Start With The Mix

Mixing is always one of the biggest problems for new engineers, home recordist and protools newbies. Unfortunetly eveybody thinks there is some big dark secret to mixing. Any engineer will tell you their are tricks and techniques, but no secrets. The best way to improve your mix is to improve your recordings. That sounds almost to easy, but it is true. When you first start to record vocals or an instrument with a mic dont just press record. Listen to the signal coming in. Look at the way the microphone is placed. Try changing the distance between the pop filter and the microphone or the pattern of the microphone. Use your ears!

Once you begin to record the worst thing you could do is "Set It and forget it" Things are always changing when your record. Some times a vocalist will get tired and the levels will drop. Other times a vocalist might get louder and louder with each take as they get more comfortable. You have to be mindful of all these things and more to get good quality recordings. Other things that can also cause problems are Jewlery and chains. That G-Unit spinner is gonna cause havoc on on your vocal tracks. There is no need to be iced out in the booth! Make sure hats,arms, hand, legs or anyting else dont hit the microphone or stand while recording.

There is a saying in the studio that goes " Crap in , Crap out" Well guess what? If it sounds good recording it, it will sound twice as good when you go to mix. Hope this helps. Feel free to hit me up with any questions.

Peace

Jazdout
Producer Engineer
GNX Music
Beats, Production and Engineering Services

PS. I am availble to work on projects as well.

Creating Loops Quick

For those of you recording in the Hip Hop genre Im sure you have heard the words "2 Track" more than a few times. This has become somewhat of and Industry standard (More like a lowered standard if you ask me) with beats for freestyles and demos. Gone are the days of tracked out beats, Now they take the instrumental straight from and audio CD and "Loop It Up".

Looping beats in Protools is a snap if you have the excat tempo of the track and you can work in grid mode. But if you dont know the tempo and your taking a free stab at it things can get tricky. There is an easy solution.

1. Play the track a few times and get the feel of it.
2. Now once your vibin to the track tap the the "Down Arrow" alongwith the beat.
3. When the are you want to loop comes up make sure to hit the "Down Arrow" on the first beat of the loop, Now continue tapping to the beat but instead use the "Up Arrow. Once again make sure you hit it nice and hard on the down beat of the 1st measure after the loop ends.
4. You will see a selcted area highlighted. Now hit "Apple + E" to make your Region.
5. Press play to listen back to the loop.(Make sure you have looped playback checked)
6. If something sounds off Zoom in and adjust.

After trying this a few times this whole process should take you 2 or 3 minutes.I do strogly suggest for anything serious your working on though that you get a hold of the producer and track out the beat so it can be mixed and arranged properly. Most people dont do this cause they dont want to pay the producer for the beat. If thats your philsophy then your in the wrong business.

Peace
GNX Music
Beats, Engineering and Production

Protools For Everyone!

Who loves Digidesign's Protools. Well, I think jsut about every one except BASF (The company that was making 2" tape) and the big studio owners who cant figure out how to create a new business model for their companies. The internet and the mp3 format have truly revolutionized the future of music distribution. Protools has basically made the same accomplish ment in the recording world.

If your not familiar with Protools it is a Digital Audio Workstation or DAW for you computer that comes complete with software, a soundcard and killer recording and mixing enviroment. What is doesn't come with is experience and knowledge of engineering. With a modest setup and a good engineer you can easily achieve major label results and still have a food budget for your session.

I personally suggest that a modest protools system be a part of every recording artists tool box. At they same time though the money you are saving in expensive studio time, the least you could do is invest in decent engineer to mix and record your music. You'll thank your self after!

Want more information on Protools? Check out Digidesign

Thinking of putting together a Recording system? Got questions, Need an Engineer?

Jazdout
Producer, Engineer
Beats, Production and Engineering Services
GNX Music