VIDEO: Recording Techniques and Guidelines

I know, the web needs more “how-to” videos like I need another hole in my head, but in 2008/2009 my pals at Signature Sound ask me to do a series of instructional web movies for their site. The concept being to create something much more professional, informative and valuable than your everyday YouTube fare.

All in all, I think they turned out pretty good, and are really informative. The info isn’t all-inclusive or extremely advanced,  but I cover some of the basic “guidelines” I like to be mindful of when making a record.

NOTE: Care was paid to sound quality during production, so I suggest you view in HD and listen on either some good headphones or monitors.

MULTI MIC DRUM RECORDING PART 1

MULTI MIC DRUM RECORDING PART 2 (Sound Examples)

DRUM RECORDING WITH 4 MICS

7 months ago  /  8 notes

VIDEO: Recording Techniques and Guidelines (cont’d) - Guitar & Bass

Recording Techniques and Guidelines continued. These clips address guitar and bass.

NOTE: Care was paid to sound quality during production, so I suggest you view in HD and listen on either some good headphones or monitors.

GUITAR RECORDING PART 1

GUITAR RECORDING PART 2

BASS RECORDING

7 months ago  /  1 note

VIDEO: Recording Techniques and Guidelines (cont’d) - Tuning, Phase and Acoustics

Recording Techniques and Guidelines continued. These video clips address some basics of phase, the importance of instrument tuning and room acoustics. 

NOTE: Care was paid to sound quality during production, so I suggest you view in HD and listen on either some good headphones or monitors.

PHASE BASICS

ROOM ACOUSTICS

INSTRUMENT TUNING

7 months ago  /  1 note

VIDEO: Recording Techniques and Guidelines (cont’d) - Acoustic Guitar

Recording Techniques and Guidelines continued. These clips address some approaches to recording acoustic guitar.

NOTE: Care was paid to sound quality during production, so I suggest you view in HD and listen on either some good headphones or monitors.

ACOUSTIC GUITAR PART 1

ACOUSTIC GUITAR PART 2

7 months ago  /  1 note

Recording at Svenska Grammofonstudion - Gothenburg, Sweden

Svenska Grammofonstudion in Gothenburg, Sweden is an incredible place. After working in Borlänge on a separate project in May I was able to travel here and use the studio for several days. Owner Calle, who also pulls double duty as a member of the band The Soundtrack of Our Lives, was very welcoming and professional. Besides the incredible mic selection and the Neve desk formerly owned by Queen (which has also recorded David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Iggy Pop, Stones, MJ, etc…), the massive complex has a large multi-room apartment, a mastering room, a mix room equipped with an SSL 4000, and another Neve 8048 room. Not shown in these photos is the ungodly amount of keyboards, pianos, guitars and crazy synths the facility makes available for it’s clients. I kid you not, I counted over TWENTY tape machines when staying there.

Also recording there during my stay was artist Jose Gonzalez, which by my observation was the largest session (in terms of the actual number of musicians) I’ve ever seen. 

Thanks Svenska Grammofonstudion - you guys are awesome! Check out photos from the studio in the photoset below.

9 months ago  /  5 notes