by Jon Goad
For the uninitiated, “plugins” are the software effects that can be plugged in to your DAW recording software to add various effects or virtual MIDI instruments to your recordings. (more…)
Archive for August, 2009
Pondering the Price of Plugins
Thursday, August 27th, 2009Comfortably Drum – a Better Way to Set Up Your Drumkit
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009by Jon Goad
Playing drums is a physically-demanding activity, perhaps more so than playing any other musical instrument. A drummer will often be seated behind his kit for hours at a time for practicing, rehearsing, and performing. For this reason, it’s especially important to be comfortable when you play. One key that I’ve discovered to setting up my kit to make playing more comfortable is what I’ll call the “offset bass drum position”. (more…)
Choosing a Recording Studio
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
by Jon Goad
Choosing a studio for your recording project is not a decision to be taken lightly. Choosing the right studio can mean the difference between a shining success and a miserable failure of a project. Following the guidelines below can help you along in this all-too-important process. (more…)
Review: The Drum Recording Handbook
Monday, August 17th, 2009by Jon Goad
Most engineers will agree that the acoustic drumkit is the most difficult instrument to record and get a professional quality sound. It probably doesn’t help matters that I’m also a drummer, so I’m a tough customer to please. My drum recordings have gotten progressively better over time (thanks mostly to some helpful mixing tips and tricks), but I’m always looking for something to help take my recorded drum sounds to that elusive “next level”. (more…)
Review: Phonic Sonic Station 16 Mixer
Friday, August 14th, 2009by Jon Goad
I’ve wanted a new mixer for the last few years to use in my project studio and for occasional live gigs, but I’ve had a hard time choosing one. I wanted at least 16 channels with XLR inputs (on all 16 channels), 4 subgroups, at least 2 pre-fader Aux sends with balanced outputs (for monitor sends), built-in effects for a touch of reverb (so I don’t have to carry an additional rack unit), and at least 8 direct outputs for multi-track recording. And of course, I wanted all of this for a reasonable price (I’m not asking for much, huh?). (more…)
I Have the Power…but How Much Do I Need?
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009by Jon Goad
Introduction
When dealing with live sound systems, a common question that I have both asked and been asked over the years is, “How much power amp do I need to sufficiently power my speakers?” (more…)
Four Tips to Prepare for a Recording Session
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009by Jon Goad
If you want to make the most of a recording session, remember these four simple tips:
- Bring Your Equipment
- Maintain Your Equipment
- Practice in Advance
- Bring Printed Materials
An Overview of the Recording Process
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009
by Jon Goad
Introduction
If you’ve never recorded in a professional studio before, it will be helpful to familiarize yourself with the recording process before you ever step foot in the studio. From start to finish, the process of recording a song includes several steps:
- Pre-production
- Setup
- Tracking
- Mixing
- Mastering
Welcome to the Silent Sky Studios Blog
Monday, August 10th, 2009Welcome to the Silent Sky Studios Blog. I’ve been writing a series of articles for my recording studio website, and I decided it would be much easier to add new content on a regular basis by publishing these articles in a blog format instead. I hope you enjoy!