…and then there was the one about two men standing at the urinals and one glances over. I’ll spare you the sordid details, but the punch line is “Oooohhhh. I always wring mine out.”
I doubt the semi-sauced country boy who told me this joke intended it to be a morality tale, but if a lesson has to be extracted it might go something like this: It doesn’t matter what system is used, as long as the desired results are achieved. It is with this in mind that I approach the topic of Pro Tools Preferences.
Like many other recording enthusiasts, I spent several years mostly ignoring the Preferences window (which can be found in the Pro Tools pull down menu in the top left corner of the screen). I would open it only when something was not working the way I thought it should, and then spend several perplexing minutes trying to figure out how my “problem” might be worded into a preference. I would occasionally find a box I could check or uncheck to remedy the situation, and then put it out of mind until the next time the issue arose. The trouble comes when you are searching for a quick fix in the middle of a session and seconds feel like hours. As my father once told me “You don’t have to wait until the warning light comes on before you check your oil.” It is my habit before each session to open the Preferences dialog box and make sure everything is exactly as I like it.
I get a lot of people asking me about mixing. Normally I come up with some smart ass answer as to why you can’t really tell someone how to mix better. Well thanks to Stumble I came across this article on the “mixing pyramid”.
It’s kinda a cool way of looking at it… honestly it is what I do just explained better.
Posted: 01-07-2007 | 05:00:39Category:ArticlesComments Off
First off, let me say this, I am astonished that TBS is showing an episode of Save By The Bell that I have never seen before. I had given up hope of watching a new exciting adventure involving Zach, Screech and Kelly. Oh sweet, sweet Kelly.
Ok… now the reason for this article.
In this set of articles I plan to introduce you to the different people you will come in contact with when you first set foot in a studio. I will try and tell you what they are supposed to do, what they do in actuality and where and how many people normally fall short of their roles.
The reason I start this set of articles with the assistant engineer is because even though many people don’t know it, the assistant is the most important person in the studio. Continue reading »
So I am not proud? I will admit I don’t have a lot of money. Hell if you are reading this right now I am willing to bet that you don’t have a lot of money. But I will also admit I really do like the sound of gear that tends to be expensive. Over the course of the last few years I have spent big bucks on pre-amps, compressors and monitors. I have spent an insane amount of money on computers and software (isn’t that a sign of the times?). One area of my gear list that has always been lacking is microphones. I have your requisite twelve SM57s, and a few 421s and all sorts of small diaphragm condensers. Many of you know that whenever I am working you will find a pair of Sanken CU-31s on a stand somewhere. I love my Sankens… no let me rephrase that, I am IN LOVE with my Sankens (according to an old girlfriend there is a difference). Until recently I have yet to find another microphone that I was so totally in awe of and honestly confident using in any setting.
That’s right, youtube finally hooked us up with a director account. Unfortunately we still can’t upload "full" videos so the full episodes are split into to sections. Of course the video quality sucks, so you still might want to watch via tunes (if you are hardcore like that).
A new segment from Sonic Valentine… BIFPOA #1. MOTU pissed Ben off and now they are gonna hear about it.
You can expect these posts every month or so… well… whenever somebody pisses him off. SV5 is coming soon. Both Ben and Scott are slammed right now, but they will make it worth the wait.
It made me happy, made me sad and it made me think. Chris is a true genious in our time and what he says made me really think about where we (us making the music) are headed.
Now don’t get me wrong I am not about to send back my "Chinese Pop" money cause Chris Thile told me too… but next time I am working on something I actually care about… well… I might look at it a little different.
I should warn you… if you did not know the following facts… you will be a little heartbroken like I am…
-Chris Thile now lives in New York - so I will not run into him in Nashville anytime soon, and that was one of my favorite things about Nashville.
-Nickel Creek is breaking up - ya I know… that one hurts, but with "Why Should The Fire Die" what a way to go out.
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