When signal processing is timed to the pulse of the track, everything in the mix sounds a lot smoother. It’s applicable to compressors, delays, modulators, and especially reverb. The two parameters that are adjusted for timing are the decay time and the predelay.
When reverb is timed to the pulse of the track, it seamlessly adds depth and makes the mix sound more polished. To time the decay time to the track, trigger the reverb with the snare and adjust the decay parameter so that the decay just dies by either the next snare hit or a later one. The idea is to make the decay “breathe” with the track.
Read more about this here: https://bobbyowsinskiblog.com/2019/07/17/reverb-timing/
Microphone Shootout: Small Diaphragm Condensers under $200
After trying a wide variety of microphones over the years, we will show you some of the best. The first one that we will talk about is the small-diaphragm condenser microphones at the low-budget end of the spectrum. This comparison would help you in purchasing the right microphone for your needs.
The Neumann KM 84i which is considered the greatest small-diaphragm condenser mic of all time will be our point of reference in comparing the five contenders. To test them, the 6 microphones were set up in close proximity to each other and record a single instrumental pass.
Read more about this here: https://www.musictech.net/guides/essential-guide/microphone-shootout-small-diaphragm-condensers/
The best MIDI keyboard controller for beginners
For people looking for an easy and cost-effective way of creating electronic music with computers, the Arturia MiniLab MkII is probably the best all-around 25-key MIDI keyboard controller. Its controller is compact enough to be carried around in a bag. It has a solid build quality and sleek design that both beginners and experienced musicians would admire.
The Arturia’s uncluttered layout, with well-spaced rotary knobs and pads with only minimum extra controls, also makes it an approachable option for electronic-music newbies, as well as a good choice for advanced musicians seeking a streamlined controller for live performance.
Read more about this here: https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/08/the-best-midi-keyboard-controller-for-beginners/
Review: Neumann NDH 20
Neumann is known for its classic and modern microphones. Their U 87 microphone is pretty much every artist, producer, and engineer’s personal favorite. The company now produces a new set of headphones which is the NDH 20. It is a closed-back headphones specifically for studio monitoring, editing, and mixing.
It has 38mm Neodymium magnetic transducer and frequency response at 5Hz to 30kHz. It utilizes 3.5mm TRS jack, 6.3mm adaptor, spiralled 1.5-3m and straight 3m cables. At 390g, they are heavy enough to sit well on your head, although some extra padding might have been nice on the metal headband.
Read more about this here: https://www.musictech.net/reviews/studio-recording-gear/neumann-ndh-20/
In The Studio: Dynamic EQ For Vocals
The New York parallel compression drum mix technique is where you send a drum mix to a stereo bus and then apply compression to the bus and feed that signal back into the two mixes. It can be very subtle or obvious depending on the amount and character of the compression, and how the compressed signal is fed to the stereo bus.
However, at low volume, you get both preserved transients and the loudness from the compression thus, you’ll get a different result from compressing the tracks. Moreover, when the song gets louder, the effect of the compression on the bus is less prominent because the uncompressed tracks swell up and dominate the mix.
Read more about this here: https://www.prosoundweb.com/channels/recording/in_the_studio_dynamic_eq_for_vocals/