Audio Recording

Gain vs Volume: What’s the Difference?

February 12, 2019 by Elaine Sy Leave a Comment

What’s the difference between gain and volume? They seem like the same thing. Knowing the difference between gain and volume could change the tone of your instruments forever.

Between the two, the definition of volume is pretty straightforward. Volume usually means the decibel (dB) output of a sound system. That sounds more complicated than it is. Basically, volume is how loud something is after it’s been processed. Gain controls how loud something is before it goes through any processing. It’s the volume level being sent into your plugins, preamps, and amplifiers.

Read more about this here: https://www.musicianonamission.com/gain-vs-volume/

How To Hear Compression On Vocal

February 11, 2019 by Elaine Sy Leave a Comment

The attack setting is as important to the sound of compression as is threshold or ratio. When you hear something that sounds overcompressed, it’s essential to train your ears to be able to tell whether the excess of compression is coming from too much compression or too fast an attack.

The attack parameter is quite powerful and can have a significant impact on your audio. It governs how quickly the compressor acts on a sound that exceeds the threshold. That means that a compressor with a fast attack time setting will squash the transient of a note or percussive hit.

Gear of the Year 2018: Best Software Instrument/Library

February 11, 2019 by Jake Weston Leave a Comment

The winner of the best software instrument for last year was the Toontrack Superior Drummer 3. This software library comes with a front end that is controllable, as well as some carefully chosen sample drum sounds. Six different acoustic kits are what make up these samples, and they include Yamaha, Ludwig, Pearl, and Ayotte. Experts such as Martin Delaney comment on how amazing the flexibility of the SD3 truly is, and how it comes with the perfect amount of tools to get each job done.

Key Takeaways:

The world of software instruments has become so highly competitive and churns out many nominees regularly that in this category there are so many recommended although one winner emerges.
The Toontracks Superior Drummer 3 is a world of its own that is designed to satisfy everyone’s acoustic needs.
The Drummer 3 has surround sound content, enormous amount of kits, masses of plug-ins that are incredible, and a DAW that makes it comprehensive.

“2018 offered plenty of software instrument and libraries that were worth the splurge. We narrowed down the best one and recommend three others that should be on your radar.”

Gear of the Year 2018: Best Monitors

February 7, 2019 by Jake Weston Leave a Comment

As budget-friendly monitors go, Adam T5Vs are solid monitors that can be used in professional studios, as well as standalone in smaller rooms. Adam Audio has built a high-quality four-figure monitor that retails at under £300. The T5V has outstanding sound quality along with precise, wideband delivery. And as far as speakers go, the PMC Result6 has brilliant sound quality at a bargain basement price of only £2,394. Typically, you would have to spend substantially more to get a product of this caliber with the PMC badge attached to it.

Key Takeaways:

If you’re looking for impeccable sound on a budget, the PMC Result6 gives you great PMC quality at an affordable price.
Whether you work in a smaller studio, or you invest in a professional atmosphere, the Adam Audio T5V is diverse enough for both.
Producers who have budgets anywhere from £300 to £3,000 can find great mastering gear from 2018, PMC and Adam Audio are just the beginning.

“However, Adam Audio may just have built that invisible bridge to a cavern full of cheap monitors, and that withered old knight is there to defend these…”

10 Workflow Enhancing Keyboard Shortcuts For Ableton Live 10

February 5, 2019 by Elaine Sy Leave a Comment

Ableton Live 10 has been out for a couple of months now. I figured I would share my top 10 shortcuts to help you speed up your workflow and get you more time for the fun part—producing good music!

Toggle Automation Mode is by far my most used keyboard shortcut in Live 10. Pressing A on the keyboard hides and/or reveals automation lines for your tracks. It also does the same for the clip fade handles too. Having those fades right on the edge of the clip at the click of one key is awesome too!