Recording & Mixing

Eddie Bazil explores advanced vocal processing techniques to achieve a clean, professional vocal track. He demonstrates how to control sibilance, tame resonances and apply quick corrective steps that enhance vocal clarity and ensure the performance sits perfectly in the track.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:30 - Common Vocal Track Issues01:04 - Example 1: De-essing Sibilance08:57 - Example 2: Taming Resonance With EQ16:13 - Example 3: Reverb Ducking25:22 - Example 4: Frequency DuckingTrack CreditsExample 1 - written and performed by David Plummer and Becky Bremner - https://www.smokinggoats.co.ukExamples 2, 3 and 4 - ‘Puppet’ written, performed and recorded by John Walden, vocals by Yvonne McKeown#SSLVocalStrip #FabFilterProDS #FabFilterProQ3 #FabFilterMBC #FabFilterProC #UnfilteredAudioTails #TokyoDawnNovaGEEddie Bazil BiogEddie Bazil launched his music industry career at the age of 17 as a synth programmer for a range of Electro / New Wave bands, including Art Of Noise, Spandau Ballet, Pet Shop Boys, Bobin, Paul Dee, DJ Krush, DJ Shadow, Jets Orchestra, and many more. By his 20s, he was working as a sound designer for Akai, Roland, Emu/Ensoniq, eventually signing on exclusively with the latter. Later, due to a growing demand for software instruments and libraries, Eddie began developing libraries for various software manufacturers, including Native Instruments, Kiesel, Sound Effects Library, Rob Papen, Arturia, and Propellerheads.During this time, he trained in music production. He soon gained several prominent contracts working with some notable artistes such as Busta Rhymes, Greensleeves, 9 Bar, SFP, Sleeveless, Chris Campbell and Gam Productions. He contracted to Island Records and Chrysalis as a producer and remixer, and was commissioned to write the score for Macbeth that ran at 2 Way Mirror at Alexander Palace for the Cambridge Shakespeare Company. This led to him offering educational workshops and classes, and becoming a contributing creator and Forum moderator for Sound On Sound.Recently, he was invited by the Recording Academy to become a professional member, approved educator, and mentor for their member base. Eddie now concentrates on providing private sound design and mixing/production tuition, and creating content for Sound On Sound magazine.https://eddiebazil.co.uk/Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

Paul White explores the creative potential of using 'found' sounds, demonstrating how items found within your surroundings can be sampled, manipulated and transformed into complete tracks within your DAW using a few simple tools.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:36 - Software Options01:27 - Methods Used For This Demo01:58 - Creating A String Patch04:49 - A Few More Examples08:03 - Constructing A Unique Percussion Kit11:01 - Layering Sounds With Synth Pads12:13 - Using The Voice Creatively13:00 - A Finished Track Using The Sampled SoundsPaul White BiogPaul White initially trained in electronics at The Royal Radar Establishment in Malvern then went on to work with Malvern Instruments, a company specialising in laser analysis equipment, before moving into technical writing. He joined the Sound On Sound team in 1991 where he became Editor In Chief, a position he held for many years before recently becoming Executive Editor. Paul has written more than 20 recording and music technology textbooks, the latest being The Producer’s Manual and in 2010 he received a BASCA award for his contributions to the music industry.Having established his own multitrack home studio in the 1980s he’s worked with many notable names including Bert Jansch and Gordon Giltrap. He’s played in various bands over the years and currently collaborates with Malvern musician Mark Soden, under the name of Cydonia Collective. Paul still performs live claiming that as he has suffered for his music he doesn’t see why everyone else shouldn’t too!http://www.cydoniacollective.co.uk/Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

David Mellor explores how the Yamaha NS-10M monitors became a studio staple and why, decades after being discontinued, engineers are still seeking out second-hand pairs.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:15 - Why NS-10Ms Became a Studio Staple02:11 - Making Better Mixing Decisions03:49 - A Second Pair of NS-10Ms05:23 - Mixing With Missing Frequencies09:11 - Reflex vs Closed Box Monitors11:35 - Why Pleasant Isn’t Always Better13:29 - Mixes That Translate15:40 - Making Rapid Mixing Decisions18:52 - The Case for Closed-Box MonitorsThe Phil Ward Article - https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/yamaha-ns10-storyDavid Mellor BiogDavid Mellor got his start in pro audio through the Tonmeister course at Surrey University studying music, piano performance, acoustics, electronics, electro-acoustics and recording.He went on to work at London's Royal Opera House, with responsibilities including sound design, front-of-house operation, stage monitoring and electronic design satisfying the likes of Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Karlheinz Stockhausen. David has also had over 600 works published in the field of production music. Notable uses of his music include the BBC's Horizon, Fahrenheit 911, and the Oprah Winfrey Show.David has been actively involved in Audio Education since 1986, teaching students of City of Westminster College and Westminster University, also returning to guest lecture at Surrey University. From 2001 until recently David has offered courses in audio online with Audio Masterclass. David now enjoys making YouTube videos for his 84,000 subscribers and releasing music on streaming services and Bandcamp for his dozen or so listeners.YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@audiomasterclassSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/6OkaDx4vB4O2ssUA5p4M8gBandcamp - https://davidmellor.bandcamp.com/Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

In this episode, David Mellor continues his exploration of microphone polar patterns by discussing techniques for capturing stereo recordings. He examines how the choice of polar pattern and microphone placement can be used effectively to achieve a balanced and immersive stereo image.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:10 - Defining Mono03:08 - Binaural Recording04:24 - Defining Stereo05:28 - Number Of Mics And Placement06:58 - Polar Patterns07:48 - Figure of 8 Demo09:09 - The Blumlein Pair Configuration11:05 - Coincident Cross Pair Figure Of 8 With Demonstration16:53 - Coincident Cross Pair Of Cardioid With Demonstration21:35 - Mic Spacing - The ORTF Configuration24:31 - Mic Spacing - Omnidirectional Without Angling27:28 - Medley Of Configurations29:38 - SummaryDavid Mellor BiogDavid Mellor got his start in pro audio through the Tonmeister course at Surrey University studying music, piano performance, acoustics, electronics, electro-acoustics and recording.He went on to work at London's Royal Opera House, with responsibilities including sound design, front-of-house operation, stage monitoring and electronic design satisfying the likes of Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Karlheinz Stockhausen. David has also had over 600 works published in the field of production music. Notable uses of his music include the BBC's Horizon, Fahrenheit 911, and the Oprah Winfrey Show.David has been actively involved in Audio Education since 1986, teaching students of City of Westminster College and Westminster University, also returning to guest lecture at Surrey University. From 2001 until recently David has offered courses in audio online with Audio Masterclass. David now enjoys making YouTube videos for his 84,000 subscribers and releasing music on streaming services and Bandcamp for his dozen or so listeners.YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@audiomasterclassSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/6OkaDx4vB4O2ssUA5p4M8gBandcamp - https://davidmellor.bandcamp.com/Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

David Mellor discusses how to create custom effects in a DAW without relying on expensive plug-ins. Here he demonstrates his approach to creating a filter pan effect using an EQ with high-pass and low-pass filters, highlighting how custom effects can help give your music a unique edge.Chapters00:00 - Introduction02:05 - Pan Effect03:02 - Mono Pan04:30 - Static Pan06:21 - Music Track06:42 - Creative Pan Effect09:00 - Pan Effect Using A Low-Pass Filter 13:23 - Crossfading Using Filters17:15 - Effecting Individual Instruments #slatedigital #infinityeq #protoolsDavid Mellor BiogDavid Mellor got his start in pro audio through the Tonmeister course at Surrey University studying music, piano performance, acoustics, electronics, electro-acoustics and recording.He went on to work at London's Royal Opera House, with responsibilities including sound design, front-of-house operation, stage monitoring and electronic design satisfying the likes of Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Karlheinz Stockhausen. David has also had over 600 works published in the field of production music. Notable uses of his music include the BBC's Horizon, Fahrenheit 911, and the Oprah Winfrey Show.David has been actively involved in Audio Education since 1986, teaching students of City of Westminster College and Westminster University, also returning to guest lecture at Surrey University. From 2001 until recently David has offered courses in audio online with Audio Masterclass. David now enjoys making YouTube videos for his 84,000 subscribers and releasing music on streaming services and Bandcamp for his dozen or so listeners.YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@audiomasterclassSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/6OkaDx4vB4O2ssUA5p4M8gBandcamp - https://davidmellor.bandcamp.com/Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

In this episode, sound-designer Eddie Bazil looks at ways of enhancing a variety of individual tracks and full mixes using plug-ins that are designed to achieve the retro warmth and cohesion of tapes and valves.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:32 - What Is Harmonic Distortion02:32 - Advances In Music Production Quality04:47 - The Introduction Of CD05:59 - Triodes And Pentodes Vacuum Tubes06:47 - Analysing Harmonic Content07:56 - Example 1: TR-808 Sub Bass10:35 - Example 2: Affecting A Whole Mix*12:39 - Example 3: Adding Saturation15:07 - The Benefits Of Tape17:26 - Example 4: Applying Tape Effects To A Bassline*20:59 - Example 5: Adding Tape To Beats23:47 - Example 6: Enhancing A Piano Track26:56 - Summary* Demonstration track ‘Puppet’ (Examples 2 and 4), written, performed and recorded by John Walden. Vocals sung by Yvonne McKeown.#voxengospan #SummitAudio #T-RackS #Kraftur #Aphex #SSLEddie Bazil BiogEddie Bazil launched his music industry career at the age of 17 as a synth programmer for a range of Electro / New Wave bands including Art of Noise, Spandau Ballet, Pet Shop Boys, Bobin, Paul Dee, DJ Krush, DJ Shadow, Jets Orchestra. By his 20s he was working as a sound designer for Akai, Roland Emu/Ensoniq, eventually signing on exclusively with the latter. Later, due to a growing demand for software instruments and libraries, Eddie started to develop libraries for various software manufacturers, including Native Instruments, Kiesel, Sound Effects Library, Arturia and Propellerheads. A meeting with Phil Allen, a Capital Radio DJ, resulted in the company Samplecraze, which Eddie has spent 20 years developing as an educational resource. At this time he trained in music production and soon gained a number of prominent contracts working with some notable artistes such as Busta Rhymes, Greensleeves, 9 Bar, SFP, Sleeveless, Chris Campbell and Gam Productions. He contracted to Island Records and Chrysalis as a producer and remixer,  plus was commissioned to write the score for Macbeth that ran at 2 Way Mirror at Alexander Palace for the Cambridge Shakespeare Company. His ongoing development of Samplecraze has led to him offering educational workshops and classes, releasing four books via PC Publishing and becoming a contributor and forum moderator for Sound On Sound. Recently he has established The Audio Production Hub for online education and been invited by the Recording Academy to become a Grammy judge.https://eddiebazil.co.uk/https://samplecraze.com/Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

Paul White delves into the fun world of modelled guitars, amps and cabs, that cannot only make your songwriting and studio sessions more creative and unique, but can also greatly assist with streamlining live performances.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:12 - Techniques For Modelling Amps And Cabs04:22 - Amplifier Cloning05:49 - Compression To Improve Tonal Quality07:58 - Adding Room Ambience09:41 - Cleaning Up The Sound With EQ10:51 - Guitar Modelling Options13:05 - Why We Have Split Pickups16:24 - Non-Guitar Sounds At Your Fingertips18:12 - Modelled Bass Guitars#BossVG800 #MODOBass2Paul White BiogPaul White initially trained in electronics at The Royal Radar Establishment in Malvern then went on to work with Malvern Instruments, a company specialising in laser analysis equipment, before moving into technical writing. He joined the Sound On Sound team in 1991 where he became Editor In Chief, a position he held for many years before recently becoming Executive Editor. Paul has written more than 20 recording and music technology textbooks, the latest being The Producer’s Manual.Having established his own multitrack home studio in the 1980s he’s worked with many notable names including Bert Jansch and Gordon Giltrap. He’s played in various bands over the years and currently collaborates with Malvern musician Mark Soden, under the name of Cydonia Collective. Paul still performs live claiming that as he has suffered for his music he doesn’t see why everyone else shouldn’t too!http://www.cydoniacollective.co.uk/

In this episode, Paul White looks at some creative ways that you can manipulate the standard plug-ins found in your DAW, using them alone or in combination with one another, to create some unique sounds, effects and rhythms. Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:08 - Hard Tune Effect01:39 - Processing Speech03:15 - Fast Pitch Processing04:04 - Using Match EQ On Guitars06:07 - Distortion And Reverb07:14 - Adding In Pitch Shift07:41 - Reverb And Distortion 09:07 - Adding More Reverb And Delay10:02 - Using Distortion On Drums11:30 - Using A Rotary Speaker On Drums12:43 - Using An Impulse Response With Convolution ReverbPaul White BiogPaul White initially trained in electronics at The Royal Radar Establishment in Malvern then went on to work with Malvern Instruments, a company specialising in laser analysis equipment, before moving into technical writing. He joined the Sound On Sound team in 1991 where he became Editor In Chief, a position he held for many years before recently becoming Executive Editor. Paul has written more than 20 recording and music technology textbooks, the latest being The Producer’s Manual.Having established his own multitrack home studio in the 1980s he’s worked with many notable names including Bert Jansch and Gordon Giltrap. He’s played in various bands over the years and currently collaborates with Malvern musician Mark Soden, under the name of Cydonia Collective. Paul still performs live claiming that as he has suffered for his music he doesn’t see why everyone else shouldn’t too!http://www.cydoniacollective.co.uk/Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

Paul White and Hugh Robjohns pick their software and hardware highlights from the gear they've reviewed in the last 12 months.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:24 - Lynx Hilo 202:49 - Blackstar Polar 2 / Polar 403:39 - AEA TRP 3 Preamp 05:40 - Logic Pro 1107:24 - RME Fireface UFX III09:57 - Dreamtonics Vocoflex 11:33 - Hum Audio LAAL Limiter13:43 - FireSonic FireSpacer14:54 - Crookwood VU Meter17:03 - Nektar Panorama CS1217:42 - IK Multimedia Tonex One18:23 - Sound Particles inDelay19:19 - Sonnect SoundWire InterfacePaul White BiogPaul White initially trained in electronics at The Royal Radar Establishment in Malvern then went on to work with Malvern Instruments, a company specialising in laser analysis equipment, before moving into technical writing. He joined the Sound On Sound team in 1991 where he became Editor In Chief, a position he held for many years before recently becoming Executive Editor. Paul has written more than 20 recording and music technology textbooks, the latest being The Producer’s Manual.Having established his own multitrack home studio in the 1980s he’s worked with many notable names including Bert Jansch and Gordon Giltrap. He’s played in various bands over the years and currently collaborates with Malvern musician Mark Soden, under the name of Cydonia Collective. Paul still performs live claiming that as he has suffered for his music he doesn’t see why everyone else shouldn’t too!http://www.cydoniacollective.co.uk/Hugh Robjohns BiogHugh Robjohns has been Sound On Sound´s Technical Editor since 1997. Prior to that he worked in a variety of (mostly) sound-related roles in BBC Television, ending up as a Sound Operations Lecturer at the BBC´s technical training centre. He continues to provide audio consultancy and bespoke broadcast audio training services all over the world, lectures at professional and public conventions, and occasionally records and masters acoustic and classical music too!Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

For musicians and producers that struggle to finish tracks, Eddie Bazil explains the benefits of creating musical snippets and gives us some examples as to how we can tap into different moods, use sound design techniques to create something unique that becomes a useable addition to our musical catalogues and create pieces that stand the test of time.“Snippets and the creating of, serve to strengthen sound ideas, hone mixing and production skills, help to understand timing and flow, act as a testbed for song structuring ideas and are the playground for testing and mastering all manner of plug-ins”.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:19 - What Is A Snippet?01:53 - The Benefits Of Creating Snippets04:26 - Planning Your Snippets06:07 - Sound Design06:53 - Example 1: Phased Pad17:33 - Example 2: Happy, Mood-Lifting 22:01 - Example 3: Drama And Tension#SoundtoysPhaseMistress #FabFilterTimeless2 #EventideBlackhole #SteinbergGrooveagent #GforceimpOSCar3 #WavesOvoxVocoder #SteinbergHalionTrip #RobPapenAlbino #Kontakt #NIMaschine2 #AirHybrid3Eddie Bazil BiogEddie Bazil launched his music industry career at the age of 17 as a synth programmer for a range of Electro / New Wave bands including Art of Noise, Spandau Ballet, Pet Shop Boys, Bobin, Paul Dee, DJ Krush, DJ Shadow, Jets Orchestra. By his 20s he was working as a sound designer for Akai, Roland Emu/Ensoniq, eventually signing on exclusively with the latter. Later, due to a growing demand for software instruments and libraries, Eddie started to develop libraries for various software manufacturers, including Native Instruments, Kiesel, Sound Effects Library, Arturia and Propellerheads. A meeting with Phil Allen, a Capital Radio DJ, resulted in the company Samplecraze, which Eddie has spent 20 years developing as an educational resource. At this time he trained in music production and soon gained a number of prominent contracts working with some notable artistes such as Busta Rhymes, Greensleeves, 9 Bar, SFP, Sleeveless, Chris Campbell and Gam Productions. He contracted to Island Records and Chrysalis as a producer and remixer,  plus was commissioned to write the score for Macbeth that ran at 2 Way Mirror at Alexander Palace for the Cambridge Shakespeare Company. His ongoing development of Samplecraze has led to him offering educational workshops and classes, releasing four books via PC Publishing and becoming a contributor and forum moderator for Sound On Sound. Recently he has established The Audio Production Hub for online education and been invited by the Recording Academy to become a Grammy judge.https://eddiebazil.co.uk/https://samplecraze.com/Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts