Here’s a fun little panning trick I use from time to time on pads/keyboard parts. Enjoy!
Category Archives: Tips & Tricks
Preserve Processing Part 3 – Offline Processing
So far we’ve talked about using busses to minimize the number of plug-ins you use and also committing to your plug-in settings by recording them to another track.
Well I have one more tip for you in this “Preserve Processing” series – offline processing.
If you’re using any computer-based recording system other than Pro Tools HD, you are using a native system, meaning your plug-ins are processed by the computer’s processor.
The number of plug-ins you can run simultaneously depends on how much your CPU can handle. Once you hit the limit, you get something like the error message above.
Pro Tools LE uses RTAS plug-ins (Real-Time AudioSuite). All other DAWs use something similar (VST, AU, etc.). These process the audio in real time, hence the drain on your CPU when you throw a ton of them on a song.
Preserve Processing Part 2 – Commit to Plug-in Settings
Yesterday we looked at using busses to route several tracks through one effect as one way of preserving some of your computer’s processing power.
Today I want to talk to you about commitment. That’s right, I said it. Have trouble committing to something? She mentions “baby,” and you freak out, right?
Okay, I’m not talking about that kind of commitment.
Preserve Processing Part 1 – Bus Several Tracks Through the Same Effect
Do you run into walls in your computer-based home studio? Do you get that dreaded “increase buffer size” message long before your mix is over? Do you wish you had thousands of dollars to spend on a top-of-the-line computer, or maybe a Pro Tools HD system?
Don’t we all.
The truth is that recording is a hobby for most of you. You can’t justify dropping thousands of dollars on this hobby, so you’ve got to make the best of the system you have.
I don’t know the actual statistics, but if you buy a computer today, it’s probably “old hat” within two or three years. Does that mean it’s useless? Not at all, but it does mean you’ll have to work a little harder to get the most out of your machine.
The Best Mixing Tip
Yesterday I linked to a few great articles on preparing to mix by Jon at Audio Geek Zine. (If you haven’t read those yet, be sure to do so.)
In keeping with the mixing theme, I have a question. If I walked up to you and asked you for one mixing tip – just one – what would it be?
You could tell me to not overuse compression. You could tell me to get acoustic treatment. Perhaps you’d tell me to get a summing box. Or maybe you’d tell me there’s no way I can get a good mix without upgrading converters and monitors. Or maybe a big, expensive plug-in bundle is the ticket to good mixes.
What do you think?
Printing Effects and Instruments in Pro Tools [Video]
Have you ever hit a wall when recording or mixing? Sure you have. We’ve all gotten the dreaded “I can’t handle this; please increase your hardware buffer size” message from our DAW.
In this video I explain how to print some of your tracks/instruments and free up more processing.
5 Ways to Ruin a Recording Session [Friday the 13th Edition]
It’s Friday the 13th. Late-night TV will be riddled with all sorts of slasher films. In honor of that, I want to give you a recipe for how to ruin a recording session (so you can re-create your very own horror film right in your home studio!).
1. Sing into the wrong side of the microphone.
Yep. I’m guilty of this one. I sang an entire vocal take into the back of a microphone. I thought it sounded bad, but I went right ahead and recorded a full take of the vocal. Sadly, it took me a while to figure it out.
2. Don’t save.
If you’re into wasting time and making extra work for yourself, then this step is for you. Simpy work for hours on a recording session, and never hit “Save.” If you really want to stick it to yourself, turn off your DAW’s automatic save function. (For example, Pro Tools defaults to automatically saving your session every five minutes. Be sure to turn that sucker off.)
3. Never back up your files.
If #2 doesn’t sound dastardly enough, try this one on for size. Once you’ve invested hours and hours into a recording session, be sure to not back up the files to a backup drive. In fact, you really shouldn’t even own a backup drive. What a waste.
4. Use your eyes instead of your ears.
You’ll hear all sorts of engineers and music gurus tell you that you need to make all your mixing decisions with your ears. Forget that. Choose whatever EQ setting looks pretty to you. If you like the way the compressor looks when it pumps out 30 dB of gain reduction, go for it!
Also, don’t waste any time testing out different microphone placements during tracking, just throw a mic in front of the source and hit record as soon as possible.
5. Use as much reverb as you possibly can.
If you’re really new to recording, then you may already be a pro at this step. If you’ve gotten away from this, then you really are shooting yourself in the foot. You’ll never have a chance of making horrifying recordings if you don’t drown everything in reverb.
Your turn. If you have a lot of experience in ruining a recording session, please share your tips here. We all want to learn. 
[Photo Credit: Double Feature Podcast]
Setting Levels for Recording
A good buddy of mine is coming down to Murfreesboro this weekend. We’re planning to spend a lot of time over at Walnut House Studios recording his next album.
I’m excited. It’ll be fun to mic up the drum kit and rock out.
There are a lot of things to focus on during a tracking session, especially when you’re recording a dozen or more inputs at once. You want to make sure you’re getting a good sound from each microphone. That’s step one. (You’ll spend the rest of your recording life perfecting step one.)
I want to focus on step two – getting good levels.
