Archive for 'Reader Question'

These days, everything in the studio seems to blend together. From recording, to mixing, to arranging, to songwriting. Some people are even trying to master while they mix. It can get confusing and convoluted. So the question for today will be: is it OK to mix while you record? And if so what does that look like?

In fact recently a TRR reader emailed this quandry, and I’m sure many of you can identify with his situation:

I might pan some of the guitars, turn them down, etc while I get ready to track another guitar, keyboard part, bass, etc. Is that normal or should I not touch anything on the mixer until the song is pretty much done in the recording phase? – Doug (TRR reader)

Read More →

Have you ever struggled to get a good guitar recording? I know I have. I love guitar and have put together an in-depth tutorial series on recording and mixing acoustic and electric guitars. But there’s something else to consider before we start talking technique and tips.

I recently received an email from a reader named Nathan. His question was about guitars and it concerned me a little bit. Let me share it with you and maybe you can spot the problem:

A few days ago I did a session with a friend, but I can’t figure out how to get the electric guitar to sound good. My guitar is pretty crappy and so is my amp, so I decided to go straight through my interface into Pro Tools. I then used Amplitube 3 to distort it, but I couldn’t get the muddiness and gross crunch out of them, even with minimal distortion. - Nathan (TRR Reader)

Read More →

These days I get a lot of questions from readers that go something like this: “Hey Graham, I’ve been using XYZ on my vocals and it seems to sound good but I’ve heard you’re not suppose to use XYZ on vocals, so what should I do?”  My answer to them is always the same: If it sounds good to you and seems to work, then keep doing it!

Even The Pros Know This

I’m not sure why we tend to believe that there is a right or wrong way to do certain things in audio. Sure there are some technical things we need to understand, but sometimes you just need to discover what YOU like. In a recent Sound On Sound article, mix engineer Alan Moulder said something very interesting when describing mixing the latest Led Zeppelin live DVD:

I didn’t really add compression to the guitars, though I did engage the SSL channel compressor, just because I like to run things through it. It seems to give things a bit more body. – Alan Moulder, Mixer (Nine Inch Nails, Arctic Monkeys)

Read More →

Can raw tracks recorded in a modest home studio sound as good as raw tracks recorded in a top tier pro studio with expensive gear? That was the burning question of one of my readers, Brandon, who posed a few good thoughts via email. His biggest concern was trying to get everything right at the source. And although his recordings have improved in recent months, he feels they still don’t even compare to those tracked a pro facility.

[The pro tracks] just have that professional sheen/sound that I can’t seem to obtain – even before they start throwing effects onto them. I am still trying to figure out what I am missing as my raw tracks still don’t stack up against a pro’s raw tracks…theirs just sound plain better. – Brandon (TRR reader)

Read More →

Did you know the meters in Pro Tools can tell you two different things? In one setting (pre fader) the meters will show you the actual audio signal either coming into Pro Tools or playing off the raw audio. In the other setting (post fader) the meters will display the current signal level after running through your plugins and the fader volume. In today’s video I show you how and when to use these setting.

I love how so many audio interfaces these days allow you to monitor with zero latency when recording. With no lag on the signal, it feels and responds like you’re working with an analog console. But I get this question a lot: “Can I monitor my zero latency vocal recordings through reverb?” It’s a great question because many singers perform better with a small amount of reverb in their headphones. And the good news is that you absolutely can do this.

The Problem With Zero Latency

Just so we’re all clear, this is how zero latency recording works in most modern audio interfaces. Because it takes time for your audio to be converted to a digital signal in your interface, run through your software, and then converted back out to analog audio so you can monitor it, by the time sound hits your headphones it’s off slightly from what you’re hearing in real space. This creates a chorus like, doubled effect that is distracting and annoying for the performer.
Read More →

Today I’m answering a handful of random recording and mixing questions covering a wide variety of topics. One of my TRR readers, Luis Garcia, who teaches recording in Peru sent in a list of questions from his students and I thought everyone might be interested in hearing the answers as well. We cover it all from de-essing to mastering and everything in between.

I’ve talked before about how important it is to compare your mixes to other mixes that already sound good. Mixing in isolation is a bad idea. You get instant perspective on your mix when you bring in a track and listen back and forth.

But I seem to get a related question a lot: “Should still I reference my mixes to other tracks that are already mastered? Isn’t that a problem?” The answer is no, its not a problem. Rather it’s the best thing you could do!

Mastered Tracks Are The Standard

Simply put, mastered tracks are what people listen to, not unmastered mixes. So honestly it would be rare for you to find great sounding mixes that haven’t been mastered to use as your reference tracks. Mastered tracks are what actually make it out into the world and it’s what people listen to. Therefore these should be your benchmark, your standard.
Read More →

I recently received an email from a reader asking me this question: “Why is Mastering treated as a seperate process?  Why cant it be assimilated into the mixing process as a final stage?”

It’s a fair question considering the digital and somewhat non-linear way we can work on audio these days. And it really comes down to a simpler question behind the question: should you (or can you) “master” your tracks while you mix?

Why Mastering And Mixing Are NOT The Same

Part of the problem with the question is that there is a misunderstanding of what the mastering process is really all about. Mastering is not mixing. Mixing is where you take a bunch of recorded tracks and make them come together into a focused, compelling performance. Mastering, on the other hand, is all about taking a bunch of previously mixed songs and making them come together into a focused, balanced, and palatable album or collection of songs.
Read More →

If you’ve mixed for any length of time you might have thought to yourself if it matters in what order you insert plugins on your tracks. Or maybe the thought has never crossed your mind. You simply always reach for the same plugins in the same order on each mix. In either case today I want to answer a reader question regarding the subject and give you a few things to consider as you mix.

In what order should my plugins go in the insert? I usually start with a compressor/limiter and then move to EQ, possibly delay or reverb then desser if necessary…granted this is for vocals. I would really like to know what a good general guide is for tracks. – Michael R.

Read More →