highs and lows.

Rustic charm and genuine emotions

As Toby weaved his magic, the essence of Maria’s music began to shine. The rustic charm and genuine emotions flowed through every beat, taking Maria aback. It was as if Toby had stepped into her world, immersed himself in her struggles and triumphs, and crafted a sonic masterpiece that resonated with her soul.

The benefits of choosing Simple Life Studio became evident to Maria and countless other artists who embraced this online sanctuary. Despite the virtual nature, the sense of community and the bond between Toby and the artists were unparalleled. Toby’s personal approach, the very heartbeat of the studio, brought out the best in every artist, making them feel like they were working side by side, even from thousands of miles away.

A harmonious tapestry of sound

Moreover, the accessibility of Simple Life Studio attracted artists from various backgrounds, allowing diverse stories to intertwine and create a harmonious tapestry of sound. Toby’s deep-rooted belief in true emotions and traditional values not only enriched the music but also fostered a sense of belonging within the music community.

Word of Simple Life Studio’s unique approach spread like wildfire through the digital realm. The statement it made was loud and clear: in a world where technology can overshadow the genuine human experience, the studio dared to be different. It embraced the imperfections, the beauty of life’s rawness, and allowed musicians to showcase their true selves without artifice.

They craved the honesty

As Maria’s heartfelt tunes graced the airwaves, listeners connected with the music on a profound level. They craved the honesty that Simple Life Studio stood for, seeking solace in the heartfelt melodies that resonated with their own lives.

So, if you’re an artist yearning to infuse your music with authenticity and a statement that echoes the very core of your being, Simple Life Studio beckons. Despite the virtual medium, Toby Schuetgens’ dedication and passion will envelop you, transforming your music into an unforgettable testament to life’s joys, sorrows, and everything in between. Step into the world of Simple Life Studio and experience the simplicity that sets your music apart, for it’s not just a studio – it’s a profound statement of artistry and life.

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Free Mastering

You have just finished your mix and now you need somebody with fresh ears to get the most out of it, to help it translate to any possible listening device and to bring it up to the desired volume?

We are here to master your song & to polish your latest hard work for your fans!

An AI can only reproduce what already exists!
Humans can create something completely new!

We are offering a special service exclusively to new customers. We are mastering one track per new customer for free.

Try before you buy!

It´s easy as that:

  • sign up with your email address
  • send us your final mixdown via WeTransfer*
  • get back your final master you can instantly upload to streaming platforms for example

It will cost you: nothing!

If you like what we have done to your mix you have a great master you can instantly publish. Just in case you don´t like it: you’ve nothing lost!

Free Mastering

Sign up with your email address via the following form.

After your signup you´ll get a confirmation mail (also check your spam folder) with a link that will direct you to a page where you can upload your final mixdown via WeTransfer*.

As soon as we have received your audio file we will do the final touches and send back your master, which you can then publish on streaming platforms for example.

Sign up with your email address to get your free master!



www.CleverReach.de

Our Mastering is absolutely for free!
The first song will cost you nothing!

Your benefits:

  • easy workflow – all you need to do is upload your mixdown file.
  • quick workaround – you’ll get back your mastered file within two days
  • you get a great sounding track you can instantly show your friends & fans – for free!

BUT don’t wait too long – there are only a couple limited slots for free mastering left!

Mastering Sample

There is a snippet of a song called “Ride Or Die” running through the mixing console below. The left version is just the finished mix before the mastering and the right version is the finally mastered version.

FAQ

What is Mastering?

Mastering is the final step in music production. It’s about adding the last tweaks, bringing it up to a proper volume and make it translate to any music listening device. For mastering we just need the final stereo mixdown file, except when it comes to stem mastering, what’s not a part of the “free mastering offer”!

Difference between Mixing and Mastering?

Mixing is like bringing it all together. All recordings, all Instruments and additional effects were brought together to one single piece of music. It’s about setting the right volumes for each track as well as placing them throughout the panorama. It’s also about adding effects like reverbs and such. (Mixing is not included in the “free mastering offer”)
Mastering is just about the final stereo mixdown of the mix. It’s adding the final tweaks, brings up the volume and makes the song translate to any listening device.

* What is WeTransfer?

WeTransfer is an online service to send large files all over the world. You don´t need an account to send us your mix and it´s completely for free on your side!

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Pricing

Recording Acoustic Guitar

We are here for independent artist – and nothing else!
Professional sounding productions for any possible budgets!

Toby Schuetgens – Audio Engineer

Talking about prices when it comes to mixing and mastering country & rock music is quite difficult. We don’t have any fix rates, but there are several possibilities for all budgets. It’s depending on the size of your project, the number of additional changes / reviews etc. We have also done complete projects for free or projects where the artists paid what they could.

A common price range:

Just to set up a rough price range here is what we usually charge about for a typical production per song:

Mixing: ~ $350 | Mastering: ~ $75

Don’t get too attached to these numbers. These can vary extremely in one direction or the other depending on the size of your project, necessary edits like vocal tuning and time alignment, number of reviews etc.

The easiest way to realize your project while keeping it on budget is to talk about it first.

Just shoot us a message via the following form and tell us as much possible about what you plan to do and what services you need to inquire for an individual offer.

Go to the full page to view and submit the form.

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Studio Service

We also offer services for external music studios and other audio productions such as:

  • Organizing sessions
  • Editing tracks like vocal recordings
  • Setting up rough mixes

Our current main DAW is Steinberg Cubase 12 pro. Avid Protools is coming soon.

Just shoot us a message via the following contact form to inquire for individual services.

Go to the full page to view and submit the form.

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Artists we have worked with

Here you can find some of the artists, simple life studio has worked with so far.

Rebel Resurgence

skatepunk / pop punk

Rebel Resurgence is a brand new skatepunk / pop punk band just producing their debut single. There is something really cool coming soon, it definitely will be some kind of 90’s punk revival. Stay tuned!!!

coming soon

Toby Schuetgens

independent country rock

Toby is an independent / DIY artist who is mainly into modern country rock music. When you like some kind of twangy vocals and guitar tones but also some more likely classic rock / southern rock tunes, you might absolutely love Toby’s music. Storytelling lyrics combined with not too ironed smooth productions, that are a little more gritty and sometimes even dirty. But there are also some “just feel good” tracks between his past releases that make you want to move your feet.

check out his website

Drop Disco

from ‘heavy and funky’ to ‘melancholy and melodic’

Drop Disco is an Eclectic band of Life long friends from Norfolk County. Their music draws from a vast collective of musical tastes and influences, so varied that it is hard to put into words. Their music can range from ‘heavy and funky’ to ‘melancholy and melodic’ and all points in between. This makes for a really nice ‘grit and gloss’ contrast with Nicki’s angelic voice as it soars over the music. The band is currently working on recording their debut studio album due out soon, but can be currently heard on Spotify.

check out their facebook page

Garrett Hendricks

Northwest Americana

Garrett describes his music as Northwest Americana, a genre that paints the roots and soul of classic country and other American music styles across the vivid landscapes and waterways between the Cascade and Olympic mountains of Washington state where he was born and raised. It’s the kind of music one could expect to find played around a campfire in the backwoods.

With intrinsic influence coming from the land he grew up in, Garrett set out across the country to ply and develop his trade in Nashville, TN. There he studies his musical heroes like Johnny Cash and John Prine, who helped make Nashville the songwriting presence it is, in order to cut his own section of trail in the American songscape.

check out his website

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Audio Engineer Toby Schuetgens

Toby Schuetgens is a musician through and through. He started to play guitar at the age of six and writes his own songs since he was at the age of 14. He was sometimes more intense and sometimes less into producing music, because he also dedicated his life to increase the life quality of horses as being a western horse trainer and farrier.

But during the corona pandemic he found out how easy it is nowadays to publish his own music to streaming plattforms such and spotify and co. And from that day on he was completely on fire. He pulled up all his old songs, build his own homestudio and started to record all his songs in just a couple weeks. Not happy with the overall sound quality he invested a lot of time and money in becoming a professional audio engineer and the deeper he dived into the more he wanted to produce for other musicians as well.

And here we are today.

Because of training western horses is Toby’s first passion it’s not a wonder that country music at all of its kinds is Toby’s favorite genre. There has been that special moment when he was an intern on a ranch and drove back home in that huge chevy truck with his former boss from visiting the colts one evening and “the thunder rolls” by Garth Brooks came up on the radio. From that day on Toby was completely hooked up on country (rock) music.

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Why “Simple Life Studio”?

Simple Life Studio is a hybrid mixing & mastering studio what means it combines the best elements of both worlds: analog and digital.

“Don´t be afraid to keep it simple!”

Lenny Kravitz

We life in a world where everything seems to be more appearances than reality. But this is not what I like to offer. That´s even not just me. I like it when things are true. And that´s also what I like to achieve with my sound. I believe in simplicity – I believe in what it is. I don´t impress with distraction from reality, I work out elements and emotions the way they are in a simple but effective way. It´s not my style to alienate sounds that far just to make them fit into what´s “modern” these days.

This is why my place is called “Simple Life Studio” – I´m living a simple country life and I´m not afraid to get my hands dirty out here and this kind of lifestyle reflects also in my work as a professional audio engineer.

Studio Setup

My homestudio is a hybrid studio what means it combines the best elements of both worlds: analog and digital. A big part of my mixing and mastering is happening in the box but there is also some analog outboard gear for example to add flavor at some points and to get rid of the digital harshness.

The digital part makes a lot of things easier and cheaper. But sometimes it feels that there is something missing and that is where analog gear comes in to play. The analog gear makes a song feel more natural and organic sometimes.

These are the benefits of a hybrid studio where analog and digital gear comes together.

Can I expect high quality sound out of a homestudio setup?

Absolutely yes. It’s not necessarily about using tons of analog gear to achieve a high quality sound anymore. Many of world famous engineers, even grammy award winners, are mixing entirely in the box (on a computer) these days.

It’s more about knowing how to properly use all the many possibilities we have now. When it comes to analog gear today it’s more about adding tiny amounts of character every now and then and at the right places only when it fits properly.

Even though it’s more about personal preferences, workflows and such when an engineer decides to mix in a box, on a huge analog console or in a hybrid studio what combines the best of both worlds.

In the end: you absolutely can expect high quality sounds.

Specialized in

As you might have noticed: I´m absolutely into country music and related genres like southern rock for example. I´m living this whole country life as long as I can think and of course it´s also about the music. Indeed I´m open for other genres too, but at my place it´s mainly about guitars, drums – organic instruments.

Because I´ve not that huge recording studio yet, I´m mainly focused on mixing and mastering songs either from independent artist who record on their own or even professional recorded tracks from other studios.

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