A video tour of Fry Pharmacy Recording, an all-analog s… - A Studio Where Tape is Still King
LearningLocated about 20 minutes northeast of Nashville, Fry Pharmacy Recording is a throwback to the days when tape ruled supreme. Audiofanzine visited the studio recently, and we produced this video tour.
Transient Processors - A guide to mixing music - Part 42
LearningWhile the compressor is the tool par excellence when it comes to treating the dynamics of an audio signal, you shouldn't forget that there are other types of processors that can prove just as effecti…
A Who's Who of Software Compressors - A guide to mixing music - Part 41
LearningThe number of compressor plug-ins on the market is overwhelming. As you'll surely understand, it would be impossible for me to create an complete list here. Nevertheless, my collaboration with Audiof…
It Can Happen to Anybody - The Loudness War - Part 8
LearningThis is the next installment in our article series dedicated to the race for volume, its consequences on music, sound and human ears.
The Mad Max composer on his free video tutorial series,… - Junkie XL Gives Back
LearningTom Holkenborg (aka “Junkie XL”) has had a long and successful music career as a producer, recording artist, and remixer — and over the last several years he's become a top Hollywood film composer. H…
Dialing in a Multiband Compressor - A guide to mixing music - Part 40
LearningIn the previous article we saw how multiband compression can be used at the mixing stage. Today I'll show you how to dial in a multiband compressor to get the best results.
A First Look at Multiband Compression - A guide to mixing music - Part 39
LearningIn this new installment we'll tackle multiband compression during mixdown.
Compression as Glue - A guide to mixing music - Part 38
LearningThis week we'll look into a side effect of compression that's beneficial, as long as you use it wisely. It's the so-called "glue" effect that takes place when you use a compressor on a group of track…
Sidechain Compression - A guide to mixing music - Part 37
LearningToday we'll continue unveiling new tricks and tips on compression with an installment dedicated to the sidechain.
Parallel Compression - A guide to mixing music - Part 36
LearningIn this week's chapter, we'll tackle a specific use of compression you have surely heard about before, not least in our series of articles dedicated to mastering. I'm talking about parallel compressi…
A review of the Blue Microphones Hummingbird - A Bird in the Stand
Written testA mic with a swiveling capsule is not a new concept, but it isn’t something you typically find in a mic as affordable as the Blue Hummingbird. The swiveling feature is no gimmick — it makes a big dif…
Serial Compression - A guide to mixing music - Part 35
LearningNow that we've seen the basic usage of compression when mixing, I'll walk you through a couple of tips and tricks that I'm sure you'll find quite useful. This week we'll look into a technique that mi…
The Opposite of Punchy - A guide to mixing music - Part 34
LearningToday, I invite you to continue exploring the possibilities of dynamics processing at the microdynamic level. After having dealt with "punchy" sounds, we'll use dynamics to go for the opposite — "rou…
Make Your Mix Punchy with Compression - A guide to mixing music - Part 33
LearningAfter looking at some applications of compression at the macrodynamic level in the two previous articles, we'll deal here with microdynamics, starting with how to get a "punchy" sound.
Weighing the pros and cons of DIY mastering - So You Want to Master Your Own Album?
LearningFor a long time the mastering process was a mystery for most musicians, even those with studio skills. But thanks to all the information now available online, it's a lot easier to learn about how mas…