Recording & Mixing

A rundown of some of the most intriguing product releases reviewed in Sound On Sound in 2021, as chosen by Paul White and Hugh Robjohns. Includes software and hardware from budget to pro audio. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:18 - Zoom F6 01:27 - Logic 10.7 01:59 - IK Multimedia AmpliTube X-Space  03:03 - Trinnov D-mon  05:06 - IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5 05:26 - Cherry Audio Stardust 201 Tape Echo...

Vocoders are not just for vocals. In this episode, Eddie Bazil talks about the various vocoder plug-in options and demonstrates six creative techniques. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - A Short History Of The Vocoder 02:15 - How Vocoders Work 03:28 - Example 1: Processing Drum Beats and Pads 07:31 - Example 2: Adding Texture To Drums And Bass 10:41 - Example 3: Creating Rhythmic Bass Textures...

Paul White and Hugh Robjohns discuss the evolution of recording from the perspective of their own experiences, starting with analogue tape and ending with computer-based digital systems. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:25 - Early Memories Of Recording 02:47 - Simul-sync 03:40 - First Multitrack Experience 07:03 - Noise Reduction 10:12 - Favourite and Worst Tape Moments 12:07 - Digital Recording 1...

Paul White looks back over the history of the echo effect, from tape loops through to plug-ins, and how modern echo effects can be used as sound design tools. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:15 - Early Echo Effects Using Tape Loops 05:05 - The Introduction Of Solid State Technology 06:43 - High-Quality Results With Digital Delays 10:04 - Vintage Emulations And Sound Design Using Plug-ins Paul Whi...

In this episode, Eddie Bazil offers tips for creating a signature sound using sound design techniques and offers a range of suggestions on how drums can be processed to add more depth and texture. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:19 - The Role Of A Producer 02:20 - Example 1: Adding Clarity And Bite To Drums 04:10 - Example 2: Thickening A Drum Beat 06:50 - Example 3: Creating Texture 09:58 - Exam...

In this episode, Eddie Bazil discusses using Transient Shapers in place of EQ and provides six practical examples of the ways that each of the various tracks in your mix can benefit. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:25 - What Are Transient Shapers? 01:50 - Example 1: Adding Clarity And Punch 03:19 - Example 2: Highlighting Attack Transients 05:20 - Example 3: Adding Grit And Thickness 06:58 - Exam...

Paul White explains the basic concepts behind FX chain order and gives examples of how these guidelines can be broken in order to achieve new and unique audio outcomes. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:21 - Basic Rules Of FX Chains 01:11 - FX Chain For Guitarists 03:03 - Phase And Distortion 04:19 - Compression And EQ 05:22 - Compression And Overdrive 06:59 - Reverbs And Delays 08:31 - Reverb And...

Auto-Tune may be a common plug-in for fixing vocal pitch, but in this episode Paul White explains the basics and demonstrates 7 tips to help you create a variety of alternative textured soundscapes. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:46 - Tip 1: Natural Sounding Auto-Tune 03:07 - Tip 2: Robotic Style Auto-Tune 04:27 - Tip 3: Adding Auto-Tune To Sends 05:12 - Tip 4: Controlling Auto-Tune With MIDI 06...

Eddie Bazil takes us through some of the different uses for Dynamic EQ, including enhancing drums and vocals and separating elements within a mix. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:26 - What Is Dynamic EQ? 01:45 - Example 1: Sidechaining 03:29 - Example 2: Processing Drums 05:33 - Example 3: Corrective EQ 08:03 - Example 4: Creating Motion 11:09 - Example 5: EQing Multiple Vocals 14:24 - Example 6:...

In this episode Eddie Bazil explores the various ways that delay effects can be used and applies these techniques to a finished composition. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:23 - About Delay Effects 01:57 - Example 1: Using Delay As A Reverb 03:38 - Example 2: Applying Depth To Drums 04:39 - Example 3: Using Delay To Create Motion 06:42 - Example 4: Creating Rhythmic Effects 07:58 - Example 5: Cre...

Eddie Bazil of Samplecraze gives us an introduction into the creative use of Phasers, with practical examples using drums, vocals and synth pads. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:25 - How Phasers Work 02:34 - Demonstrating The Stages 03:53 - Using A Phaser On Vocals 04:43 - Stereo Panning 05:39 - Phasing a Rhodes 06:35 - Advanced Phaser Effects 09:52 - Adding Delay 12:09 - Adding Reverb 13:45 - Us...

In this show Paul White guides you through seven reverb treatments, from simple to complex, and demonstrates how combining reverb with other commonly available plug-ins can produce creative textures and ambience in your music. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - Tip 1: Using Ambience Simulations 01:46 - Tip 2: Using A Plate Reverb 04:06 - Tip 3: Combining Reverb and Delay 05:10 - Tip 4: Adding T...

Record producer and educator Mathieu Gendreau shares 6 top tips to help you mix drums like a pro. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:13 - Tip 1: Gating drums like a pro 05:51 - Tip 2: Adding weight to snare drum 08:58 - Tip 3: Ducking overheads to remove snare drum 11:51 - Tip 4: Adding brightness to snare drum using reverb 14:09 - Tip 5: Controlling a large drum kit reverb using a gate     17:33 -...

In this episode, Canadian Producer and Educator Mat Gendreau shares his 5 top tips for using parallel processing techniques on voice, bass and drums to help you get a professional polish and more energy in your overall mix. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:23 - What Is Parallel Processing? 01:50 - Tip 1: Adding A Professional Polish To Vocals 04:57 - Tip 2: A Hi-Frequency EQ Boost and Compression...

Canadian Producer and Educator Mat Gendreau shares his top 5 tips on processing reverbs to fit with your song tempo and to avoid overpowering a mix. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:21 - Treating Reverb As A Track 00:53 - Tip 1: EQ Your Reverb 04:38 - Tip 2: Adding a De-Esser 08:05 - Tip 3: Changing Reverb Tonality 09:50 - Tip 4: Adding A Gate 13:22 - Tip 5: Delaying A Reverb Mat Gendreau Biog Mat...

Mike Senior's Expert Tracking & Mixing Tips Many project-studio users seem to go to enormous lengths to reduce spill, but this frequently proves counterproductive, undermining the final mix. In this episode, Mike Senior demonstrates several ways spill can actually improve the sound of your productions, as well as making the mixdown stage quicker and easier. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:22...

Mike Senior's Expert Tracking & Mixing Tips Distortion can be a surprisingly useful mix effect, if you know what you're doing. Mike Senior reveals several common applications, and explains how to get the best results in practice. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:49 - Distortion for tonal change 01:27 - Bringing sounds up front 03:30 - Combatting upper-spectrum masking 06:07 - Distorting rock l...

Mike Senior's Expert Tracking & Mixing Tips Mike Senior delves into some of the most common troubleshooting tasks when dealing with acoustic guitar recordings at mixdown, and shares his own favourite processing fixes. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:13 - Unwanted subsonics 04:16 - Undesirable resonances 08:20 - Pick noise 10:34 - Fret noise 12:35 - Overbearing percussive components 14:32 - Co...

Mike Senior's Expert Tracking & Mixing Tips Mike Senior explores the subject of Haas delays at mixdown, explaining how they work, how to get the best out of them, and how to avoid the most common traps associated with them. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:41 - Perception of short delays 02:46 - From fused delay to Haas delay 04:19 - Haas delays for stereo width 05:25 - Haas delays for blend a...

Mike Senior's Expert Tracking & Mixing Tips Cardioid mics are tremendously popular amongst recording musicians, but can also work against you. In this episode, Mike Senior explains some of the reasons why, and illustrates how omni and figure-eight patterns can often give more useful results. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:39 - Proximity-effect bass boost 04:44 - Spotlighting  05:48 - Low-end...

Mike Senior's Expert Tracking & Mixing Tips Depending on how it's set up, compression can do radically different things to the sound of a snare drum. In this episode, Mike Senior explores three ways in which a compressor can help bring your snare tracks to life. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:38 - Inconsistent snare hits 05:24 - Sustaining snare hits 08:16 - Enhancing attack 12:30 - Summary...

Introducing the Sound On Sound Podcasts. Yes, that’s podcasts, because we’re launching three dedicated channels each with their own series of episodes to keep you entertained throughout each month. You’ll hear interviews, features, discussion, opinion and occasional demos of the gear we’re reviewing from many of the SOS magazine staff and our expert Freelance team. The Recording & Mixing chann...