These tips were written by Stonebridge Mastering for our future customers. We are genuinely concerned with how your music sounds. These tips are written for beginner and intermediate recording engineers. At Stonebridge Mastering, we love to work with great sounding albums and we would like to help you create one. We put these tips together so that we can help our future customers achieve their full potential of audio fidelity in their home and project studios. Sometimes, it is difficult for beginning and intermediate recording engineers to reach the next level, and we hope that we can guide you to your potential. When you have completed your mixes, we would love for you to send them to us so that the same care and passion that has gone into creating our studio, our video, our online content and our software can go into the mastering of your album.
GETTING INSTRUMENTS READY TO RECORD
1. Tune all instruments - Make sure to tune all instruments and keep them in tune. Although often ignored, drums must be carefully tuned.
2. Use fresh new strings, drum heads, etc. - Use a fresh pair of guitar strings, drum heads, and amp tubes. The recording can only be as good as the sources being recorded.
3. Use quality instruments and amplifiers, rent or borrow them if they are outside of your budget - A good all-tube 1x12 amplifier is an excellent choice for every style of music. Tube amp distortion is almost always more tasteful than any pedal, even if the pedal has a tube. If you can't afford the equipment you need, then rent or borrow the best stuff that you can. Local dealers usually try to work with the musicians in-town.
AVOIDING CLIPPING WHILE RECORDING
4. Keep your peaks below -3db - Keep peaks below -3db on your individual track peak meters, plug-in peak meters and on your master output peak meters. All meters lie, so don't trust them about clipping. Don't worry about the loudness, just turn your monitors up. Leave it to a good mastering studio to take care of the final loudness perception. Some meters are not peak meters and do not stop at 0. If you are using one of those meters, such as the K-System meters which may show +20, +14, or +12, then please take the time to understand K-System Meters.
5. Check for clipping between every plug-in - You have to make sure that clipping is not occuring between plug-ins. Plug-ins usually have meters where you can check the input and output levels. Sometimes a plug-in can raise the output and introduce clipping, but later in the signal chain, another plug-in will reduce the overall output, but the clipping is still there. So it's always good to make sure that clipping is not occurring between every plug-in in the signal chain.
6. Think of the flow - The signal flows through the signal chain. It starts with the digital recording and then it flows through any plug-ins and then through the master output. You must check that the peaks are below -3db at everywhere in this flow. That means taking charge of your signal flows by checking individual track meters, plug-in meters and master output meters before saying that the mix is final.
ACOUSTICS ARE IMPORTANT
7. Acoustic treatment is cheap - Owens and Corning 703 is cheap and amazing. You don't have to spend a bundle to get the ball rolling on professional acoustic treatment.
8. Build your own acoustic baffles - If you don't have a recording room that has been designed by an acoustician, then you will almost always want to record very dry and add in artificial depth yourself using the delay and reverb techniques we discuss later. You can make your own acoustic baffles to help you create a very tight, closely miced recording that is perfect for adding artificial depth (see our reverb and delay techniques).
THE ART OF EQUALIZATION
9. Get serious about EQ - Explore the technique of subtractive EQ. An informed approach to Q is one of the biggest steps you can take towards a professional sounding recording. We have a good visual explanation of subtractive EQ in our video.
10. Low-frequency roll offs - In almost all cases you will want to use EQ to remove bass frequencies from all tracks that are not bass instrument tracks. To remove bass frequencies, you may want to cut around 175Hz and below, then adjust the frequency and the slope of the EQ Curve (the Q) while listening to the mix.
11. Try to avoid adding too much "air" - Many times, so much extra high frequency, sometimes called "air", is added to hi-hats and vocals that the mix becomes like sandpaper. Adding excessive high-frequencies by boosting an EQ can tie the mastering engineer's hands because the really sweet mastering EQs cannot be used to add the needed high-frequency sparkle because so much has already been added. You should always be very careful when adding high frequencies. If there is a problem, then the real problem is normally that subtractive EQ is not being considered.
12. Subtractive EQ - Taking frequencies away from a recording, rather than boosting them, is the most basic description of Subtractive EQ. To boost highs, take away mids, to boost bass, take away mids or highs. Also, to increase the overall fidelit y of your recording, you can remove the less important frequencies of an instrument to reduce frequency overlap in the mix. We have a wonderful visual explanation of this concept in our video "How to Prepare Your Audio for Mastering" which is available by clicking here.
13. EQ is not always necessary - Like any effect, EQ can be overused and sometimes it may not be necessary.
14. EQ Before Compression - Most engineers agree that audio should run through the EQ before the compression unless you are using the EQ as an effect.
COMPRESSORS AND LIMITERS (DYNAMICS PROCESSING)
15. Using Compression - Compression should not be used all the time. It's good to use compression when something varies in volume too much, or if you want the change in tone that compression can provide (such as added warmth and more sustain). Overusing compression can destroy the dynamics that makes a vivid recording. There are many professional engineers who use very little or no compression.
16. Parallel Compression - Parallel Compression should be used when you want the tonal benefit of compression but you don't want to lose any punch. Engineers most often find it useful on drum buses (or on a bounced down mixdown of all of the drum tracks).
17. Don't overdo compression - Compression can reduce the overall vibrancy of the music, so it must be used carefully. Always error on the side of too little, or no compression, rather than over-compressing a recording. You can tell when something is becoming over-compressed because it sounds more lifeless and dull.
18. Using analog / analog-emulation compressors - Analog compressors and digital models of analog compressors usually color the sound more than limiters and transparent digital compressors. Many engineers use compressors with color on vocals, guitars and basses. For instance, many engineers find the sound of an LA-2A compressor (or the UAD-1 Digital Plug-in emulation of it) on bass guitars, because of the way it can round a bass-guitar sound.
19. Digital limiters - Use a digital limiter to raise the sound in a mix, without the color that compression can add. This is used very often on keyboard sounds or software synthesizers.
DELAY / REVERB TECHNIQUES
20. Reverb Techniques - Panning - Panning reverb into the opposite channel (2 channel or 5.1) can produce a very classic and depthful effect. For example, in a stereo recording, you can pan the source into the left speaker, and pan the reverb of the source into the right speaker. A plug-in can be used
21. Reverb Techniques - Pre-delay - Pre-delay can help with temporal un-masking. Basically, you must tweak the pre-delay of a reverb every time you use a reverb, so that the reverb signal and the original signal does not overlap in time. Many engineers will not use a reverb without pre-delay unless they create the same pre-delay effect by other means.
22. The Haas Effect - Delay time set beteen 12-40ms, or multiple delays set between 12-40ms - The Haas Effect can be noticed when you set a delay but the original signal and the delay blend and the delay does not become and echo. The delay is happening so quickly that it the source and the delay sound like one. This is extremely useful in creating depth in a mix.
23. Depth and Space - Reverb using pre-delay and Delay/Multiple Delays using the Haas Effect can help create depth and space if they are used correctly.
24. Creating space - Some of the best mixes make the listener feel as if they are moving into different spaces. Using these techniques, you can create the sensation of moving from space to space as songs or parts change.
OTHER PROCESSING
25. Reverse delay and reverb - In almost all DAWs, you can reverse a recording (so that it plays backwards) then apply an effect, and reverse it again. When you think of that odd effect on modern horror movie preview voices, then you are thinking of the reverse delay. If you have never experimented with this technique, then you will likely be very happy to add it to your tools.
26. Auto-Tune - Many modern engineers are using auto-tune processing such as Antares Autotune on almost every vocal. We're not saying it's the best thing to do, we are just saying that it is extremely common.
27. The huge modern rock and metal guitar sound - There is no one answer, but there are some very typical things used to create great modern rock guitar sounds. Often, it's a tasteful guitar going into an all-tube 1x12, with different microphone positions and types being tried out and the best one selected (many rock engineers prefer ribbon microphones). The microphones are amplified by a great preamp, and may go through a "color" compressor (often a high quality tube compressor). Finally it is converted with a high quality AD/DA converter as they the sound is recorded into the DAW. There may be several overdub layers recorded and mixed in subtly. Many of the other tips suggested here are in use.
DIGITAL RECORDING
28. High Quality AD/DA Conversion - This is key to overall fidelity improvement. We don't say that for anything else on this entire list. The overall fidelity possible at a studio depends, in our opinion, most heavily on AD/DA conversion. The AD/DA conversion in a stock interface such as MOTU, Lynx, M-Audio and Presonus cannot begin to compare with what is possible with an Apogee, RME, Crane Song, Benchmark, Lavry, Prism or other high-quality converters.
29. Record at high-sample rates - You can hear a difference, but it is mostly due to the process of converting audio from sample rate to sample rate. The difference is due to filter design rather than the actual differences in sample rate. For the most part, if your sample rate is 44.1 or above, then everything is fine. Although sample rates have become the focus of marketing hype, many engineers agree that it has an extremely subtle effect on overall fidelity.
30. Bit Depth - You should always record at 24-bit. Unlike sample rates, bit depth can make a big difference in the overall fidelity of your recording. At 24-bit you can record at levels far below -3dB (on a standard peakmeter) and still have a very high-fidelity recording.
31. Using Digital Cables - If you are using digital AES/EBU connections, make sure to use digital 110ohm cable instead of standard 75ohm cable. When recording at higher sample rates, there can be audible differences.
32. Firewire Interfaces - If you are using Windows and a firewire interface, you may need to disable the 1394 Firewire Networking device in Network connections.
33. Optimizing for background services - Most DAWs will function better if you go to your windows control panel, then to advanced, then to performance settings, and under the advanced tab if you select "Adjust for the best performance of: Background services" instead of Programs.
LATENCY AND BUFFERS
34. Recording Latency - Latency is a very common problem that plagues inexperienced engineers. While recording, it is best to go into your DAW's options and switch the driver system to ASIO (WDM is usually the default), and set your audio interface buffer settings (which are in it's options) to the lowest that your computer will allow. Setting your buffers below 512MB usually give acceptable latency. Set your DAW back to WDM to hear the full resolution sound of your mixes. ASIO gives lower fidelity but is faster.
35. The plague of MIDI Latency - Having problems with latency when you use MIDI? Go into your DAW's options and switch the driver system to ASIO, set your buffers low and set your audio interface's buffers to below 512MB. If you still experience latency, you may need to lower the buffers further or upgrade your computer.
36. Buffer settings - Higher buffers will make the recording environment more stable, but with higher latency. Lower buffers will make the enviornment more volitle, but will reduce latency. If you reduce buffers too far, you will get a very weird, obviously choppy sound. Both your audio interface and your DAW will have buffer settings. Switching between the WDM and ASIO driver systems is another option for reducing latency. WDM gives you the full fidelity of the recording while ASIO allows for lower latency, but with lower fidelity.
MICROPHONE TECHNIQUES
37. Mic Placement - Adjust, re-adjust. Don't be afraid to experiment. Explore the classic microphone arrays that are used by professionals.
38. Stereo Micing - Many times, engineers will place one microphone close to the source, and the second microphone at least three times the distance between the first microphone and the source. Usually stereo paired microphones are 'aligned,' which means they are the same brand, model, and were manufactured as close to same date as possible sometimes even with only one number of the serial number being different. Experiment using stereo paired microphones in different configurations. A few of the more common techniques will be discussed below.
39. Coincident Pair - A pair of directional microphones placed such that the diaphragms nearly touch and are mounted vertically relative to the sound source. Two common techniques used are 'XY' (sometimes referred to as LR) and 'MS' (or mid-side). Typically XY consists of two cardioid microphones, each symmetrically left and right to the center of the source. Mid-side technique usually refers to a cardioid (mid) and bi-directional (side) microphones placed so that the cardioid microphone picks up most of the center information and each side of the bi-directional serve as left and right. Be sure you have either passed your signal through an MS decoder or simply double your side information, being careful to reverse the phase on one side, and sum the Mid information panning left and right.
40. Near Coincident - Similar to the previously explained technique, near coincident placement allows a small yet significant time difference between channels which can enhance stereo image and localization. This technique is popular because the distance between microphones closely approximates the distance between the average person's ears.
41. Spaced Pair - Two microphones usually placed horizontally a few feet apart pointed at the sound source. Always be conscious of the 3:1 rule to avoid phase misalignments. The "Decca Tree" is a classical way to position the microphones involving three omni-directional microphones placed 90 degrees from each other with the center microphone spaced slightly forward. The 3:1 rule says that the distance between microphones should be at least three times the difference between the microphone and the source it is recording.
42. Reading up on micing - There are many places you can go <link>LIST</link> to find micing techniques. You should read up on micing techniques for every instrument you plan to record before you begin recording.
43. Capturing high frequencies - Normally, the higher up a microphone is placed (elevation), the higher the frequencies it will capture.
MONITORING
44. Using good monitors - The adjustments you make can only be as accurate as the accuracy of your monitoring environment. Imagine painting while wearing foggy glasses, the painting could not possibly be as detailed as it could be with clear glasses. Monitoring is about both high resolution monitors and the acoustic environment. If you cannot afford an acoustician and building modifications, then you will likely want to deaden the room as much as possible. A very practical home studio fix is to move a mirror around the wall of the room and place an Owens and Corning 703 panel ($18) at every place where you can see the monitors in the mirror from the mix position. You may want to cover the panels with fabric to make them look more attractive.
45. Monitor placement - You will want to place your monitors symmetrically in the room (each monitor should be the same distance from the wall as the other). You will want to make an equilateral triangle with the 2 monitors and the mix position as the end points. Basically, that means that there should be the exact same distance between you, each monitor and the monitors themselves. Monitors will sound brighter the farther away they are from from the wall (Speaker Boundary Interface Response). For instance, if your mixes sound too bright everywhere else that you play them except in your studio, then you can move your studio monitors a little closer to make them more bright to compensate. Therefore, you can move your monitors with this in mind to achieve a better frequency balance.
46. Two subwoofers - Using a left and right subwoofer will result in more accurate bass adjustments.
RECORDING/MIXING GOALS
47. Maintain Punchyness - You will want to make sure that your final mixes are punchy. You will want the bass drum, and the overall punchyness to be a little more than you would expect from the final master. If you are thinking that a bass drum punchyness transformation is going to happen in mastering then you are not on the right path. If your bass drum is not punchy enough, revisit #___ about Subtractive EQ and #___ about Low-frequency roll-offs.
48. Final mixes do not need to compete with final mastered recordings - Due mostly to higher dynamics, final masters usually sound different, and do not need to compete in volume with final commercial masters. This is especially important because if the final mixes are as loud as a commercial master, then the mastering studio cannot use their sweet limiters and compressors to increase the levels in the ways that make mastering magic.
49. Focus on achieving a good balance - The main goal in your mixes should be to achieve a good frequency balance and a good volume (level) balance between recorded tracks.
50. Reference CDs are not always as good of an idea as you might thin - Sometimes mixing engineers have a client bring in a reference CD and the goal is to make the mix sound like the commercially released reference CD. That reference CD is almost always a final mastered CD, and chasing after its sound is often like a cat trying to catch a laser dot. After all, the reference CD has been professionally mastered, and you are comparing a final mix to a final master. Trying to achive that "huge" sound you hear on a commercially released master recording while mixing can stop the mastering engineer from being able to help you actually achieve it. Concentrating on getting a good balance is usually the best main goal.
51. Don't be afraid to do the work - I learned in the military that while shining boots, there are many methods but the most important factor is the time you spend. The same holds true for mixing -- the more time you spend checking this list against the work on your mixes, the better your recordings will sound.
52. Don't go overboard with effects - Just because you have them doesn't mean you need to over-use them. This is especially true with compression and EQ. A little bit of compression and EQing goes a long way. Reverb can become over-powering, especially if you don't use pre-delay. You must understand how to use the tools that you have, but it is equally important to know when they should not be used.
53. Good Mics and Good Preamps - Using high quality microphones and preamps can have a serious impact on your recording. If money is not an issue, we recommend George Massenburg preamps, if money is a factor, the grace designs preamps are a very good value.
PREPARING A FINAL MIX FOR MASTERING
54. ISRC Codes - These codes are available free from the <Link>RIAA</Link>. You will receive a unique code for each song on your album. It allows radio station systems to track royalties and ownership, as well as some other online systems.
55. Send high bitrate mixdowns to your mastering studio - You should mix your final mixes down to 24-bit and not 16-bit. Also, you cannot just convert a 16-bit .wav to 24-bit, it just doesn't work that way.
56. Make a "room tone" recording for your mastering engineer - It is always good to make a 10-second recording of the room you are working in as a "room tone" recording, it should be a recording of silence in the room used for recording. Supplying your mastering studio with this file will help him make better transitions, because he will not have to fade completely to digital silence between tracks.
57. Loudness for the Radio - Louder, more compressed mixes will not sound louder on the radio. Orban processing (used at almost all FM Radio stations) processes almost all audio to have a similar dynamic range, and higher limiting will not give any advantage. Highly compressed recordings can actually sound less competitive than a recording with higher dynamics.
58. Getting a thick bass sound without a bass - Many producers use a MiniMoog to produce round, rich bass sounds without a bass guitar. It is a very notable sound for bass. You may even use it in combination with an LA-2A, as many people do with real bass guitars. Of course, there are many other synthesizers that can be used to create rich bass lines.
59. Make sure not to place microphones too close - One thing in recording that often helps contribute to the sense of space is the distance away from the source that a mic is placed. Micing too closely can deaden a mix, and you should always experiment with microphone placement to get good tones. If you're always putting microphones an inch away or two away from the source, you should pull them back a bit and see how it sounds. This can often be very important with vocals. You can also use microphone distance to help create layers in the mix.
60. Get professional mastering - Many home studio engineers and project studio engineers do the mastering themselves and find themselves unsatisfied. If you are in need of a professional sounding album, and want to participate in the professional process, then send your final mixes to a reputable, professional mastering studio. You'll only spend about $400, which is well worth it for polishing something that you are creating to be a legacy. Low-quality and even medium-quality mastering can break an album's potential. Professional mastering means professional quality. Even with raw music like metal or raw blues, professional mastering is usually far more more important than many people know.
Some of these points are illustrated in more detail in our 15 minute video:
Stonebridge Mastering Studio's:
Mixing and Recording Tips Video
