Archives for December 2019

What brands are the best studio headphones under 200 dollars? For starters, headphones with a closed-back work to isolate sound better than opened-back. Sound quality and level of comfort should also factor into your choice of headphones. With those things in mind, there are four headphones that will give you a great listening and recording experience without breaking your bank account. Sennheiser HD280 PRO, Beyerdynamic DT 770, Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, and AKG K240 MK II all fit the listed criteria.

Key Takeaways:

• Headphones should be considered for their design shape (open or closed back), comfort, quality, and durability.
• Industry leaders in headphones for studio work require closed-back design.
• The best options for studio-quality headphones under $200 are from Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, Beyerdynamic DT 770, and AKG

“Open-back headphones will not block out noise and they will not keep the music contained within the ear cups. They bleed, which is great for mixing music because you get a bit of crossfeed, but it’s bad for recording as the bleed will get picked up in the mic.”

Read more: https://www.audio-issues.com/home-recording-studio/home-recording-equipment/best-studio-headphones-under-200/

Did you know that the use of side chain compression can greatly improve your mixes? Side chain compression is beneficial for controlling different instruments and even use it to help isolate a voice on an audio track so it shines better. When you listen to a track with side chain compression versus one without it, the difference is quite noticeable. In particular, you will notice how much better the vocals sound on a track that has been run through the side chain compressor.

Key Takeaways:

• A side chain lets us use a different channel to trigger a compressor.
• A side chain compressor’s main goal is to help you control something that is in the way of another thing.
• Side chain compressors aren’t a cure all for everything though, so the other steps need to be done correctly too.

“In essence, what the sidechain does is allows us to trigger the compressor with a different channel instead of the source that it’s actually on.”

Read more: https://www.musicianonamission.com/side-chain-compression-tutorial/

There are many tools available for a pro mixer to use, and many complex and varied plugins for their equipment. However, sometimes the solution to the problem at hand is quite simple, and can be easily solved with a basic adjustment. At the lower decibels, the structure of the track begins to fall apart. The mix will often begin to derail around -40db and cause problems. Once you learn to diagnose the problem however, it becomes easy to spot the signs, and the fix is quick and simple.

Key Takeaways:

• A very simple and easy fix for some problems is to check the volume output.
• At lower decibels, the track sometimes begins to fall apart, and lose its form.
• If you know what to listen for, you can quickly and easily identify the issue.

“A lot of times a mix will fall apart when you pull the volume way down, say -40db. That’s a problem.”

Read more: https://www.recordingrevolution.com/the-low-volume-mix-trick/

The audio equipment and software company Waves Audio has release its most recent version of its flagship software Waves version 11. This platform is meant to plug-in into a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and the latest version will work with all major DAWs and the latest operating systems. Version 11 of Waves exhibits a new interface for streamlined operation of its tools. It also features a new real time frequency analyzer as part of the Renaissance Equalizer. The software package contains more than a thousand presets created by artists. Waves 11 contains a centralized license manager called Waves Central. The company is confident this new version will continue its leadership in the music production industry.

Key Takeaways:

• Waves 11 is a newly upgraded set of plugins that you can use with the latest operating systems, such as macOS Catalina.
• Over the last two decades, Waves has been giving people the tools to make their music the best it can be.
• Waves Central, which acts as a centralized mechanism for managing other Waves plugins, has seen some significant improvements.

“Waves Renaissance plug-ins have seen a major update, with a complete redesign of interfaces for a more intuitive workflow. The new update offers three skin colour choices, Light, Dark and Legacy.”

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

The Neumann TLM 102 and the Neumann TLM 103 have several key differences and a few similarities. The pitch and tone are flatter in the mid-range on the 102. The diaphragm is larger on the 103 than the 102. The 102 has a cheaper price which many consumers find appealing. Despite having many differences, the two Neumann TLMs have many similarities in quality, clarity, and professional sound recording capabilities. Consumers rate both versions of the diaphragm as delivering superior results.

Key Takeaways:

• The Neumann TLM 103 has a larger diapragm than the 102, resulting in slightly different sound.
• The 102 is cheaper than the 103, and this is appealing to most buyers.
• While slightly different in tone, both versions of the Neumann are excellent for quality recordings and clear sound.

“Both are great microphones and produce a lively sound quality in a condenser mic for digital recording”

Read more: https://audiojive.com/neumann-tlm-102-vs-neumann-tlm-103/