The Enemy of the Good is Volume - How to keep excessive stage levels from ruining your band’s sound
LearningMany factors can negatively impact your band’s sound, from lack of rehearsal to bad acoustics to feedback to malfunctioning gear to burnt-out sound engineers. But perhaps the most consistent impedime…
The Right Place for Your Home Studio - Setting Up Your Home Studio - Part 2
LearningFrom the corner of a bedroom to the living room or a garage, the home studio always ends up adapting to the elements. As usual, it all boils down to your own needs, means and possibilities.
A review of the Auratone 5C Super Sound Cube - Mystical Aura
Written testYou just got your main monitor speakers and are already looking for a second pair? Boy are you a compulsive buyer! What's that you said? Auratone is back with its famous 5Cs? Okay, well maybe just th…
Using Buses to Make a Mix More Cohesive - A guide to mixing music - Part 92
LearningIn the coming weeks we'll discuss in detail the so-called "glue" effect, in other words how to make the mix more homogeneous using different procedures. Today we'll discuss a simple method to emphasi…
Review of the Lauten Audio LA-320 tube-condenser microp… - A Versatile and Affordable Tube Mic
Written testThe LA-320 is the first mic in Lauten Audio’s new "Series Black" line. Lauten, whose product line also features many high-end mics, have put out a large-diaphragm tube condenser with a price point ($…
Unique Electrodynamic Speaker Designs - The Operating Principles of Loudspeakers - Part 5
LearningIn the last article of this series dedicated to electrodynamic speakers we'll talk about some unique and interesting designs. The biggest difference with these two examples compared to previous speak…
A review of the PSP 2445 Digital Reverberator plug-in - A Powerful Ambience
Written testWith the release of version 1.2 of its 2445 reverb, PSP now has the official blessing of EMT, the company that made the outboard reverb units modeled in this plug-in. We figured that was a good reaso…
The Relationship Between Reverb and Delay - A guide to mixing music - Part 91
LearningTo close the chapter dedicated to the use of delay during mixdown, we'll look into the relationship between reverb and delay.
Breaking the rules is standard procedure for producer/e… - If It Sounds Good, Do It!
LearningPrince, Tom Petty, System of a Down, Tool, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sevendust are just some of the artists on producer and engineer Sylvia Massy’s discography. The 30-year studio veteran has never b…
What is a Home Studio? - Setting Up Your Home Studio - Part 1
LearningHopefully, one day you’ll go to Abbey Road to record your music, just like the Beatles. But since recording in such a studio is prohibitively expensive for most musicians, you might want to consider …
Video review of Audified MixChecker - Check Please!
Written testThe MixChecker plug-in from Audified makes it possible to reference your mix on a wide range of simulated speaker types to see how it translates. How well does it work? Find out in this video review.
Fill It Up with Delay - A guide to mixing music - Part 90
LearningThis week we'll look into a somewhat particular use of delay ─ as a way of filling up a mix. You certainly won't be able to use this technique every day, but it can come in pretty handy to "dress up"…
Engineer Nathan Hamiel on the art of mastering - The Human Factor
LearningMastering, like mixing, is an art form that requires good musical judgment and entails a great deal of decision-making. Just ask engineer Nathan Hamiel (pronounced “Hamel”), who does both mixing and …
Ribbon Speakers - The Operating Principles of Loudspeakers - Part 4
LearningIn the previous article we discussed compression drivers and acoustic horns. Today we'll focus on a technology whose patent was issued in the 1920s and widely used for microphones. However, its usabi…
Using Delay to Broaden Your Horizons - A guide to mixing music - Part 89
LearningAfter having explored depth with reverb, we will now move into another topic that is just as important during mixdown: width.
