At the risk of sounding trite, the point of music is to make sounds that make people happy. I don’t think a more basic definition of music is possible- beyond that, all bets are off. Regardless of the way you’re making music, and how you’re trying to sound good, we can agree on one thing: …
The link between music and garages is robust and inextricable. For so many musicians, the garage is the natural setting for their first recording or practice sessions.“Garage rock” is even an established genre, associated with fresh, rough, and raw-sounding music. Early punk music was born of garage rock, seeking to eschew the sterility of the …
How to Build a Home Garage Soundproof Music Studio Read More »
Producing music is one of those hobbies that can turn into a lifestyle before you realize it. Creating music feels good, and then a person starts researching ways to make their music sound even better, and before they know it they are learning how to hang drywall so they can build a room within a …
The world of music is an unpredictable mix of primitive and cutting-edge technology. Some of the most beloved gear to this day was invented in the 1950s-1960s, including the Shure SM57 (1953), Fender Stratocaster (1954), Neumann U87 (1967), and countless other examples. Yet, since the advent of the digital age, technology has raced forward to …
Reverberation- the technical term for what we usually call echo- is a finicky creature. Most musicians have had this experience: you find a long tunnel, tall stairwell, or perhaps a huge church with vaulted ceilings, and you make some music just to experience the power of the reverberation in real-time. We love to sing in …
How to Reduce Echo in a Large Room with High Ceilings Read More »
If you’ve had external noise ruin your recordings, you know how frustrating it can be. Sound isolation is probably the number one reason people start to wonder how to build a soundproof room within a room. Your options when building a soundproof room within a room are traditional construction or a portable booth. For the …
The Telecaster has the bad luck of standing in its cousin’s shadow. The Stratocaster, of course, is practically visually synonymous with the electric guitar. Yet, the Telecaster is an extremely proud and iconic guitar in its own right, a worthy pairing with the Strat. With their fabulous curves and space-age portmanteau names, it’s little wonder …
6 Best Guitar Strings for the Fender Telecaster (2022) Read More »
There comes a time when someone walks into your studio or venue carrying an instrument that you haven’t recorded before. In this scenario, let’s say that the instrument is a melodica. The melodica is becoming a popular instrument, much like the ukulele has over the past decade or so. This is in part due to …
The kick drum is the heartbeat. It is felt as much as it’s heard. It connects the cerebral ideas in the music to visceral, carnal feelings. The kick drum is the basis of modern dance music. From disco to EDM and beyond, the classic “four-on-the-floor” pattern is enough to get the crowd moving before any …
When it comes to microphone placement for voiceovers, some very important factors to consider are the following: proximity, polar pattern, and dynamics. Just want a quick answer on where to place the mic for voiceovers? For most mics, you’ll want to place the mic around 6 to 8 inches away from your mouth in order …
