ROB KLEINER ON MIXED TALKS - EPISODE 05 @EDISONVID

In this fifth episode of Mixed Talks, I’m joined by the talented Rob Kleiner, a highly respected mixing engineer with an impressive career in the music industry. Rob takes us through his journey, from his childhood connection to music to working with legendary artists like Billie Eilish and Labrinth. He opens up about his creative process, preferred techniques, and the essential tools he uses to craft flawless mixes. Rob dives deep into the technical side of mixing, sharing his expertise on balancing, automation, gain staging, and his favorite plugins. Plus, he offers invaluable advice for aspiring engineers and reflects on his experiences working with some of the biggest names in music. Don’t miss this exclusive conversation with one of the industry's top mixing engineers! 00:00 - Introduction to Rob Kleiner and the podcast 00:38 - Rob's early connection to music 01:13 - Rob's approach to collaborating with artists 01:48 - The importance of balancing in the mixing process 02:55 - The role of automation in mixing (vocal and drum riding) 03:32 - Rob's go-to plugins and preferences 04:46 - Metric AB plugin for referencing 05:19 - Constant gain staging throughout mixing 05:54 - How Rob stays organized during a busy schedule 06:31 - Collaborating with Billie Eilish and Labrinth on "Never Felt So Alone" 07:05 - Creating a comfortable environment for vocalists 07:34 - The importance of communication in the recording process 08:09 - Rob’s vocal chain and microphone setup 09:27 - Working with artists like Labrinth and maintaining their vision 10:07 - Making subtle improvements to a perfect mix 11:21 - Mixing in mono vs. stereo and how Rob references 12:40 - Vocal production and comping process 13:09 - Working with legendary artists like Billie Eilish and Labrinth 14:29 - Rob's experience working on The Weeknd’s track for Avatar: The Way of Water 15:04 - Mixing for streaming levels vs. major label artists 15:42 - Recording Sia for “Titanium” 16:25 - Rob’s approach to comping with singers 17:26 - The importance of collaboration in comping 18:03 - Managing revisions with clients 19:36 - Advice to his younger self about learning all aspects of music production 20:41 - Tips for aspiring mixing engineers 21:15 - Final thoughts and wrapping up the episode