Articles Index
Recording Studio Power Management
Managing your studio's electricity usage is the best way to make sure you're making recordings free of buzz, hum, and static. In this article, you'll learn the basics to powering your studio and conditioning your power, giving you better quality recordings every time.
How to Mix In-Ear Monitors
In-ear monitors aren't a novelty anymore; many artists are now transitioning to in-ear monitors, and that number keeps growing by the day. In this article, you'll learn the basics of mixing in-ear monitors -- and how to keep the musician you're mixing for happy from the first note.
Recording the Hammond B3
Recording and mixing the Hammond B3 organ is an easy skill to learn for new audio engineers, but there's a few tricks to getting it right. In this article, you'll learn the basics to micing a Leslie cabinet and how to mix the B3 to perfection.
Earplugs 101
Of all the tools in your musician's arsenal, your ears are the most valuable (and irreplaceable). Keeping your ears in good shape is of utmost importance; in this article, you'll learn the basics of using earplugs to help conserve your hearing.
Monitor Mixing 101
Mixing monitors is one of the most frustrating things for new live sound engineers to learn. In this article, you'll learn the basics of mixing monitors, from ringing out your EQ to making good in-ear monitor mixes.
How is sound mixed at the GRAMMY Awards?
The GRAMMY Awards Telecast is one of the most technically impressive achievements in the music industry today. Audio engineer Joe Shambro takes you behind the scenes of what it takes to achieve such sonic perfection while still balancing the individual needs of the multi-platinum artists performing the event.
A Guide to Pro Tools 10
Pro Tools 10
How To Digitally Distribute Your Album
Selling your album on the iTunes Music Store is a lot easier than you might think. In this article, About.com's Joe Shambro walks you through how to sell your album on iTunes, eMusic, Napster, and other digital distrbutors. It's never been a better time to go indie and distribute your music digitally!
All About Stage Monitoring
If you're a performing musician, you'll be all too familiar with stage monitoring. In this guide, you'll learn the difference between "wedge" monitors and "in-ear" monitors, and how you can figure out which is a better fit for your live sound setup.
How to Mic a Guitar Amp
One of the most common things you'll record or mix in live sound is electric guitar -- and getting it right is really easy with practice, and a little microphone knowledge. In this article, you'll learn the basics of micing an electric guitar amp in the studio or on stage.
How To Ruin A Mix
It may look easy, but keeping yourself from screwing up a good recording can be hard. In this article, About.com's Joe Shambro takes a look at some tips & tricks to prevent you from making some common mixing mistakes, and in the process, take the quality of your recordings to the next level.
Drum Recording: The Glyn Johns Method
Recording drums can be a lot easier than it looks! Using only four microphones, the Glyn Johns method of recording drums can be a rewarding and great-sounding technique if used on a well-tuned kit with a dynamic drummer.
Keeping Peace in the Crowd
Are you venturing into the fun hobby of live concert taping, either for fun or profit? You'll need to learn a few lessons of how "taper culture" works, and how to keep peace with the crowd. In this article, you'll learn all that, and more!
How To Record a Live Concert
Recording a live concert can be the easiest way to get a high-quality demo -- or, if you're just a fan, making a recording can be a great way to bring home a souvenir. In this article, you'll learn the basics for live recording.
Does Cable Quality Matter?
Audio cables are a hotly-debated topic -- and one that draws an immediate argument from all sides. Expensive cables are, well... expensive. How do they stack up to their generic competition? About.com's Joe Shambro explains why expensive cables might be a poor investment for your studio or a/v setup.
Setting Up Your Home Studio Space
Learning how to use and fix the acoustic problems in any room is the first step to getting great recordings in any home studio. In this article, you'll learn the basics of acoustics and how to treat various acoustic problems that pop up in new home studio installations.
The Basics of Hearing Health & Protection
Sound is everywhere -- and unfortunately, lots of that sound can be damaging to our hearing health. In this article -- geared towards musicians, music lovers, and sound engineers, but with advice relevant to anyone -- About.com's Joe Shambro walks you through the basics of hearing protection and hearing conservation, and why it's important to protect this very valuable asset.
Condenser vs. Dynamic Microphones
If you're recording or mixing live sound, you'll need to select microphones for every purpose. In this guide, About.com's Joe Shambro will walk you through the differences between condenser microphones and dynamic microphones, and the best applications for each.
Modify Your Nady RSM-4 Ribbon Microphone
The Nady RSM-4 ribbon microphone is a fantastic value; it's cheap, it sounds great, and it's extremely useful. But believe it or not, it can be even better for not much money! Check out these very simple mods that anyone with a soldering iron and a steady hand can perform -- the difference is worth it.
Mixing Stevie Wonder's "Superstition"
Sometimes, less is more -- especially when recording a hit song. In this article, About.com's Joe Shambro takes you behind the scenes in the studio recording sessions of Stevie Wonder's hit song "Superstition", and deconstructs the mix to show why sometimes "less is more" when recording.
Home Recording As A Business
In today's world of quick-changing technology, it's never been a better time to start a home-based recording studio. Many people are starting home recording studios as businesses, too. In this article, About.com's Joe Shambro walks home studio recording engineers through the process of opening their own home studio business.
Getting that Vintage Vibe
Vintage and retro recording effects are really "in" -- and now that many people have small home studios that offer amazing digital quality, trying to get that "retro vibe" with analog simulation is getting very popular. One easy vintage effect is the "telephone" effect; About.com's Joe Shambro walks you through this very easily-achievable effect.
The Digidesign 003 Series
Check out an exclusive first-look at the brand new Digi 003 series for Pro Tools LE and 9, including the 003 Control Surface, and the 003-R Rackmount Interface, bringing Pro Tools 9 quality to project studios of every budget.
Home Recording on a Budget
Starting a home recording studio has never been cheaper (and it's never been easier to achieve high quality on a modest budget, either). In this article, you'll learn the basics of how to start a studio on a tight budget, with help from About.com's Joe Shambro.
How to Mix Music
If you're new to recording, getting the perfect mix can be a huge challenge. In this article, About.com's resident audio engineer Joe Shambro teaches you the basics of how to mix music. Mixing your music doesn't have to be hard!