Breaking the rules is standard procedure for producer/engineer Sylvia Massy
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…
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
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 …
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.
Producer Andrew Wade shares his mixing and guitar-recording secrets
LearningAndrew Wade (aka “The Big Boss”) knows a little something about guitar recording. Wade is a producer/engineer/songwriter who has focused heavily on the pop-punk/Emo genres and has produced music (inc…
A guide to mixing music - Part 88
LearningToday I'll show you how to use delay instead of reverb to reinforce the sonic cohesion of your mix.
An interview with producer Michael Beinhorn
Interview / PodcastProducer, musician, artist, painter… Our guest today is someone who has always been looking for a way to let Art be expressed in every piece of music he has worked on. Primarily known and renown for …
A guide to mixing music - Part 87
LearningThis time around, we'll look at two "classic" uses of the delay effect.
Multitalented producer Greg Wells talks about his craft and his gear
LearningAlthough he spent most of his childhood playing and studying music, it wasn’t until Greg Wells was 18 that he got bitten by the recording bug. “I got my parents to co-sign a loan, and I bought a Mac …
A guide to mixing music - Part 86
LearningAfter closing the chapter dedicated to the use of reverb during mixdown, we will now focus on a relatively similar topic: delay.
We interview the author of “The Great British Recording Studios”
Interview / PodcastIn the early 1960s, at the beginning of the British Invasion, the studio scene in England was thriving, but it was very different from that in America. The British studios used different gear and got…
We talk to Andy Babiuk, author of "Beatles Gear"
Interview / Podcast“Beatles Gear, The Ultimate Edition,” by Andy Babiuk, chronicles the band’s history through the lens of the gear they used onstage and in the studio.
Petition: Bring Peace to the Loudness War
Hot newsA group of audio professionals has launched a petition requiring music streaming services to properly manage audio loudness.
Award-winning mixer Michael Brauer talks techniques, gear and more
LearningAn eight-time Grammy-award winner, engineer Michael Brauer has put his magic mixing touch on albums for Coldplay, John Mayer, and the Dave Matthews Band among many others. He is known for his unique …
5 questions to ask yourself to determine if your mix is ready to go
LearningTop mix engineers will tell you that they instinctively know when they're finished with a mix. But for those of us who haven’t reached that level yet, it’s usually hard to have that kind of certainty…
Talking to producer/engineer/songwriter Joe West
LearningJoe West has written, produced or mixed numerous hit songs. His work is so respected that Waves will soon put out Joe West signature series plug-ins.
A guide to mixing music - Part 66
LearningMy goal today is to try to make it even easier for you to choose your starting reverb preset...Yes, I know, it's starting to feel a bit like an obsession, but your choice in this regard is so importa…
Live or in the studio, engineer David Kimmell has you covered
LearningIndianapolis-based David Kimmel worked his way up in the pro audio world through an eclectic mix of music-related gigs such as club sound man; pro audio manager at a Guitar Center; sound company empl…
Talking sonic repair with Converge guitarist/producer Kurt Ballou
LearningKurt Ballou is a busy guy. In addition to being the guitarist in the popular metal band Converge, he’s a producer and engineer, and the owner of Godcity Studio in Massachusetts. In addition to record…
An interview with guitarist Jane Getter
Interview / PodcastJane Getter's powerful jazz/progressive guitar playing is the focal point of “On,” the new album from her band Jane Getter Premonition.
The Loudness War - Part 11
LearningIn this installment in our series discussing the consequences of volume on music, sound and human ears, we look at tools for measuring loudness.
The Loudness War - Part 10
LearningIn this installment, we'll discuss the consequences of volume on music, sound and human ears.
Understanding synth parameters is crucial for creating your own sounds
LearningImagine if you could break free from the limitations of synthesizer presets and create your own custom sounds to fit your music. The first step towards that goal is to understand the standard synth p…
Periphery’s bassist/producer on recording drums, EQing, plug-ins and more
LearningAdam “Nolly” Getgood is more than just the bass player in the progressive metal band Periphery, he also played a major roll in the production of the band’s two most recent albums, and has an extremel…
The Loudness War ─ Part 9
LearningIn this new installment we'll continue discussing the consequences of volume on music, sound and human ears.
