From the category archives:

Recording & Mastering

Beyond Classical: Ann Marie Calhoun Stretches Boundaries

by Disc Makers February 16, 2010

Ann Marie CalhounAnn Marie Calhoun has been touring and sharing the stage with music legends Ian Anderson, Steve Vai, and Ringo Starr, as well as composing and recording material for the recently-released Sherlock Holmes’ movie. Soft spoken and thoughtful in person, she’s a different personality on stage with a fiery presence and a knack for sizzling violin solos. Read more…

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Creating a Great Composite Vocal Recording

by Keith Hatschek February 5, 2010

Creating a Great Composite Vocal RecordingOne of the themes through many of the articles on Echoes consider the practicalities of how to make the most of home recording, both the equipment needed and the techniques for getting the best results from your own efforts. This article will take a look at the techniques used to create composite lead vocal tracks, referred to as “comping” the lead vocal by studio engineers. Read more…

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Behind the Glass with Joe Chiccarelli

by Howard Massey January 22, 2010

Joe ChiccarelliAs the producer of classics from Frank Zappa, The White Stripes, and Kurt Elling – Joe Chiccarelli draws inspiration from a variety of sources.

Unlike many producers whose sonic stamp is immediately recognizable (a Roy Thomas Baker or a JohnShanks, for example), you’d be hard-pressed to identify a Joe Chiccarelli “sound.” It’s hard to believe that the same individual who produced the rough-and-ready White Stripes’ Icky Thump was also responsible for the ephemeral, moody ambience of the Shins’ Wincing the Night Away or the smooth, slick jazz tones of Kurt Elling’s Night Moves. Read more…

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How Do I Become a Studio Musician?

by Disc Makers January 15, 2010

On the journey to becoming a successful studio musician, a lot of roads lead to the same place. But the way it usually works is that someone hears and likes your playing and either hires you or refers you as a result. Here are some of the many ways it could happen. Read more…

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Tips to Ensure Success with Mastering

by Disc Makers January 11, 2010

Paul Elliott, senior mastering engineer at Disc Makers’ SoundLab mastering studios, offers a few tips to help artists get the most out of their mastering sessions, as well as some of his own opinions about the role of mastering in the album-making process.

First, prepare an accurate track listing – in the proper order – of all the songs you are sending to the mastering engineer. If there are any alternate mixes, be sure those are clearly labeled and tell the engineer which one you prefer be used. Read more…

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Making the Case for Mastering

by Keith Hatschek January 8, 2010

Before the advent of affordable home recording technology, most bands and songwriters struggled to save up enough money to go into a professional recording studio to cut a demo or a record that would help them get noticed. Invariably, once they were in the studio, these bands realized just how good they could sound if they only had a little more time in the studio to perfect their music. Read more…

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Pro Studio: Laptop Recording 101

by Keith Hatschek December 21, 2009

studiotogo2Compiling a “studio on the go” has never been so easy or affordable Being able to easily and quickly record your material at a moment’s notice is one of the key advances technology has provided musicians today. But just how easy is it to take that recording capability with you when you travel? Following is an exploration into the basics of setting up a “studio to go,” centered around an affordable laptop computer. With the advice of recording engineer Bob Furlong, we’ll find out just what you need to record anywhere and anytime the spirit moves you. Read more…

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David Pastorius: It’s not what you think

by Disc Makers December 15, 2009

David PastoriusWhen your last name is Pastorius and you play the bass, it only stands to reason that people will draw some immediate conclusions.

In the case of David Pastorius, they’d probably be wrong.

David, the nephew of the late, great bassist Jaco Pastorius, may share the same last name and instrument of choice as his uncle, but that’s where the similarities end. Read more…

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Pre-Production and Your Recording

by Andre Calilhanna December 7, 2009

Whether you’re entering the studio for the first or fiftieth time, embarking on a full-length album or a soundtrack one-off, successful recordings start with some form of pre-production. It could be as simple as a one-time conversation with the studio manager to go over the studio’s etiquette, layout, fees, and the specifics of how your time in the facility will play out. But for most projects, pre-production is a much more involved process that allows the artists and production team to define things like which songs will be recorded, the key of each song, and their tempos. Read more…

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From Your Project Studio to The Sound Machine

by Disc Makers December 1, 2009

Eric Schilling

Eight-time Grammy winner Eric Schilling talks about technique, craft, and saving an emotional reserve.

When you think about major hubs for music, three cities spring to mind: LA, New York, and Nashville. But the immense success of Latin artists like Gloria Estefan, Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Mark Anthony has also put Miami distinctly on the map, and eight-time Grammy winner Eric Schilling is one of the shining stars in the South Beach scene. Read more…

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Gear Watch: jamLink Internet Audio Interface

by Disc Makers November 30, 2009

jamLink

MusicianLink has released the jamLink, an audio interface that uses the internet to allow musicians to play in sync from different locations, no matter how far apart they are. The jamLink works with pretty much any instrument or microphone that has a 1/4” output, so you can plug in and jam with guitarists, singers, or other bassists across the country even if they are hundreds of miles away. Read more…

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Home Project Studio: Part 5 – Up And Running

by Disc Makers November 24, 2009

The studio is up and running and it looks great. I’m getting used to the sound of the speakers in the room and the sound of the ISO booth. The more I listen and work in the room, the more secure I feel in knowing what changes I need and want. I have made a list of things to be addressed by priority and am going to tackle the final construction and acoustical treatments issues. Read more…

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Home Project Studio: Parts 3 & 4

by Disc Makers November 16, 2009

Half-round Geometrix sound absorbersPart 3: The truth about isolation booths
We find ourselves immersed in the building of the isolation booth, after a slight delay caused by unforeseen delays.

The room is coming along well. Two dedicated 20-amp circuits have been installed for audio power. Lines have been run for lighting. The ceiling has been insulated and the outer walls are ready to be prepped for paint and wall treatments. Now that the main part of the room is taking shape, it is time to look at the ISO booth design and construction.

I had just ordered industrial felt to “float” the inner framing of the booth when I spoke to Nick Collerian at Acoustics First. Read more…

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The $999 Home Studio

by Keith Hatschek November 16, 2009

A pair of VLA-4 powered monitors makes it easy to mix your project. As the cost of home recording technology has continued to fall, the list of products and their available features continues to grow. So it seems timely to ask the question, “Can you put together a viable home recording set up for less than $1000?” To help answer this question, we turned to pro audio veteran, Richie DeCarlo at Philadelphia’s music superstore, 8th Street Music. Let’s see what gear goes into a prototypical home studio rig and how much bang for the buck can you get with a grand. Read more…

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Home Project Studio: Part 1 & 2

by Disc Makers November 9, 2009

This five-part series of articles will take a real world look at the why’s, where’s, when’s, and how’s of creating a professional-grade home recording studio. The articles will be written as things happen, and I’m sure there will be enlightening anecdotes, technical twists, and surprising turns (for you and me) as I attempt to actualize a vision that is shared by many recording enthusiasts. Read more…

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