Category Archives for "Gear"
- in Engineering , Gear , Media , Production , Software , Streaming by Bobby Owsinski
Using LUFS For Mixing
You might have noticed that in the last few years, the differences in level between television shows, commercials, and channels are pretty even, with no big jumps in volume. That’s because viewers were complaining for years about the fact that there was a dramatic increase in level whenever a commercial aired because it was so compressed […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Engineering , Gear , Hardware , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
Direct Box Basics
Direct boxes are something that we use every day in recording, yet take for granted because of their simplicity. Here’s an excerpt from my Recording Engineer’s Handbook that looks at the ins and outs of this useful recording tool. “Direct Injection (DI or “going direct”) of a signal means that a microphone is bypassed, and […]
Continue reading- in Consoles , Gear , Hardware , New Music Gear Monday by Bobby Owsinski
New Music Gear Monday: A-Designs Mix Factory Summing Amp
Mixers either swear by outboard analog summing amps or don’t see the need for them at all, but the ones that do are very passionate about them. We’re now into the second generation of summing amps, and the latest ones are incorporating a lot of features that the the first gen didn’t have. That’s one […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Guitars , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
The Long Lost Secret To The AC/DC Guitar Sound
When we listen back to those great early AC/DC albums like Back In Black and Highway To Hell we think of what may be the epitome of hard rock guitar sounds. While on the surface you’d look at Angus Young’s fingers on a Gibson SG into a JMP 100 Marshall amp and think that was the sound (and […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Engineering , Gear , Hardware , Microphones , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
Choosing the Right Microphone For The Job
While it’s safe to say that most engineers rely on experience when choosing which microphone to use in a given situation, these are some things to consciously consider when selecting a microphone. Here’s a list of items to think about from the latest edition of my Recording Engineer’s Handbook. There’s no one mic that works well on everything. […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Hardware , New Music Gear Monday by Bobby Owsinski
New Music Gear Monday: Drawmer MC3.1 Monitor Controller
One almost essential accessory for any computer-based DAW is the monitor controller, and there are a lot of them to choose from these days in just about all price ranges. Most of them in the sub-$1,000 range, while quite capable, are usually without some feature or features that you wish it would have. That’s what […]
Continue reading- in Engineering , Gear , Hardware , Microphones , Microphones , New Music Gear Monday by Bobby Owsinski
New Music Gear Monday: Audio-Technica ATM350a Instrument Microphone
We all have our favorite mics for recording specific instruments in the studio, but when it comes to miking them live, everything is out the window. Mostly that’s because mounting many mics can be a pain. While you can afford to spend time getting the placement just right in the studio, when it’s live everything is […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Gear , Hardware by Bobby Owsinski
Tips For Choosing A Set Of Monitors
It’s surprising that so many monitors (speakers that is) are purchased just from a review or word of mouth, since they’re such a personal item. Here’s an excerpt from my Studio Builder’s Handbook (written with Dennis Moody) that covers some things to think about before you purchase your next set of speakers. “1) Don’t choose a monitor because […]
Continue readingOutstanding Audio Software From AES 2016
As I said in my post yesterday, there were fewer audio software companies at AES than one might have expected. The reason is that many software companies are boutique operations with only a few employees, so taking time away from development and spending a lot of money on a show is a critical decision. When […]
Continue readingNew Gear Overview From AES 2016
The AES Conference was in Los Angeles at the end of last week, and there was new gear everywhere. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much that you’d call “revolutionary” (which is the norm at gear shows these days), but there were a few things that caught my eyes and ears that I thought I’d share. The Show This […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Music by Bobby Owsinski
Some Boutique Amp Secrets Everyone Should Know
There are so many guitar amps on the market these days that the choices are probably greater than any time in music history. In fact, just about every make and model from the past has been reproduced, and some of these designs have even been made better than before (if that’s possible). Since companies like Fender and […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Software by Bobby Owsinski
New Features In Pro Tools 12.6
If you’ve been a Pro Tools user for any length of time, then you know that sometimes the upgrades don’t have a lot to show in terms of user improvements. You’ll be glad to know that in the latest version, Pro Tools 12.6, there are some features that many users may find useful. Here are a few of the […]
Continue reading- in Gear , New Music Gear Monday , Plugin , Software by Bobby Owsinski
New Music Gear Monday: Empirical Labs Arousor Plugin
It’s rare when a modern compressor becomes a standard, but after 20 years, the Empirical Labs Distressor can be found in every major studio, as well as many smaller and home studios, and is as widely used as any of the “classics.” The Distressor has a sound that’s different from everything else, and is one of the few […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Music , Video by Bobby Owsinski
Joe Bonamassa On Guitar Tone
If you’re a guitar player or an engineer that records guitar players, the tone is what you’re always trying to follow. For guitar players, it’s a lifelong journey to find that perfect tone, and for engineers, it’s trying to capture the tone that you hear in the studio, or help the guitar player improve what he […]
Continue reading- in Computer , Gear , Video by Bobby Owsinski
Use A bunch Of USB Flash Drives In A RAID Array
If you’re a musician or engineer, you life is entangled in some way with a computer. For some of us, the computer is an essential part of our workflow, while for others, not so much. If you’re one of the geekier readers who constantly lives inside the computer, then this post is for you. It’s […]
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