In The Studio
Essentials & Ergonomics
Think about room layout and equipment. No, we’re not going to plan your studio for you, but here are a few pointers:
- If you play keyboards, set them up so that you can reach the mixer.
- Position your effects and synth modules within arms length.
- If you use a computer, position the screen so as to avoid reflections. Do not position speakers near the screen unless they are magnetically compensated or shielded.
- If the room is too ‘live’, deaden it with drapes or soft furnishings.
- For best results, use dedicated nearfield monitors.
- Don’t use large speakers in a small room - they’ll sound wrong at low frequencies.
- Do use a well specified power amp (minimum 50 watts per channel).
- Don’t compromise on a weedy amp: it will distort at high levels and may damage the speakers.
Tape Machines & Recording Media
Basically, you’ll need two types of tape machine: a multitrack recorder for recording the individual parts of the performance in readiness for mixdown onto a 2-track recorder for mastering. There are both analogue and digital models available. The final choice must be based on individual requirements.
The Console
Studio work presents additional problems for a mixing console in that it has to deal with a two stage process requiring very different skills.
1. Recording - Sound sources have to be captured on multitrack tape. This process will include ensuring that the cleanest strongest signal is being recorded to tape, without overload and distortion, optimising the sound of the recorded signal with EQ, signal processing and effects, monitoring the recorded sources, and creating a headphone mix for the musicians to ensure the best possible performance from them.
2. Mixdown - All the recorded sound sources as well as any “live” media coming from sequencers, drum machines or samplers must then be blended together using EQ, level, pan and effects and mastered down to a two-track device to create a “final mix”. This process bears some similarities to mixing a band - minus the audience, the live performance and poor venue acoustics!
If you have seen any T.V. shows including footage of commercial recording studios you may be forgiven for thinking that good multitrack recordings are only possible using a mammoth console. This does not have to be the case! Professional sounding results can be achieved, albeit with some repatching between recording and mixdown stages, using a relatively small multipurpose mixer.
However, to achieve professional results the mixer must be equipped with either (and preferably both):
- Direct outs
- Groups/Subs
When purchasing a console for both live and recording work, ensuring these facilities are available will save you having to buy a dedicated recording console until your requirements become more sophisticted.
Simple Multitrack Recording
The diagram below shows a simple recording set-up using a multipurpose console equipped with direct outs and a pair of subgroups. The sound from instruments or voices is taken straight out to be recorded by the multitrack, with recorded signals being returned from the multitrack’s channels into spare inputs of the mixer so they can be monitored. Alternatively, backing vocals or grouped instruments such as drumkits may be recorded to single or pairs of tracks by subgrouping them and connecting the mixer’s group outputs to the multitrack device. The engineer monitors both performances and previously recorded material through a monitor amp and speakers, with the performers getting their own separate foldback mix through the auxiliary sends.