Using compressors and limiters in your home studio
Using compressors and limiters when recording and mixing allows you to smooth out passages to better control a track. Read the post.
mastering
Preparing your audio master for manufacturing
Adapted from our “Making A Great Master” guide, here are tips for preparing and uploading your audio master when you’re ready to make CDs. Read the post.
Using reverb and delay: Lessons from six classic tracks
One way to better understand the adept use of recording techniques is to study classic hits. We’ve got six examples of expertly crafted songs that showcase creative use of reverb and delay. Read the post.
Home studio recording: How to record and mix
From mic placement tips to prepping for a recording session, these home recording posts from the Disc Makers Blog offer insights for recording and mixing in your home studio. Read and enjoy.
Introduction to Audio Mastering
In our July Disc Makers Twitter chat (#DMchat), Brian Lipski, mastering engineer and manager of The SoundLAB, gave us an introduction to audio mastering for musicians of all genres. Read More.
Mastering Gear and The SoundLAB at Disc Makers
Do you have questions about what mastering engineers do and how they achieve their results? This introduction to the mastering gear in The SoundLAB gives you a glimpse into our mastering suites and the gear we use to make your music sound great. Read More.
Stereo width and audio mastering
Using stereo widening plug-ins in audio mastering to try to expand your mix’s stereo width won’t sound natural and could cause major issues with your finished track. Read more.
Avoid these common mistakes to get the most from audio mastering
Supplying audio files in compressed formats or applying heavy limiting or compression during mix down can compromise your master and negatively impact your audio mastering results. Read more.
The wide world of licensed music in video games
Music in video games is not limited to the standard rock, rap, and EDM. Check out these examples of diverse music found in popular games. Nearly any flavor of high-quality, well-produced music has a shot at finding a home in some sort of video game. Here are just a few examples. Read more.
Placing your music in video games: advice from Halo composer Tom Salta
When it comes to licensing music, most indie artists shoot for the holy trinity of film, TV, and commercials — but an entirely different market for licensing music has blown wide open: video games. Armed with the right knowledge, high-quality tracks, persistence, and a little luck, indie artists can begin to tap into this market. Read more.
EDM: the fashionable end of the music spectrum
Studying the differences will help you know where to draw influences from and what your audience is looking for. Drum and Bass sounds completely different from Electro which is completely different than House and Dubstep and Techno. Each genre has a completely different feel and production aesthetic. Read more.
Twelve EDM production tips for producing massive and original dance music
Anyone can open GarageBand, drag a few drum and synth loops in, and create some something that resembles electronic dance music. But according to producer Francis Preve, there’s a world of difference between electronic music that is“constructed” and that which is created with expertise and inspiration. Read more.
Mastering Gear Overview
Brian Lipski, who heads the dedicated group of audio engineers in the SoundLab Mastering Suite at Disc Makers, explains some of the basics about post-production mastering and the gear used in the process – either in your home studio or in a professional environment like the SoundLab. View video…
Basic Tracks: Where the Magic Is Made
Basic tracks are the initial recordings of the rhythm section that are done prior to any overdubbing. Basics are the foundation for the music being recorded and for any other parts that come afterward. If there’s something faulty in the foundation, it will either be impossible or very costly in time and money to fix things later. That’s why it’s essential to make each basic track the best it can be.
Regardless of whether you spend a little or a lot of time in preproduction, recording basic tracks is where you either make the project or break it. Even if you had a great preproduction, you never really know how things will record or what unforeseen circumstances will pop up until you get there. Read more…
Creating a Lead Sheet
There’s some great software on the market that makes it easy to transcribe your music. We compare two programs and give you our take on ease and performance.
For a songwriter getting ready to work with a back up band or go into the studio with session musicians, having an accurate lead sheet of your songs is a great way to save time and money. Read more…