Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio


Book Description

Discover how to achieve release-quality mixes even in the smallest studios by applying power-user techniques from the world's most successful producers. Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio is the best-selling primer for small-studio enthusiasts who want chart-ready sonics in a hurry. Drawing on the back-room strategies of more than 160 famous names, this entertaining and down-to-earth guide leads you step-by-step through the entire mixing process. On the way, you'll unravel the mysteries of every type of mix processing, from simple EQ and compression through to advanced spectral dynamics and "fairy dust" effects. User-friendly explanations introduce technical concepts on a strictly need-to-know basis, while chapter summaries and assignments are perfect for school and college use. ▪ Learn the subtle editing, arrangement, and monitoring tactics which give industry insiders their competitive edge, and master the psychological tricks which protect you from all the biggest rookie mistakes. ▪ Find out where you don't need to spend money, as well as how to make a limited budget really count. ▪ Pick up tricks and tips from leading-edge engineers working on today's multi-platinum hits, including Derek "MixedByAli" Ali, Michael Brauer, Dylan "3D" Dresdow, Tom Elmhirst, Serban Ghenea, Jacquire King, the Lord-Alge brothers, Tony Maserati, Manny Marroquin, Noah "50" Shebib, Mark "Spike" Stent, DJ Swivel, Phil Tan, Andy Wallace, Young Guru, and many, many more... Now extensively expanded and updated, including new sections on mix-buss processing, mastering, and the latest advances in plug-in technology.




Recording Secrets for the Small Studio


Book Description

In this new edition, discover how to achieve commercial-grade recordings, even in the smallest studios, by applying power-user techniques from the world’s most successful producers. Recording Secrets for the Small Studio is based on the backroom strategies of more than 250 famous names. This thorough and down-to-earth guide leads you through a logical sequence of practical tasks to build your live-room skills progressively from the ground up, with user-friendly explanations that introduce technical concepts on a strictly need-to-know basis. On the way, you’ll unravel the mysteries of many specialist studio tactics and gain the confidence to tackle a full range of real-world recording situations. Specifically designed for small-studio enthusiasts, this book provides an intensive training course for those who want a fast track to releasing quality results, while the chapter summaries, assignments, and extensive online resources are perfect for school and college use. Learn the fundamental principles of mic technique that you can apply in any recording scenario – and how to avoid those rookie mistakes that all too often compromise the sonics of lower-budget productions. Explore advanced techniques which help industry insiders maintain their competitive edge even under the most adverse conditions: creative phase manipulation, improvised acoustics tweaks, inventive monitoring workarounds, and subtle psychological tricks. Find out where you don’t need to spend money, as well as how to make a limited budget really count. Make the best use of limited equipment and session time, especially in situations where you’re engineering and producing single-handed. Pick up tricks and tips from celebrated engineers and producers across the stylistic spectrum, including Steve Albini, Neal Avron, Roy Thomas Baker, Joe Barresi, Howard Benson, Tchad Blake, T-Bone Burnett, Geoff Emerick, Brian Eno, Paul Epworth, Shawn Everett, Humberto Gatica, Imogen Heap, Ross Hogarth, Trevor Horn, Rodney Jerkins, Leslie Ann Jones, Eddie Kramer, Jacquire King, Daniel Lanois, Sylvia Massy, Alan Meyerson, Justin Niebank, Gary Paczosa, Tony Platt, Jack Joseph Puig, David Reitzas, Bob Rock, Laura Sisk, Fraser T Smith, Young Guru, and many more. Now extensively expanded and updated, with new sections on contact mics, software instruments, squash mics, and ensemble depth distortion.




Secrets of Dance Music Production


Book Description

The Secrets of Dance Music Production pulls together all you need to take a mix from concept to club-ready master whether you make house or techno, 2-step or D&B, EDM or trance. Studio fundamentals: Synthesis and sampling; studio setup and monitor placement; EQ, ambience and compression all covered in detailed 101-style guides. The golden rules of mixing: Learn how the pros get loud, defined and dynamic mixes stacked with interest and energy. Essential techniques: Layering, frequency bracketing, lo-fi processing, bass splitting, vocal production, mastering... It's all inside. Up your writing chops: Compose inspired bass and toplines with kick-starter approaches to voicing, arpeggios, syncopation, killer chord progressions and more. Bigger beats: 50+ pages of rhythm-making insight. Masterclasses in drum sound design, transient shaping, swing crafting and ghost placement plus 30+ beats broken down. Get that sound: From vintage arps to supersize FX; ripping Reese basslines to stacked EDM leads; ethereal soundscapes to deep house keys - dozens of sounds built from the ground up in media-rich walkthroughs.




Audio Mastering Secrets


Book Description

The #1 Best Selling Audio Mastering Book for 2020 and 2019! If you're into audio engineering, this is a great music production book to add to your home recording studio collection. Packed with step-by-step proven methods. Audio Mastering Secrets is the first audio mastering books that focuses entirely on how to master audio to radio quality standards, all from the comfort of your home recording studio. No expensive gear required to get amazing results! Written by John Rogers of JR Mastering, this guide outlines (Step By Step) the techniques John has used to professionally master over 40,000 songs, since 1999. My book covers the following: This Book Is An 8.5 x 11 Learning Guide (184 pages) It focuses on how to master audio, how to become a great audio mastering engineer, and how not to be a bad one. I do not get into the specific brands of gear you should buy, the history of sound engineering, or 1,000's of compressor settings (of which maybe 40 you'll ever use). In this book I focus on mastering audio! Common Mastering Problems And Their Solutions In audio mastering, you will face common problems like a mix being too thin, tinny, distorted, over-saturated, muddy, or not bright enough. Sometimes you can't get the song loud enough, boomy enough, no separation, too much bass, no sparkle, and many other problems. I explain in detail which effects processors to use and their exact settings to solve these common problems. This is a great tool to refer back to when needed. My Step-By-Step Audio Mastering Session You will learn the 18 steps I take in the audio mastering process. From importing your file, down to loudness maximization and finally exporting a perfectly mastered song! This Entire Book Is Based On Real-World Experiences Not on theory, what I learned in school, or what I heard from some other engineer. I teach from real world experiences with satisfied clients. Mastering Different Genres Here s where I break down the sonic qualities of sixteen different genres. How much brightness, bass, boominess, compression, etc., you re trying to achieve for each genre. And several tips on what clients are looking for. My Audio Mastering Laws In this section, I cover a series of dos, do nots, and facts that basically apply to all audio mastering jobs regardless of genre. I also cover several pitfalls you will experience (just like I did) as an audio mastering engineer, and how to get through them. Setting Up You're Listening Environment In this section I cover calibrating your speakers, learning your speakers, speaker placement and room size. And, the myth about soundproofing your room. The Effects Processors Used In Audio Mastering The basics of what they all do, how to use them, when to use them, and my initial settings templates. This Book Is A Very Easy Read I left out all the high-tech jargon and rarely used words that slow down sentence flow. And Much More! In a matters of weeks, you can learn all of the audio mastering secrets, tips, and techniques that took me over 19 years to learn!




Audio Production Tips


Book Description

Audio Production Tips: Getting the Sound Right at the Source provides practical and accessible information detailing the production processes for recording today’s bands. By demonstrating how to "get the sound right at the source," author Peter Dowsett lays the appropriate framework to discuss the technical requirements of optimizing the sound of a source. Through its coverage of critical listening, pre-production, arrangement, drum tuning, gain staging and many other areas of music production, Audio Production Tips allows you to build the wide array of skills that apply to the creative process of music production. Broken into two parts, the book first presents foundational concepts followed by more specific production advice on a range of instruments. Key features: Important in-depth coverage of music theory, arrangement and its applications. Real life examples with key references to the author’s music production background. Presents concepts alongside the production of a track captured specifically for the book. A detailed companion website, including audio, video, Pro Tools session files of the track recording process, and videos including accompanying audio that can be examined in the reader’s DAW. Please visit the accompanying companion website, available at www.audioproductiontips.com, for resources that further support the book’s practical approach.




Music Production Tips, Tricks, and Secrets


Book Description

Here's a collection of tips, tricks, and secrets for music production covering everything from your skills, productivity, inspiration, and gear. This is the first book in a new series of titles related to music production, mixing and mastering, digital audio workstations (DAWs), sample libraries, stock and third-party plugins, and more.




The Secrets of House Music Production


Book Description

A guide to producing cutting-edge house music, covering making beats, drum sounds, basslines, remixes, instrumentals, FX, and more. Includes a CD with more than 300 audio samples.




Audio Engineering 101


Book Description

Audio Engineering 101 is a real world guide for starting out in the recording industry. If you have the dream, the ideas, the music and the creativity but don't know where to start, then this book is for you! Filled with practical advice on how to navigate the recording world, from an author with first-hand, real-life experience, Audio Engineering 101 will help you succeed in the exciting, but tough and confusing, music industry. Covering all you need to know about the recording process, from the characteristics of sound to a guide to microphones to analog versus digital recording. Dittmar covers all the basics- equipment, studio acoustics, the principals of EQ/ compression, music examples to work from and when and how to use compression. FAQ's from professionals give you real insight into the reality of life on the industry.




Making Sound


Book Description

How do you take the sounds you imagine in your head and make them come out of the speakers? Making Sound takes some different but very effective perspectives on learning to use the tools at hand to create the sounds you want. Following these techniques and philosophies will help bridge the gap between the tools you use and the ideas in your head. Apart from the more in-depth topics in the 19 chapters there are 95 short inspiring tips and tricks that you can reference and use while creating music. Making Sound is philosophical at times, highly practical and packed with actionable tips, tricks and creative techniques. The content is designed to give you new ideas and perspecitves to help you fuel your creativity and ultimately make the techniques your own. The second edition also includes interviews with some top music industry professionals that reveil their processes for the first time. The topics in the book include: Use common tools to create different moods and textures Make virtual instruments sound realistic Advanced sound design Ways to become more productive The secret of contrast in mixing and composition Techniques to get the low end of the mix perfect The art of arrangement Create compelling and exciting grooves Create different kinds of space in a mix How to "glue" a mix Techniques for dealing with stress Essential music theory for composers and producers Ways to overcome digital "sterility" or harshness Dealing with clients What do people in the industry say about the book? "This book will open your eyes!" - Joey Sturgis, legendary music producer "You've got to check this book out!" - iZotope "This opened my eyes more than once! Absolute must-read." - Chris Leon, Your Music Radio "He has a way of presenting things that makes you want to immediately open your DAW and start experimenting." - Dan Comerchero, founder of The Pro Audio Files "A really great practical book that asks the question 'Why?'" - Brian Funk, Music Production Podcast




Song Mixing Secrets


Book Description

This book is the sequel to my first book, "Audio Mastering Secrets" the best selling audio mastering book for 2020 and 2019! If you're into audio engineering, this is a great music production book to add to your home recording studio collection. Packed with step-by-step proven methods. Since 1999, I've worked with over 8,000 clients (that's 6-8 per week) in every genre imaginable. Working with this many clients gave me the rare opportunity to discover what areas most sound engineers are having problems with. Most of the mixes clients submit are pretty good. The sound engineer definitely does not need to read a 400 page book on basic mixing techniques, or take a six week mixing course. They're way beyond that. What they do need is a book that points out the most common mixing errors that most sound engineers make, so they can check their mixes for them. Problems they don't even realize their mixes suffer from. That's what "Song Mixing Secrets" is all about! I Show You How To Quickly Fix These Common Problems - Mix is too crowded, no space or clarity Vocals can't cut through the mix Inconsistent levels from section to section Mix is too bassy, muddy Mix is too bright, tinny, thin Stereo field is weak (your song is really mono) And More!! This book is for someone who has a good understanding of basic mixing procedures. Sometimes as a solution to a problem, I might suggest compressing the lead vocal a bit. But, I don't get into detailed threshold and ratio settings. I assume you already know how to compress a vocal track. I wrote this entire book in simple plain English (layman's terms). I eliminated all the words you never heard of and hi-tech jargon, so anyone at any level can understand and learn from this book. You've invested hundreds, if not thousands, of hours into your music. If you're serious about it, now's the time to make a very small financial investment in this book so your music will sound the very best it can! I wrote this book so you can quickly learn (in a matter of days) the techniques, tips, and secrets that took me over 20 years to learn!