Posts tagged as:

production

Home Project Studio: Part 1 & 2

by Mike Tarsia 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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Behind The Glass with Daniel Lanois

by Howard Massey October 29, 2009

LanoisMany of your best known recordings were done to analog tape. Do you prefer the sound of analog to digital?
Not necessarily. When I listen to my records from the seventies and eighties and compare them with newer recordings, I can hear a difference, but it’s not just the tape – it’s where we have traveled in our minds and where our expectations have taken us. It’s a slow creep, and year by year a little bit of the old way of doing things just disappears. It’s an erosion rather than a change of technique. So I don’t really miss the sound of tape, but I miss some of the philosophies that we operated by back in the day. I think that was probably more significant than the sound of tape versus digital. Read more…

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Two Defining Moments for a Guitar Player

by Bobby Owsinski September 30, 2009

There’s so much to being a guitar player that’s easy. There’s a vast variety of gear to choose from, a host of excellent players in every genre to learn from, and plenty of ways to get you to a place where you can make music quickly and easily. That being said, playing guitar well takes a lot of thought and effort that goes way beyond technique. It requires some dedication to not only do it well, but also do it in a way that makes the rest of your band sound better as a result. Here are all the things to either think about or work on to take your individual playing to the next level and, as a result, bring your band there, too. Read more…

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Are Dynamics Dead in Popular Music?

by Keith Hatschek September 23, 2009

Since the earliest compressors were conceived and built, the ability to modify, control, and maximize the dynamic range of a musical performance has been the quest of many an audio engineer. In the early days of audio, limits on a recording’s overall dynamic range were dictated by vinyl – the state of the art in music delivery until the CD’s debut in 1982. Today, with virtually all music being recorded and massaged in a digital environment, it’s become standard operating procedure to limit, compress, or maximize the dynamic range of a track or an entire mix. Read more…

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When It Pays To Have a Home Recording Rig

by Keith Hatschek September 1, 2009

The Boss BR 600 delivers a powerful all-in-one recording station that is ideal for guitarists.Talk with any musician who writes and performs his or her own music and chances are that one of the things near the top of their “to do” list is to regularly record their songs. There’s no better way to improve your performing and writing chops than to routinely record and critique your own music. So when does it make sense to invest in buying and learning how to use a home recording rig and when does it make sense to shop around and use a professional studio? Read more…

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How to Record Vocals in a Bedroom

by Disc Makers August 31, 2009

Don’t have a dedicated recording studio? Recording in your house? Check out these tips and tricks from Audiotuts+ to get the most out of your sound in an imperfect setting.

The number one factor in vocal recording is the room. You might’ve thought it was the mic you’re using or the pre-amp you’re running it through, but the truth is if you’ve got a U87 and an Avalon but the room you’re recording in is crap, you won’t be much farther ahead than a guy using a Behringer mic through an Mbox.

You could buy one of those (often rather expensive) reflection shields that attach to the stand and sit behind the microphone, and this will do you some good, particularly if your mic is omnidirectional. However, most common vocal microphones for both home and studio users are cardioid, so the shield will still help to an extent but the majority of problem reflections will come from the front — that is, the surfaces behind the vocalist’s head.

Click here to read the entire article on Audiotuts+.

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Blu-ray FAQ

by Craig Elliott Hanna August 25, 2009

Ready to jump into Blu-ray? Here is a brief FAQ to help you make an informed decision.
How does Blu-ray work? Larger capacity on Blu-ray discs is achieved through the use of a shorter wavelength laser as opposed the larger red laser used on SD DVDs. The blue laser allows BD to utilize smaller pits and lands than are used on SD DVDs. Pits and lands are the method by which information is stored on an optical disc. Because the pits and lands are smaller they can be placed closer together resulting in more information being stored on the same size disc. In conjunction with different optics and faster disc rotation, BD discs can store 5X more data than SD DVDs. Read more…

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You Can’t Make A Silk Purse Out Of A Pig’s Ear

by Disc Makers July 23, 2009

Serve The Song recently posted an article by Jeff Shattuck called “The Despair of Infinity. Or How Technology Can Affect Your Songwriting. (And what to do about it.)” Shattuck cautions musicians to be sure they have a song concept or lyrics before they start delving into the technology to create their song. He suggests that the technology we use has become so robust, we are easily overwhelmed or preoccupied by all the options we have available to us. Read more…

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Planning Your Album

by Randy Chertkow and Jason Feehan July 22, 2009

Planning Your Album
A checklist to help you plan your next album and win fans worldwide.

If you’re sitting down to tackle making an album, there’s a lot to think about; from clearing the rights for your cover songs, to converting the cover art to the right format. These issues can trip you up, or cause the album to take a lot longer than you planned. Some musicians get so lost in handling the technical production of the album that they forget generating publicity and buzz about a new release. Read more…

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DAW Keyboard Covers

by Disc Makers July 14, 2009

Use ableton live or pro tools? Check out these clever keyboard covers that mark all the controls and shortcuts for you! http://cli.gs/NaAJr7

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Pro Studio: Make the Most of Your Songs

by Keith Hatschek June 16, 2009

Tight Knit, Vetiver's 2009 CD showcases songwriter Andy Cabic's talents.Connecting with producer Thom Monahan took a little doing, since he was halfway around the world in Tel Aviv, Israel, tracking a new album with singer/songwriter Geva Alon. We started our phone interview discussing his background, including his eight-year stint with well-respected songwriter Joe Pernice, during which time they recorded ten albums. Monahan was not only a member of the band, but he also engineered and produced. He has also produced albums by Devendra Banhart, Beachwood Sparks, Lavender Diamond, and Little Joy. One clear lesson Monahan has learned includes the importance of having great songs when you set out to make a record. Read more…

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