Recording & Mixing

In this episode, Eddie Bazil breaks down the different types of EQ, explains their most common uses in mixing and production, and demonstrates how they shape and enhance sound with practical audio examples. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:48 - What EQ Is And Different Types 01:33 - Active And Passive 02:45 - Linear Phase And Minimum Phase 03:46 - High-Pass and Low-Pass Filters 04:36 - Example 1:...

Professional producers Chevy One and Gareth Young talk to Julian Rodgers about the advantages of a hybrid hardware and digital studio setup and how combining the two can streamline workflow and speed up modern music production. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:07 - Hardware In A Modern Hybrid Studio 03:47 - What Does Hybrid Currently Mean 07:31 - Benefits Of Having A Console 08:43 - Using Control...

Eddie Bazil demonstrates creative uses of advanced automation as a musical tool in the DAW, showing how automation can add movement, expression and musical detail. The episode covers shaping arpeggiated parts, using MIDI CC for dynamic control, modulating vocal tracks and applying MIDI note expression to enhance performance. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:49 - Setting Up Automation Lanes 02:30 -...

Helmuts Bems, Co-Founder and CEO of Sonarworks, joins Sam Inglis to discuss the findings of their recent AI survey. The conversation explores differing industry perspectives on generative versus assistive AI and provides insight into the extent to which professional musicians are already adopting these emerging technologies. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:33 - A Data-Driven Audio Company 04:56 -...

Paul White and Hugh Robjohns pick their software and hardware highlights from the gear they've reviewed in the last 12 months. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:14 - Cranborne Audio Brick Lane Compressor 03:56 - Soundtoys SpaceBlender 05:40 - Braingasm Ocula 08:18 - Sub51 And Soundtrax Drop Pad 09:16 - Red Panda Radius Ring Modulator 10:40 - Source Audio Encounter Delay+Reverb 11:45 - Electro-Harmo...

In this episode, Paul White and Hugh Robjohns address some of the most frequently-asked questions about home studio recording and production. They share practical, experience-based advice to help you get the best results from your setup, whatever your budget or space. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:14 - Improving Your Room Acoustics 02:29 - Working On Headphones 04:13 - Dampening With A Duvet 05...

Eddie Bazil explores advanced vocal processing techniques to achieve a clean, professional vocal track. He demonstrates how to control sibilance, tame resonances and apply quick corrective steps that enhance vocal clarity and ensure the performance sits perfectly in the track. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - Common Vocal Track Issues 01:04 - Example 1: De-essing Sibilance 08:57 - Example 2:...

Paul White explores the creative potential of using 'found' sounds, demonstrating how items found within your surroundings can be sampled, manipulated and transformed into complete tracks within your DAW using a few simple tools. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:36 - Software Options 01:27 - Methods Used For This Demo 01:58 - Creating A String Patch 04:49 - A Few More Examples 08:03 - Constructing...

David Mellor explores how the Yamaha NS-10M monitors became a studio staple and why, decades after being discontinued, engineers are still seeking out second-hand pairs. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:15 - Why NS-10Ms Became a Studio Staple 02:11 - Making Better Mixing Decisions 03:49 - A Second Pair of NS-10Ms 05:23 - Mixing With Missing Frequencies 09:11 - Reflex vs Closed Box Monitors 11:35 -...

In this episode, David Mellor continues his exploration of microphone polar patterns by discussing techniques for capturing stereo recordings. He examines how the choice of polar pattern and microphone placement can be used effectively to achieve a balanced and immersive stereo image. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:10 - Defining Mono 03:08 - Binaural Recording 04:24 - Defining Stereo 05:28 - Num...

David Mellor discusses how to create custom effects in a DAW without relying on expensive plug-ins. Here he demonstrates his approach to creating a filter pan effect using an EQ with high-pass and low-pass filters, highlighting how custom effects can help give your music a unique edge. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 02:05 - Pan Effect 03:02 - Mono Pan 04:30 - Static Pan 06:21 - Music Track 06:42 -...

In this episode, sound-designer Eddie Bazil looks at ways of enhancing a variety of individual tracks and full mixes using plug-ins that are designed to achieve the retro warmth and cohesion of tapes and valves. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:32 - What Is Harmonic Distortion 02:32 - Advances In Music Production Quality 04:47 - The Introduction Of CD 05:59 - Triodes And Pentodes Vacuum Tubes 06:4...

Paul White delves into the fun world of modelled guitars, amps and cabs, that cannot only make your songwriting and studio sessions more creative and unique, but can also greatly assist with streamlining live performances. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:12 - Techniques For Modelling Amps And Cabs 04:22 - Amplifier Cloning 05:49 - Compression To Improve Tonal Quality 07:58 - Adding Room Ambience...

In this episode, Paul White looks at some creative ways that you can manipulate the standard plug-ins found in your DAW, using them alone or in combination with one another, to create some unique sounds, effects and rhythms.   Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:08 - Hard Tune Effect 01:39 - Processing Speech 03:15 - Fast Pitch Processing 04:04 - Using Match EQ On Guitars 06:07 - Distortion And Rever...

Paul White and Hugh Robjohns pick their software and hardware highlights from the gear they've reviewed in the last 12 months. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:24 - Lynx Hilo 2 02:49 - Blackstar Polar 2 / Polar 4 03:39 - AEA TRP 3 Preamp 05:40 - Logic Pro 11 07:24 - RME Fireface UFX III 09:57 - Dreamtonics Vocoflex 11:33 - Hum Audio LAAL Limiter 13:43 - FireSonic FireSpacer 14:54 - Crookwood VU Me...

For musicians and producers that struggle to finish tracks, Eddie Bazil explains the benefits of creating musical snippets and gives us some examples as to how we can tap into different moods, use sound design techniques to create something unique that becomes a useable addition to our musical catalogues and create pieces that stand the test of time. “Snippets and the creating of, serve to strengt...

Paul White and Hugh Robjohns talk us through four essential studio effects that every music producer or mix engineer needs to know for creating an effective mix, placing them in order of importance and giving an insight into how they can be used effectively. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:21 - Effect 1: Reverb 02:11 - Convolution Reverb 04:28 - Reverb Controls 05:53 - Using Aux Sends 08:00 - Eff...

Pro Audio Design Engineer Andy Bereza summarises his impressive career in a chat with Paul Gilby. Andy founded Allen & Heath Mixers before working for TEAC/Tascam, where he conceived the TEAC Portastudio the portable multitrack cassette tape recorder that revolutionised the home recording market in the 1980s. He then co-founded Bandive-Turnkey where he developed a range of budget signal proces...

Paul White and Hugh Robjohns discuss the basics of a good home studio setup, including choosing the right equipment and setting up your space correctly for achieving the best recording and mixing results. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:14 - Minimum Equipment 00:54 - Audio Interfaces 02:46 - Headphones and Speakers 03:21 - Choosing A Microphone 08:55 - Additional Accessories 12:27 - Desks And Mon...

Not everyone has access to a professional studio with bespoke wiring. Here, Paul White and Hugh Robjohns discuss the best practises for avoiding and eliminating electrical noise interference in your home studio. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:21 - Arranging Plugboards In A Home Studio 02:09 - Uninterruptible Power Supplies 03:59 - Grounding Issues In Laptop Systems 07:19 - Radiated Interference...

Eddie Bazil gives us more pointers on constructing beats, incorporating useful tools such as Drum Replacement Software and pre-constructed Loops, then adding enhancements using timing, pitch and other processing tips. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:33 - Drum Replacement Software 01:41 - Example 1: Using Hit'n'Mix RipX DAW 05:41 - Example 2: Making Loops Your Own 11:36 - Example 3: Enhancing A Ki...

An introduction to using sample libraries focusing on the string section. Composer and Producer Sam Boydell talks us through selecting an orchestral sound library, creating a simple string motif and incorporating more realism into the finished piece by using a range of techniques, including articulations, dynamics and panning. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:18 - The Tools Of The Trade 03:13 - Ch...

In the first of a two-part series, Eddie Bazil explains how some simple adjustments in your DAW will help you to achieve more bounce in your drum beats, by adding syncopation, swing and dynamism. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:20 - A Quick History Of Beat Production 01:07 - Early Programmable Drum Machines 04:33 - Defining A Good Beat 05:15 - Example 1: Shifting The Snare To Drive A Beat 07:55 -...

A valuable test for recording engineers, David Mellor gives examples of different mic types to emphasise the importance of knowing your mic collection in detail so that you're using the correct one for the recording task at hand. Cardioid, Supercardioid, Figure of 8 and Omnidirectional are compared. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:23 - Testing The Schoeps CMC 6 01:44 - Cardioid Examples 05:39 - T...

In the first of this two-part series, David Mellor gives us an introduction to mic polar patterns, explaining the best type of mic to use for various recording situations. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:43 - Influenced By The EMI Emiguide Tapes 04:08 - What Is A Polar Pattern? 06:46 - Omnidirectional and Figure Of 8 08:43 - Cardioid, Hypercardioid and Super-Cardioid 11:14 - Pressure-Sensitive an...