Since its debut in 1960, the Sennheiser MD421 has been a staple in recording studios worldwide. Known for its versatility and exceptional sound quality, this dynamic microphone continues to be a favorite for capturing a wide range of instruments and…
In this video I show you how I mixed “Excommunication” a post-rock/progressive rock track by my own band Vandemonian, highlighting the techniques I used for elements such as guitars, drums, vocals, and effects. Key insights:🎸 The guitar intro features a…
Before you learn the foolproof process of what works, I want to first tell you about what things you should avoid. Knowing the mistakes of music production that others (me included) have made will further streamline your thought processes and…
If you’re just getting started on your music production journey, choosing the right Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) could be a daunting task. There seem to be so many to choose from, and all product websites claim they have you covered,…
Recording vocals should be a fairly simple undertaking, as we are only using one mic, with one sound source – what can possibly go wrong? The problems arise mostly on the performance side, and as a producer, I see it as my job to provide the setting for the best vocal performance possible.
Why do we do this music thing? Is it for ourselves? A creative outlet for our pent up emotions? To get our 15 minutes of fame or bask in the glory of a long career on the main stages of…
In the world of music recording, having access to a full studio setup with multiple microphones is a luxury not everyone enjoys. Whether you’re a musician on a budget, a home studio enthusiast, or simply looking for a quick drum…
In the dynamic world of music production, staying ahead of the curve is essential for budding audio engineers and musicians alike. While online tutorials and courses provide valuable insights, the depth and breadth of knowledge found in well-written books are…
What Is An Electronic Press Kit (EPK)? An Electronic Press Kit (EPK) is a powerful tool for any artist, band or creative looking to widen their reach, win over industry professionals, get booked for gigs and get signed to a…
Playing shows regularly is a hard slog. But there is no better way to gain traction as an independent artist, build your fan base, and maybe even impress a label rep who could pull you up to the next level….
When you record guitar amps, the harsh tones can be tough to handle. When I first started out recording, I spent a lot of time trying to get my electric guitar sounding clear and natural, without being too brittle. With a lot of trial and error and by choosing the right microphones for the job, I found several ways to record guitar amps while getting a balanced tone – clean or distorted.
In this video I show you the Glyn Johns mic technique for recording drums. You can use it to get a really loud, raw and punchy drum recording.
In this video I show you two different stereo recording techniques for miking acoustic guitar. Recording acoustic guitar with two mics will really bring out the depth of the instrument and place it front and centre of the stereo image.
In this video I show you some audio mixing techniques I used to mix Nora Inu’s new track Am Fear Liath Mór. It’s a post rock / post metal track alternating between sweet and chimey guitar melodies and deep and droning distorted riffs.
Today I’m going to show you a couple of things to consider when recording a snare drum. You would think it is one of the easiest drums to record, and it can be – if you do everything right while…
It’s an old cliché but one that doesn’t want to die. Band forms, writes songs, plays gig, gets “discovered”, gets signed, releases album, gets famous. Overnight success. We all know that isn’t how it works, but it sure as hell…
Music-NFTs and the blockchain in general are set to disrupt the music industry, because the decentralised nature of the technology is the perfect remedy to the centralised, top-down music business.
No matter what instrument you play, if you really want to nail your album in the studio, you’ve got to come prepared. And as drums form the foundation of most music genres, drum tracking is probably the most important step of the recording process.
As a young musician first starting out tying to record instruments in my makeshift home studio, I had no clue what I was doing. I would just throw up a mic somewhere near the guitar, amp or piano I was…
Recording a Killer DIY Drum Sound in a Home Studio or Band Room …without spending thousands on high end mics and preamps… Producing a decent DIY drum recording in your band room isn’t rocket science. If it was, we audio…
Having finished studio construction and acoustics in autumn of 2021 I was very keen to get the first bands in and experience the band recording process “in real life”. A new space can take some time getting used to, and…
Probably the most controversial topic among musicians, the decision to record to a click track or not can cause deep rifts in a band and endless discussions. There are many pros and cons, and each band member will have his or her preference and perspective on the right way to ensure both timing and performance of a recording are up to scratch.
Hamburg Stoner Rock Band Kaimar have released the first single off their new EP. Recorded and mixed by Nick Braren at Upaya Sound, “Rote Fäden” (“Red Threads”) comes with a psychedelic music video made up of vintage archive footage and…
Acoustic treatment seems a complex topic. But in this post I will show you how easy it is to build DIY acoustic panels for your band room. All it takes is a few supplies from the hardware store and a weekend to put the absorbers together.
Every guitarist knows that feeling. That abrasive friction you feel when you run your fingers up and down the fretboard. You can feel the gunk under your fingertips. You can taste it when you accidentally lick your fingers a few…
All guitarists know that sound. That annoying buzz that cuts into all conversations in the band room when our amp is switched on. Guitar pedal noise can be a real pain.
It’s done. You’ve been whittling away at those tracks for months and months, slotting in those parts, getting that transition working between the bridge and the final chorus – and it all fits. A slick six-song EP. Or a 24 track double album? An eight track tour-de-force in under 20 minutes?
Last weekend I spent my time locked in a room filled with amps and gear on an industrial estate just outside Lüneburg in northern Germany. I was there to record the latest EP by Hamburg trio LAZAR, a very interesting instrumental post rock band whose music is constantly evolving from sweet, atmospheric guitar melodies to raw, pounding stabs of noise.
