Category Archives for "Engineering"

When It Comes To Panning, Respect The Big 3

The Big 3 in panning on Bobby Owsinski's Production Blog

One of the most overlooked or taken for granted elements in mixing is panorama, or the act of placing a sound element in the soundfield. To understand panorama we must first understand that the stereo sound system (which is two separate audio channels, each with its own speaker) represents sound spatially. Panning lets us select […]

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8 Tips For Getting A Singer’s Best Vocal Performance

Vocal Performance on Bobby Owsinski's Production Blog

One of the hardest things to record can be a vocalist who is not comfortable with the studio conditions. Even a seasoned pro sometimes can’t do his or her best unless the conditions are just right. Consider some of these suggestions culled from the 4th edition of my Recording Engineer’s Handbook before and during a […]

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Bobby Owsinski And 101 Mixing Tricks Named In Sonarworks 2018 Mixing Guru Guide

101 Mixing Tricks on Bobby Owsinski's Production Blog

I’m really pleased to announce that Sonarworks has selected my 101 Mixing Tricks course in its 2018 A-Z Mixing Tutorial Guru Guide. Thanks to Lee Chapman and everyone at the company for the recognition! If you don’t know about the 101 Mixing Tricks course, it’s techniques that I’ve garnered from some of the greatest mixers on […]

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5 Simple EQ Tips That Work On Just About Anything

5 simple EQ tips on Bobby Owsinski's Production Blog

Equalization is one of the most difficult parts of recording to get the hang of since there’s literally almost an infinite number of possibilities. Most of us learn by experience and usually massive amounts of trial and error, but there are some very simple general guidelines that can be an enormous help for those new to […]

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Celebrating The Influence Of Mastering Engineer Doug Sax

Doug Sax on Bobby Owsinski's Production blog

It’s hard to underestimate the influence that engineer Doug Sax had on the business of mastering. He was one of the first independent mastering engineers and literally defined the art when he opened his world-famous Mastering Lab in Hollywood in 1967. Sadly, Doug passed away in 2015, but his  magic remains a big part of […]

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Reverse Engineering Cuba’s “Sonic Weapon”

Cuba sonic weapon on Bobby Owsinski's Production Blog

You might have read about the mysterious injuries that American and Canadian diplomats stationed in Havana, Cuba were suffering a while back. The symptoms were consistent with a concussion (memory problems, an inability to concentrate, mood problems, headaches and fatigue) and although the results of several studies by the FBI and independent engineers have been […]

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Checking Drum Phase By Using Your Ears

drum mics phase

The chances for a phase problem are far greater on the drum kit than in almost any other band-level situation because it usually has more mics on it than any other instrument. That said, there is a simple technique for checking for a problem as outlined in this excerpt from the 4th edition of my […]

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Drum Tuning Techniques Every Engineer Should Know

drum tuning techniques

There’s no doubt that getting a drum sound is the number one priority for any recording that has a drummer. Sometimes you luck out and the drums sound great by just putting the mics in front of them, but other times they require more care in order to make them sound the way you want. […]

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