Category Archives for "Recording"
- in Recording by Bobby Owsinski
2 Techniques For Miking Bongos
While some people think of bongos as a remnant from the old beatnik days, it’s surprising how often they’re used to add movement to a track. Here are a couple of techniques from my Recording Engineer’s Handbook, along with some additional aspects of the instrument to pay attention to. Considerations Before placing the microphone, there […]
Continue reading- in Recording by Bobby Owsinski
The 5 Recording Mistakes You Don’t Want To Make
When it comes to recording, many songwriters and musicians with home studios will often throw up a mic and begin to record as soon as a signal shows up on the DAW track. That’s a great way to get your inspiration recorded without losing the idea, but unless you get lucky, it’s not the best […]
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 Book Excerpt , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
Studio Etiquette – How To Act At Any Session
Knowing the proper studio etiquette while recording is almost as important as doing your gig. If you make people uncomfortable or do something that’s considered out of place, chances are that you won’t be asked back. Let’s look at the way everyone expects you to act during the session with these 11 tips. Most of […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Engineering , Gear , Hardware , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
What To Look For When Buying Your Next Direct Box
Direct boxes are something that we use every day in recording, yet take for granted because of their simplicity. If you’re not familiar with what they do, then you might be tempted to purchase the cheapest one you find, but there’s a real difference in the sound between brands and models. This excerpt from my […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Guitars , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
Want That Back In Black Guitar Sound? This Is The Secret
I’ve posted this one 4 or 5 years ago but since I’m getting questions about the AC/DC Back In Black guitar sounds again, I thought it was appropriate to repost it again. 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 […]
Continue reading- in Recording , Video by Bobby Owsinski
See Louis Armstrong In The Studio In 1959
Here’s a great piece of archival footage that shows the only film ever taken of the legendary Louis Armstrong in the studio. This was during the 1959 recording of the album Satchmo Plays King Oliver and it shows Armstrong and his All Stars recording the master take of “I Ain’t Got Nobody,” as well as silent footage […]
Continue reading- in Recording by Bobby Owsinski
Farewell, Al Schmitt – Thanks For The Great Interviews
If you were lucky enough to ever get to work or even hang out with legendary engineer Al Schmitt, you know how much fun he could be. Always one for a great story, Al could have you hanging on the edge of your seat with an insider’s tale that would eventually end in the room […]
Continue reading- in Recording by Bobby Owsinski
- |
- 1 comments
Did You Select The Right Microphone For The Job?
Home studios today are somewhat limited in gear, especially when it comes to microphone selection. That means that many of the tracks end up getting recorded by the same mic sometimes, which isn’t ideal when it comes to fitting mix elements into the mix. Choosing the right microphone for the job can be a crucial […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Engineering , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
Producer/Engineer Mack On Getting Great Guitar Sounds
With a who’s who list of credits such as Queen, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, Electric Light Orchestra, Rory Gallagher, Sparks, Giorgio Moroder, Donna Summer, Billy Squire, and Extreme, the producer/engineer who goes simply by the name Mack has made his living making superstars sound great. Having recorded so many big […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
5 Things To Keep In Mind When Miking An Audience
I’ve received questions about miking an audience a few times in the past week so it seems like a good time to repost this how-to from a few years ago. It goes without saying that if you’re recording a live performance, then you want to pick up some of the crowd reaction to make it […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
The “Can’t Seem To Get This Sound To Work” Tracking Checklist
Did you ever try to record something that just didn’t sound quite right no matter what you did? It’s a lot more common situation than you might think. While it’s easy to just try a bunch of random things, sometimes that makes you more confused than ever. That’s when it’s time to break out this […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Engineering , Production , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
The 6 Track Editing Tips Every Mix Engineer Should Know
Mix engineers are called upon to do so much more than ever before. Individual track editing used to be done by the producer way before the mixing stage, but mixers now find that it’s part of the job they’re expected to do as part of the mix. Here are some tips for tweaking track timing […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Production , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
- |
- 1 comments
11 Considerations When Recording Background Vocals
Recording background vocals is a distinctly different process from recording solo vocals because of how they will eventually fit in the mix. That requires a different technique for both recording and production in order to get the best result. Here are 11 background vocal-related points lifted from the 4th edition of my Recording Engineer’s Handbook […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Production , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
My Favorite Guitar Amp Miking Technique
There are about as many ways to mike an electric guitar amp cabinet as there are opinions on which music is the best, but there’s one that’s always been my favorite. The reason is that it provides a lot of versatility in sounds, something that we’re always looking for especially when guitars tracks are stacked. […]
Continue reading