Such is the case with this recent Tech Tip from Sweetwater. There is absolute GOLD in these two paragraphs. Read them carefully. Then read them again.

For a double value, print them out and tape them over your lava lamp. Tada! Great mixing advice and protection from the looming lava lamp conspiracy!

Want to do a final check of the relative balances between tracks in your mix? Turn the volume way down to where you can barely hear it. Now, listen. Can you still hear all the tracks? Is the vocal clearly audible? Is anything jumping out? Anything you can’t hear?

Assuming your monitors are neutral and that your room is reasonably acoustically neutral (and you know both well), this low-level listening test will tell you volumes (no pun intended) about how your mix will hold up at normal listening levels and at high levels.

Go forth and mix!

Turn Down Your Mix For Validation is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

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“What are your favorite free reverb plugins?”

Ahhh…FREEeeee…music to a musician’s ears.

It wasn’t that long ago that is was hard to find a good paid reverb plugin (for Pro Tools 7 anyway).

Now there are several free ones, and some are quite good.

NUMBER ONE

One of my favorites is Ambience. A lot of folks consider this as good as a commercial plugin. Although free (donation ware actually), it does have a nag screen. If you donate any amount to the author he’ll send you a version without the nag screen.

Formats: Windows VST – Mac OS X Universal AU – Mac OS X PowerPC VST – Mac OS 9 PowerPC VST

NUMBER TWO

Another big favorite among the freebies is GlaceVerb.

This is Dasample’s first attempt to implement its works on Residual Vector Modulation (RVM) in a VST plug-in. RVM is a proprietary algorithm developed to calculate the deformations, the vibrations and the acoustic response of surfaces and materials.

Imagine a big orchestra playing in a giant box built with thin metal sheets. As the panels are not very rigid, the box will vibrate according to the energy of music and produce an audible spectral deformation. RVM algorithm is able to simulate such deformations and vibrations and apply them to the original signal.

Formats: Windows VST

NUMBER THREE

Here’s a free one that works on Windows and Mac OS X called KR-Reverb FS.

It you some nice controls without overcrowding the plug-in with gobs o’ knobs. The graphing and room visualizations are a nice touch that make it that much easier to use.

Formats: Windows VST – Mac OS X AU – Mac OS X VST – Windows VST

NUMBER FOUR

MdspDuckVerb throws an interesting twist into the mix.

It will compress the reverb output whenever there’s a certain level of signal from the sound source. What this means is that sounds that can become unintelligible with regular reverb retain their legibility instead of being washed over with reverberation as they get louder. Very handy, especially for vocals.

Formats: Mac OS X VST Universal – Windows VST

HONORABLE MENTION

This one is here because it is NOT free, but VERY nicely priced at just $39.00.

It’s ADverb from Audio Damage (formerly known as Reverence), a nice plate reverb.

Here’s the description from the developer’s site:

ADverb is a plate reverb simulation inspired by vintage digital hardware. It faithfully recreates the thick sonic character and easy-to-use interface of those early units, while providing the low noise floor and big headroom inherent in modern software-based reverb.

Perfect for synths, vocals, and guitar, ADverb is also capable of creating the unusual effects that are typical of vintage hardware units. Featuring a sophisticated and well-tuned reverb algorithm, ADverb has a much lower CPU load than convolution reverbs, and can be used as either a send or insert effect.

Formats: Mac OS X VST – Mac OS X AU – Windows VST

How about it? What are some of your favorite free reverb plugins? Leave a comment and let me know!

Ask Big Al: Favorite FREEeeee Reverb Plugins? is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

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While that may be the ultimate solution in portable vocal booths, there are other approaches.

Here’s one of those approaches as posted over at Instructables.com
:

In this tutorial we will make a DIY portable mini vocal booth that can be used to record your voice on the road (on a flash disc recorder). But there’s more that can be done with this easy to make project.

You can cancel background noise when doing Foley recordings in your project or home studio, or have a portable mini dead room, ideal for specialized field recording.

The DIY Portable Mini Vocal Booth is ideal for podcasters, DIY filmakers and sound designers alike. My personal motivation to build this, was a desire to have a mobile mini deadroom to make foley recordings and recordings for my music.

For full instructions, see the original posting here.

How To Build A Portable Mini Vocal Booth is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

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bx_cleansweep V2 is a 2-band EQ offering their new “AntiCrush” 6dB HP & LP filters (hi-pass and lo-pass). These filters are taken from their critically acclaimed mastering EQ bx_digital and have been modeled after analog 1st order filters.

bx_cleansweep V2 is now available for FREE in TDM, RTAS, AS, AU & VST (2.4 & 3.0) formats!

bx_cleansweep V2 is a latency free EQ for recording and mixing purposes, offering the 2 filters that can be found on all the BIG analog consoles only, to clean out all your signals. Joystick control, 4 settings, copy-paste-reset, gain control and phase reverse make this little helper a great add-on for your EQ collection.

Click here to get it now.

Did I mention that it’s FREEeeee?!

Brainworx Releases New Freeware EQ Plugin – bx_cleansweep V2 is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

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He has an interesting suggestion for another configuration using a different Mac Mini model than in my example in this previous post.

In the not too distant past Apple introduced a Mac Mini Server.

It eliminates the DVD drive in favor of housing two hard drives, comes with Snow Leopard Server installed and 4 Gigs of RAM right out of the gate. It also has the larger 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo processor.

Steve’s idea is to remove the system drive (one of two 500 Gig internal drives) and install the OWC Mercury Extreme Enterprise Class SSD 100GB SATA 3.0GB/s Solid-State Drive in it’s place. Then you’d have a speed demon of a system drive and a second internal drive with which to record and mix your tracks, all in one little enclosure.

Nice idea Steve! Hmmmm…

Let’s look at how the price compares to our last example.

In Steve’s configuration we don’t have to buy the extra RAM and we don’t need a second, external drive, so there are some savings there. Here’s the break down.

And here’s the breakdown of my original idea…

Steve’s machine would certainly be a tough little workhorse. I will point out that with my configuration you’re also getting a second SSD with which to record and mix your tracks as well as a nice 23″ widescreen monitor – all for only $200 more.

Good on ya’ Steve for this killer idea for an alternative configuration!

An Alternative Mac Mini Powerhouse DAW Computer is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

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First the base computer.

The Mac Mini 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo: $599.00

This is the entry level dual-processor Mac Mini, but I think it’s more than enough (with a few choice upgrades) to do what we want with any modern DAW. I don’t think there’s enough return on investment to spend another $200.00 to move up the Mac Mini 2.53GHz. However, if money is not that much of a consideration, apply the Big Al Rule Of Gear Acquisition, “You’ll rarely be disappointed when you buy the best.”

Next, the upgrades.

Additional 2 Gigs of RAM from MacSales.com (OWC): $57.99

Now, here’s the kicker that I think makes this REALLY go over the top…

OWC Mercury Extreme Enterprise Class SSD 100GB SATA 3.0GB/s Solid-State Drive – 100 Gigs: $399.99

This is a solid state drive that is offered in the 2.5″ form factor that slides right into the Mini, and it’s a DOOZY of a performer.

As you may know, solid state drives are pure silicon, no moving parts (no noise either). And, because of that, they’re FAST (over 260MB/s)!

Just for giggles, let’s add an external Firewire 800 solid state drive for recording and mixing our tracks.

OWC Mercury Elite-AL Pro mini 50GB Enterprise Class SSD – 50 Gigs: $299.00

This drive doesn’t need to be so large as we’ll only being working on current projects on it. We’ll save currently inactive projects to a less expensive USB external drive.

How about a really cool monitor that gives you a nice loooong timeline to work with in your edit window?

HP W2338H 23-Inch Widescreen Monitor: $229.98

Imagine how little space this entire setup would take, and how little noise it would produce.

So, what’s our total?

Not bad for a SCREAMIN’ MEEMEE of a little machine with a nice big monitor!

Of course, the 100 Gig internal SSD isn’t necessary. If you’re recording to an external drive (like you always should), the stock 160 Gig, 5,400 RPM drive should work just fine.

You can also substitute a standard Firewire 400/800 external in place of the 50 Gig external SSD and still be fine (while saving about $180.00).

That would bring the cost of the whole standard setup down to just about $1,000.00.

But what fun would that be?

An Interesting Idea For A Powerhouse (Yet Affordable) Mac DAW Computer? is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

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This offer is apparently VEY popular and the authentication and download servers are running really, really. sloooow. Be patient, and keep trying!

Here’s the official rundown of this edition of Steven Slate Drums:

OVERVIEW:
Steven Slate Drums EX Contains 10 drumkits including the famous “Old Zep” kit (an authentic Led Zeppelin model recorded in a stone castle) as well as five hybrid kits, which use multiple layers of kicks and snare to acheive highly unique sounds.

This EX drum suite is the most complete digital drum suite on the market, conquering all your digital drum needs with an RTAS/VST/AU and standalone MIDI plugin, instant presets for all Roland VDrum Modules, hundreds of easy-to-use MIDI grooves in our unique SONG form.

KITS:

• Absolute Rock Kit
• All American Kit
• Chunky Rock Kit
• Classic Vintage Kit
• Cracky Metal Kit
• Nashville Fat Kit
• Old Zep Kit
• Old Zep Kit A
• Ringy Hit Kit
• Sizzle Kit

Hybrid Kits:

• Funky Dry Hybrid Kit
• Lazy Rock Hybrid kit
• Metal Hybrid Kit
• Slate’s Hybrid Kit
• Three Snare Rock Kit

EXPAND your EX:
As your drum needs expand, so can your Steven Slate Drums EX library! With six EX packs, add additional Steven Slate classic drum sounds for a very small price. You’ll also be able to access the famous modeled kits, as well as some well known samples used every day on top albums by the world’s best artists.

SAMPLES
At the heart of any drum library are the actual samples. Steven Slate has been called the master of drum sounds. In the early 2000’s his original drum sample disc was in high demand amongst many top Hollywood producers and mixers. By 2006, when he publicly released his first official drum sample disc, his sounds could already be heard in many top billboard hits. Today, the airwaves are filled with Steven’s samples, as used by top mixers such as Mike Shipley, Chris Lord-Alge, Dave Way, Jeff Juliano, Jay Baumgardner, and more!

Steven has recorded only the best drums, all tuned to perfection. Every drum and cymbal has been recorded first to two-inch tape, enhancing their unique rich sound. Every drum and cymbal was recorded with multiple velocities and multiple hits per velocity to ensure the most natural recreation. Then the samples were transferred to digital via high-end A/D converters at 24 bit/ 44.1kHz. The samples were then processed by Steven Slate using some of the most classic analog gear from both past and present. The result are drums that sound like you’ve always dreamed of, with punchy transients and smooth decays. By listening to the audio demos on the homepage, its easy to hear why many pros call Steven’s samples the very best sounding digital drums available.

SSD VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT
The SSD Virtual Instrument, powered by Kontakt Player 3, is a standalone or RTAS/VST/AU plug-in that is easy to use and integrate into your DAW environment. It contains both maps for keyboard and a universal mapping for Roland V drums. With its custom velocity and remapping features, users can also customize their own maps.

New in version 3.5 is the “Advanced AMG” anti-machine gun mode for more realistic fills. This new algorithm is physically modeled to sound like a real drummer, playing real drums. Advanced AMG lets drums to play with an extreme amount of realism as well as detailed response and sensitivity.

MODELED KITS
While you’ll probably find many of the drumkits on Steven Slate Drums are reminscent of drumkits you’ve heard from various bands over the years, thirteen kits have been authentically modeled for a sound so close, you’ll think it’s the real thing! The initial EX pack contains the now famous Old Zep kit, modeled after the classic sound of Led Zeppelin. Upgrading with EX expansions lets users add all of the modeled kits, including: Steely Dan, Motley Crue, Metallica, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Dream Theater. Keep in mind, these drumkits model the finalized mixed sounds that you have become familiar with, not just raw recordings of the drummer’s kits.

ROOM MICS
The Steven Slate Drums collection contains two unique sounding sets of room mics. The first set is from a large warehouse with concrete walls. These room mics were processed with heavy doses of compression, EQ, and even modulation to create a larger then life, deep, wide, expressive room sound.

The drums were then sampled in the famous NRG Recording Studio A, known for being one of the top drum rooms in Los Angeles. It’s been home to bands such as Linkin Park, Foo Fighters, Deadsy and more rockin’ bands who frequently refer to each other as “dude” and “bro”. The room mics have been left unprocessed and contain the signature depth and space of this beautiful sounding room.

Click here to visit AudioMidi.com

Get Steven Slate Drums EX For Just 20 Bucks! is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

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Ronan C. Murphy

He’s a great engineer/producer and has a great video podcast, Ronan’s Recording Show.

He also conducts the famous Home Recording Bootcamp all over the globe.

I found Ronan’s list of Aphorisms Of Recording, and immediately thought to myself, “What the @$&* is an ‘aphorism’? Is that anything like a ‘trueism’?”

Interwebs to the rescue! (Dictionary.com)

aph·o·rism (āf’ə-rĭz’əm)
n.

1. A tersely phrased statement of a truth or opinion; an adage.
2. A brief statement of a principle.

Well, I was close.

Here’s what Ronan has to say about the genesis of this list of adages…

“I began writing this collection of Aphorisms while living in England working on several King Crimson albums with Robert Fripp. Robert had written a large collection of aphorisms about art and life and I decided to write a collection that focused on recording.”

Without further ado…here they are. Definitely pearls of studio wisdom.

• There is no such thing as over-production, only appropriate and inappropriate production.
• Emulation is always a compromise.
• The only endearing elements of emulation are found within the artifacts of its failure.
• The quality of a recording is governed by the performance.
• Sometimes people who know less than you about making records are right.
• There is often an inverse relationship between the sound quality of a pop rock mix and the number of times over 2 the drummer strikes the snare drum per bar.
• The sound of a mix is seldom the most important element.
• Snare drums that ring are pitched instruments. Just like flutes.
• The abstention of studio effects is an effect.
• Guitars over-driven from digital racks or amp emulators will dominate or be submissive to the group. There is seldom a middle ground.
• Great records are made by great people, not great studios.
• If you don’t have the answer to a recording dilemma, the music probably does.
• If the music does not have the answer it is probably not music.
• What you can throw away is often more important than what you can add.
• The factual integrity of a recording decreases exponentially with every mic and tape track used
• There is always a producer(s) on a record.
• Some of the records you loved when you were younger sound horrible and you never noticed.
• You are making the soundtrack to some one else’s life.
• If you require academics to defend your music, you have already lost Music as an ally.
• Recordings without goals usually go no where. Recordings with goals rarely go where you plan, but they get there.
• Good “composition” does not always result in good music.
• Many people mistake “drums sounds” for “production”
• The fact that the “CD” can hold over 73 minutes of music does not mean that the “album” wants to.
• The general pubic thinks records by famous people sound better then those by non-famous people.
• Perfect recordings seldom make for perfect records.
• Production and adding effects are not synonymous.
• Sometimes not participating is the greatest contribution you can make
• A good producer knows that sometimes going away is a contribution.
• Appropriate production is bringing to the project what it needs, clearing away what it doesn’t, and not touching the rest.
• The question “Why?” should be asked before “How?” or “When?”.
• The music is more important than any one in the studio.

While we’re at it, here’s the latest episode of Ronan’s Recording Show as of the date of this post:

Ronan C. Murphy’s Aphorisms On Recording is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

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Now they have a companion DIY project for making a suspension-style shock mount for it. I’ll bet it would fit a few other mics as well! Have a look and enjoy giving it a try if it strikes your fancy.

DIY Suspension-Style Microphone Shock Mount is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

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