Audio Recording Techniques

Discover the industry secrets to recording crisp, rich vocals and instrument tracks. Learn techniques for miking, tracking in-studio, and working in any recording space or genre.

Introduction

• Welcome
• What you should know before watching this course
• Using the exercise files
• Listening to this course

1. Monitoring

• Setting up your monitors
• Using a basic listening technique

2. Microphone Basics

• Exploring different microphone types
• Microphone directional response basics
• Hearing different directional patterns
• Exploring how the proximity effect works
• Explaining microphone controls
• Reviewing microphone accessories
• Exploring direct boxes
• Exploring amplifier emulators

3. Recording Basics

• Explaining the microphone preamplifier
• Choosing a preamp
• Setting up the mic preamp
• Setting the record level
• Using proper gain staging
• Knowing what to do if distortion occurs
• Using the compressor during recording
• Using the equalizer (EQ) during recording
• Using the high-pass filter during recording
• Exploring the principles of EQ
• Avoiding latency

4. Microphone Placement Basics

• Finding the best place in the room to record
• Choosing the right mic
• The secret to mic placement
• Understanding phase cancellation, the sound destroyer
• Checking polarity
• Checking the phase by listening

5. Recording the Drums

• Finding the right placement in the room for the drums
• The keys to a great drum sound
• Tuning the drums
• Tuning tips and tricks
• Miking the bass drum without a front head
• Miking the bass drum with front head port
• Miking the bass drum with a front head
• Using a subkick microphone
• Miking the snare drum: Technique one
• Miking the snare drum: Technique two
• Adding a bottom snare mic
• Miking the hi-hat
• Miking the toms
• Miking the cymbals
• Miking the overall kit
• Using room mics
• Getting the drum sound
• Getting the correct drum mix balance
• Checking the drum phase
• Panning the drums
• Tweaking the drum sound with EQ
• Using the one-mic drum recording technique
• Using the two-mic drum recording technique
• Using the three-mic drum recording technique
• Using the four-mic drum recording technique
• Tips for drummers to use before recording
• Tracking a solo drum part

6. Recording the Guitar

• Finding the right placement in the room for the guitar
• Miking the amplifier: Technique one
• Miking the amplifier: Technique two
• Miking the amplifier: Technique three
• Using the Marshall cabinet miking trick
• Recording the electric guitar direct
• Prepping for recording acoustic guitar
• Recording the acoustic guitar with one mic
• Recording the acoustic guitar with two mics
• Recording the acoustic guitar with three mics
• Exploring stereo acoustic guitar miking techniques
• Recording the acoustic guitar direct
• Using a limiter when recording acoustic guitar
• Tracking the guitar part

7. Recording the Bass

• Finding the right placement in the room for the bass
• Recording the bass using a direct box
• Miking the bass amplifier
• Using a limiter when recording the bass guitar
• Miking an acoustic bass: Technique one
• Miking an acoustic bass: Technique two
• Tracking the bass part

8. Recording Vocals

• Finding the right placement in the room for vocals
• Recording a scratch vocal
• Exploring vocal mic placement
• Using a limiter on vocals
• Recording in the control room
• Setting up the vocal headphone mix
• Doubling the vocal
• Getting the best from a singer
• Exploring background vocal mic placement
• Layering background vocals
• Recording the lead vocal part

9. Recording the Acoustic Piano

• Recording a solo grand piano with one mic
• Recording a solo grand piano in stereo
• Close miking a grand piano with one mic
• Close miking a grand piano with two mics: Method one
• Close miking a grand piano with two mics: Method two
• Recording the piano part

10. Recording Horns

• Finding the right placement in the room for horns
• Recording a solo sax: Technique one
• Recording a solo sax: Technique two
• Recording a solo brass instrument
• Recording a horn section: Technique one
• Recording a horn section: Technique two
• Recording the horn section part

11. Recording Acoustic String Instruments

• The key to miking any acoustic instrument
• Recording an acoustic string instrument
• Recording a dobro
• Recording the dobro part
• Recording the string section

12. Recording Percussion

• Recording drum percussion
• Recording hand percussion

13. Recording Electric Instruments

• Recording electric keyboards
• Recording acoustic instruments with a pickup
• Recording the synth part

14. Recording in Stereo

• Understanding the idea behind stereo recording
• Using the X/Y configuration
• Using the ORTF configuration
• Using the spaced pair configuration
• Using a stereo mic

15. The Recording Session

• Setting up for a tracking session
• Setting up a talkback mic
• Using sound leakage to your advantage
• Setting up the headphone mix
• Setting up a click track
• Setting up for overdubs
• Recording the rhythm section in the studio

16. Setting Up a Rough Mix

• The keys to a great rough mix
• Setting up the effects
• The rough mix of Simply Falling
• The final mix of Simply Falling

Conclusion

• Goodbye