Notes, memes & know-how
Production tips, gear talk, and the occasional meme award from the Audio Hertz crew.
The most embarrassing audio mistake I’ve ever made
We've all had embarrassing moments in the studio. From an intern to lead engineers, everyone royally messes up sessions in significant ways, from recording over that perfect take to dropping a microphone worth more than a car. There are so many different ways to make mistakes while recording that I'm surprised I don't mess up more often.
Read more →8 things you can do to help preserve your hearing
Loud noises are everywhere. The construction site across the street, the local bar on a Friday night... I’ve even been to painfully loud restaurants. I’m probably stating the obvious for most readers, but for those that don’t have ear protection or carry protection with them, I highly recommend it.
Read more →Does zipping audio files affect the sound quality?
I’ve honestly never thought about how zipping audio files affected the sound quality until recently when I was working with another engineer who claimed to hear a difference.
Read more →Why anyone that says the recording industry is dead is wrong
The industry is dead! You can’t make any money! Stop now! Don’t even try it! You’re crazy! Get out of music! Sell your interface! Go get a “real” job! Yeah yeah, we’ve all heard this, and maybe you’ve even said some version of this at some point in your life.
Read more →The story of Dr. Bini and the Binson Echorec
The Binson Echorec is one of those magical, mystical, undeniably beautiful sounding devices. It's the kind of gear that makes you appreciate its existence-- that some genius was able to design something so incredibly inspiring.
Read more →Why trying to be perfect is detrimental to your growth as an audio engineer
Recording and mixing are two forms of artistic expression. Like drawing or painting, there's a lot more to being proficient than just having natural talent. Innate talent will only get you so far, while hard work and practice will get you further. A combination of both is when true genius happens.
Read more →How to survive as a working audio engineer
It's almost impossible to find steady work at the start of your career. Most audio engineers are grinders, we start small-- going from one gig to the next (more significant) gig until we eventually have enough work to support ourselves solely on audio and music. The truth is that it takes a long time to get there, and there's always the risk that it may never happen.
Read more →Should you go to audio engineering school?
So you like making music...maybe you make EDM in your bedroom, or you’re in a band, or you want to be the next big rapper. Whatever it is, you might be considering going to music or audio engineering school or trying to make music into a career. If this is you, perfect, you’re in the right place.
Read more →What are the different types of compressors?
FET, Opto, VCA, Vari-MU…..you’ve probably heard these names to describe types of compressors, you sort of know which type is right for what, but what do they really mean? Each name represents a different type of circuit design that the compressor uses to react to the signal you put through it.
Read more →Recording in paradise: AIR Studios Montserrat
In the modern recording era, getting clients to travel more than an hour is a big ask, but in 1980, not so much. After a trip with his wife, George Martin decided to open up a secret studio on the rural, non-modernized, secluded island of Montserrat. Recording artists flocked to the island not only to record in one of the most sophisticated studios in the world at the time but also to enjoy the peace and tranquility the island offered.
Read more →How to properly check the phase when recording drums
In my earlier years of recording, I used to post mixes to home recording message boards with the hope of receiving positive feedback. I made these early recordings at home with a small interface I’d purchased, which came bundled with an early version of Cubase. After finally getting the hang of using a DAW and after a few unfinished demos, I eventually had a track ready to post for mix critiquing. The first reply I got back was, “drums sound phasey.”
Read more →EMT 250 and the birth of digital audio
When I started my first internship at Sabella Studios, the place was littered with strange things I’d never seen before. But nothing looked as strange as this black and red box that looked more like a spaceship control panel than recording equipment. That box was our EMT 251 that had been sitting in the corner of the control room and had built up an impressive collection of dust.
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