The Magazine
May 2013
Spring is here and the birds are singing... and the May 2013 issue of RECORDING will have you singing as well, and tracking the best vocals you've ever captured! In this issue we bring you great reviews and fantastic features on the ever-popular topic of recording vocals.
Jim Anderson is a multiple Grammy(R)-winning engineer whose magic touch has graced records throughout the jazz world, from Branford Marsalis to John Zorn. In this issue, we interview Jim about his recording techniques for vocalist/pianist Patricia Barber's new album Smash.
We welcome a new author to our ranks, California-based songwriter/engineer Sven-Erik Seaholm, who takes us through the home recording process with an emphasis on great vocal tracks, from mic choice to final mix and with lots of great hands-on examples.
Vocal recording gear is in the spotlight as well, with reviews of the amazing new AT5040 vocal mic from Audio-Technica, the tube/solid-state LCT 940 from Lewitt, the Spark Digital USB mic from Blue, and the d:fine headset mic from DPA Microphones. New maker Moon Professional has its first preamp, the 3500MP, on test in the studio, and we look at vocal-friendly hardware and software from Toontrack, Noveltech, and CAD.
And that's not all! PreSonus has exploded into the speaker business with two new series of powered studio monitors, and we have the affordable Eris speakers up for listening tests; Eric Ferguson continues his look at the Sweet Spot in Recording Fundamentals; and we have a whole raft of other music product reviews for your pleasure.
So whether you're hunting for the best vocals or looking for other ways to improve your studio's sound, you can't afford to miss out on the May RECORDING!
Pick it up now on the newsstand... and so you get your next issue early (and save on cost), why not hit the big red Subscribe Now button on this page and have RECORDING delivered to your door each month?
Lewitt Authentica LCT 940
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Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
Lewitt Authentica LCT 940 |
Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
This flagship mic combines solid-state and tube electronics in a user-controlled blend.
In our February 2012 issue, we took our first look at a mic from Austrian maker Lewitt. The mic under review was Lewitt's feature-packed......Expand
This flagship mic combines solid-state and tube electronics in a user-controlled blend.
In our February 2012 issue, we took our first look at a mic from Austrian maker Lewitt. The mic under review was Lewitt's feature-packed, impeccably built and wonderful sounding flagship, the Authentica LCT 640 multi-pattern condenser mic. In our February 2013 issue we looked at the equally unique DTP 640 REX kick drum mic, which housed a cardioid condenser and a dynamic element inside one body; the elements could be mixed and blended together, with their sounds controlled by a unique set of character switches.
From just those two models Lewitt have established an identity with our readers, with sonic versatility and build quality as its major tenets. This month we look at the company's newest flagship, the Authentica LCT 940...
Read more in the May 2013 issue of RECORDING!
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PreSonus Eris Series High-Definition Studio Monitors
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Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
PreSonus Eris Series High-Definition Studio Monitors |
Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
PreSonus's first speakers deliver significant sound within reach of any studio.
PreSonus has gotten into the speaker game, and its first models to market are the Eris Series. Why "Eris"? No clue. Eris was the Greek goddess o......Expand
PreSonus's first speakers deliver significant sound within reach of any studio.
PreSonus has gotten into the speaker game, and its first models to market are the Eris Series. Why "Eris"? No clue. Eris was the Greek goddess of chaos (she helped start the Trojan War, but that's another story); her name's been attached to the anarchist Erisians from the famous ILLUMINATUS! novels, and to the distant dwarf planet Eris that circles our sun every 557 years. But studio monitors?
There's nothing particularly chaotic about the new Eris speakers... in fact, PreSonus' first studio monitors present very neat solutions to the problem of affordable, good-sounding monitoring for small studios. We got to work with both new Eris models for some extended listening sessions, and here's what we learned...
Read more in the May 2013 issue of RECORDING!
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Audio-Technica AT5040 Studio Vocal Microphone
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Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
Audio-Technica AT5040 Studio Vocal Microphone |
Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
An array of multiple diaphragms within one mic yields stunning results on vocals.
The AT5040 is a brand new microphone in the Audio-Technica universe, one that is specifically tailored for top-flight vocal recording. Positio......Expand
An array of multiple diaphragms within one mic yields stunning results on vocals.
The AT5040 is a brand new microphone in the Audio-Technica universe, one that is specifically tailored for top-flight vocal recording. Positioned as the flagship in a new 50 Series line, it arrived with a splash at the 2012 AES show in San Francisco and has been making waves ever since; I was very pleased to obtain a production model and put it through its paces at my studio.
The AT5040 is one of the few microphones in recent years that can truly be said to contain new cutting-edge technology and design principles. Perhaps most notably, it does away with the common circular diaphragm in favor of a rectangular one. Now, rectangular diaphragms are nothing new; prominent European manufacturers selling mics with rectangular diaphragms include Pearl Microphone Laboratory, whose mics we've reviewed a number of times in recent years, and Milab, most recently seen in our June 2012 issue, when we reviewed the DC-96B and DC-96C. However, the AT5040 takes this idea a step further by combining four rectangular diaphragms into one large "super-diaphragm". Intrigued yet...?
Read more in the May 2013 issue of RECORDING!
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Moon Professional 3500MP 2-Channel Microphone Preamp
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Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
Moon Professional 3500MP 2-Channel Microphone Preamp |
Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
Audiophile specs and impeccable performance at the high end.
If you are not of the audiophile persuasion in terms of home-audio, high-end stereo systems and such, then you have most likely never heard of Moon Professional. T......Expand
Audiophile specs and impeccable performance at the high end.
If you are not of the audiophile persuasion in terms of home-audio, high-end stereo systems and such, then you have most likely never heard of Moon Professional. That was the case for me; I learned in the course of this review that Moon Professional is a division of Simaudio, in business since the early '80s, which in 1991 launched a new division called Moon to be the home of its high-end Reference Series, including high-end CD players, integrated amplifiers, reference amplifiers and more.
About a year ago, Moon decided to make the move into the professional studio gear market, by creating audiophile-quality products for just this market segment. The first product in this new venture debuted at AES; it is the 3500MP 2-channel microphone preamp, billed as "a purist design for optimal sonic performance and lowest possible noise floor"...
Read more in the May 2013 issue of RECORDING!
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DPA Microphones d:fine Series Headset Microphones
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Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
DPA Microphones d:fine Series Headset Microphones |
Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
Headset mics in a magazine about recording? Yes! Read on and learn not only about these fantastic mics but also how to get fantastic stage recordings using headsets.
For this issue on recording vocals I thought it would be w......Expand
Headset mics in a magazine about recording? Yes! Read on and learn not only about these fantastic mics but also how to get fantastic stage recordings using headsets.
For this issue on recording vocals I thought it would be worthwhile to look at an area of vocal recording we don't often dwell on, and report on an exceptional mic for the task.
I have been recording and running front-of-house sound for many years now. The performances range from spoken word (for sermons, seminars, dramatic readings), to plays and musicals, with a cast ranging anywhere from a single person up to ensemble casts of 10 to 14 people. The best tool for this job in recent years, fast replacing the lavalier-style microphone, is the over-the-ear or headset microphone. I have used many makes and models over time, and my hands-down favorite is the d:fine Series from DPA Microphones.
In this review I will point out the specifics that make the d:fine an excellent choice for serious recording of stage vocals, while teaching some general tips for getting the best recorded and live sound from headsets of any type...
Read more in the May 2013 issue of RECORDING!
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Plug-in Outlet: Toontrack EZmix Pack: Vocal Toolbox
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Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
Plug-in Outlet: Toontrack EZmix Pack: Vocal Toolbox |
Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
The extraordinarily simple mix-fix plug-in turns its attention to tracking and mixing the perfect voice.
In this Vocal issue, we're presenting a variety of newly released and worthwhile vocal tools for the home studio. Some ......Expand
The extraordinarily simple mix-fix plug-in turns its attention to tracking and mixing the perfect voice.
In this Vocal issue, we're presenting a variety of newly released and worthwhile vocal tools for the home studio. Some of the programs in this issue offer a variety of detailed tweaking options, while others are aimed at the beginner, or perhaps the experienced recordist who's on deadline and wants professional results in a hurry, and are more oriented toward providing easy-to-use presets to do the job. In the latter category, we very pleased to check out Vocal Toolbox, the latest EZmix Pack for Toontrack's EZmix plug-in...
Read more in the May 2013 issue of RECORDING!
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Plug-in Outlet: iZotope Nectar Elements
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Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
Plug-in Outlet: iZotope Nectar Elements |
Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
This introductory version of Nectar brings powerful vocal processing tools to the beginner in a genre-savvy and easy-to-learn format.
Back in our March 2011 issue, Paul Vnuk Jr. reviewed iZotope's Nectar, a vocal-centric plu......Expand
This introductory version of Nectar brings powerful vocal processing tools to the beginner in a genre-savvy and easy-to-learn format.
Back in our March 2011 issue, Paul Vnuk Jr. reviewed iZotope's Nectar, a vocal-centric plug-in that included 11 different effects in one convenient package. Nectar has a highly configurable interface with a lot of user control, a stripped-down/latency-friendly Tracking mode, a powerful Breath Control algorithm with massive lookahead capability, and an Advanced Pitch Correction mode with Celemony Melodyne-style graphic note display and direct editing capabilities. The end result was a plug-in that put all the vocal tweaking tools a serious engineer might need in one place for $249.
Now it's 2013, and just as we were assembling this issue for press, iZotope released Nectar Elements, a vocal processing plug-in that uses much of the same under-the-hood processing as Nectar but delivers it in a simplified package at a much lower price...
Read more in the May 2013 issue of RECORDING!
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Blue Spark Digital USB Microphone
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Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
Blue Spark Digital USB Microphone |
Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
This USB mic adds zero-latency monitoring and iOS compatibility to the well-liked Spark design.
Blue's line of USB mics, from the tiny Tiki to the multipattern, high-def Yeti Pro (reviewed December 2011), hits a variety of s......Expand
This USB mic adds zero-latency monitoring and iOS compatibility to the well-liked Spark design.
Blue's line of USB mics, from the tiny Tiki to the multipattern, high-def Yeti Pro (reviewed December 2011), hits a variety of sweet spots for the many computer users interested in audio recording. The latest Blue USB offering is the Spark Digital, a USB version of the well-liked Spark large-diaphragm condenser mic (reviewed April 2011) that combines studio-quality audio recording with USB conveniences like a headphone output and on-mic gain and level control... and it's the first Blue mic specifically designed to work instantly with iOS devices as well via a single cable...
Read more in the May 2013 issue of RECORDING!
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Plug-in Outlet: Noveltech Vocal Enhancer (and Character)
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Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
Plug-in Outlet: Noveltech Vocal Enhancer (and Character) |
Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
A more refined and user-controllable version of a "one-knob wonder" tone tweaking plug-in sets its sights on better vocals.
Finnish developer Noveltech originally developed plug-ins for the now-defunct PowerCore DSP engines ......Expand
A more refined and user-controllable version of a "one-knob wonder" tone tweaking plug-in sets its sights on better vocals.
Finnish developer Noveltech originally developed plug-ins for the now-defunct PowerCore DSP engines from TC Electronic. Noveltech was best known for the unique plug-in simply called Character, and it's here that our story begins...
Character is an "intelligent adaptive filtering system" useful for enhancing the frequency response and dynamics of a source. Character is a harmonic enhancer akin to an Aphex Aural Exciter on steroids, and is part eq, part filter, part multiband compressor, part exciter and part sonic voodoo all rolled into one. While that sounds complicated, what makes Character unique is that it was one of the first "one-knob wonder" plug-ins on the market. (Okay, there were a few other knobs, but in use, it was really the large central Character knob that did the heavy lifting and yielded the sonic changes.)
Character has been ported to native systems and is now sold through the Plugin Alliance-see our August 2012 review for an explanation of this innovative and artist-friendly clearing house for plug-in sales, support, and copy protection. The Plugin Alliance is now selling Noveltech's newest plug-in ported from the old PowerCore platform, called Vocal Enhancer. Can you guess what it does?
Vocal Enhancer is built upon the same technology found in Character, but offers a deeper and more accurate level of control to pinpoint frequencies that benefit from enhancing. And as we'll see, it's not just for vocals!...
Read more in the May 2013 issue of RECORDING!
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CAD Audio Acousti-shield 32
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Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
CAD Audio Acousti-shield 32 |
Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
A handy mic isolation barrier has multiple applications in the studio.
The CAD Audio Acousti-shield 32 is the newest entry into the world of portable vocal booths. While similar to much of the competition in what it sets out......Expand
A handy mic isolation barrier has multiple applications in the studio.
The CAD Audio Acousti-shield 32 is the newest entry into the world of portable vocal booths. While similar to much of the competition in what it sets out to do, its differences lie in its design, construction and price point.
According to the folks at CAD, "The Acousti-shield 32 is constructed from a high-quality 16-gauge perforated stainless-steel shield mated to 53mm high-density micro-cell acoustic foam." Its goal is to reduce room reflections and environmental intrusions and improve the clarity and intimacy of a recorded source by drying up the space around the microphone...
Read more in the May 2013 issue of RECORDING!
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Jim Anderson Records Patricia Barber
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Interviewed by
Lorenz Rychner
Jim Anderson Records Patricia Barber |
Interviewed by
Lorenz Rychner
This award-winning engineer discusses his approach to recording the famed Jazz vocalist/pianist, both on her newest album SMASH and on the Grammy(R)-winning surround release of MODERN COOL.
As a long-time fan of Patricia Bar......Expand
This award-winning engineer discusses his approach to recording the famed Jazz vocalist/pianist, both on her newest album SMASH and on the Grammy(R)-winning surround release of MODERN COOL.
As a long-time fan of Patricia Barber's highly individual Jazz stylings, I have always been impressed by her exquisite recordings. The studio projects truly capture the dramatic presence of her live performances. Her voice is on the dark side, most often staying in a lower pitch range, with a wide range of dynamics from a whisper to a cry, and sometimes half spoken à la French "diseuse" style. Her piano playing can move impetuously from delicate to very firm and back in seconds. This is not an artist that you can capture with a set-it-and-forget-it m.o.
Her latest release is called SMASH, all written and composed by Patricia Barber, and it ranges from solo voice-and-piano moments to distorted electric guitar, through an eclectic set of tunes where the lyrics are closer to poetry than those of the Great American Songbook. Every word counts.
We contacted veteran engineer/producer Jim Anderson to find out how and where he gets that sound... a sound that recently won him a Grammy(R) for the surround release of Patricia Barber's earlier MODERN COOL album...
Read more in the May 2013 issue of RECORDING!
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How To Record Great Vocals At Home
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Written by
Sven-Erik Seaholm
How To Record Great Vocals At Home |
Written by
Sven-Erik Seaholm
From start to finish, here's everything you'll need to create a professional vocal track.
The human voice is easily the most recognizable of sounds, at least to other humans. Even before we are born, we listen for, recognize......Expand
From start to finish, here's everything you'll need to create a professional vocal track.
The human voice is easily the most recognizable of sounds, at least to other humans. Even before we are born, we listen for, recognize and respond to our own mother's speech and inflections. In pop music, from Rock to Rap or Rhythm & Blues, we still find ourselves instinctively searching for that fundamental element. While the magic of music lies in its power to imply or inspire a wide array of feelings and emotions, when it comes to details and specifics, only words will do.
This places a great deal of importance on the quality of the vocals, both performance-wise and in a technical sense. No matter how great the song, groove and arrangement are, it can all be quickly undone by the entrance of a weak, pitchy, or poorly recorded vocal performance.
In the recording process, the only surprises we're looking for are pleasant ones. A consistent approach helps to minimize unforeseen distractions that can eat up precious time and energy. There are many facets to this, including the recording environment, the choice of microphone, preamps, headphones, effects and the physical comfort and wellness of the singer himself/herself. While each voice is as unique as the individual that possesses it, there are measures you can take to minimize the negative aspects, while maximizing your listeners' enjoyment...
Read more in the May 2013 issue of RECORDING!
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Plug-ins To The Rescue -- Real-Life Remedies For Vocal Tracks
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Written by
Jason LaRocca
Plug-ins To The Rescue -- Real-Life Remedies For Vocal Tracks |
Written by
Jason LaRocca
One of LA's most successful scoring mixers shares his hints for rescuing problem vocals.
Plug-ins are your "effects rack on a hard drive" -- no wiring required. Some uses are obvious, some go beyond the obvious, and new resu......Expand
One of LA's most successful scoring mixers shares his hints for rescuing problem vocals.
Plug-ins are your "effects rack on a hard drive" -- no wiring required. Some uses are obvious, some go beyond the obvious, and new results are learned from experimenting. We asked LA-based engineer Jason LaRocca to share a few of his favorites. -- LzR
P-Popping plosives: When I get tracks from an artist or film/TV composer, sometimes there are a few things that need a little help beyond the usual eq and compression plug-in to get the track into shape...
Read more in the May 2013 issue of RECORDING!
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Recording Fundamentals. Chapter 17: Sweet Spot Conundrums -- Part 4
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Written by
Eric Ferguson
Recording Fundamentals. Chapter 17: Sweet Spot Conundrums -- Part 4 |
Written by
Eric Ferguson
Sometimes, despite everything we've discussed in the last few months, you're stuck making the best of the room you have. But all is not lost if you follow these nine handy guidelines!
An unbiased listening environment is a c......Expand
Sometimes, despite everything we've discussed in the last few months, you're stuck making the best of the room you have. But all is not lost if you follow these nine handy guidelines!
An unbiased listening environment is a critical element in audio production. In order to confidently make important balance and tonality decisions, engineers need to know that what they are hearing effectively translates to other real-world listening locations. This notion lies at the heart of studio monitor and control room acoustic design. "Flatness" is the stated goal, and an ideal mix space is completely neutral, with a flat frequency response that in no way prejudices engineering decisions.
Of course, a flat room is nearly impossible to achieve, and for the last five months this column has investigated monitor and control-room issues, pointing out repeatedly the conundrums and compromises inherent in these imperfect beasts. The simple truth is that unless you possess a ton of money to build a room from the ground up and consult with an expert on treatment, your sweet spot will probably not be flat. Thus most of us must settle for imperfect workspaces chock-full of standing waves, reflections, comb filtering, and less-than-ideal loudspeakers. It is a reality that most mixes are created in misleading environments. Mix decisions will be biased.
So how does one overcome debilitating acoustic conditions? Can good mixes be made in a home or project studio? Can a recording made in an untreated control room compete with one produced in a million-dollar super studio? Yes, yes, yes! There is hope for the rest of us. The following nine tips are time-proven mix tactics. Whether you are mixing in a bedroom, closet, garage, dorm room, or pro facility, these methods will help you overcome your studio and produce content that translates to the outside world...
Read more in the May 2013 issue of RECORDING!
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Fade Out
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Written by
Mike Metlay
Fade Out |
Written by
Mike Metlay
Marrying For Love.
I'd like to take the last page of this issue on vocal recording to talk about a subject that is near and dear to my heart: the perfect match that leads to a long and happy marriage. I'm not talking about t......Expand
Marrying For Love.
I'd like to take the last page of this issue on vocal recording to talk about a subject that is near and dear to my heart: the perfect match that leads to a long and happy marriage. I'm not talking about two people in this case, however... I'm talking about a singer and a microphone.
The relationship between a particular voice and a particular mic can be the stuff of legend. Many of our readers will have heard the story of country music singer Dolly Parton, who during her tenure with RCA Records used a cheap old Electro-Voice RE15 dynamic mic that sounded so good on her voice that the mic was locked in a safe when she wasn't using it. While you may never experience a hookup with that level of mythic status, it can benefit you to take note of when the magic happens so you can take advantage of it the next time. This is especially important when working with clients whom you know will be using your studio again and again, not to mention recording your own vocals...
Read more in the May 2013 issue of RECORDING!
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