Recording Techniques for Home Studios

Recording for

Techniques

Home

Studios

Introduction

40

years ago

Today

?

$100,00/ h

Parmamount’s Kitchen

Dry

Small

Big

Live

1

A

2

B

3

C

4

D

Dry

Small

Big

Live

Close mike

V (dB)

Dire

Distant mike

Ambiente mike

ct So

und

Room Sound

Critical distance

Dd (ft)

Acoustics

Analog

Digital

1. Basic production techniques & basic layout

? Rhythm section

Sweetening

Overdubs

Traditional setup

Creative setup

2. Main factors to make quality recordings

? What does it take to get a great recording?

Which factors are most important?

?

? ?

?

Recording Arts...

50’s

Europe

70’s USA

Today

everwhere!

Setting priorities

What makes great recordings?

Acoustics Knowhow Equipment Electricity

Seven steps

to great recordings

1

Musician

2

Instrument

3

Acoustics

4

Instrument placement

5

Microphone technique

6

Signal flow

7

Gain structure

3. Basic Microphone technique

Close

Distant

Ambient

Accent

AB

Stereo

AB AB

Video/film

4. Acoustics

Live small:

bedroom

Vocals

30º

X

6-8”

8-12”

Sweet Spot

Acoustic guitar

2-3”

Avoid floor reflectons

Duo

Electric guitar

Opposite side

3’

45º

1”

Dynamic Track #1

Check Phase

Dynamic Track #2

Track #3/4

Live

big garage, living home

Backing vocals HI

LO

LO HI

HI

Horns

Percussion

As high as possibille

Stereo pair 3

Single instrument

Stereo pair 2

d3 d2

Stereo pair 1 d1

Set

d1

Drums

4 mike technique

Electric guitar

As high as possibille

Dry

Small: Closet

Closet

30º

1”

3’

Dry

Large:

Bedroom

4 mic technique Right overhead (A-B set)

Left overhead (A-B set)

Kick

Snare

3 mic technique

- Kick - Stereo ambience (m/s set)

5. Putting it all together

A 2 3 1

B

4 C 1 - Living Room 2 - Bathroom 3 - Closet 4 - Bedroom

D

Setup 1 Amp+ DI

Setup 2

Amp

Setup 3 DI

6. Special effect Reamping

Cold

Hot

7. Conclusion/Case Study

“Toothpaste equation” Result

Effort