Archive for the ‘Concepts’ Category
Synchronization of DAWs with MTC & MMC
March 2, 2008 DAWs, SyncThis post focuses on the use of MIDI Time Code (MTC) and MIDI Machine Control (MMC) to synchronize multiple DAWs together. SMPTE timecode was create for the purpose of synchronizing audio systems together, such as tape machines, computers, and other time sensitive audio devices. MIDI timecode is an extension of SMPTE timecode into the MIDI [...]
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What’s this Class A, Class AB, Class B stuff?
February 24, 2008 Amplification, AmplifiersThis post focuses on the basics of the differences between various amplifier (and preamplifier) types, namely class A, B, and AB. When we first start out learning about audio equipment, there’s an awful lot of terms to sort through. One in particular that escaped me for years was what exactly the various ‘classes’ of amplifiers [...]
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The Art of Comping: Creating Master Performances
February 23, 2008 Comping, PostThis post focuses on the technique of comping, or creating a composite performance from various elements of multiple performances. It used to be that in order to get a recording of a performance the performers had to run straight through the material. But ever since the invention of overdubbing people have been changing the way [...]
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Stretches for Producers
February 19, 2008 ErgonomicsThis post focuses on some stretches you can do to stay healthy when hunched over gear for long periods at a time. Whether you’re slumped over a mixing console, a rack of gear, or a computer, producers and engineers spend a lot of time in awkward, non-ergonomic positions. So, for a bit of an odd [...]
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Ring Modulating (or Vocoding) to Produce Artificial Chords
February 18, 2008 EffectsThis post focuses on using ring modulators, vocoders, or other tone resonating devices to produce artificial chords. Creating unique sounds is a constant challenge. Sometimes things just sound too ‘plain’ and you need to pull something totally off-the-wall out of your hat. In these situations, it can be really interesting to grab resonating devices such [...]
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Predelay: Improve Clarity of ‘Verb
February 17, 2008 Effects, ReverbThis post focuses on the use of predelay to allow reverb to be added to a sound without muddying it up too much. A lot of producers are really reverb shy these days. It’s true that reverb can really date material… it was used so much in the 80s and 90s that a lot of [...]
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Sampling: Legally Ambiguous Like Whoa
February 14, 2008 Licensing, Music Business, SamplingThis post focuses on the practice of sampling and its legal ramifications. Sampling has, for years, been a routine practice in the music industry. Sampling is taking a part of an already recorded musical composition and repurposing it in a new composition. It used to be that people would simply sample freely, release the material, [...]
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Taming Rock Cymbals with… a DeEsser!?
February 13, 2008 DeEssers, Drums, MixingThis post. focuses on the secret rock mixing practice of using a DeEsser on overheads. Rock overhead tracks are downright scary. Many rock drummers constantly wash out their cymbals and play in the studio with ‘live’ cymbals that have too much presence, designed to cut through stage noise. EQing the cymbals leaves you with mush [...]
Read More »How MIDI Works: The Basics
February 9, 2008 MIDIThis post focuses on describing MIDI – what it is and what it does. Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) was created in 1983 to address the need for controlling instruments electronically. As synthesizers grew more and more common, it became more and more difficult to control them all. MIDI was created to allow musicians to [...]
Read More »Increasing Attack with Gates
February 6, 2008 Gates, MixingThis post focuses on the trick of increasing the attack of sounds using gates. Most people reach for EQ or compression when they want to add punch to their sounds. But I’ve found another way to accomplish a very specific kind of attack transient using gates. I sometimes use this trick to add attack kick [...]
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