Sound Recording Advice Table of Contents

Sound Recording Advice Table of Contents ABOUT THE AUTHOR ........................................................................................ 9 PREFACE- A NOTE TO THE READER .......................................................10 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ....................................................................................11 WARNING- DISCLAIMER ...............................................................................13 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................15

PART ONE: ELECTRONIC STUDIO EQUIPMENT................................................ 19 ELEMENTS OF A HOME STUDIO............................... 19 The Dedicated Space: .............................................. 19 Capturing Performances: ......................................... 20 The Recording Medium: .......................................... 20 Manipulating the Live or Recorded Sound: ............... 20 Combining Sounds Together: .................................. 23 The Final Result: .................................................... 24 More about Project Studios: ..................................... 24 OK, I WANT TO RECORD MUSIC, NOW WHAT? ....... 26 RECORDING FORMATS FOR THE HOME STUDIO.... 33 Reel-to-Reel: .......................................................... 33 Cassette: ................................................................. 33 MiniDisc: ............................................................... 34 DAT: ..................................................................... 35 CD-R and CD-RW: ................................................. 36 Multi-track Digital Recorders: ................................. 37 Digital Audio Workstations: .................................... 39 DAW Plug-Ins: ....................................................... 42 What’s Next? ......................................................... 43 POWER FOR YOUR STUDIO ....................................... 45 Power Distribution to the Studio: ............................. 45 Power Distribution in the Studio: ............................. 49 Sequencing of Power: ............................................. 52 Power Distribution for the Computer: ....................... 52 MICROPHONE PREAMPLIFIERS ................................ 54 Tubes vs. ICs in Amplifiers: .................................... 56 WHAT IS MIDI?............................................................ 58 CONNECTING EQUIPMENT IN YOUR STUDIO......... 60 Audio Patch Bays: .................................................. 60 MIDI Patch Bays: ................................................... 64 Digital Signal Standards: ......................................... 65 Audio Cables: ......................................................... 67 MONITORING SOUND IN YOUR STUDIO.................. 69 EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS.......................... 77

Computer: .............................................................. 78 Mac versus PC: ....................................................... 79 Audio Cards and Computer Interfaces: ..................... 80 Multi-track Recorders: ............................................ 82 Reel/Reel Multi-tracks: ........................................... 82 Cassette Multi-tracks: ............................................. 83 MiniDisc Multi-tracks: ............................................ 84 Modular Digital Multi-tracks: .................................. 85 Modular Hard Disk Multi-tracks: ............................. 86 Mastering Recorders (2-Tracks): .............................. 90 Mixers: .................................................................. 92 Microphone Preamplifiers: ...................................... 99 Microphones: ....................................................... 101 Effects Processors: ................................................ 104 Dynamics Processors: ........................................... 106 Enhancers and Exciters: ........................................ 107 Reference Monitors (Speakers): ............................. 107 Power Amplifiers: ................................................. 109 Headphones: ......................................................... 114 Headphone Amplifiers: ......................................... 114 Headphone Amp Kits: ........................................... 115 The Bottom Line: .................................................. 116 RECOMMENDED BASIC SYSTEMS.......................... 117 Recommended System under $500: ........................ 117 Recommended System under $1000:........................ 120 Recommended System under $1500:........................ 122 Recommended System for about $2000:................... 122 Recommended Standalone Studio System for $5000: 123 Recommended Computer Studio System for $5000:.. 124 Recommended Systems Over $5000:....................... 125 BUYING NEW & USED EQUIPMENT........................ 127 Usenet: ................................................................. 127 Search Engines: .................................................... 128 Judging the Condition of Used Gear: ...................... 129 New and Used Gear Lists: ..................................... 129 Used Equipment Web Sites: .................................. 130

PART TWO: STUDIO LAYOUT AND FURNITURE .............................................. 133 ACOUSTICS IN YOUR STUDIO................................. 133 STUDIO FURNITURE................................................. 139 Equipment Racks: ................................................. 141 LOCATING EQUIPMENT IN THE STUDIO................ 144 SHELVES FOR KEYBOARD SUPPORT STANDS...... 146 PEDAL BOARD .......................................................... 147 ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE & NOISE .... 149 SPECTRUM ANALYZER AND RTA .......................... 157 REMOVING AUDIBLE NOISE................................... 163 Overview of room treatments and acoustics: ........... 163 Single-ended noise reduction units: ........................ 163

Removing other noises in the studio: ...................... 166 Removing mic popping noises: .............................. 166 Removing audible computer noise in the studio: ..... 167 Balanced versus unbalanced equipment: .................. 170 Direct Boxes: ........................................................ 171 The Control Room vs. The Recording Space: ......... 172

PART THREE: MODIFYING YOUR EQUIPMENT.............................................. 174 TAPE DECK REMOTE CONTROLLER ...................... 174 ADDING A POWER SWITCH..................................... 185 ADDING A HEADPHONE JACK................................ 194 MASTER FADERS...................................................... 197 SIMPLE PASSIVE AUDIO MIXER FOR $5:................ 208 LINE OUTPUT CONVERTER..................................... 211 FINDING SCHEMATICS FOR EQUIPMENT:............. 211 LIST OF NEW & SURPLUS ELECTRONICS PARTS SUPPLIERS................................................. 213

PART FOUR: CAPTURING SOUND RECORDINGS ............................................ 215 THE NATURE OF SOUND.......................................... 215 The Physics of Sound: ........................................... 215 Psychoacoustics: ................................................... 221 Measuring Sound Intensity: ................................... 224 MIKING/TRACKING INSTRUMENTS & VOCALS.... 227 Tracking in General: ............................................. 227 Miking Vocals: ..................................................... 228 Miking Instruments: .............................................. 233 Brass: ................................................................... 233 Woodwinds: ......................................................... 234 Sax: ..................................................................... 234 Harmonica: .......................................................... 234 Piano: .................................................................. 235 Solo Violin: .......................................................... 237 Solo Cello: ........................................................... 238 Electric Bass Guitar: ............................................. 238 Electric Guitar: ..................................................... 240 Acoustic Guitar: ................................................... 241 Drums: ................................................................. 244 More on Microphones: .......................................... 249 BOUNCING TRACKS................................................. 251 MIXING...................................................................... 256 Setting Gain Structure: .......................................... 256 Mixing the Song: .................................................. 260 Tricks of the Mix: ................................................. 263 MASTERING.............................................................. 271

PART FIVE: TOOLS, ADVICE & MISCELLANEOUS..................................... 274 WALL WART ADAPTERS ......................................... 274 RUBBER CLEANER/REVITALIZER .......................... 276 HEAT SHRINK, COLD SHRINK AND VELCRO ........ 278 ANTI-SKID RUBBER FEET........................................ 280 MEDIA BACKUP........................................................ 280 TROUBLESHOOTING AND TOOLS .......................... 282 Basic Tools: ......................................................... 282 Troubleshooting Techniques: ................................. 285 Noisy Volume Controls: ........................................ 288 Intermittent Signal Connection Problems: ............... 289 Tape Deck Drive Problems: ................................... 290 HOME STUDIO SECURITY........................................ 292 HOME STUDIO INSURANCE..................................... 295 BEST PRACTICES IN THE STUDIO........................... 297 OTHER MISCELLANEOUS TIPS............................... 300 Tips for Burning CD-Rs and CD-RWs:.................... 300 Keeping a Notebook: ............................................ 301 Listening to Your Mix on Other Speakers: .............. 302 Tips For Better Noise Reduction: ........................... 302 Automatic Key Depresser: ..................................... 303 Low-cost Light Show Controller: ........................... 303 Pertaining to Analog Tapes and Recorders: ............. 304 Pertaining to Recording Music to Tape: .................. 305 Keeping Track of Signals on Mixer Channels: ........ 305 Getting Convincing Guitar Sound from a Keyboard: 305 Understanding Guitar Effects: ................................ 306 Large Keyboard Support Stand: ............................. 307 Free Mastering Booklet: ........................................ 307 Sharing MP3 Files: ............................................... 308 Can’t Sing In Tune? .............................................. 308 Shielding Your Monitors (non-invasive method): .... 309 Shielding Your Monitors (invasive method): .......... 310 Which Unit To Buy? ............................................. 310 Low-cost, Lightweight Portable Recording System... 310 Musician’s Earplugs: .............................................. 312 Recording Vinyl LPs: ............................................. 312 Adding a MIDI Retrofit to a Synthesizer: ............... 313 Non-slip Material for Desk-top Units: .................... 313 Figuring Out Speaker Polarities: ............................ 313 Long Speaker Cables: ........................................... 314 Telephone Ringer/Signaler:..................................... 315 Battery-Backed RAM Memory: ............................. 316 How do I learn more about all this Studio Stuff? ...... 318 FADE TO SILENCE .........................................................................................319

Index ................................................................. 320