Improve Your Studio on the Cheap - 9 free or inexpensive ways to make your studio better
LearningThe most direct ways to improve your studio are by upgrading the gear and adding professional acoustic treatment, but doing so requires a significant investment. If you're not ready or able to drop a…
Attack and Release in a Compressor - A guide to mixing music - Part 29
LearningIn this installment, I'll show you a way to set a compressor that helps you understand what each parameter does. This method is by no means the ultimate solution, however it ought to help you grasp t…
Panning to the Extremes - LCR panning can make your mixes come alive
LearningConventional mixing wisdom states that when panning elements in a mix, you’re free to utilize the entire left-to-right spectrum. With the exception of elements like kick, snare, bass and lead vocal t…
Understanding Compressor Parameters - A guide to mixing music - Part 28
LearningNow that we've discussed the possible uses for compression, let's take a look at the way a compressor works. To do that, I'll explain to you, in a theoretical way, the different parameters commonly f…
Why We Compress - A guide to mixing music - Part 27
LearningIn this second installment dedicated to dynamics processing during mixdown, we'll take some time to discuss the whys before moving on to the hows.
Dynamics Processing 101 - A guide to mixing music - Part 26
LearningThis week we'll tackle dynamics processing during mixdown, a very thorny subject if there ever was one...To approach the topic in the best way possible, it's useful to begin with a quick rundown of t…
Delay Tips and Tricks - 5 digital delay techniques that will spice up your mixes
LearningDigital delay is one of the most versatile effects you can apply to your music. It can do everything from subtle doubling to crazy stereo ping-pong effects and a lot more. In this article we’ll show …
Which Comes First? - A guide to mixing music - Part 25
LearningBefore we tackle the next major section of this series ─ dynamics ─ let's diverge briefly to take stock of where we are in the process, and cover an important issue involving effect-chain order.
11 Studio Errors to Avoid - Steer clear of these common studio mistakes
LearningLearning by your mistakes is definitely an effective method, but it’s not a lot of fun. In this article, we’ll talk about some common mistakes that are made by home recordists and how to avoid them. …
Put Your Best Feature Forward - 10 cool and innovative features from 10 top DAWs
LearningAll DAWS are definitely not created equal. Yes they can all record and edit audio and MIDI, host effects and software instruments, and provide facilities for mixing. But beyond those bread-and-butter…
EQing Tools of the Trade - A guide to mixing music - Part 24
LearningNow that we have analyzed EQing during mixdown, let's talk a bit about the tools capable of carrying out the task.
Thunderbolt technology could supercharge your studio - Should You Bolt to Thunderbolt?
LearningIf you’ve been paying attention to new product introductions over the last year or so, you’ve no doubt seen more and more Thunderbolt-based audio interfaces hitting the market. For many, moving up to…
A Matter of Perspective - A guide to mixing music - Part 23
LearningIn this week's installment, we'll continue our focus on EQing during mixdown, with some additional tips and advice.
Trust Your Ears - A guide to mixing music - Part 22
LearningTo close this chapter dedicated to EQing during mixdown, I'll give you some tips and tricks that ought to help you adopt better habits.
Record Your Band on a Budget - A minimalist setup for tracking your group’s music
LearningSo you have a band and you’re sounding good, but you’re wondering if you have enough gear to start recording? Read on, as we’ll examine what your minimal equipment needs are to create a multitrack ba…
