Stereomood (Playlist by Emotion) DIY Recording Studio Acoustic Panels Acoustic treatments are often used to help improve the acoustics of a room by taming "flutter echoes," "room modes," and other problems which arise from a room's dimensions and construction. Although a variety of treatments are available for commercial use, they tend to be quite expensive. After some research both online and in print, we came across several sources for DIY acoustic treatments using rigid fiberglass panels and simple frames. We can not take credit for this design, but have combined several people's ideas into a step-by-step guide. For more information, check out the good folks in the acoustics forum at recording.org
Glossary of Technical Terms for Sound and PA Engineers Audio Recording: Levels NOTICE: If you don't want to read any this or just don't care to understand it, there's a "dumbed down" version at the bottom. Let me get something out of the way here - I'm going to try to keep this very "fool proof" - I'm not trying to sound or present this very scientifically - This is just the rantings of hundreds and hundreds of posts on a dozen or more audio forums exploding like a volcano recorded with lots of headroom. I just hope to instill a basic understanding of why certain trends and common beliefs are just plain bad. And by the time you're done reading, and perhaps doing a little experimentation based on this, you won't need me to prove it. Is this a "miracle cure" for bad recordings? So, if you've been struggling with recordings that sound "weak" or "small" or too dense or "just not 'pro' enough" then please, read on. As a mastering engineer, I work on recordings from pretty much every level of experience. You're probably recording too hot. Are you seeing my point yet?
Making a Cello As I showed in the previous posting, the top and back have different archings – the top has a pronounced saddle, or flattening, in the middle. To understand why we have to take a brief detour into the land of acoustics. But one as seen through the eyes of a violinmaker – which is the difference between an engineer explaining the airplane you’re sitting in, cruising over the Atlantic four miles up, versus the guy with the tuna sandwich who was sitting out on the wing with a screwdriver an hour before you took off. Acoustics, like the instrument itself, is as much art as it is science; which means that when you get down to it, there’s as much theory as there is settled fact. So what follows is a combination of what I’ve been told and what I’ve read, seasoned by thirty-five years of trial and (ok, very occasionally) error and over seventy cellos (I suppose you could count the violins and violas, too; they work the same way). Let's begin with the basics: sound is the displacement of air.
- Tracking : Resource Library and More Information Look here for articles on applied recording techniques and mic placement. It all starts here! Acoustic Guitar Tracking the acoustic guitar is a huge subject, because so much contributes to the final sound—player, instrument, room acoustics, mic choice and placement, effects, and more. Here are some timeless articles with solid advice to get you started on developing your own acoustic recording toolbox. Electric Guitar The electric guitar is the central sound of rock music, and has influenced everything from blues and country to electronica. Bass Recording the bass can be as straightforward as a simple DI to the console or as complex as multiple mics on an acoustic bass fiddle or giant amp stack. Other Guitars The archtop, the dobro, the parlor guitar, the pedal steel—scary to the newcomer, each with its own challenges. Drums & Percussion Miking drums is an art form. Vocals The human voice is the most recognizable sound to the human brain. Horns & Woodwinds Piano Strings Psychology & Coaching
How Can I Set Up a Home Recording Studio on the Cheap? Dear Lifehacker, I want to start recording music at home but I don't have any equipment or software. I also don't really have any money. Is there a way I can get started without breaking the bank? Sincerely, Broke Musician Dear Broke, Definitely. A microphone An audio interfaceDigital Audio Workstation (DAW) softwareA digital keyboardStudio monitorsHeadphonesCables This list assumes, of course, that you already have a computer. The Microphone The microphone might be the most vital component of your home studio because the whole point of the studio is to record audio. If you can shell out a little more money for a standard mic (and the audio interface you'll need to connect it), you'll want to concentrate on condenser microphones with a cardioid pickup pattern. The Audio Interface The audio interface is what connects your mics and, potentially, instruments to your computer. DAW Software Digital Keyboard If you're getting something cheap, you should buy new. Studio Monitors Headphones Cables
How to Use a Noise Gate to Get Rid of Unwanted Noise in Your Audio Recordings Unfortunately, for musical composition you are going to have to pay for things if you want real quality. I'm not exactly sure what you want though; For notation you really need Finale or Sibelius, other free or shareware programs might be workable, but for full control over anything you are going to have to pay for the program. For real sounding instrument samples, I suggest either Reason or Logic. I would also suggest looking into an M-Audio box, for microphone capture, and a Midi controller for direct inputs from an electric piano. You can find basically all of that at M-Audio's website: [www.m-audio.com] Hope it helps! Are you looking for shareware/freeware or are you willing to pay? Try REAPER. I'm willing to pay something reasonable.