Busy week this week, but I wanted to bring some of my previous tutorial videos covering mixing techniques all into one convenient place for you to enjoy. Take a few minutes, review the content in them, and apply them to your songs. If you do, I know you’ll see an improvement in your mixes. Also, please let me know if these videos have helped you in any tangible way. Have fun!
I’m a big fan of Behringer gear. These guys make pro audio gear at a price that fits with real hard working musicians’ budgets. I’ve written about some of their products before; here, and here. But I’ve never technically done a review. So today I’ve got a video review of their big brother microphone, the B2 Pro as well as one of their affordable tube preamps/DI boxes, the MIC 200. There is an audio example at the end so you can hear these guys in action. Hope you enjoy!
One of the most overlooked elements of recording music that separates pro mixes from demos is the quality of the arrangement. I’m not saying we all need complex arrangements, as some songs call for simplicity. But having a great arrangement will truly bring your (hopefully) well written song to life. Today I want to show you a simple technique I call “Instant Arranging” and how it can quickly and easily turn your recordings up a notch. Let’s take a look…
Well you asked for it. Here is a video going over what plugins and processing I used to mix the raw drum tracks you heard in last week’s post. In it I briefly touch on EQ, compression, and some busing techniques to get the drums sounding clear and punchy. Enjoy!
In light of the recent launch of REthink Pro Tools, I wanted to share a sample video from the tutorial series. In video 6 I go over putting the finishing touches on your mix and in one section I cover your options for bouncing your tracks down to a stereo audio file, ready for distribution.
Of course you can just simply use the built in Bounce To Disk option, but there are some great benefits to using the sometimes little known record to disk option. This video should shed some light on the issue. Enjoy!
Edit: REthink Pro Tools was formerly known as Pro Tools Boot Camp.
I am super excited today to announce the official release of my brand new video tutorial series, REthink Pro Tools. This project has been a longtime in the making and represents my passion for making music and helping others do the same. If you are a current or potential Pro Tools user, then REthink Pro Tools can be an amazing tool for you in quickly moving past the point of “learning” the software and instead “using” it for your desired goals.
Even if you don’t currently use Pro Tools, but have considered it, this video series will truly be the fastest way for you to get more than up to speed on how to make great music in this wonderful program.
This product is designed to walk you through everything Pro Tools has to offer the home musician and producer. If you’ve watched any of my free tutorials then you know that I teach in a way that is clear, to the point, and relevant. I don’t intend to waste any of your time or make things complicated. REthink Pro Tools takes my approach to teaching Pro Tools and gives you over 3 hours of high resolution, comprehensive, and fun content to get you on track to making better music in your studio.
The other benefit is that I can go into much more detail and depth in this series than I can with my typical tutorial videos. So if you want more meat, more substance, and a complete training package, you’re going to want REthink Pro Tools.
So do me a favor and head over to www.REthinkProTools.com right now. I know that once I came to learn the practical Ins and Outs of Pro Tools, I gained a sense of freedom to create music that was previously held back by my lack of knowledge and experience in this powerful DAW; and you will too!
Remember, I want you to move past all the barriers that stop you from making better music now! And not knowing your DAW is one of those barriers. If we’re so quick to invest money in gear, why not invest in knowledge and training to improve our craft?
If you’re a singer/songwriter looking for some great drum tracks to go in your session then using loops and prebuilt patterns on drum machines can go a long way. We took a look at this technique in week 2 of the One Song One Month Challenge videos. But what if you need some custom patterns to more closely fit your material? Of what if you want more variation than what your loops can provide? It’s time to make some custom loops with MIDI and virtual instruments.
In this video I quickly dive into using your DAW’s included drum instruments and samples to create great sounding drum tracks in just a matter of minutes. Hope you enjoy!
Recording drums well is a challenge. Even if you’ve done it successfully in the past, it always takes a long time to get things sounding just right when compared to something “easier” like tracking bass direct, or miking up a guitar amp. There are a million ways to record drums, and a million more drum sounds people tend to like, so my advice here on one hand is purely subjective. This is how I personally like to record drums. On the other hand there are some universal tips that will help you in capturing a rockin’ drum sound no matter what style you’re going for. Enjoy the video!
So I keep getting asked the same question by readers and YouTube subscribers, “How do you process your vocals in a mix?” Or put this way, “What plugins do you use to get your sound?” Since that is a subjective topic, I figured the best way to handle it was to do a video showing you my way of mixing vocals. There is no right or wrong here people. That’s what I love about music, the freedom to create sounds that YOU enjoy.
There are however some helpful things to keep in mind if you want your mixes, and specifically your vocals, to translate well in the real world. Hopefully this video will get you on your way to rockin’ vocal bliss! Enjoy.
Of all the plugins that musicians and engineers have at their disposal when working in a DAW, the compressor seems to be the most mysterious and misunderstood. I hear it all the time from friends and readers’ emails: What do all the different parameters mean? What should I use a compressor for? Should I use a compressor in my mix at all?
In this 2 part video I want to clear the confusion up. The compressor is a very powerful and useful effect, but only when you understand what it does and how to use that to your advantage. I hope you find this useful!
Graham Cochrane is a creative and versatile producer, engineer, songwriter, and worship leader based out of Tampa, FL. He provides remote recording, editing, mixing, and mastering services to clients worldwide through his service Mobile Studio Plus.
As the founder of The Recording Revolution, Graham's articles and tutorials have been featured worldwide by Avid, Presonus, Editors Keys, and Behringer to name a few, reaching readers in over 40 countries.
For more information and samples of Graham's work, please visit www.grahamcochrane.com.
