This post is going to focus on how to achieve a variety of tones by setting up specifically chosen ‘color’ microphones in your studio.
The key to quality audio is sometimes given the unimaginative name of ‘the good rule’. This essentially amounts to: good instruments > good microphones and preamps > good recording hardware = a good sound. Also known as ‘trash-in, trash-out’, it’s critical that the earlier things are in the signal chain the more important it is that they sound right. Digital does a great job of documenting what you feed it, whether it sounds great or awful. It isn’t the least bit flattering. From a purist perspective, your audio will almost always sound better if you can get the sound you want without compression or EQ – just by mic placement, instrument choice, and other such recording-chain choices.
One secret of those who either own their own studios or have time to set up shop in a studio for a project is to have carefully chosen ‘color’ microphones scattered around the rooms. By mixing in these microphones to the main mic on a subject, one can achieve a wild variety of sounds without having to grab an EQ. Hard drive space is cheap and most DAWs offer more tracks than the average pop producer will ever use so, if you have the time and the mic locker – why not? It’ll seem awkward at first but you’ll love the flexibility it offers and the purity of the sonic palette.
