The Fundamentals of Recording with Todd Burke
The Essential Foundation Every Music Creator and Aspiring Engineer Needs to Record Like a Pro
Online Audio Recording Course by Veteran Engineer Todd Burke
Recording & Mixing Engineer for Jack Johnson, M83, The Kooks, Belle & Sebastian, and More
Does This Sound Like You?
Gear-Obsessed, Underwhelmed
You’ve spent hundreds, maybe thousands, on gear, plugins, and interface. but your recordings still sound muddy, flat, or lifeless. You keep thinking the next piece of gear will fix it.
YouTube Burnout
You’ve watched all the tutorials, but the advice is contradictory, scattered, and rarely goes beyond surface level. You want structure! Not another random 10-minute tip video.
Self-Taught, Second-Guessing
You’re doing everything by instinct, but you’re not sure if you’re doing it right. Gain staging? Phase? Signal path? You're guessing and it shows.
Studio Dreams, DIY Reality
You’re passionate about making great music, but don’t have access to a top studio. You want to get the most out of the gear you do have and start creating professional-level recordings from wherever you are.
Your Struggles Today vs. Your Success Tomorrow
Your Struggles Today 😔
Gear Confusion
"I have the equipment, but I don’t know how to actually use it for a clean, professional sound."
Signal Path Frustration
What’s the right way to set gain levels, and why does everything sound off?"
Phase Problems
"I keep getting weird, hollow recordings when I use multiple mics. I don’t know why."
Information Overload
"There’s too much conflicting advice out there. I just want a clear path."
Lack of Confidence
"I’m afraid to charge clients or share my recordings because they don’t sound polished."
Your Success Tomorrow 🚀
Solid Foundation
"I understand how every part of the recording chain works and why it matters."
Confident Gain Staging
"I set proper gain levels every time and get clean, punchy recordings."
Phase Control
"I know how to mic and monitor phase so my recordings sound full and powerful."
Clear Signal Flow
"I troubleshoot fast and make smart routing decisions in any session."
Pro-Ready Sound
"My mixes stand up to major label tracks and I finally trust my own ears."
What If You Actually Understood How to Record at a Professional Level?
Imagine this: You walk into your home studio, mic up an artist or instrument, and know exactly how to route signal, set gain, check phase, and get clean, usable takes every time without relying on presets or luck.
That’s what this course gives you:
Not just tips, but understanding. The kind of fundamental knowledge that studio pros like Todd Burke have used to record Grammy-winning albums and blockbuster film scores for over 25 years.
This is your gateway to the real craft of recording.
Learn the Skills That Actually Make You a Great Recording Engineer
What You'll Master
Listening Like an Engineer
Learn to develop your ear, not just for tone, but for phase, balance, and detail so that you can make confident decisions in any session.
Gain Structure That Works
Understand how to set proper gain at every stage of the signal chain whether you're working with analog gear or in-the-box setups.
Clean Signal Paths, Every Time
Know exactly how to route signal from mic to mix, avoiding noise, clipping, and confusion.
Phase & Mic Placement
Learn how phase issues happen and how to fix or avoid them using mic placement, polarity switches, and your ears.
EQ & Compression Foundations
A rock-solid understanding of the most essential processors in your studio and know how and why to use them.
Quizzes to Reinforce Every Lesson
Each module ends with a short quiz to help lock in what you've learned and test your understanding before moving on.
What’s Really Holding Your Sound Back?
It’s not your gear. It’s not your plugins. It’s the lack of a foundation.
There’s a reason major engineers like Todd Burke get consistent results, whether they’re working at Capitol Studios or in a bedroom setup. They understand the core principles.
This course isn’t just a walkthrough of knobs and meters. It’s a mentorship-style deep dive into what actually makes recording work.
Meanwhile, producers using AI are releasing music weekly. They’re getting playlist placements. Building audiences. Living the dream you’ve been chasing for years. The difference? They learned to work with technology, not against it.
My Promise to You
Throughout this course, you’ll gain a clear and confident understanding of how recording actually works from mic to mix.
After the course, you’ll be able to record clean, professional-quality tracks with purpose, precision, and pride.
No more guessing, no more overwhelm.
Perfect For...
Aspiring Recording Engineers
Who want a structured, clear path to pro-level skills without years of trial and error.
DIY Musicians & Producers
Who are tired of gear chasing and want to make their recordings sound great now.
Audio Students & Interns
Who want to go beyond textbook theory and understand the craft from someone who’s done it professionally for decades.
Film Scorers & Composers
Who need clean, reliable recordings for projects, demos, or sync placements.
Success Stories
"TTodd has exceptional ears, knowledge is incredible, disposition amazing. Without Todd's generosity over the years I would have quit a long time ago."
"Top professional mixing and mastering! Todd gets the whole idea from the 1st time and delivered the best vision of the track, so happy working with Todd and it won't be the last.“"
"Todd is fantastic. If you scroll through his credits, you’ll notice that when he works with an artist or producer, they keep hiring him for future projects. That’s always a good sign and it’s easy to see why they do. Todd’s vision for the mix was right in line with mine from the start and he executed it superbly on the first go. No muss, no fuss. It was a pleasure working with Todd and I know I’ll be another returning artist as well. Thank you Todd!"
Meet Todd Burke
Todd is a veteran recording and mixing engineer with over 25 years of experience, having collaborated with iconic artists like Jack Johnson, M83, The Kooks, Belle & Sebastian, Ben Harper, and Fitz and the Tantrums. His versatility extends beyond the studio into film, where he has mixed scores for acclaimed productions such as The Big Sick, Daddy’s Home, Stargirl, and The King of Staten Island. Todd works out of world-class studios like Sunset Sound and Capitol Studios, and also operates his own mastering-ready facility, Lime Street Studio, located in the foothills east of Los Angeles. As a mentor, he’s passionate about guiding the next generation of engineers, helping them sidestep common pitfalls and develop true professional skill.
- Mixing & Recording Engineer with 25+ Years of Experience
- Studio Collaborator with Jack Johnson, M83, Ben Harper, and more
- Score Mixer for The Big Sick, The King of Staten Island, Stargirl, and more
- Frequent Engineer at Sunset Sound and Capitol Studios
- Owner of Lime Street Studio in Los Angeles
- Dedicated Educator & Mentor to Aspiring Audio Engineers
Get Instant Access
All Access Pass
Monthly-
Over 40 Courses & Counting
-
Learn Production, Business & More
-
1000s of Video Lessons
-
Over $5000 of value
-
Join Spectre Academy Discord
-
Private Community Access
-
Weekly Mentorship Meetings
-
Access full Spectre Academy Library
-
Access to newly released courses
-
Over 30 courses, all things music
-
Comprehensive Career Path Learning
-
Huge edu discounts for the best tools
-
4 Months of All Access For Free
-
Course Lifetime Access
One-Time Payment
Lifetime-
Complete Guide to AI Music Production
-
Learn AI-Enhanced Music Production
-
12+ Video Lessons
-
$350 of value
-
Join Spectre Academy Discord
-
Private Community Access
-
Weekly Mentorship Meetings
-
Access full Spectre Academy Library
-
Access to newly released courses
-
Over 30 courses, all things music
-
Comprehensive Career Path Learning
-
Huge edu discounts for the best tools
-
4 Months All Access Free
-
Course Lifetime Access
All Access Pass
Annual-
Over 40 Courses & Counting
-
Learn Production, Business & More
-
1000s of Video Lessons
-
Over $5000 of value
-
Join Spectre Academy Discord
-
Private Community Access
-
Weekly Mentorship Meetings
-
Access full Spectre Academy Library
-
Access to newly released courses
-
Over 30 courses, all things music
-
Comprehensive Career Path Learning
-
Huge edu discounts for the best tools
-
4 Months of All Access For Free
-
Course Lifetime Access
If you have any issues with your order, don't worry! You have up to 30 days to return and get your money back!
We take your data and security very seriously and use the best and most up-to-date measures available.
- SSL secured checkout
- Support available
- Global trusted payment options
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the All Access Membership exactly?
All Access is our answer to what our students have been wanting and asking for. A affordable way to learn what they want, when they want. With access to 40 courses and counting, covering all aspects of music and audio production. Everything from learning how to play Blues Guitar, to Songwriting, to recording, to mixing and much more! Not only that, it also comes with the ability to meet weekly with our instructors and mentors for hands-on, live calls with anything you may need help with or feedback on. You can learn more about it HERE.
Do you have an payment plans?
Yes! You can split up the cost of the one-time payment option into 4 interest free payments during checkout via PayPal “Pay Later” or Klarna. Now it’ll be even easier to improve and upgrade your skills!
Do you offer any hands-on coaching?
Yes! If you are a member of the Spectre Academy All Access Membership you will have access to weekly hands-on coaching and mentorship from our instructors and team.
Do you offer any Educational Discounts for Pro Audio Software & Tools?
Yes! When you join the Spectre Academy All Access Membership, you will have access to massive Education Discounts (upto 70% off) to some of the biggest names in Audio Production. From brands like Native Instruments, Izotope, Plugin Alliance, Fabfilter, Eastwest Sounds, and many more!
Do I need to be at a certain skill level in order to make the most of this training?
You just need a really basic understanding of how to use a computer, basic recording skills, and a basic understanding of music. The the whole point of the course! To help you get pro level results in the areas you are NOT skilled or proficient in.
Do I need the exact same plugins and tools as used in the course?
Absolutely not. There are many alternatives that can be used to get the same results. It comes down to practice and experimentation. These techniques being taught can be implemented with any tool in any situation.
What if I get stuck and need help?
When your grab this course, you will receive an invitation link to the exclusive Spectre Academy Discord and Facebook Group, where you can join and ask for help. Not only will you find our team and instructors, there are hundreds of members inside who are happy to help as well. This is an exclusive group not available to the public.
How is the course delivered?
Once you have bought the course, you can stream at any time, right from our website on our custom platform which lets you keep track of your progress and interact with your instructor.