A Word To The Wise

Archives - July 2009

  • Meter Levels Part 4: 0dBU (Analogue on VU meter) is equal to -14dBFS peak. The official standards are -20dBFS (Sony) and -18dBFS (EU). 12 days ago
  • Meter Levels Part 3: 0dBFS (Full Scale) on a peak meter is the digital threshold. When exceeded the signal is clipping. (Harsh distortion). 13 days ago
  • Meter Levels Part 2: 1dB is the quietest sound a human can hear. This is roughly the sound of a mosquito flying 3 metres away. 14 days ago
  • Meter Levels Part 1: 1 dB is the smallest detectable change in sound pressure level. A 6 to10 dB increase in level is twice as loud. 15 days ago
  • Mastering Part 5: The final conversion to CD should be done using high quality A/D converters and an accurate and reliable CD writer. 16 days ago
  • Mastering Part 4: It is vital that the entire mastering process should be monitored on your reference Hi-Fi and NOT on your studio monitors. 17 days ago
  • Mastering Part 3: Don't try to make your mix very loud. Always keep the dynamic integrity. The meter should be travelling about 6DB to peak. 18 days ago
  • Mastering Part 2: Once set up for the current mixdown it's only a matter of adjusting the individual volume levels. EG reducing the bass ETC 19 days ago
  • Mastering Part 1: A very powerful mastering tool is a dedicated multiband compressor set to isolate the bass, mid and high frequencies. 20 days ago
  • Digital Part 5: Record your mix to a 2 track digital recorder and burn the final master CD's. Send the tape for mastering or do it yourself. 21 days ago
  • Digital Part 4: Mix down to a correctly set up 1/4 inch 2 track tape recorder and you will add some highly desirable analogue warmth. 22 days ago
  • Digital Part 3: Now you can edit your tracks in the digital domain but avoid bit crunching and other digital artefacts. Best of both worlds. 23 days ago
  • Digital Part 2: Therefore use your analogue desk to send and later mix your tracks. Keep all your digital faders and pan settings at 0. 24 days ago
  • Digital Part 1: Digital recordings sound best if the digital recorder is used in exactly the same manner as a multi-track tape recorder. 25 days ago
  • Set the gain on a channel so that the meter peaks at 0DB. Now you can adjust the gain slightly while carefully listening for the best sound. 26 days ago
  • Connect all your outboard gear to one side of a patch bay. Connect your console inserts to the otherside. Label the patchbay. 27 days ago
  • Make a room more soundproof by sealing window frames etc with silicone. Seal gaps around the door with rubber strips. Airtight = soundproof. 28 days ago
  • The rule of thumb to dampen a bright room is to cover 40% of the surface area with foam. The thicker the foam, the less surface area needed. 29 days ago
  • To build a bass trap use a fibreglass bat overlaid with a marine ply board separated by an inch of airspace. Seal them airtight in a frame. 30 days ago
  • Before recording drums, re-seating the rims, new skins and careful tuning will help improve the sound. New cymbals sound better too. 31 days ago
  • Use a tempo map to speed up and slow down your click marginally. The players will easily follow and the song will have more life. 32 days ago
  • Delay time part 2: When the time division is a 1/4 note triplet - use 6 I.E. 240 / tempo / 6 and for a dotted 1/4 note use 2.666 33 days ago
  • The formula to calculate delay time in tempo is 240 / tempo / time division. EG If tempo = 120 @ 1/4 note then 240 / 120 / 4 = 0.5 (500ms) 34 days ago