Happy New Year from Sound Schematic! Heres a shout out to my friends Bad Bad Meow, whose EP’s I recorded and mixed at Engine Studios back in June. If high energy acoustic punk is your scene, you will definitely dig these guys. The music will be released over the course of the next month. Keep...
Here is a quick sample of Beatle Bass feedback, recorded for an upcoming album by local Chicagoans Constantine and the Emperors. As you can tell, the physical performance is just as important as the sound. Check back soon for the final product, and please excuse the low quality iPhone video.
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Feb 24, 2012 • Claude Debussy – man of great flute and piano duets How to record piano and flute in a classical context Recently, I had the opportunity to record a flute and piano duet. This was my first foray into recording true classical music, and I would like to share my experiences. For this session, the two...
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Mike
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Dec 13, 2011 • There have been a lot of outstanding music releases this year. What follows are a few of my favorites. In no particular order… Tom Waits – Bad As Me What can I say? Tom Waits is the man. Every song on this release is concise and strong – no filler material here. If you...
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Mike
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Oct 15, 2011 • When starting a session, its never a bad idea to be a bit over-prepared. Overcoming minor roadblocks and hitches, especially early on, will get things off to a good start. The following items have come in extremely handy for me numerous times (particularly when working at a studio that is unfamiliar). Producers Toolkit: 1. Harddrive...
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Mike
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Sep 12, 2011 • Seattle natives “Telekinesis” recently came through Chicago on tour. Part of their itinerary included a live in-store performance at Logan Square’s own “Saki Records”. I got the opportunity to help out with the live recording of this set. Cool! Head on over to Epitonic to check out the set for yourself – Telekinesis Saki Session...
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Mike
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Aug 20, 2011 • The common features of dynamics processors explained When used properly, compression can greatly add to the overall feel of a song. Recorded tracks are clearer, louder, and sit better within the context of the recording as a whole. However, misuse can result in distortion, lack of dynamic range, and an unexciting recording. Lets take a...
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Mike
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Jul 11, 2011 • At first glance, dithering may seem like an extremely complicated mathematical equation. It is beyond the scope of this article to delve into scrutinizing detail concerning dither. However, as a necessary part of digital recording, it is important for audio engineers to have a basic grasp on dither. Anyone who has spent some time...
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Mike
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Jun 23, 2011 • An overview of common microphone design and use in the studio Since microphones are the literally the first element in the recording chain, they can make or break any recording. Understanding and knowing how to use different microphones is essential knowledge for any serious recording engineer. Although you may not have immediate access to a...
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Mike
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May 31, 2011 • Differences between the two most common forms of equalization As probably the most common for of signal processing, EQ is an essential engineering tool. For new comers to audio, the concept of “EQing” can be a bit overwhelming. As with most things in our industry, you get better at it over time (as your ears...
Popular Click Track Myths Examined One of the first points addressed in any session is the click track. Many musicians believe that using a metronome during recording immediately results in a stiff track with no breathing room. Engineers often favor click tracks because it makes editing and overdubbing much easier. Click tracks are an invaluable...
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Mike
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Mar 30, 2011 • How to consistently get great drum sounds. When doing live tracking in the studio, usually the most time consuming task is getting drum sounds. It’s a large and dynamic instrument – adding a bunch of mics can result in a giant phase nightmare. Different engineers take different approaches to drum miking. Some prefer super tight...
