Studio Solutions 85
Shure KSM8: Upgrade your Dynamic Game
Dynamic mics are pervasive and for good reason. Whether you are gigging at the dive bar, opening at an arena, or making a demo in the basement, there is almost always a dynamic mic within reach. If that’s the case, shouldn’t we be pining for the highest quality possible in these ever present microphones? Shure […]
Headphones Ohms Ratings Explained
All headphones have an impedance rating, measured in ohms. But what do headphone ohm ratings mean? In practical terms, impedance tells us how much power your headphones require to deliver a reasonable listening volume. Put simply, the higher your headphones’ impedance, the higher source voltage they need. Knowing your headphones’ impedance helps you determine which […]
Kali Audio WS-12: The Sub for Live or Studio Use
You can’t mix the low end if you can’t hear it — so why do so many home studio owners go without a subwoofer? A decent sub is a good investment for anyone who’s serious about mixing audio for music, video projects, or films. These days even portable speakers put out an impressive amount of […]
Dynamic, Ribbon, and Condenser Microphones
Similar to how an artist’s choice in brushes can widely affect the textures in a painting, different microphone types have the ability to also affect the textures of your recordings in various ways. While there are countless brands and models of microphones, I’d like to focus on three main types used to record music: dynamic, […]
Review: Shure MV7 XLR/USB Hybrid Microphone
When you think of broadcasting and podcasting, one of the first brands to come to mind is Shure. The company was founded in 1925 and is well known for many microphones, such as the Beta 58A, the SM57, and the legendary SM7B. As most of you know, the SM7B is regarded as one of the […]
Bose L1 Pro vs. Bose L1 Model II, 1S, and Compact
When Bose first announced their L1 “Cylindrical Radiator” loudspeaker system back in 2003, it was considered a radical approach to a live PA system. Over the years, as musicians increasingly adopted the new design, countless competitors began to launch column-style PA systems of their own. When Bose retired their original L1 Classic and L1 Model […]
Mix Tips: Cleaning Up the High End
As you may know, the bass frequency area in a mix should be like an exclusive club — only authorized instruments and sounds are allowed in. The reason for this is two-fold: it gives you more headroom to work with in your mix (alleviating some of the pressure from your 2-bus compressor and limiter), and […]
Directly Mic Your Electric Guitar for Extra Attack
I’ll be honest, putting a mic up on an electric guitar as it is being played is one of the more unusual recording “hacks” I’ve learned about. While owing its roots to the earliest recordings of rock, this trick can help modern guitarists and producers add a bit of dimension and texture to otherwise “ordinary” […]
Mix Tips: Using Slower Attack Times for Compression
Do you like to mix songs to sound huge, loud, and attention-grabbing, even if you have to distort and compress the hell out of them? Well I do. Dynamic range purists and audiophiles, feel free to stop reading here. You’re already using your compressors gently and sparingly, like a French chef uses seasoning. Well done. […]
