Reamping a previously recorded track is a great technique to get a better sound or add natural room ambience. The process was made a lot easier in 1983 when engineer John Cuniberti built the first reamp box (you can hear him talk about it on my Podcast #343). Radial Engineering purchased his design in 2011 […]
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I don’t think that there’s a more iconic song than Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway To Heaven.” It embodies the sound of an era, to be sure, but it’s also a brilliant work on its own. Indeed, the songwriting, production, and performances of a band at its peak marked an indelible stamp on listeners everywhere when it […]
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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 […]
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On my latest podcast episode: Grammy-nominated engineer Justin Cortelyou talks about personal studio dynamics, working with legendary producer Bob Ezrin, his hybrid mixing technique, the importance of a sonic signature, and much more. A look at the massive Soundcloud layoffs and what it may mean for artists Unusual effects pedal packages (hint: one comes in […]
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Experienced mixers have their mix templates set up in a way where all the plugins that they normally use are ready to go on each mix element channel. That way it’s easy to get into a mix without spending time experimenting with the inexhaustible plugin lists that everyone has these days. If you’re just getting […]
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Guitar players can never get enough pedals. It’s the perfect wave – the Holy Grail – you’re always searching for THE ONE that will give you that sound that seems just out of reach. Despite boutique pedal manufacturing going through somewhat of a shakeout, there’s always another new gear maker creating a hot new overdrive. […]
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On my latest podcast episode: Former Maroon 5 drummer Ryan Dusick discusses the early days of Maroon 5, dealing with anxiety and a chronic injury, advice from U2, his new book, and much more. What are the odds that your song will be stolen? The 8 constants of vocal recording. Listen to it the at BobbyOInnerCircle.com, […]
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Mastering plugins and software has gotten so powerful that an inexperienced user is more likely to do more harm than good when attempting to self-master. If you can trust its advice, one application has consistently stood above the others mostly because of its outstanding AI that, if followed, can provide a finished product you can […]
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I can hear you now after you’ve read the title. “Oh, no! Not another connector!!” It’s not as bad as it sounds. Yes, USB4 is coming, but thankfully it’s going to use the same USB-C-style connector that most new computers and connected devices are using. Although we all have plenty of peripherals that still use […]
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On my latest podcast episode: Song doctor Molly Leikin talks about being a staff writer for a publisher, the most common song problems, writing for the current marketplace, the process of creative songwriting, her new book, and much more. The 2 metadata codes that every songwriter and artist should know. The bass line so powerful […]
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There are so many really great sounding reverb plugins available these days, but surprisingly, few real chamber emulations. Chambers are a thing of aural beauty when you find a great one, as it’s one of the few instances where you can pile on the reverb without it getting in the way. That’s what you’ll find […]
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Vinyl records are incredibly bad the environment, and while there’s a new breakthrough in making the format greener, the ultimate format may go beyond plastic. A biomedical researcher and touring artist named Mikael Hwang has created a “living record” in a petri dish out of yeast cells, which may not be practical on its own […]
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On my latest podcast episode: Producer, mixer and educator Kevin Kelly talks about the importance of networking, the new generation of plugins, how mutli-tasking has changed attention spans, analog summing during mixing, and much more. Being nominated for a Grammy can have a big downside. A new environmentally-friendly vinyl record is coming. Listen to it […]
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The audio world doesn’t really need another limiter plugin, but if one comes along that’s more versatile than most others, then I say bring it on. That’s the case with the new X-Limit, another in the X-series of SSL plugins, which has uses beyond the master mix buss. Limiter Styles SSL says that X-Limit is […]
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It’s time for some Beatles, and who could argue with that. Let’s listen to the isolated lead and background vocals on their big hit “Please, Please Me.” Not to be confused with the UK album of the same name, “Please, Please Me” was the second single that the band released and prompted the record label […]
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