For an inexperienced audio tech, the sound board can be quite overwhelming. There are knobs and switches, sliders and lights. All of them seem to work together in some sort of harmonic miracle. Depending on the tech’s personality, he or she may play it safe and only adjust what they absolutely know to be benign. The new tech may also be a know-it-all and want to change everything, regardless of how the output was to start with. In either case, remember that you were new once as well. Take some time to teach what you know and your team will benefit.
You can read the full article here: http://www.prosoundweb.com/article/worship_basics_fader_rider_vs_fader_raider/
How To Structure A Dubstep Track
If you aren’t familiar with the term dubstep, here is a basic definition. It is a sort of sub-genre of electronic dance music (sometimes abbreviated as EDM). Dubstep is a slower tempo than what we might sometimes think of as club dance music in that songs are almost always about 140 beats per minute (BPM). The basic structure of a dubstep track is consistent and predictable, but there is still plenty of room to let your creativity shine. Try to at least somewhat stick to what listeners will be expecting (length of intro or other parts of the song). The guidelines in the video below aren’t set in stone, but they’re worth hearing.
Watch the full video for some great tips and information.
Estrima Released From WOK
WOK has released Estrima, a plug-in that puts the vintage sound of a string quartet at your fingertips. Available for an introductory price of €9.87, or just a bit over $13 US, it wouldn’t hurt to have these sounds in your library. Take a listen to their samples, this plug-in may be just what you didn’t know you needed.
You can read more about Estrima here: http://www.kvraudio.com/news/wok-releases-estrima—easy-string-machine-for-windows-vst-21257
Recording Tips For Podcasts
Podcasts are very similar to all other audio recording, yet also very different. The basic principles of striving for a clean and clear recording still apply, but there may be additional challenges that you face that musicians may not think about. Recording on-location adds in the concerns of wind and other background noise, so choose your equipment carefully.
You can read more podcast recording tips here: http://www.podcasting-tools.com/audio-recording-tips.htm
Checklist For Vocals
Vocal recordings can be very subjective, so having a checklist of things to watch for can help keep your quality high. The emotion of the vocal track is arguably the most important aspect of a song, but the musical aspects of the vocals can’t be ignored either. Maintain a big-picture perspective of your vocals to avoid re-recording unnecessarily, or worse, getting your vocalist into an un-creative state of mind.
You can read more tips here: http://www.puremix.net/blog/vocal-recording-checklist.html