Working with phase (and polarity) March 9, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Project Studio, Studio Setup, Troubleshooting , 4commentsPhase and polarity. It is important to understand the differences between them, as they are often confused. They can “look” the same, but its important to remember that phase has an element of time associated with it. Phase is how far along a waveform is in its cycle; if a waveform is combined with an identical waveform that is 180 degrees out of phase, they will cancel each other. Polarity deals with two points of electronics that have a positive and negative charge. By switching those points, the waveform becomes “inverted”. Confusing? Look at the pictures below, a visual always helps. (more…)
McDSP is now Leopard compatible March 8, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Leopard, plugins (plug-ins), Studio Setup , 2commentsFor everyone that has been waiting to use their McDSP plug-ins on Leopard, your wait is over.
McDSP plug-ins can now be updated via a download from their website. As long as you have registered your plug-ins online, there will be no charge for the upgrades.
Solving problems in your studio March 4, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Project Studio, Studio Setup, Troubleshooting , 4commentsThe internet is an extremely valuable tool for home or project studio owners. A lot of problems can arise in a studio: compatibility issues, hardware problems, computer problems, error codes, improper clocking, cable setups, software updates/authorization, plug-in installation, mysterious pops and clicks, virtual instrument problems, mix problems… etc etc etc. Learning how to fix any issues that your studio experiences is a valuable skill.
So what are your options for solving these problems? Obviously, you want to solve any problems as fast as possible. Problems in your studio hinder creativity, but can also cost you a lot of time and money (especially if these things happen when a client is working). I am going to cover some ways on how to get accurate and fast information for all your troubleshooting needs.
Transferring between different DAWs without OMF/AAF March 2, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Digital Audio Workstations, Project Studio, Studio Setup , 26commentsMany times, a project will travel from studio to studio during production. Each studio might be running a different DAW, with a different interface and computer. While exporting a project as an OMF or AAF and then importing to another DAW is sometimes possible, a few DAWs don’t allow this (::ahem:: Pro Tools LE….) So, its a good idea to know how to transfer the audio files without the use of OMF or other “universal” file formats. (more…)
Use a backup when doing live recording! February 21, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Live Sound, Studio Setup, Troubleshooting , 3commentsToday I answered 2 posts in different forums. Both were from unfortunate engineers who didn’t have a backup for their live recordings.
Their systems crashed, corrupted what audio they did have, and now they have nothing. Apparently these were both for paid jobs, and now the client will have no product.
Never, never, never, ever do any sort of live recording (paid or unpaid) without at least one backup. If possible, I would suggest always having a “duplicate” backup (some sort of exact copy) as well as an additional stereo backup (such as a handheld recorder or extra pair of mics). Here are some ideas on how to make backups:
Home Studio Setup and Acoustics February 20, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Acoustics, Project Studio, Studio Setup , 4commentsSetting up the gear in your home studio can be really fun. But, what many forget is that the actual placement of gear in your room can have a huge impact as to how well your room “sounds”. When dealing with the parallel walls and small dimensions of a typical home or project studio, even following some basic guidelines in acoustics can make a huge sonic difference. Flutter echo, room modes, and improper speaker placement are all things to avoid.
These tips will help you minimize those issues, so you can get more accurate mixes from your room.
Studio Profiles: Babblefish Studio Video February 19, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Project Studio, Studio Profiles, Studio Setup , 6commentsHey All.
Your “Man About Town” here with some more news from the studios. A recent interview with Steve Falearos at Babblefish Recording Studios in Franklin, Ohio (near Dayton). Steve talks about the studio’s eclectic and unique equipment list, as well as some great tips for bands who are working on projects on their own or in collaboration with a bigger studio. Some great advice from Steve: Know your gear.
Check out the two-part video to see his gear and hear his thoughts about all things studio.
Also see the extended interview for a full recap of our visit with Steve at Babblefish Studios.
Stay tuned to The Studio Files for some audio demos from Steve and Babblefish!
We’ll send a free StudioFiles t-shirt to the first person (or should I say, hoopy frood?) who posts a comment correctly identifying the origin of the name “Babblefish.”
BJSR
The Studio Files
Build a Home Studio for Under $1500 February 17, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Logic Studio 8, Project Studio, Studio Setup , add a commentRound 2 of suggestions for equipping a home studio! This time, I am going to work with a little bigger budget. We will assume, as in the earlier post that you already have a computer (PC or Mac) to record with. But, if you are looking for a great computer for this type of studio, check out the Apple iMac . Whichever model you get, be sure to snag a RAM upgrade. I would also suggest an external firewire hard drive to use to record. While you can use the system drive, you will get much better performance by dedicating an external drive for audio. On to the studio! This setup, like the last one, will have everything you need to record music, create songs and beats with MIDI, and mix your projects.
DAW Comparison February 14, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Digital Audio Workstations, Project Studio, Studio Setup , 22commentsWhich DAW is best for me?
With so many high quality choices in Digital Audio Workstations these days, sometimes its hard to pick. Gone are the days of any one company having “the best product” out there for everyone. Many companies are really releasing solid programs, with “pro” features and sound made available to consumers. I am comparing 4 different DAWs: Logic Studio, Pro Tools LE, Digital Performer, and Cubase 4. Honestly, I don’t think any of these would be a poor choice for any studio. But, while they are all great, they all do have their advantages and disadvantages. I am just going to list some general characteristics of each, and then a small paragraph about the DAW. It should give you some insight as to which DAW will best suit your needs.
A home studio setup you can take on the road February 12, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Computers, Project Studio, Studio Setup , 7commentsI just got an email from Aaron S. asking about putting together a home studio that he could also take to do live stereo recordings. This is a very common setup, and for a reasonable price, you can get excellent sound quality. Aaron said he had about $2000 to work with, including the purchase of a computer.
Build a Home Studio for under $650 January 29, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Project Studio, Studio Setup , 2commentsI get a lot of questions via email and forums about buying equipment to setup a small home studio. Many people will say “I have X dollars, what should I buy??”. Well, here it is, the first installment of the “Build a Home Studio” posts. This particular post is all under the assumption that you have a computer (either Mac or PC, desktop or laptop) that you will be using to record. For studios with a little bigger budget, I will make recommendations on computers.
I give two examples for audio interfaces in this sample setup. This is simply because one is FireWire and one is USB (and also because they are bundled with different DAWs). They are both great devices, just choose the one that suits you better. This setup will include an audio interface, recording software, studio monitors, a MIDI keyboard, a condenser microphone and the necessary cables to hook everything up.
“The $650 Studio”
Creating Your Home Studio January 29, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Project Studio, Studio Setup, Troubleshooting , 2commentsWhen putting together home studios, many people consult forums and other sources about equipment purchases and setup. If you are starting to put together a recording setup, I would suggest asking yourself these questions first:
1) When all is said and done, what would I like to be able to accomplish in this studio? (i.e. tracking full bands, tracking solo artists and rappers, composing beats and loops, film scoring, mixing… etc etc.)
2) Do I have any equipment now that could be incorporated into the new setup?
3) Do I have any preferences? (Such as, Mac vs. Windows, Computer Recording vs. Multitrack recorder, etc.)
4) What sort of room will I setup in? What are the dimensions?
5) What is my budget?