Breakdown of the mix of Ben Smith’s drums The drummer for Heart, Ben Smith, helped me out with some drum tracks for one of the songs I co-wrote with Coreena, “If You Wanna”. We tracked the drums at the famous…
Music And Technology
Resources for the Recording Musician
Less is More – Bigger sounds through simplification
Want bigger & fuller sounding songs? Less is More! The biggest problem I encounter with inexperienced artists, producers, and engineers these days is that there is too much of everything. Too many parts in the song arrangements. Too many tracks…
Tagged with: Compression, Home Recording, Mastering, Mixing, Mixing Techniques, Music Production, Recording, Songwriting, Technique
Posted in Mixing, Music Production, Recording, Songwriting
Posted in Mixing, Music Production, Recording, Songwriting
High-cut filter
I’m curious as to how often you might (and I know it probably depends wildly) cut high frequencies as a matter of course. For example, I usually cut quite a bit of low frequencies on most tracks just to keep…
Tagged with: EQ, Equalization, Mixing, Music Production, Recording, Technique
Posted in Ask MusicTECH!
Posted in Ask MusicTECH!
Multiband Harmonic Exciter
Is there any use for a multiband harmonic exciter? A harmonic exciter, I thought and correct me if I’m wrong, adds a high frequency “touch” to a sound. Couldn’t an EQ do the same thing? What would be the advantage…
Tagged with: Distortion, EQ, Equalization, Exciter, Harmonics, Mastering, Mixing, Mixing Techniques, Technique
Posted in Ask MusicTECH!
Posted in Ask MusicTECH!
Depth through EQ
I’m attempting to mix a song and am trying to create a sense of depth. The delays are working well as are the reverbs. However, my question is more concerned with EQ’ing for a sense of depth. Instruments that are…
Tagged with: 3D Mixing, Depth, EQ, Equalization, Frequencies, Mixing, Technique
Posted in Ask MusicTECH!
Posted in Ask MusicTECH!
Parallel vs serial compression
I’m wondering if someone could explain what serial compression and parallel compression is, and the advantages of each and when one would be used vs the other. Serial compression is when the compressor is inserted in the signal chain and…
Tagged with: Compression, Engineer, Mixing, Music Producer, Music Production, Parallel Compression, Recording, Serial Compression, Technique
Posted in Ask MusicTECH!
Posted in Ask MusicTECH!
Use of compressor on early records
I greatly appreciate this site. It is such a treat to be able to speak to experienced and knowledgeable mixers. Question: I know technology in the recording field has come far in the last 40 years, but compressors were around…
Tagged with: Compression, Dynamics, Loud, Loudness, Loudness Wars, Mixing, Mixing Techniques, Music Production, Punch, Recording, Technique
Posted in Ask MusicTECH!
Posted in Ask MusicTECH!
Fitting frequencies together
This is my first post on this forum. Somehow I lost my original post after I previewed it. I read the article “3D and the Art of Mixing,” I think it was called, where it discussed fitting frequencies together to…
Tagged with: 3D Mixing, EQ, Equalization, Frequencies, Mixing, Mixing Techniques, Technique
Posted in Ask MusicTECH!
Posted in Ask MusicTECH!
Recording Distorted Guitar
Wise One: Do you have any tips for recording distorted guitars? When I try it, the recording sounds for ssssssizzzzly. I have a Big Muff and a Boss OD2. I’ve experimented with an SM57, a Cascade ribbon and I’m about…
Tagged with: Distorted Guitars, Distortiion, Guitars, Microphone Placement, Recording, Technique
Posted in Ask MusicTECH!
Posted in Ask MusicTECH!
Questions on the making of Yes We Can
Hi Steve, Thanks for the email about the “Yes We Can” videos on YouTube. They were very educational. Everyone involved in the production did a great job. I wanted to ask you a few questions about some of my observations:…
Tagged with: Acoustic Treatment, microphone preamp, Microphones, Music Production, Recording, Room Acoustics, Technique
Posted in Ask MusicTECH!
Posted in Ask MusicTECH!
