Go on the road with Train (yes, that Train) and learn how how their holiday record was made.

Butch Walker is one of the most respected music producers and songwriters working today. His credits range from Taylor Swift and P!NK to Green Day, Weezer, and Fall Out Boy. In addition to his own acclaimed solo work, he has earned a reputation for capturing inspired performances in both high-end studios and unconventional spaces. 

Butch was kind enough to speak with our team about how he brought that same creative approach on the road, cutting new tracks for the tenth anniversary of Train's Christmas in Tahoe album using a backpack-sized studio.

 

“Getting an inspired-sounding record is about getting an inspired take.” 

Butch Walker (Weezer, Taylor Swift)

 

Train spent this year touring across the country. But performing wasn't the only thing they were up to. Between shows, rehearsals, and long travel days, their recently-appointed guitarist Butch Walker was quietly tracking three new songs for the tenth-anniversary edition of Christmas in Tahoe, alongside demo tracks contributed by bandmates Jerry Becker and Matt Musty.

And it didn't all happen in a traditional studio. On many occasions, Walker used a Volt USB Recoding Studio, UAD Spark plug-ins, and LUNA to turn hotel rooms and backstage hallways into makeshift recording spaces.

The result is a rare glimpse into how a multi-platinum band captured album-ready performances with a portable recording setup that's accessible to creators at every level.

 

A Mobile Studio Designed for Real Life

Walker’s road setup had one job: be ready the moment inspiration struck. Everything needed to be fast, familiar, and compact enough to live inside a backpack.

“I have a good ear, but things need to move quickly in these environments,” Walker explains. “Part of getting an inspiring take is making sure the artist likes what they hear in the headphones. Pat wants to feel the record in real time, and LUNA and Volt made that possible for me.”

His travel rig:

• MacBook Pro
• LUNA DAW
• Volt 276 USB Recording Studio
• UAD Spark Plug-Ins
• Microphone
• Splitters
• Monitors
• Headphones

 

Why Volt Was the Perfect Audio Interface

Volt 276 combines vintage sound with onboard effects and a simple, portable setup that's perfect for capturing inspired performances anywhere.

For Walker, Volt wasn’t just a convenient audio interface. It created a sound that made the artist comfortable, no matter where they were recording.

"What stood out for me was the Vintage 610 preamp and 1176 compression on the Volt 276," says Walker. "They were always on and gave our vocals a focused, musical tone before any plug-ins."

 

"The onboard effects made it easy to get inspiring vocal takes."

Butch Walker on the recording Train with Volt 276.

 

Tour environments change by the hour. And since Volt is bus-powered — meaning it doesn't need to be plugged into a wall outlet — Walker was able to get a repeatable rig that he could set up anywhere.

“Pat sits on the bed or chair for most of the vocals,” Walker laughs. “It’s not glamorous. Sometimes he’s sweaty from the gym and we’re back in a dressing room finishing takes. Volt can meet us where we're at.”

 

LUNA: A Fast DAW for Mobile Recording

Volt 276 gave Walker instant tone with its onboard studio effects, and LUNA gave him the feeling of recording and mixing in a real studio.

“The layout in LUNA feels like what I grew up on,” he says. “Using the API Vision Console and tape and summing extensions makes it feel like home. I can work the way I would in a big room, even in a hotel.”

This meant Walker could move fast, build arrangements between gigs, and hand off polished sessions without having to fight the limitations of recording away from a traditional studio.

The features that mattered most on tour:

• UAD Spark plug-ins are easy to use in LUNA
• A simple and reliable stem printing workflow
• A familiar analog-style layout
• API Vision Console emulation mirrors a traditional mixing desk
• Tape and summing extensions for authentic analog glue and feel
• A signal chain setup that matched his Apollo workflow at home

 

LUNA's onboard analog tape and summing extensions make it easier to get a finished sound while you record, so tracks require less processing during mix down.

 

How Native UAD Plug-Ins Shaped Holiday Hits

Walker leaned on some of his favorite UAD plug-ins throughout the tour. Their character and reliability made them essential for the project’s warm, classic feel.

His go-to UAD plug-ins:

• Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Collection
• Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor
• Capitol Mastering Compressor
• API 2500 Bus Compressor
• Pultec Passive EQ Collection
• Verve Analog Machines
• UAD Sound City Studios

 

Even though he doesn’t mix while he's on the road, using native UAD plug-ins helped Walker craft roughs that felt full, balanced, and record-ready.

 

The Realities of Recording on Tour

Hotel rooms became vocal booths. Backstage areas turned into production rooms. And takes were cut between workouts or meet and greets. It was all about responding in the moment and using every environment to its advantage.

For example: if the only available room was a large, cavernous space, the band would track hand claps, which require less control than vocals. 

“It’s not as sexy as it sounds,” he says. “But when the workflow feels this natural, we can get right to the heart of the song.”

"Recording on tour is improvisational," explains Butch Walker. "The spaces often dictated what can be captured."

 

The Tracks That Made the Final Album

Three songs made the final tenth-anniversary edition of Christmas in Tahoe.

• “Rainy NY Christmas”
• “Let’s Stay In Tonight”
• “Under the Christmas Moonlight”

Each track started in an unpredictable environment, but the end product is cohesive and balanced thanks to a workflow built to capture inspiring first takes.

 

Making Anywhere a Studio

Walker’s sessions show exactly why our products exist. They’re not just tools for large studios. They’re portable, intuitive, and musical enough to turn any space into a place where real records can be made. For Train’s holiday project, these tools made the line between “tour life” and “studio life” disappear. 

Volt USB recording interfaces, UAD Spark plug-ins, and LUNA give you everything you need to create high-quality tracks with just a laptop and a few pieces of gear, whether you're a multi-platinum band on the road or a novice producer at home.

— Britt Rogers

 

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