Archives
September 2008
THIS MONTH: SEPTEMBER 2008
The human voice is the most recognizable, and many would argue the most critical, source in all of music. If you get the vocal wrong, everything else could be perfect and it wouldn’t matter. Scary stuff... but not once you’ve absorbed an entire issue full of wisdom from studio owners, educators, engineers, and singer/songwriters on maximizing your vocal tracks. We offer articles on everything from getting a vocal to sound “in your face” and tricks for effects and mixing that make voices stand out, to how loudness affects eq and what recording vocals in surround sounds like.
All this plus cool reviews, our monthly columns, Readers’ Tapes with Marty Peters (now online), and much more! Don’t miss it!
Zoom H2 Handy Recorder
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Reviewed by
John Rossi III
Zoom H2 Handy Recorder |
Reviewed by
John Rossi III
Handy indeed—it’s a field recorder, and an audio interface, and it records in surround!
Handy indeed—it’s a field recorder, and an audio interface, and it records in surround!
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TC-Helicon VoiceTone Pedals
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Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr. and Mike Metlay
TC-Helicon VoiceTone Pedals |
Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr. and Mike Metlay
Stomp boxes for the vocalist to correct, effect, and double at will. Plus a quick look at two brand-new harmony pedals!
Stomp boxes for the vocalist to correct, effect, and double at will. Plus a quick look at two brand-new harmony pedals!
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Placid Audio Copperphone
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Reviewed by
Justin Peacock
Placid Audio Copperphone |
Reviewed by
Justin Peacock
A marvelous handmade mic that sounds as distinctive as it looks.
A marvelous handmade mic that sounds as distinctive as it looks.
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Reviewed and Revisited
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Reviewed by
Giles Reaves
Reviewed and Revisited |
Reviewed by
Giles Reaves
New features in Propellerhead Reason 4.
New features in Propellerhead Reason 4.
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Once Over—Reviews in Brief
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Reviewed by
Nick Casares and Mike Metlay
Once Over—Reviews in Brief |
Reviewed by
Nick Casares and Mike Metlay
Samson CL2 Microphone Kit; M-Audio Studiophile Q40 headphones.
Samson CL2 Microphone Kit; M-Audio Studiophile Q40 headphones.
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Plug-in Outlet
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Reviewed by
Devon Brent
Plug-in Outlet |
Reviewed by
Devon Brent
Recording’s Showcase of Sounds
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Reviewed by
Devon Brent, Michael Nickolas, and Mike Metlay
Recording’s Showcase of Sounds |
Reviewed by
Devon Brent, Michael Nickolas, and Mike Metlay
Rob Papen Predator; Big Fish Audio Suite Grooves; CoolSFX Twisted Reality.
Rob Papen Predator; Big Fish Audio Suite Grooves; CoolSFX Twisted Reality.
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Sneak Preview: The Event Opal
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Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
Sneak Preview: The Event Opal |
Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
A first look at Event’s new no-holds-barred studio monitor.
A first look at Event’s new no-holds-barred studio monitor.
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Frank Wright on Voices In Your Studio
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Interviewed by
Lorenz Rychner
Frank Wright on Voices In Your Studio |
Interviewed by
Lorenz Rychner
The owner of California Sound Studios walks us through a variety of vocal sessions.
The owner of California Sound Studios walks us through a variety of vocal sessions.
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Laurence Juber Records Al Stewart
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Interviewed by
Lorenz Rychner
Laurence Juber Records Al Stewart |
Interviewed by
Lorenz Rychner
Capturing one of the pop world’s most distinctive voices for the new album Sparks of Ancient Light.
Capturing one of the pop world’s most distinctive voices for the new album Sparks of Ancient Light.
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Voices in Surround
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Interviewed by
Lorenz Rychner
Voices in Surround |
Interviewed by
Lorenz Rychner
Mark Waldrep of AIX Records discusses capturing the perfect vocal in a multi-mic, one-take recording session—with singer and band performing at once.
Mark Waldrep of AIX Records discusses capturing the perfect vocal in a multi-mic, one-take recording session—with singer and band performing at once.
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The In-Yer-Face Vocal
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Written by
Alex Case
The In-Yer-Face Vocal |
Written by
Alex Case
There’s a science to the art of putting a vocal where it can’t be ignored.
There’s a science to the art of putting a vocal where it can’t be ignored.
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The Equal Loudness Contours
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Written by
Alex Case
The Equal Loudness Contours |
Written by
Alex Case
Your ears act as a dynamically controlled eq... but you can learn to work with them.
Your ears act as a dynamically controlled eq... but you can learn to work with them.
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Mixing Vocals—The Basics
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Written by
David Alexander
Mixing Vocals—The Basics |
Written by
David Alexander
A primer on getting your vocal tracks to sit well in your mix.
A primer on getting your vocal tracks to sit well in your mix.
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Mizz Lear’s Vocal Treatments
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Written by
Celeste Lear
Mizz Lear’s Vocal Treatments |
Written by
Celeste Lear
A singer/songwriter/producer shares her secrets for standout vocals.
A singer/songwriter/producer shares her secrets for standout vocals.
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The Best of Both Worlds
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Written by
Rick Barrio Dill
The Best of Both Worlds |
Written by
Rick Barrio Dill
Part 3 of our series on cross-genre production tricks brings electronica’s vocoder and talkbox effects into a funk/rock setting.
Part 3 of our series on cross-genre production tricks brings electronica’s vocoder and talkbox effects into a funk/rock setting.
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Recording’s Drum Column
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Written by
Marc Urselli
Recording’s Drum Column |
Written by
Marc Urselli
Major-studio miking techniques, and how to scale them down to your rig.
Major-studio miking techniques, and how to scale them down to your rig.
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DAW Details
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Written by
Bob Emmet
DAW Details |
Written by
Bob Emmet
Optimizing your DAW for peak performance—a little cleanup goes a long way.
Optimizing your DAW for peak performance—a little cleanup goes a long way.
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Song Production in Pro Tools Part 9: Mixing Drums
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Written by
Mark Hornsby
Song Production in Pro Tools Part 9: Mixing Drums |
Written by
Mark Hornsby
It’s time to mix... and a good mix starts with a solid rhythm bed.
It’s time to mix... and a good mix starts with a solid rhythm bed.
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Recording’s Bass Column
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Written by
Dave Martin
Recording’s Bass Column |
Written by
Dave Martin
In Part 1 of a series of looks at famous bass tracks, we meet the man and the bass behind “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours”.
In Part 1 of a series of looks at famous bass tracks, we meet the man and the bass behind “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours”.
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