The Pro Audio Suite

According to Wikipedia, Room modes are the collection of resonances that exist in a room when the room is excited by an acoustic source such as a loudspeaker. These resonances affect the low-frequency low-mid-frequency response of a sound system in the room and are one of the biggest obstacles to accurate sound reproduction. In this episode, we use AP's new Tri Booth to show examples and talk abou...

Microphone placement is critically important to acoustic quality during live performances and recordings. Microphone placement alone contributes to around 20% of the overall sound while the person, instrument, setting, and microphone choice contributes to around 50%, 20%, and 10% of the overall sound respectively. In this episode, we take a look at different ways to get it right..

More than a USB microphone, Revelator features compressors and EQs modelled on world-class analogue processors. An independent reverb bus lets you add just the right amount of shimmer to your sound, and two stereo loopback channels make it easy to add backing tracks and more. Revelator is the ultimate microphone for streaming and for recording solo musicians. This week we take a closer look...

SO after a week from hell, Robbo reflected on some of what he had put a VO buddy of his through in terms of late scripts and "extra" sessions. Whilst his mate was happy to oblige, what happens when you don't have a relationship with the artist, and you are asking for more than was originally agreed to. Where do you draw the line?

The blurb on the website promises the following when it comes to the Tri-Booth.. "The Tri-Booth is ideal for recording artists who need an affordable professional home/mobile studio for auditions and broadcast. You provide the mic, interface, computer, a quiet space and the talent, we provide the rest. The entire unit packs down into its large duffel bag for storage or light travel." But does it s...

SO... Monitoring... Active and Passive... What's the difference? What's the best/most cost-effective way to go? This week a question about powered speakers leads us down a rabbit hole on all things monitoring.

This week we answer a question about Phantom Power. SHould it stay on? True to form we manage to cover the whole gamut of the Phantom Power ins and outs...

We wring our hands and tap our fingers when it comes to making a decision on the Mic we are about to spend a large chunk of cash on for our studio. But when it comes to the Mic Pre, we sometimes don't spend as much time procrastinating.   Truth is, a pre can colour the sound of your audio more than the mic. In this episode, we check out a few pre's and the way they taint the mics "clean" sound, ho...

Mp3, it's a contentious file format. Some believe (radio stations mostly) that it can be used as a professional format, while others assert that it's only a delivery format.  This week we take a look at mp3. What is it? How does it work, and exactly what information is lost when it "compresses" the audio... We also discuss when it's appropriate to use it, and when you should most likely stick to a...

Robbo recently received a file from a "Talent" that was full of digital clicking and popping. It's one of those things that can happen in the digital domain from time to time, and it can also be hard to track down. In this episode Robbo, Robert and AP chat about some of the more common causes and what you can do to avoid/rescue the situation.

The UN recently warned that Stabilizing the climate will require strong, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and reaching net-zero CO2 emissions. They also added that if we can not achieve some of these goals in the next 5 years, reducing the impacts of our changing climate may be irreversible. So this week we ask, what can the Audio fraternity do to assist the cause? 

Everyone wants a great sounding room, but no one wants to spend more on a studio than they need to. So where's the balance? CJ Ringwall sent us a video of his setup after listening to our recent episode with Nick O'Rourke and Christa Lewis. It's a room that he built himself, and is justifiably proud of. With George sidelined for a week, Robert, Robbo and AP took the opportunity to discuss how the...

AP makes no secret of the fact that he loves his OC818 from Austrian Audio, and I have to agree that it is a beautiful match to his warm tones. But at $1200 USD it's not exactly a bargain. So what about its little brother the OC18 ($850)? Not quite as many bells and whistles, but is it even in the same league? AP has one in his hot little hands so we aim to find out. We also thought we'd throw him...

If you've ever built a studio at home, you know that it's not as easy as it seems. There are so many expenses, and (to be honest) choices to be made. In this episode, we talk to two hard-working Voice Actors who have great home setups, and deep dive into whats worked for them, what hasn't, and what they could probably have done without. What follows is a fairly definitive "How To" episode for what...

Given the ISDN is the lifeblood of a home studio, and those networks are rapidly closing. What's the next big thing? And more importantly what are your choices? In this episode, Robert, George, Robbo and Andrew take a look at what's out there and what's coming. George even gives you the lowdown on how to build your own "ISDN" box with a mac mini. And Robert explains why your ISDN box may struggle...

So you've got a script that involves a bit of close mic work and some really brash and loud dialogue. How should you tame those nasty peaks but at the same time maintain a good level for the softer bits without compression? Plus we dive into the mailbag, and things get very silly...

There are a bunch of them out there, clones of some of your favourite mics. You can buy them online as a kit or straight from the designer. But do they stack up to the real deal, and are they worth the $? This week we take a look!

In the Southern Hemisphere, it's that time of year, flu season. While he hasn't got COVID, AP does have the dreaded Flu, and his voice is paying the price. Snotty and sinusy, it sounds like there's a bunch of cotton wool balls shoved up his nose. Is there anything you can do to save it, or is it just a case of suck it up and get on with it?

The mic chart! If you're looking for a mic the one thing that might point you in the direction of a mic that's worth auditioning for your voice is the frequency response chart. But what do they show? How do you know what sound that will translate to when you get behind it? And what should you be looking for in the first place? We take a look at the ins and outs (or should that be ups and downs?) o...

Given that version 3.9 is not available for PC, and version 4 is just around the corner, there has been some confusion amongst PC users as to how they should upgrade their Source Connect software. We got hold of Robert to give you the inside scoop on the best way to go about upgrading and be ready for version 4 which is on the shelves later this year

Every week we use audio terms and technical phrases that can go over some people's heads. Especially if you're new, or just not so technically minded. So this week, thanks to a letter from Bob Leedom, we take a look at a few of the more common ones and what they mean.

 The Acousta LE03 is a high-resolution audio interface designed and made in Austria by Innovative Audio. It's ideal for Voice Artists and producers who want a high-quality audio interface that they can take on the road, all the way up to the engineer who wants a second audio interface, making use of its high-quality analog-to-digital converters. This week Robert and Robbo unpack the LE03 and talk...

Interfaces are super easy to use, but mixers give you more flexibility when it comes to routing audio around your studio. So what's best, in what circumstances? This week we investigate your options...

Everyone has their preference for headphones. Open, closed, in ears, and some you may never have heard of. We opened this episode with the intent of discussing just Open v Closed, but in the usual Pro Audio Suite tradition, the conversation ends up a lot deeper... 

From treatment on the walls to computer monitors, iPads, and more. What is necessary and what is optional in your booth if you really want to be prepared for what may come at you from the other end of the line during a session?