“We’ll fix it in post-production” can be a common sentiment at recording sessions. While there is a lot of technology for the audio engineer to use to improve a recording, some things just can’t be fixed. An uninspired performance that is technically precise, in tone and in time, will be much more difficult to mix into a great track than a passionate performance with a few off notes mixed in. Know the limits of your engineer, and do what you can to help any musicians get into a state of mind that will accurately portray their passion for music.
You can read the full article here: http://therecordingrevolution.com/2012/12/03/one-thing-plugins-cant-fix/
Recording Tips and Techniques
Creating Spacious Stereo With Mic Spacing
Spacing multiple mics creates a delay between each recording, adding to the stereo effect. It doesn’t have quite the same sound as just panning a track left or right, do it’s worth giving it a try. Because the stereo effect is influenced by the amount of delay between each track, you may need to experiment a bit with more or less space between the mics. Try it out at your next recording session.
You can read more details about how to influence the stereo effect with mic placement here: http://www.prosoundweb.com/article/better_recording_microphone_techniques_to_produce_warm_spacious_stereo/P3/
Amazon Auto-Rip Can Be A Good Thing
Amazon has introduced a new feature – Auto Rip. Many CDs that users have purchased in the past 15 years will have their tracks added to the Amazon music cloud for users to listen to at any time. Artists won’t be getting paid any extra for this added feature in any traditional sense, but they might see increased sales. Getting users thinking about you could prompt them to research new releases or even tour dates. While “the industry” may not be completely thrilled about the idea, individual recording artists, as well as consumers, could see some great benefit.
You can read more here: http://www.musicmarketing.com/2013/01/amazon-auto-rip-music-business.html
Quick Tips To Improve Your Skills As An Audio Engineer
Being an audio engineer is forever a learning process. Whether your criticisms come from a mentor or otherwise, having a specific part of your work to concentrate on improving can be tremendously helpful. Have some pieces as examples of good production and aspire to exceed the quality level of those tracks. With clear goals, you may find your skills improving faster than expected.
You can read more here: http://www.audio-issues.com/home-recording-studio/better-audio-engineer/
Microphone Rules And When To Break them
Home recording and audio engineering in general really wouldn’t mean much without a good final product to listen to. As much as the tried-and-true rules and methods can be a great start, knowing when to break the rules and start experimenting can improve your tracks. If all of the guides you read say your mics should be placed just so, but you get great results with a better placement, go for it! Nobody will know that your mics were in the “wrong” places, but you might see your skill progression stunted without a little experimentation.
You can read more here: http://www.audio-issues.com/recording-tips/advanced-microphone-techniques/