Audio Recording is the process of capturing audio signals for the purpose of archiving, manipulation, or reproduction.
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14answers
1k views
The most common mistakes for newbies recording
What are the the most common mistakes that new engineers tend to make when recording and mixing down their tracks?
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11answers
1k views
Cheap DIY solutions, like using egg cartons
I record and produce as a hobby, so funds are limited. What are some nice do it yourself solutions people have found.
As an example, you can line the walls with egg cartons instead of paying for ...
13
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2answers
315 views
What is Mastering?
Can anyone explain mastering? What is it for and why should anyone care? Should I have all of my recordings mastered?
9
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3answers
3k views
What is “clipping” distortion? What causes it, and how to avoid it when recording audio?
What is "clipping" distortion? What causes it, and how to avoid it when recording audio?
p.s. please add tags "distortion" and "clipping".
9
votes
3answers
109 views
What should I look for in microphones for home audio monitoring “nanny audio cam” system
When building a home monitoring "nanny audio cam" system, the main component seems to be microphones/sound pickups.
The qualities that I think I need for such microphones for this system seem to be:
...
8
votes
5answers
325 views
Miking a grand piano
I have a SM57 and RHODES NT1 microphone and I was wondering what the best way to mike a grand piano was. I tried opening the grand piano and pointing the SM57 at the strings and then placing the ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Why are all my recordings fuzzy and quiet!?
I originally thought I could just record my guitar using my laptop camera/mic, like I assumed many of the very-non-professional Youtubers I saw do. This (just the first part) was the result. I then ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the best order in which to record instruments?
I am teaching myself home recording using GarageBand. I play guitar and piano, and have a Korg padKontrol to enter drum data.
My question is, what is the best order in which to lay down tracks? ...
8
votes
5answers
412 views
Achieving uniform level in lengthy spoken word recordings
I often make lengthy recordings of spoken word for Internet distribution - lectures, public debates, etc. The resulting wave files have a highly uneven level - from whisper-quiet (questions from the ...
8
votes
1answer
660 views
Equipment setup for recording a podcast
I'm helping a non-profit set up a podcast and want to make sure I pick out the right types of equipment. The podcast will usually have 2 people talking. I'd like to put together two different ...
7
votes
5answers
334 views
Headphones to block outside noise
In a live recording environment, what "style" of headphones should I use to monitor what I am recording - in other words which block out the outside sound best.
Are in-ear headphones completely ...
7
votes
5answers
4k views
How do you use gain effectively?
Have read a few descriptions and understand basically what gain is, but I am quite the novice with audio work.
I've never heard gain or it's usage described by those who are really familiar with it ...
7
votes
2answers
675 views
Soft synth vs. hard synth
I did a lot of project work about 15 years ago. Due to a limited budget, I arranged most of the drums, bass and keyboard tracks on a MIDI rack synth. I became increasingly annoyed with the process ...
7
votes
3answers
306 views
Getting the kick drum to really come out in the mix?
When I get done with a mix, no matter how much I work on the bass drum it barely comes out. I'm mainly working with metal bands, so I was wondering if anyone could give me pointers/ suggestions/ ...
7
votes
3answers
3k views
Record Skype conversation with Audacity
I want to record a conversation I am having with a single person over Skype using Audacity. I looked around and found plenty of resources on the Web suggesting it can be done. There were two methods, ...
7
votes
3answers
730 views
Are dialogues recorded separately while filming?
Usually when filming, are the dialogues being recorded together with the scene of the shots or are the dialogues usually re-recorded by asking the actors to speak and record over the footages in a ...
7
votes
1answer
140 views
Imitating a phone call?
I was wondering if there was an easy way to do a voice over of a phone call with it actually sounding like someone on the phone instead of just a voice over?
7
votes
4answers
139 views
How can I get a basic transcription of an audio recording using voice recognition?
I like to record the older folks in my family. I put my recorder on the table and we just chat. Just hanging out.
Most of the resulting footage is not interesting but occasionally, I get a gem. Some ...
7
votes
5answers
1k views
Best audio interface in the low end?
I'm looking to buy an USB audio interface for home recording. It has to be fairly common, since I intend to buy second-hand in Bulgaria (where I live), or maybe import from eBay UK. One instrument ...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
Any plugins out there using GPGPU/CUDA/OpenCL for horsepower?
It looks like the dedicated hardware plugin boxes (UAD etc) use traditional DSP chips like the Analog Devices SHARC for their horsepower. Is anybody using graphics card processors via GPGPU (General ...
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9answers
9k views
6
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5answers
950 views
Voiceover drowns in music. How do I make it more dominant?
Total newbie here, not sure if this is the right place to post this. I'm trying to record some station IDs for an online radio station thingamajig I'm doing. I'm using a Samson C03U. My voiceovers ...
6
votes
1answer
649 views
Why does your voice sound different when you record it?
Is it just yourself, or can other people hear it too?
6
votes
3answers
144 views
How to reproduce any sound
This may be a silly question, but it is one I don't know and I haven't found an exact answer to it.
A speaker can reproduce virtually any sound through vibration sequences, using an electromagnet. ...
6
votes
2answers
401 views
Can I record a sound frequency I can't hear and play it back so I can hear it?
Can I record a sound frequency I can't hear and play it back so I can hear it?
If yes, How?
6
votes
3answers
184 views
How to cleanly punch piano?
When recording piano I've always struggled to get clean punches. I usually try to punch just ahead of a downbeat when the pianist is lifting the sustain pedal, but I often end up with some remnants ...
6
votes
4answers
109 views
In what units is a sample's amplitude value represented, and how it relates to the real world?
I'm new to digital audio signals and read about sampling rate on hydrogenaudio.
What this doesn't mention is how a single sample's value, ranging from -32768 to 32767 in a 16 bit, relates to any ...
6
votes
4answers
3k views
Monitoring multiple USB microphones
I am in the planning stages of producing a podcast consisting 2 or more people in the same room. I have a large diaphragm USB condenser mic, and another non-USB mic. At this point, I need to decide ...
6
votes
3answers
621 views
What is the best way to mic a hammered dulcimer?
Looking for some suggestions on getting the most authentic recorded sound from a Hammered Dulcimer. The model I am mic'ing has 2 sound holes.
What would be the ideal mic type(s) (i.e. dynamic, ...
6
votes
3answers
832 views
Software for Live Multi-Tracking Recording & Mixing
So I'm looking for a piece of software for recording multi-track live audio (PC or Mac is fine, I have system for both). That meets several key requirements:
Can record at least 4 tracks
Works with ...
6
votes
1answer
117 views
How to learn about audio recording and production
I have little knowledge in audio recording and production. I wonder how I shall learn about it?
As a beginner, some introductory
material that give general ideas and
big picture will be great.
As ...
6
votes
2answers
99 views
Using stereo to re-create a stage effect, or to enhance the experience?
Last millenium with the advent of common Stereo equipment, recording engineers often used the stereo effects to re-create a 'stage' like presence in the recordings. I.e. the instruments would be ...
6
votes
4answers
241 views
What could be causing audible clicks in Tracktion 3 on Windows?
I've been using Tracktion 3 (on Windows XP) for a long time now, but I've started to notice audible 'clicks' in my recordings for the last couple of months. It's ruining things!
The clicks are ...
6
votes
1answer
267 views
How to get line-level record-out on Behringer X2442-usb?
My band uses a Behringer X2442-usb. We have it wired-up thus:
Inputs going along 10 of the channels (1-8, 9 & 11 -- we don't use the stereo input capability of the higher channels.)
We use Aux ...
5
votes
2answers
297 views
How to judge preamp and A/D quality on a USB audio interface?
I'm looking for an audio interface for casual recording. There are things it's easy to tell from specs -- number of channels, connectors, phantom power, etc. -- but I don't know any way to tell if an ...
5
votes
1answer
503 views
How can I multitrack record my band practices?
I would like to start recording my band practices. Current configuration is bass, guitar, and drums. I would like to record individual tracks to my computer so that we can add other parts, work on ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
What do I need to make reasonable quality amateur recordings of vocals/piano to put on Youtube?
I have been recording myself playing piano and posting to Youtube, just so friends can take a look at how my progress is with the instrument for the most part, but also to post tutorials for some ...
5
votes
3answers
142 views
Individual performing complete band performance (eg rock) by sequentially recording each instrument
Can a single person record a rock song on their own?
Here is how I imagine it: A musician records one instrument (e.g. bass), then has the recording played and mixed with the sound of the next ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
How do I mic a violin?
I have a Royer R-122 ribbon. My wife is a violinist, and I would love some tips on how to properly mike her violin for recording and mixing. I understand that ribbons are a little picky, so I would ...
5
votes
6answers
516 views
What key features should I look for when purchasing a mic for podcasting?
I'm looking to set up a podcast, and want to get started with the right equipment. My problem is I have no idea what I'm looking for in a mic, and what other things I need to record good quality ...
5
votes
3answers
70 views
Can someone explain 'phase' and related terminology in audio production?
I've looked a lot of places for info about this, and I've never found anything that was clear and satisfactory.
I've been working with various DAW software for awhile and I always run into 'invert ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Rendering vs. recording in ableton live?
In Ableton Live, it seems like I get better (clearer, louder, better dynamics) results when I route and record my master track to an audio track instead of using the "render-to-disk" function.
Has ...
5
votes
3answers
247 views
What's the difference between dynamic and condensor microphones?
When someone talks about a dynamic or condenser microphone, what do they mean?
How do these classes microphones differ, and are they used for different things?
Are there any more subdivisions of ...
5
votes
2answers
470 views
Best setup for a portable studio?
I've often needed to record while at a musicians house/studio/practice-pad (same goes for podcasting on the fly). To do so I needed my studio (or part of it) to be very mobile. I always want to ...
5
votes
2answers
305 views
Miking a djembe
I'm near the end of a project that involves a lot of small percussion, and we're using djembes for many of the tracks. I got a decent sound by using a pair of dynamic mics, one above the rim pointed ...
5
votes
1answer
920 views
Zoom H2 recording levels are too low
I recently bought a Zoom H2 and I'm trying to record my acoustic guitar at home. I followed the manual to set it up so the level never goes over 0db (in case you're familiar with the H2, I put the ...
5
votes
2answers
142 views
Wait to unplug with phantom power
When I use a mixer (Behringer 4-track), the instructions say to wait about ~30 seconds after turning off the phantom power before unplugging anything. They say not doing that could damage the ...
5
votes
3answers
671 views
Modern rock bass drum recording techniques
In modern rock or heavy metal sound engineering and production:
Is it possible to get a decent sound without triggers on the kick drum? Examples would help here :-)
What triggers/drum machine ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Why do my vocal recordings sound thin and muffled?
Hi there
i'm a newbie in recording so i have a beginners question:
I recently bought an Audio Interface (the M-Audio FastTrack Pro) and recorded some stuff, which was really fun, and seems to have ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Voiceover workflow tips? (Specifcally, workflow and processing…)
Does anyone have any good tips as to how I might record good quality voiceover for a short video series I'm editing?
I'm currently in the middle of editing together a short video project that needs ...
