Archives
February 2012
February's issue of RECORDING delves into a topic that is of the upmost importance to recording musicians -- capturing the perfect vocal. Even a relatively weak instrumental arrangement can soar with the right vocal, but a poorly performed or recorded vocal can sink the tastiest track. So get your vocals right with the help of this month's RECORDING!
We bring you four stellar articles on getting the best possible vocals. Grammy-winning songwriter/producer Sebastian Arocha Morton gives us a revealing interview in which he walks readers through the process of matching a song to a singer and assuring that his work is given the best possible presentation. Sean Shannon's Mixing Workshop returns with a segment on mixing your vocals for maximum impact. Bob Emmet explains how to work within a small home studio to get a big-studio vocal sound. And Frank Gryner finds inspiration and impeccable advice to would-be vocal recordists in the unlikeliest of places...
And that's not all! In a very special dual interview, we look at the past and the future of New York's famed Electric Lady Studios, through the eyes of legendary engineer Eddie Kramer and Grammy-winning mixmeister Michael Brauer, who's garnered fame and won awards for his work with Coldplay, John Mayer, Colbie Caillat, My Morning Jacket, Birds of Tokyo, Tony Bennett, and many others.
If you're looking for great vocal-recording gear, the reviews in this issue will put a big smile on your face -- and an even bigger smile on your vocalist's! Check out amazing mics from Earthworks, KEL Audio, Lewitt Audio, and RODE, as well as the amazing Lineage preamp from Harrison and new mic-friendly audio interfaces from M-Audio and Apogee.
Software, soundware, plug-in, and app reviews from Cakewalk, Steinberg, McDSP, and many others round out this phenomenal issue, along with Readers' Tapes with Marty Peters, our monthly columns, a look at the TAXI Road Rally, and more. If you've got world-beating vocals on your mind, or you're just curious about the best and the brightest in recording's glorious history and bright future, you can't miss the February 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 Audio LCT 640 Condenser Microphone
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Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
Lewitt Audio LCT 640 Condenser Microphone |
Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
A new name in mics brings out a remarkable, flexible performer.
Lewitt Audio is brand new microphone company that seamed to spring up out of nowhere at last year's NAMM show and hit the ground running with a complete product......Expand
A new name in mics brings out a remarkable, flexible performer.
Lewitt Audio is brand new microphone company that seamed to spring up out of nowhere at last year's NAMM show and hit the ground running with a complete product line of dynamic, condenser, and even wireless microphones for both studio and stage. Lewitt microphones are both designed and headquartered in Austria and then manufactured in China.
For this review I was sent the flagship of the Lewitt studio line, the Authentica LCT 640, which comes as part of a kit in a black aluminum carrying case with the microphone, shock mount and a foam windscreen inside.
The first thing you notice about the 640 is that, unlike products of many of the newer start-up companies using overseas factories, this is not another Asian "catalog" piece that shares a body or look with anything else on the market.
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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Kel Audio Song Sparrow Condenser Microphone
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Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
Kel Audio Song Sparrow Condenser Microphone |
Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
This mic's unique tonality helps a variety of vocals to truly sing.
Based in Canada, Kel Audio is a back-to-basics company with a current lineup of five models, and, for the most part, each one is designed to do its own thin......Expand
This mic's unique tonality helps a variety of vocals to truly sing.
Based in Canada, Kel Audio is a back-to-basics company with a current lineup of five models, and, for the most part, each one is designed to do its own thing rather than follow any current or past trends.
What makes Kel slightly maverick in the world of budget mics is a simple yet better design philosophy. Instead of trying to mimic expensive classic mics as cheaply as possible with below-spec tubes, transformers and such, Kel chose to place as little in the signal path as possible, and what there is tends to be of better quality-for instance, WIMA film capacitors within a transformerless dual FET design.
Recently I was sent a trio of models for review: KEL's flagship HM-7U, a pair of the small-diaphragm, side-address HM-C3 mics, and the mic that we are looking at today, KEL's newest model-the vocal-centric Song Sparrow...
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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KRK Systems RP10-3 Powered MidField Studio Monitors
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Reviewed by
Lorenz Rychner
KRK Systems RP10-3 Powered MidField Studio Monitors |
Reviewed by
Lorenz Rychner
Larger rooms will benefit from the power and precision of these 3-way speakers.
By now there are four Rokit models, and the 10-3 under review is the latest and largest. All are powered, with similar features and looks, with ......Expand
Larger rooms will benefit from the power and precision of these 3-way speakers.
By now there are four Rokit models, and the 10-3 under review is the latest and largest. All are powered, with similar features and looks, with KRK's by now familiar yellow-on-black color scheme.
I can't remember having mid-field monitors of anything like this size in my room, and while I was looking forward to a different listening experience, I was glad to still have three nearfield monitor pairs to compare them with, since I figured that the sonic onslaught of this kind of cabinet may take some getting used to...
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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Harrison Lineage 8-Channel Microphone Preamp
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Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
Harrison Lineage 8-Channel Microphone Preamp |
Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
A famous console maker's preamp history, all in one box.
Harrison Consoles belongs to an exclusive pantheon of recording deities along with the likes of SSL, API and Neve. Their sound has fueled classic recordings as diverse......Expand
A famous console maker's preamp history, all in one box.
Harrison Consoles belongs to an exclusive pantheon of recording deities along with the likes of SSL, API and Neve. Their sound has fueled classic recordings as diverse as ABBA, Led Zeppelin, and of course Michael Jackson's Thriller. Still going strong today, Harrison boards are the backbone of many modern recording and post-production facilities.
Unlike the other abovementioned companies, Harrison has largely stayed away from the trend of opening up their classic boards and parting out modules from them-a trend which has created and fueled the current industry of à la carte mic pres, compressors, and eqs. For the past three decades the only way to get the Harrison sound was to get a Harrison console.
This changed just over a year ago when Harrison joined forces with Dan Kennedy at Great River Audio and brought to market a 500 Series version of the famous Harrison Series 32 eq (reviewed October 2011). This time Harrison themselves bring us a standalone mic preamp in a single 19" rack space unit. But with a history like Harrison's, we have to wonder -- which preamp? The MR series, the Series 10, the Series 12 or, the new Trion?
Answer: Yes! The aptly named Harrison Lineage is an 8-channel mic preamp consisting of a pair of channels from each one of the company's best known boards from the past three decades, as well as its current production model, the Trion...
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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M-Audio Fast Track C600 Audio Interface
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Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
M-Audio Fast Track C600 Audio Interface |
Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
Cool extras abound in this desktop audio production solution.
M-Audio's interfaces have always shown an understanding of what the computer-based recording musician really needs to have at hand while working, and have evolved......Expand
Cool extras abound in this desktop audio production solution.
M-Audio's interfaces have always shown an understanding of what the computer-based recording musician really needs to have at hand while working, and have evolved over the years to offer more comfort and convenience along with more power. Even something as simple as recognizing that most entry-level recordists don't rackmount their interfaces, and therefore replacing small front-panel knobs with big dials on the top of the interface case, shows M-Audio's focus on giving musicians what they need in a simple and elegant format.
The new Fast Track C Series interfaces continue that trend and add some interesting and worthwhile new tricks, going beyond inputs and outputs and offering a nearly complete set of interface tools for the small- to medium-sized home studio...
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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Earthworks SR40V Condenser Microphone
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Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
Earthworks SR40V Condenser Microphone |
Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
A handheld vocal mic with unheard-of clarity and range.
According to New Hampshire-based Earthworks Microphones, its new SR40V is the first and only High Definition Vocal Microphone in the world.
What's high d......Expand
A handheld vocal mic with unheard-of clarity and range.
According to New Hampshire-based Earthworks Microphones, its new SR40V is the first and only High Definition Vocal Microphone in the world.
What's high definition? Well, for starters, if you are unfamiliar with the Earthworks mics, the firm is world renowned for a mic line that is sonically accurate, honest, uncolored as well as highly unique looking. In many ways they are the "straight wire with gain" of mics.
Most of Earthwork's mics are pencil-sized variants on the pencil condenser. Typically they specialize in models built for capturing acoustic instruments from drums to piano to cello and beyond, and in many instances all with just one model (such as the SR20, which we'll take a look at in a future issue) that can go from vocals to kick drum with ease.
So back to the question, what is the world's only high definition vocal microphone?...
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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RODE Limited Edition Black Classic II Tube Condenser Microphone
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Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
RODE Limited Edition Black Classic II Tube Condenser Microphone |
Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
It's the end of the Classic II era, and this famous mic is going out with a bang.
RODE marks the end of production of its Classic and Classic II microphone with a limited edition, releasing just 500 units dressed in a classy......Expand
It's the end of the Classic II era, and this famous mic is going out with a bang.
RODE marks the end of production of its Classic and Classic II microphone with a limited edition, releasing just 500 units dressed in a classy matte black finish.
15 years ago, Australian microphone manufacturer RODE released a large-diaphragm, multi-pattern tube mic boldly dubbed The Classic. This was followed three years later by the Classic II, which featured improved noise specs and boasted all Australian made parts.
Both models were designed around the GE Jan-6072 tube, which made its name in mics such as AKG's C12. Those tubes were already scarce in 1996, when RØDE was lucky enough to procure a large (NOS) batch to meet production needs for the next decade and a half.
Now that time has come to an end, and RODE has chosen to end the run and retire the Classic line...
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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RECORDING's Showcase Of Sounds
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Reviewed by
Devon Brent
RECORDING's Showcase Of Sounds |
Reviewed by
Devon Brent
Cakewalk Z3TA+ 2.
Z3TA+ is an old soul in the VST world. It was originally released in late 2002 by a small company called rgc:audio. Shortly thereafter, in 2005, Cakewalk came along and bought the company. While the origina......Expand
Cakewalk Z3TA+ 2.
Z3TA+ is an old soul in the VST world. It was originally released in late 2002 by a small company called rgc:audio. Shortly thereafter, in 2005, Cakewalk came along and bought the company. While the original rgc:audio plug-ins were still available from Cakewalk, hope for its successor, or at least for a 64-bit refresh, after so many years of no news, seemed slim. Thankfully, Cakewalk didn't let this prized possession die on the vine. Was the wait for a refresh worth it? Let's find out!...
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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Plug-In Outlet
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Reviewed by
Darwin Grosse
Plug-In Outlet |
Reviewed by
Darwin Grosse
McDSP 6030 Ultimate Compressor Suite.
McDSP is well known for its robust lineup of pro-level plug-ins; after many years of being a go-to house for TDM and RTAS offerings, the company recently released Audio Units versions of......Expand
McDSP 6030 Ultimate Compressor Suite.
McDSP is well known for its robust lineup of pro-level plug-ins; after many years of being a go-to house for TDM and RTAS offerings, the company recently released Audio Units versions of many of its plug-ins, so non-Pro Tools folks could enjoy their sonic benefits. One such recent addition is the 6030 Ultimate Compressor, which looks like a set of API 500-series modules. They also look suspiciously like emulations, but each of the modules has its own unique personality -- sometimes informed by vintage compressors, but always tweaked by McDSP's plug-in ninjas.
This collection is sort of a "post-emulation" group, since some of the most compelling compressor models eschew typical modeling to take recording and mixing functions to a higher level. How effectively this works depends on what you think of McDSP's ability to perform. Sometimes the look of a plug-in is meant to trick you into hearing things a certain way; with minimal, and in some cases, non-traditional, user interfaces, it's up to our ears to determine the value of this collection...
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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Reviewed and Revisited: Apogee Duet 2
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Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
Reviewed and Revisited: Apogee Duet 2 |
Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
The world-class portable interface gets a new look, new features, and new sound.
We first reviewed the Apogee Duet in our August 2008 issue. In that review, Nick Casares was very favorably impressed by the Duet, which at the......Expand
The world-class portable interface gets a new look, new features, and new sound.
We first reviewed the Apogee Duet in our August 2008 issue. In that review, Nick Casares was very favorably impressed by the Duet, which at the time represented Apogee's first foray into audio interfacing and conversion solutions that were both portable and affordable. Since that time, while Apogee has maintained its strong selection of high-end converters and interfaces, the Duet has stood at the top of a growing lineup of entry-level devices, including the GiO guitar input/foot controller (reviewed January 2010) and the UNO ultra-portable USB mic/interface (reviewed December 2010).
The Duet 2 represents a significant change to the original Duet design, adding a lot and changing a lot... well worth another look....
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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iOS Music Tools: DAWs From Laptop To Pocket
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Reviewed by
Devon Brent and Mike Metlay
iOS Music Tools: DAWs From Laptop To Pocket |
Reviewed by
Devon Brent and Mike Metlay
Image-Line FL Studio and XT Software energyXT are well-known computer music applications; we check out how they've migrated to the iOS platform.
It's a tough question. What does it mean to have a "mobile" version of a well-k......Expand
Image-Line FL Studio and XT Software energyXT are well-known computer music applications; we check out how they've migrated to the iOS platform.
It's a tough question. What does it mean to have a "mobile" version of a well-known DAW for the PC or Mac? We took a look at GarageBand for iOS (which now works on the iPhone and iPod touch as well as the iPad) in our November 2011 issue; now we'll look at the iOS products from two other well-respected DAW makers and see how they measure up...
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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Electric Lady Connections
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Interviewed by
Fernando Curiel with Lorenz Rychner
Electric Lady Connections |
Interviewed by
Fernando Curiel with Lorenz Rychner
The iconic New York studio has hosted a multitude of success stories, old and new. We interview designer John Storyk, Hendrix/Zep engineer Eddie Kramer, and modern mixmeister Michael H. Brauer about old memories and modern mix techniques to be fou......Expand
The iconic New York studio has hosted a multitude of success stories, old and new. We interview designer John Storyk, Hendrix/Zep engineer Eddie Kramer, and modern mixmeister Michael H. Brauer about old memories and modern mix techniques to be found in Electric Lady.
The name Electric Lady Studios has long had a fascination well beyond the inner circles of the audio industry. Of the many illustrous names connected with Electric Lady, the famed studio in lower Manhattan, New York, we're bringing you interviews with two engineers who, each in his own time, have become household names among audio people and musicians. The "Then" is represented by Eddie Kramer, who mostly talks about his background before he and Jimi Hendrix began working at Electric Lady. The "Now" is represented by miximg engineer Michael Brauer who currently occupies Studio B at Electric Lady...
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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Sebastian Arocha Morton: The Singer and The Song -- Going For The Perfect Match
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Interviewed by
Lorenz Rychner
Sebastian Arocha Morton: The Singer and The Song -- Going For The Perfect Match |
Interviewed by
Lorenz Rychner
The award-winning producer/songwriter gets down to the nitty-gritty of lining up the right voice, the right song, the right gear, and the right technique to create magic.
RECORDING: It's your project, your song, and now you ......Expand
The award-winning producer/songwriter gets down to the nitty-gritty of lining up the right voice, the right song, the right gear, and the right technique to create magic.
RECORDING: It's your project, your song, and now you need a singer. Where and how do you find the right one?
Sebastian Arocha Morton: Once the songwriting stage of the process is complete, I'll live with the song for a day or so and decide what type of singer fits best. I'll usually know if it should be male or female, and judging by some of my production choices, what genre I'm aiming for.
I'll usually start by calling singers I've worked with in the past whom I trust. If none of those people fit my vision for the song, I'll seek out people I've discovered or heard on other people's songs, demos sent to me, or just surfing the web. Sometimes I'll send a producer colleague or manager an email asking for recommendations...
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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The Mixing Workshop: Tips For Mixing Vocals
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Written by
Sean Shannon
The Mixing Workshop: Tips For Mixing Vocals |
Written by
Sean Shannon
A great mix of a great vocal can help a track shine the way it should. Here's a step-by-step look at the tricks you'll need to know.
The vocal is arguably the most important element of a mix. The ear focuses on the vocals, a......Expand
A great mix of a great vocal can help a track shine the way it should. Here's a step-by-step look at the tricks you'll need to know.
The vocal is arguably the most important element of a mix. The ear focuses on the vocals, and the girls listen to the lyrics. Once the vocals are recorded and ready, how can you maximize their emotional impact?
Let's face it -- getting the vocal to sit just right in a mix is not easy. Sometimes it seems like the vocal track sounds so good, all you'll have to do is pull up the fader, and it should sound right. But many times (after getting the music track slammin'), "shoehorning" the vocal into the mix takes some creative engineering. Frequencies might pop out, "ouches" may hit you in the midrange when you turn the mix up, "sss's" may shear your hair off, "p's" may be a gut punch, and words and syllables may seem to jump out or get buried.
Styles of music may differ in the way you use levels and effects, but all have this in common: the listener must be able to hear and understand the words. Make the lyrics clear, and deliver a sound that brings the listener into the story, and you have a winner.
Here are some tips for working with vocals in a mix. Using the standard tools available in almost all DAWs and studios, we'll go through the process of getting the vocals balanced and sitting right in the mix...
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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Sing, Sing a Song: Recording Inexperienced Singers
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Written by
Frank Gryner
Sing, Sing a Song: Recording Inexperienced Singers |
Written by
Frank Gryner
Can Sesame Street really teach you all you need to know about getting a great vocal from a nervous singer? Read on.
Some of the best advice can come from the most unlikely places. The direction we need may have been under ou......Expand
Can Sesame Street really teach you all you need to know about getting a great vocal from a nervous singer? Read on.
Some of the best advice can come from the most unlikely places. The direction we need may have been under our noses the whole time.
When I was a kid, Sesame Street introduced me to the song "Sing", which first was a big hit for the Carpenters in 1973. These days, the message of this song may seem naive and simplistic, but it provides the answers to our quest for nabbing better vocals! There is something to be said for off-loading most of what we think we know, and to revert to a more child-like, innocent approach.
With the help of Joe Raposo's very familiar lyrics, I will guide us through the often daunting task of recording singers who may be shy on studio experience and high on nothing more than enthusiasm...
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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Stellar Singing From Small Studios
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Written by
Bob Emmet
Stellar Singing From Small Studios |
Written by
Bob Emmet
It's not easy to get a winning vocal recording in a small room, but it's not impossible either. Improve your odds with these easy and useful strategies.
So you've built up a nice little project studio somewhere in your home,......Expand
It's not easy to get a winning vocal recording in a small room, but it's not impossible either. Improve your odds with these easy and useful strategies.
So you've built up a nice little project studio somewhere in your home, and it's growing as fast as your Visa bill. You've also started to build a reputation as a pretty good engineer -- especially when it comes to capturing your own shredding. Now other people want you to help them with their projects, and they're willing to pay. You can play guitar for them, chop up drum loops like a master DJ, and tweak keyboard pads until they're cinema-worthy. But when it comes to the all-important vocal parts, your clients are happy to do this at home with a $79 mic and five-year-old version of GarageBand?
It doesn't have to be this way, but to earn trust and studio business from singers, you have to offer a combination of superior technology, solid engineering and often, a bit of coaching -- or at least a good vibe....
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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Recording Fundamentals. Chapter 2: Introduction To Audio -- Part One (What is Sound?)
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Written by
Eric Ferguson
Recording Fundamentals. Chapter 2: Introduction To Audio -- Part One (What is Sound?) |
Written by
Eric Ferguson
Making better recordings starts with an understanding of what sound is and how it works. It's time to take the mystery out of acoustics and make these concepts work for us!
Are you an audio newbie? Do you stare at a shiny ne......Expand
Making better recordings starts with an understanding of what sound is and how it works. It's time to take the mystery out of acoustics and make these concepts work for us!
Are you an audio newbie? Do you stare at a shiny new microphone, or at a screen full of confusing workstation windows, and wonder "What do I do first?" Or perhaps you've been at it for a while, not green, but a student of the recording arts, slowly improving your skills through experimentation, discussions with experts, and poring over written resources such as books or this magazine. No matter what your level of experience, you have undoubtedly heard a few common audio terms repeatedly tossed about: dB, phase, flat, SPL, etc. You may know what they stand for, as they are relatively simple in definition, and are used frequently in our field. There's a funny thing about fundamentals, though; no matter how deep your understanding of the basics, there is always more to learn about them. Regardless of skill level, audio engineers can benefit from reviewing the physics that lies at the heart of what we do...
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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Fade Out
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Written by
Brent Heintz
Fade Out |
Written by
Brent Heintz
Take A TAXI To The Top.
Last November, hundreds of aspiring songwriters and musicians descended upon the Westin Hotel in Los Angeles to attend the TAXI 2011 Road Rally. For 15 years now, Michael Laskow and his crew h......Expand
Take A TAXI To The Top.
Last November, hundreds of aspiring songwriters and musicians descended upon the Westin Hotel in Los Angeles to attend the TAXI 2011 Road Rally. For 15 years now, Michael Laskow and his crew have been gathering major- and indie-label A&R people, publishers, film and TV supervisors, not to mention artists, to help his TAXI members get on the road to success in our music-making industry.
Being a Road Rally Sponsor, and supplying paid subscriptions to its members, Recording has a long-standing relationship with the TAXI organization. You may not know this, but TAXI CEO Michael Laskow used to write our "Readers' Tapes" critiques, back in the day when musicians actually used cassette duplication services, and pined for an ADAT. In those days, everyone knew musicians with even marginal talent landed multi-million dollar record deals; clauses including cherry-colored Ferraris and Lear jets with fur-lined interiors...
Times have changed. No one at the Road Rally could afford to kid him- or herself; it takes a ton of dedication just to scratch out a living making music these days. To really make it in the music biz, Michael and Co. don't pull any punches: You need drive and determination; good isn't good enough. You need to become great...
Read more in the February 2012 issue of RECORDING!
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