Whether it’s for a different perspective on the mix, or for foldback on the studio floor the humble headphone is a mighty studio staple. With choices ever evolving, here we round up our current favourite cans in 2024 for any occasion…
How To Record A Band Fast
It would be easy to assume that in 2024 when great, inexpensive recording gear is so availble that all bands are recording professional sounding mixes of their material. No they aren’t and it’s often because that’s just not what they want or need. Julian investigates the kind of quick and easy recordings many time-poor, local bands actually would prefer.
How To Get Working In Any DAW Fast
Everyone likes familiarity, but sometimes engineers find themselves on unfamiliar ground in a new DAW. Whether you’re working on location or have decided it’s time for a change, here we talk about the things that really matter to get the job done.
The Speed Of Microphones - Do You Ever Think About How Fast A Microphone Is And How That Affects The Sound?
Julian shares his thoughts on the speed of microphones and how that affects transient response as well as the related and more familiar frequency response.
Harrison Mixbus 10 - New Features Explored
Now in its second decade, Harrison’s Mixbus sets out to bring the American console manufacturer’s sound and workflow into the box. Here we give an overview of Mixbus 10 and its new features, get some user opinion, and some background from the people behind it.
How To Choose The Right Way To Record Your Music
In this article we thought it would be interesting to categorise what we see as the hierarchy of ways to record. They are all valid and they all meet the needs of the people using them. Which is right for you depends on what you’re trying to achieve.
5 All-Round Mics To Check Out In 2024
As the choices out there for that next new mic grow by the year, choosing a single does-it-all option gets harder. We on the blog have been keeping an eye on developments new and not-so-new - here are five of our favourites for any occasion.
Still Not Sure About Using High Sample Rates? Watch This
Some engineers swear by throwing as much information at recorded audio as possible. Others are happy to trust the science at lower rates to bottle everything that can be heard. UK audio guru Dan Worrall has recently shared his own thoughts in his video The Perennial Sample Rate Dilemma.
7 Hardware Recording Channel Strips To Check Out In 2024
DAW workflows encourage us to record now and think later, but the hardware recording channel strip brings back the easy days of just dialling in sounds first and recording them. Here are seven of our favourite boxes for great sounds to hit the ground running.
ADAT - The Machine That Changed The Project Studio
Following on from our hugely popular article into home recording 40 years ago, we rewind back again. In this article we take a trip down memory lane to look at one machine that changed recording for many of us in the 1990s.
Has Recording Quality Really Improved in the Last 50 Years?
Spend some time listening to tracks recorded in the 70s and 80s, even further back, and they often exhibit a quality that belies the limitations of the equipment. It leaves one asking; “Has recording quality really improved in the last 50 years?”
How Snare Sounds Have Changed In 50 Years Of Music Production
As sounds go, apart from the voice, the snare drum is one of those things that can help tell you whether you’re listening to Sinatra or James Brown. Its recorded presence has changed enormously through different eras. Here we take a look at the sounds behind the music.
We Name Our Favourite Mic Preamps For Any Flavour
Although a mic preamplifier’s influence on sounds is less transformative than some might think, the right one can still complement everything else. Here we list some of our top choices from pristine to less-than-clean.
Using Acon Digital Acoustica For Producing Podcasts
Along with music production and audio post for picture, podcast audio production is the ever-growing third facet of what engineers do. We get Acoustica on podcast duties to see if its quality processing in a simple package can deliver.
6 Bad Piano Sounds We All Loved
Although it’s one of the most recognisable sounds on the planet, there are some times when the piano on record can sound anything but its exquisite self. With various electronic, digital, and acoustic sounds on record with something amiss, here we list some of our favourite pianos that went astray…
API TCS-II Channel Strip Announced
API has introduced the TCS-II Channel Strip, an updated version of its acclaimed predecessor, The Channel Strip (TCS). Celebrated for its sonic excellence over the last 14 years, the original TCS was a firm favourite among recording engineers globally, featuring a 512c Preamp, 527 Compressor, 550A EQ, and a 325 line driver, all compacted into a single rack unit.
Why Music Recording Had Advantages Before DAWs
The DAW has undeniably transformed how music is created, offering almost limitless capabilities. Yet, this freedom sometimes overshadows the virtues found in the constraints of pre-DAW recording. This article explores how limitations actually contributed to more focused, intentional, and sometimes better recordings.
Why Use EQ When You Can Use A Mic?
Reaching for the EQ is almost muscle memory when it comes to shaping signals. That said there is a whole world of sounds out there that can be had simply by knowing how a mic will sound and what it can bring. Here we talk about using the mic as the ultimate sculptor of sound in place of EQ.
How I Got The String Sound Recording Amy Winehouse Back To Black
In this article Grammy award winning engineer Dom Morley shares his approach to recording some vintage sounding string, brass and percussion parts on Amy Winehouse’s classic album Back To Black
5 Audio Production Things We Loved In December 2023
If you thought December 2023 flew past quicker than the months before it, at least there were some tempting new creations to mark its passing. As many rev back up for a shiny fresh new year, here is our pick of its audio production offerings...