Archives for December 2019

You have the ideal space, perfect environment, and strong vocalist waiting for your recording space. Now what? How do you you then ensure that your studio produces a strong vocal sound? For starters, choose the correct microphone for your recording needs. Secondly, utilize the proper pop filter for your session. Third, make certain that your singer is at the proper distance away from the microphone. Fourth, it’s vital that you choose the right gain staging and that you use your microphone in the best way that flatters your vocalist.

Key Takeaways:

• When trying to get a good vocal sound in your home studio, select the right microphone for your needs.
• Try using a pop filter and be sure that the singer is the right distance away from the microphone.
• Remember to use the microphone as a complimentary tool and use the correct gain staging.

“Obviously, a quality vocal track starts with a good singer, but once you have that, it’s not that hard to produce a stellar vocal.”

Read more: https://blog.discmakers.com/2016/02/how-to-get-a-great-vocal-sound-in-your-home-studio/

The advanced mixing method known as parallel compression is not just simple to use, it is also an essential for studio, mastering, and mixing engineers. Also known as New York compression, parallel compression offers its users a more balanced volume while also maintaining a recording’s natural dynamic range. To set up a parallel compression, one should create an auxiliary channel and add a second one to serve as its vocal summing bus which then need a compressor plugin added to it. After adding a compressor to one’s master track, mix the two track’s volumes to one’s liking.

Key Takeaways:

• Parallel mixing is an advanced technique that can be difficult to discover naturally.
• Unlike standard compression, parallel compression is an upward compression of audio peaks.
• You can use the parallel compression technique with a variety of instruments for clarity, depth, and emotion.

“Unlike the standard downward compression usually applied, where the loudest peaks of an audio signal are lowered in amplitude, parallel compression can be thought of as an upward compression.”

Read more: https://ledgernote.com/columns/mixing-mastering/parallel-compression/

Waves provides an industry-leading software package for plug=ins to studio-quality digital audio workstations (DAWs). The latest release, Waves 11, continues its position in the music production environment by offering many new features and improvements. There is a complete redesign including customization options like skins. The new design is meant to streamline workflow and incorporate customer feedback on operation. Waves 11 includes new presets to deliver studio-quality sound. The latest update is marketed as compatible the the latest industry operating system for Mac, PC as well as major DAWs. An installation manager, Waves Central, is also included to easily manage the integration into an existing set up.

Key Takeaways:

• Waves a music production plug-in software has released its latest version, 11 which is fully compatible with today’s operating systems and digital audio workstations.
• The update to Waves includes a redesign, new customization features like skis, presets, and workflow controls.
• The update also impacts Waves Central which manages the installation of Waves 11 across one’s studio devices.

“The company has released an improved version of Waves Central, which is the application used to install and manage Waves licenses across devices. V11 plugins are supported in the new Waves SuperRack plug-in rack and in eMotion LV1, too.”

Read more: https://www.musictech.net/news/gear/waves-11-announced/

Brian May of the band Queen has partnered with IK Multimedia to come out with a new app called the AmpliTube Collection. This app can also be bought as a DAW plug-in for music producers and it gives you an emulation of Brian May’s guitars, amps, cabinets and pedals that he uses. The goal of the app is to provide “ultra-realistic sound” and it features 2 amps, 3 cabinets and 6 stomp boxes. It also features and treble booster and Brian’s patented red guitar. You can get the app on iOS for a price of $20.

Key Takeaways:

• IK Multimedia has an app and plug-in for any Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) that is customized to famed guitarist Brian May.
• The package in the AmpliTube Collection contains amplifiers, cabinets, stomp boxes, and presets based on Queen’s music.
• The app is called AmpliTube Brian May and is available in the US for $19.99 on iOS and $99.99 desktop.

“There’s also a selection of presets that are based on Queen’s discography – so you can dial up the guitar tone of the Under Pressure riff instantly.”

Read more: https://www.musictech.net/news/gear/ik-multimedia-queen-brian-may/

Are you looking to buy a MIDI controller that is portable and has many useful features? You might want to consider MicroLab, a new product from Arturia. The company MIDI controller offers a whopping 25 keys in an appealing slim design. The MicroLab also has appealing design characteristics that will thrill the user, such as a hold button and slim keys that are sensitive to velocity. In addition, MicroLab is encased in a rubber shell that can handle scrapes and bumps.

Key Takeaways:

• Microlab, a new MIDI controller from Arturia has 25 keys in all.
• Microlab’s helpful design features include slim keys and a hold button.
• The small MIDI controller has a rubber shell that is bump resistant.

“On the hardware front, MicroLab comes in a rubberised shell that’s resistant to “bumps and scrapes”, according to Arturia. It also boasts recesses on its side – to stow its USB cable – and has recessed keys that are designed not to get caught on other items in your bag.”

Read more: https://www.musictech.net/news/gear/arturia-microlab-controller-25-keys/