Blind testing - A guide to mixing music - Part 130
LearningIn this installment I suggest yet another way to analyze your mix through the ears of other people. The principle this time is very simple: letting a bunch of people listen to your mix without them b…
Recording drums - A matter of perspective - The ultimate guide to audio recording - Part 33
LearningToday I'd like to discuss with you something that goes beyond drums recording strictly speaking. Actually, what we'll see has probably more to do with the mixdown stage, but I think it's nevertheless…
Making the best of other's opinions of your mix - A guide to mixing music - Part 129
LearningLast week we saw a listening method involving someone else, whose opinion we intentionally ignored. As useful as that approach might be, it doesn't spare you from having to actually consider the rema…
Recording drums — First rough mix - The ultimate guide to audio recording - Part 32
LearningThis time I invite you to review the current state of your drums recordings. And I'll begin with a consideration that goes beyond the instrument at hand...
A new look at your mix - A guide to mixing music - Part 128
LearningJudging a mix objectively can be one of the hardest things ever. After all those hours working with a mix, it can be really hard to take a step back and judge it rightfully. And even more so for the …
Recording the snare and kick at the same time - The ultimate guide to audio recording - Part 31
LearningIn this new installment dedicated to drums recording I will reveal a technique that will allow you to spare one mic and one track when close miking the kick and snare.
Critical listening outside your studio - A guide to mixing music - Part 127
LearningThe home studio environment is usually pretty far from the ideal conditions of a commercial studio, so it's strongly advised to check your mixes outside of your work space. With that in mind, today's…
Recording drums — Kick drum mics - The ultimate guide to audio recording - Part 30
LearningLast installment dedicated to the kick drum from the chapter on recording drums. Up to now we have been focusing exclusively on our own audio clips, but I'm well aware that not everybody has access t…
First retouches - A guide to mixing music - Part 126
LearningAfter having gone through the critical listening sessions under your normal working conditions, the time has come for some retouches. That's why today I will show you a method that ought to make your…
Tools to make critical listening easier - A guide to mixing music - Part 125
LearningToday I'll suggest a non-exhaustive list of tools that can make your life easier during the critical listening sessions of your mixes in your home studio.
Recording drums — Aligning the kick drum tracks - The ultimate guide to audio recording - Part 29
LearningSecond kick drum installment from the chapter dedicated to recording drums.
Comparative A/B listening - A guide to mixing music - Part 124
LearningThis time we will look at a very specific way of listening to your mix: comparative A/B listening. I cannot recommend you enough this method – it's hands down the most important way to listen to your…
Recording drums — The kick drum (Part 1) - The ultimate guide to audio recording - Part 28
LearningAfter having looked at the snare drum, we will focus today on how to close mic a kick drum.
Critical listening in a home studio - A guide to mixing music - Part 123
LearningChronologically speaking, the critical listening stage is divided into two phases for any home studio enthusiast: the first one under his/her usual working conditions and the second one outdoors. Thi…
Recording drums — The snare drum (Part 2) - The ultimate guide to audio recording - Part 27
LearningIn the previous episode we saw the ABC of close miking a snare drum. Today we'll take it a step further...