Home Studio Corner

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Questions covered this week:

When you reference your mix on your "crap speakers",  are you listening to them with or without some sort of EQ?

Could you give some pointers/general principles about how to use reverb in a mix?

What would be some applications for use of a low pass filter?

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Questions covered this week:

How did you & Graham get to know each other and then start collaborating (Simply Recording Podcast, and then Dueling Mixes) as you live in Nashville and Graham lives in Florida?

Anyway, I'm finding that my vocals don't really meld with the rest of my mix. Like the vocal just kind of stands out, but not in a good way. Have you ever run into this?

How do you know when to stop?

Here's the link to that Dueling Mixes interview: www.transientmobile.com/dueling-mixes

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Wanna submit a question for the podcast? Go here: www.askjoegilder.com

Questions covered this week:

How do you turn down a sub-par client/band/project/etc. when you rely on your freelancing to pay bills?

I've been told I should put on dithering any time I mix down from 24 bit to 16 bit, but I still don't know what it is or what it does and I can't hear a difference. Can you explain this and if I should hear a difference?

I want to get into recording recitals to make some money and build a client base. Any tips on how to get started?

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Questions covered this week:

What are the advantages or disadvantages of using omni or figure eight microphones instead of cardioid mics?  When would I want to use an omni or a figure eight instead of a cardioid?

Do I have to go through a "burn in" period with new headphones and monitors so that they will reproduce audio more effectively?

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Questions covered this week:

Do I need a direct box going from my synths to say a digimax preamp or can I just use a male XLR to 1/4 cable?

I heard someone describe the difference between subtractive EQing and additive EQing - subtractive is corrective whereas additive is creative. Would you agree with that description?

You've mentioned some recent changes to your studio - what are they?

When mastering multiple tracks, do you prefer to use different reference tracks for each song, or use a reference track on the first song and then use the first song as a reference track for the next song?

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Questions covered this week:

You always say Get It Right At The Source, and that no amount of compression or EQ will fix a poor recording. Is this true with drum samples? Will a bad kick sample be as hopeless as a poorly recorded kick track?

How would you approach mixing vocals with a stereo backing track rather than having all the instruments on separate tracks?

How do I add harmony to some vocal tracks? Are there any tricks you've learned that could help? Any resources out there that you would recommend?

Whose job is it to determine the length of a song - the engineer or the mixer?

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Questions covered this week:

I plan on recording a banjo like an acoustic guitar. I didn't know if that's the "proper" or best sounding way to record it. Is a room mic needed, because there's no sound hole?

I'm currently in a square room (11 by 11), but I don't have the chance of putting up much acoustic treatment. Would I be better off using open back headphones or just putting up a small amount of acoustic treatment and use studio monitors? (Currently I'm just using a pair of krk 4600 closed back headphones to get my mixing done.)

Could you explain side chaining, what it is, and what it is used for?

I have been recording all of my guitars with an xy set up, and then doubling them with an additional xy guitar (each x and each y to their own mono track)   Would you go with an LCR approach for panning, like the body mic of each up the middle and the neck mice out the the left and right?  Do you thinks it would be better to keep one guitar all the to the left and the other the right?

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Check out Presonusphere 2013, happening on October 24-26, 2013 in Baton Rouge, LA!

Also, the new Understanding Mixing class starts today, if you're interested.

Wanna submit a question for the podcast? Go here: www.askjoegilder.com

Questions covered this week:

Looking for your insight on all this hullabaloo with matched or stereo pairs of microphones.  Does it really make a difference?

When did you switch to Studio One? And what was the reason?

When recording drum overheads in stereo, are there any advantages in using one stereo track vs two mono tracks?

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Wanna submit a question for the podcast? Go here: www.askjoegilder.com

Questions covered this week:

When performing vocals (in studio) what do you do to prepare? Is there anything you do to warm up vocally, drink a lot of water, etc.? Just curious what your steps are to a great vocal performance.

My last 3 mixes have come out too harsh and bright; but I don't hear it as harsh in my room. I know we are supposed to learn our speakers and all, but the difference from my speakers to the real world seems extreme. Is it just because I'm new to mixing and I just need to keep at it or would an upgrade in speakers from 3 inches to 5 inches help?

How do you approach mixing an album or EP?  Do you copy EQ settings? Mix all the songs in one project?

Do you or have you had a bias towards a certain instrument or voice when mixing? I'm a drummer and focus a lot on the bass. I often find one or the other or both can sometimes dominate a mix. Even after making adjustments to where I feel it's more balanced I think it's still a little heavy on the rhythm section. Maybe that's just my sound or maybe I need more practice. Just wondering if you've experienced the same thing and what may have helped. Maybe it was just practice.

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