Category Archives for "Production"
- in Production by Bobby Owsinski
Transient Shapers, Clippers And Levelers: The Unsung Dynamics Processors
Modern mixes have different demands from mixes of the past, and compression across the various mix elements is almost a given. Today’s mixes also require a new level of dynamics sophistication that goes beyond compression, and advanced plugin development has given rise to increased capabilities from some frequently overlooked plugins – transient shapers, clippers and […]
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Meta Is Developing Some Underwhelming New Spatial Audio Tools For The Upcoming Metaverse
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has just posted about its research into new spatial audio tools that it hopes to incorporate into the upcoming Metaverse, the virtual space that’s a combination of VR and AR. While interesting, I can’t say that I’m too impressed so far (watch the video from Meta below to see […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Production , Software by Bobby Owsinski
My Top 10 Go-To Plugins – 2022 Edition
I often get asked what plugins I regularly use, so a few years ago I decided to share my plugin thoughts with a personal Top 10 list. Here’s my latest edition for 2022, which isn’t all that different from previous years except that it has fewer compressors, since I’ve found myself using less and less […]
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My Conversation With Matt Boudreau As A Guest On His Working Class Audio Podcast
Many thanks to Matt Boudreau for having me on his Episode #387 of his long-running Working Class Audio podcast. Matt is a a great engineer and an insightful interviewer, so we had a lot of fun talking about a wide range of subjects. It was fun to be on the other side of the mic […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Production by Bobby Owsinski
The 3 Generations Of Immersive Audio
There are a lot of immersive audio formats, and it’s easy to get confused in where they all fit in. In the latest 5th edition of my Mixing Engineer’s Handbook, I’ve made the distinctions between them more obvious by placing the various formats into one of 3 historical generations, as you’ll see in this excerpt. […]
Continue reading- in Isolated Track , Production by Bobby Owsinski
Here’s Just The Bass On The Entire Beatles Abbey Road Album
It’s always such a treat to get to hear isolated tracks from big hits no matter how far back they go. We can always learn something from them, and often there are surprises that are covered up by the entire mix. That’s the case here as we can listen to the Paul McCartney’s isolated bass […]
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2 Methods For Creating Quick Mixes With Pink Noise
An interesting mixing method that can be used for quick rough mixes or as a balance starting point for a mix is by using pink noise. Since the frequency response of pink noise is similar to that of the human ear, it can be used as a reference point against a mix. As you’ll read […]
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The 5th Edition Of The Mixing Engineer’s Handbook Is Now Available At A Special Price
I’m really pleased to announce that the The Mixing Engineer’s Handbook 5th edition is now available, and at a special introductory price. Mixing continues to evolve and this latest version reflects all the recent changes in our technology and studio operating methods. What’s New Some of the brand new topics include: Three new mix build […]
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It’s Getting Harder And Harder To Write A Song Without Committing Plagiarism
It seems like every day there’s a new music plagiarism lawsuit that pops up. From “Stairway To Heaven” to “Blurred Lines” to the latest round of lawsuits against Dua Lipa’s “Levitating,” it just goes to show how difficult it is to write a song that isn’t subject to a plagiarism action these days. Considering that […]
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The Common Characteristics Of A Hit Song In 2022
It doesn’t matter if you’re an artist, band, songwriter, engineer, producer or label exec, I’m sure you’re all too aware that crafting a hit song isn’t easy. Most people in the music business struggle their entire careers to be a part of just one, while others will do anything they can to get a sweet […]
Continue reading- in Production , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
Two Excellent Techniques To Mike A Cowbell
It’s a cliche now that a song “needs more cowbell,” but there’s nothing better if that sound works in a mix. It’s pretty easy to just use a sample where needed and be done with it, but if you’re a purest and really want to record one, here are two good ways do it. Some […]
Continue reading- in Music , Production by Bobby Owsinski
Are Your Lyrics Metal-Enough? This Study Shows What Words To Use And Which To Avoid
This is something that I posted about 5 years ago, but it’s still fascinating because of the thought and actual data behind it. It’s some research put together by Iain Barr, who’s actually a data scientist and obviously a metal-head. You can’t help but be impressed with the depth of his study, which is in […]
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Producers, Don’t Overlook This Crucial Part Of Preproduction
If you’re a producer that’s about to work with a new artist or band, there’s a crucial part of the preproduction process that’s very often overlooked. It’s the “Getting To Know You” phase where you actually sit down with an artist to find out what are the influences that got them to this point. This […]
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The 5 Ways To Charge For Your Services
If you’re a producer, engineer or musician, chances are that you’ve been asked to work on someone’s recording. That’s all well and good, but how do you get compensated for your efforts? Here are 5 ways that you can charge for your services. Here’s a typical scenario. An indie band asks you to work with […]
Continue readingNew Music Gear Monday: Accusonus ERA Audio Clean-Up Assistant
We all have those tracks that require cleanup to make useable. Excessive noise, too much room, too many S’s, lots of breaths – the list goes on. Most post pros will use one or more of the iZotope RX tools for cleanup, but that can be expensive and there’s a learning curve that many music […]
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