Defining Signals for Sound

In recording, there are a variety of ways to capture the sounds that you want and to filter out the ones that you don't want. These are all done through the capacities of equipment parts known as signal processors. Typically, signal processors will be used during the pre-mixing and mixing stage as well as the set up of instruments. They are also used as a combination of defining what the instruments need to turn into a wave and what the mixing can do to make the instruments sound at their best. Following are some basic signal processors you should know.

Equalization. This is also known as EQs and is used in a variety of places of the recording process. The main part of this is to create a balance between the ranges that are within each instrument, from the low to the mid and high ranges. Equalization processors can be found in mixing boards as balance knobs as well as specialized functions in different types of software.

Filters. This is done to take out the extra sounds that don't fit into the song. For example, if you have a buzz or white noise that you can't get out physically, you can filter the sound and allow for only the clarity to come through. This is done by isolating the wave and recalculating the wave instead of the noise underneath.

Reverberation. This is an effect that is used after the instruments are recorded into the software. Reverb allows for the resonance that would be heard in a natural setting to be implemented into the song. This type of setting works best for sounds that are already clear and need an extra effect to them.

Delay. This is the echo effect of signal processors. Delays come in a variety of formats, ranging from changing the room to a larger room to an echo effect that stops the sound from occurring by milliseconds. Depending on the technique and sound you are trying to create, you can use this specific tool to create a completely different sound in your music.

Dynamic Processing. This consists of a variety of options for recording, all which take place at the very beginning of the process of recording. The first type of processing is compression in which the wave will be limited to certain peaks on both sides, allowing it to stay closer to the middle. The second type of processing is expansion, in which the waves move to higher peaks that are away from the middle. Limiting is the third option, and stops the notes from sounding for a longer period of time. The last type of dynamic processing is noise gates, which stops certain sounds from being recorded, especially if it is based around the resonance of an instrument.

Noise Reduction. This is done in order to dampen the noises that are being heard through the recording process and is typically done at every step of recording. Noise reduction will include the ability to limit sounds and to reduce the lows or highs that don't need to be heard with certain sound effects.

These main signal processors are used in order to control the recording process and sounds as well as to create the desired effects for the end result. By using these different components at different times, it becomes easier to effectively create the sound you want through your recordings.

Keeping the Balance: Equalizing Instruments

If you are rehearsing or performing with a group, you automatically know that the last step before getting onto the stage is to make sure that everything blends. There is nothing that kills a performance of music more than not having the right fit. I'm sure many of you have experienced going to a performance and hearing a female voice taking over the entire band or noticing that one of the mics stopped the rest of the instrumentation from getting into the right groove.

Recording is no different in terms of finding balance. There will be two areas in which this happens, one which is with the physical recording, and one which is balanced through the EQs, also known as equalizers. When you are working in your studio, you want to make sure that you are aware of both of these sound levels for your recording, as it will make the entire difference in how your sound turns out in the end.

The first part of the sound balance comes from the physical presence. This will be done through the mixing board. With this, there will be the need to balance the instruments as they will be recorded into the tracks so that the volume does not peak too high and so each individual instrument can have a natural sound to it. When building this part of the equalization, you will want to pay attention to both the input into the computer as well as the output that the individuals hear through the monitors.

The main concept during this part is to make sure that everyone is equal. This means that the volume levels should be about the same on everyone. Remember that the lower it is, the more room you have to change the mix later. You don't want anyone to peak with their instrument during any part of the recording. Sound checking will help with both the input and output part of the recording.

The EQs are the next important part of getting the right mixes together. This is something that will be done from the mixing to the final mastering. During every step of the way, you will want to make sure that you have a balance between the high and low sounds and that one does not dominate over another.

There are a variety of standards that are followed in order to keep EQs in certain levels. This will be based on personal preferences as well as industry standards that are divided by genre of music. The main thing to keep in mind; however, is to not let one frequency be too loud over another. This means that the low part of one instrument should be about the same as the high end.

This should be the same for the instruments that are blended together. Unless you want some extra bass boost that comes through the recording or want the piano to dominate over the other instruments, make sure that everything is at about the same volume level. Not only can you do this through the normalization, mixing and mastering, but you can also place envelopes throughout the individual instruments. This will allow for certain parts of the song to be kept at a certain level then move back up to a normal dynamic level at another part.

The best way to check and see if all of these components are working correctly is to see how the monitors sound. Your monitors should be placed up high and on both sides of the room so that you can hear how the sound is bouncing back. The low ends on the bottom of the monitor will tell you if the bass is too high and the high ends will let you know if the high ends are too high. You can then adjust according to your preference until you have a fit.

Whatever your style of music, never start without getting the balance between individual instruments and the whole put into place. The more you know about this mixing process and EQs the better your CD will come out and the more professional it will sound. Finding your preferences and looking into the standards will give you a head start on keeping everything balanced.

Tips and Tricks for Recording Your Voice

It's finally time to put the voice into sound wave format. Before you start singing your favorite notes, you will want to make sure that everything is set up correctly. The voice is the trickiest part of recording as well as the very last step to getting everything in correctly. Before you begin, know exactly how to approach your notes.

Your first step to recording your voice is to not record your voice. This means that you will want to have everything else exactly like it should be. The rest of your instrumentation should be completed, including everything from the layering of instruments to the mixing. Putting the voice in before you have anything else done will cause slight confusion in the end from all musicians and may cause some parts of the track to be off.

After you have everything set, prepare your recording studio in the correct way for voice. This means that you should have an enclosed space to record, which doesn't cause the voice to bounce off the walls from the resonance. The microphone should be set in place to pick up all sides of the voice, but should be able to muffle the rest of the sounds in the room. The more enclosed and deadened the sound, the easier it will be to capture the voice.

One of the important parts of recording the voice is linked to the peaks in the voice. It is easy for a vocal sound to peak, meaning that the sound wave goes past the maximum and into a 'red zone' of volume. You will want to prevent this from happening and keep the voice condensed in a specific area. Remember, it is always easier to get louder, but it is harder to get softer. For this purpose, compressors have been created. This is set into the microphone and compresses the sound wave before it is recorded into the software. Always check the compression of the voice and the peaks that it has so that you have room to work with the volume.

From this point, it is a matter of putting the right mixes in for the voice. Equalizers, or EQs will help to get the right sounds of the high and low frequencies in and should always be set on the mixer as well as within the software. You will also want to consider things such as noise gates, which stops the sound from resonating before it is recorded. If the voice naturally resonates, the noise gate will have a cut off point where the resonance will stop, making everything clear instead of sounding like it echoes.

After the voice is recorded, you can use it like you would any other instrument. This means that you can normalize the sound waves so that it matches with the other instruments in volume and gain. This also means that you can allow the volume to mix properly.

One of the greatest sets of tools for the voice is being able to manipulate the sound, which can be done after the normalization is complete. Reverb, flanges and other vocal tools can add back into the voice what is taken out for compression. This will depend on the type of voice and the effect that you want to have. For example, if the voice has a slight accent or already has a strong resonance, reverb will make it sound like an echo. A clearer voice; however, will add in a little sparkle to the mix. You will want to analyze the type of voice you are working with before you add in the mix and will want to take some time to experiment with your options.

If you follow this simple sets of rules, recording the voice can move from being the hardest and most complex part of recording to being the simplest step in putting together all of the sounds. Giving yourself room to experiment with the voice and understanding what it needs in order to work right will allow you to get the exact results every time.

10 Tips to a Better Song

If you are getting ready to step into a studio to record, make sure that you start thinking before you ever put foot close to the microphone. While recording has allowed for new wonders and expectations to be met with music, there is still the need to do some old fashioned needs to make sure that your songs are worth the extra track. Following are ten tips that you can remember to make sure you have the arrangement correct before you begin recording.

1.Balance. Is your instrumentation balanced? You should have an even amount of ranges, from low to high. If you have too much of one and not enough of another, your recording might not sound so great.

2.Harmonies. You want to make sure that there is some good support going into the melody of your song. Without the right harmonies, or alternative sounds to the melody, it will sound like your song is missing a piece of the puzzle.

3.Musical arrangement. This is based completely around the ability to organize the instrumentation in the song. Not only should it be balanced, but it should also include contrasts and similarities in how the music follows what you are trying to say. If you are stuck with creating instrumentation that fits, get into some basic theory concepts to assist you.

4.Spacing. More important than all of the melodies and harmonies, is the room that you put in between each. This means that you don't want to rush through your song and you don't want to take too much time. Make sure that you give some breaks with melodies and change up the harmonies enough to keep it interesting and moving correctly.

5.Tempo. Often times, it is assumed that there is a specific tempo and that is it. However, you want to make sure that your tempos are defined and everyone follows them without missing a beat. Once you get into the studio, you don't want anything to be off by a second, as it will cause the recording to become difficult to lay down.

6.Form. The easiest way for a listener to relate to your song from the beginning is to have the right form. If you are focused on lyrics, this will be the hook that is used during the chorus. If you are experimenting with form, make sure there is always a place in the music that goes back and keeps the attention of the listener so that they can relate to the music.

7.Variety. One of the overlooked parts of arranging is the variety that is in the song. This means that, even though you are repeating choruses or verses, make sure that you have some different movement or instrumentation in your recording.

8.Movement. The movement of the song goes beyond the tempo and into the extra small things that you do with a recording. This is what will make or break a song. Things such as louds and softs, ornamentation and other small add ons will help to move the song in the right way.

9.Consistency. Along with the variety of the song should be a certain consistency that lets the song fit together. This partly is related to the form of the song and also links to things such as tying the song together with the right lyrics and musical concepts. Within each of these areas, you can have some variation, but make sure that the frame work allows the listener to follow what you are doing.

10.Creativity. Of course, this should never be left behind. All too often are musical ideas that are heard that are close to what was heard before. The first rule to a good song is always to let yourself go, follow your creativity and to let the rest fall into place.

With these simple tricks are ways that you can improve your song and get it recording ready. From this, you will be able to make sure that your songs and pieces are polished, stand out from the crowd and get your voice heard among other musicians.

What's That Buzz?

'The Buzz' is something that happens a lot in a recording studio as one of the syndromes of recording. If you are setting up a recording studio and notice that there is white noise coming from somewhere in your equipment, you will want to make sure that you check some things out, reorganize your options and figure out where the buzz is coming from.

If you don't find the buzz, or white noise, that is taking place in the studio, it can cause problems with the recording. The white noise, like everything else in the studio, will automatically be recorded as part of the sound wave. While some of this can be taken out with a filter during the mixing process, the sound will not be as clear and can cause problems by the time you get to the mastering process.

If you hear a buzz, the first thing to check is the spacing of all the instruments. Often times, the cables or the amps will be too close to each other. The frequencies will begin bouncing off of each other and will cause the buzz to happen. You will want to move the instruments away from each other or will want to turn them in a different direction so that the frequencies don't hit.

Not only can that sound come from the instruments, but can also come from monitors. Your monitors, like the instruments, can create a buzz from the sound frequencies hitting the electrical part of the monitors and bouncing off. You will want to fix this by moving the monitors into a higher area or mounting them against the wall so that this doesn't happen. Crossing the monitors on both sides of the room so that they are far away from each other and give a complete sound will also help to prevent the white noise and will allow for a better sound to be heard.

Another check point for the buzz is with the cables that you are using. If a part of the cable comes loose or has some problems with the wires, it can easily start to create some extra noise. Cables that are crossing each other may also sometimes have this problem. If you want to make sure that you are stopping this type of noise from happening, get three prongs to plug into the amps and sound boards if possible. This is more stable than the single prongs and will prevent extra noises from slipping into the recording.

If you still hear the noise, you might want to check the sound board. Often times, the wrong levels on the mixing board can cause problems as well. If the volume is too high on one, for instance, it will cause feed back to occur in the rest of the room. Checking balances, frequencies, volume levels and trims on the mixing board may lead to preventing the background noises and allow the instrumentation to go into the software needed.

The setup of your studio as well as the way in which you proceed with your equipment should help you to get a handle on any of the extra noise that you hear. By checking all areas and keeping everything ordered in the right way, you should be able to prevent the extra buzzing sound from going into your recording.

Turn Up the Volume! Industry Standards for Recording Volumes

Many of you have been in a situation where you are watching your favorite program. It is interrupted by a commercial break where you have to turn down the volume of what you are listening to. Then, when the show comes back on, you have to turn the volume back up.

This scenario is not a mistake of the television program. This is a controlled function in the industry to control volume levels at different ratios. The result is that it causes individuals to listen to the music differently. At this point, many are calling the industry standards for volume at a louder frequency, which is changing the instrumentation, the way that the music is played and even the listening capabilities of those who are tuning into their favorite CD.

When the recording industry started, the volume levels were closer to negative numbers, around 2 or 3. Records would be at this lower volume because it was considered to be more pleasant listening. It would also allow for the ranges of the instruments to be heard, such as loud and softer dynamic levels and high and low instruments that would blend together.

The use of these lower levels for volume allowed the industry not only to show off the instrumentation, but it also gave them room. When you are recording, your volume is a space where the noise can be increased or decreased. When you are moving into the negative numbers, usually -6 to -1, you have room to increase the volume in order to allow it to balance out. This is always a part of the volume levels within instrumentation.

As time went on, the frequencies of these volumes continued to increase. The industry standard now is close to 0 for music. This means that they are at one of the loudest points of volume that they can get to. Most don't notice, and simply turn down the volume on their stereo or in their car. However, this particular decision by the industry to change the volume levels to the maximum is changing everything within music.

Not only is it changing the musical concepts, such as dynamics, range and instrumentation, but it is taking out a lot of the traditional and innovative ideas that are musically based. If you listen closely to music, you will notice that the music does not usually have a lot of ranges, changes in musical instruments or pace that is going. This is because the volume level has been maxed out. Because this has changed, there is no room to put anything else in that is musical.

Of course, the volume controls and the mastering process that causes this will also differ according to the format that you get. For instance, there is a standard for radio playing that is very different than CDs, which is also different than MP3 players. For Indie musicians and those with specialized and custom recording studios, there is also a difference in preferences according to their musical tastes and style with volume as well as the arrangement that is being used. If you are recording, deciding on your preferences for volume that fits to different formats and style will be important before going to the industry standard or producing the CD.

One of the main concepts that should be kept in mind with recording is to know the volume capabilities and the differences that they make in music. You don't want to compromise the music for the volume, but you want to get close to industry standards. Knowing what you need to do with your volume, how it relates to your instrumentation and your concepts within music will help you to create a volume that is worth turning up and listening to.

The History of Recording

The abilities to record may seem to be more recent, especially with the capabilities of technology and the understanding of how sounds are used within a recording studio. However, there is a longer time frame of recording that has been used in order to document audio areas and to put music on track. By understanding the progression of recording, you can also find ways to implement similar characteristics and routines within your own studio.

The beginning of recording dates back to the 1890s. During this time, most of the recording was done through acoustic means. Recording equipment consisted of a tape that would allow for the audio to be documented into the tape. This would then go through a horn which would record the sound frequencies that were being played. This would then be documented by putting grooves into the recording through the waves and how they were translated.

This type of recording also included limitations on the sound rooms and how the sound was recorded. Upper scale recording studios consisted only of a sound proof wall so that the audio noise would not bounce. The ability to mix, master and edit the audio information; however, was not available. Those who were interested in recording would also take the records outside of the studios to do things such as field recordings, where natural sounds would be placed onto audio. This became a second popular means of creating recordings to share with the public.

By the 1930s, different options and equipment began to be popular for recording. This started with amplifiers and microphones that were added to record more sound frequencies. This was followed by a mixing board and by loud speakers so that the sounds could be manipulated and changed while recording. This caused for most of the acoustic recording that was done in the past to be replaced by the new technology so that more accurate recordings could be done.

Up until the 1970s, these combined methods were the popular way of recording musicians and artists in the studio. The acoustic rooms were combined with the microphones and were recorded live through the mixing board and straight into the disc or recording tape. This left little room to re-record or edit. Most of the recording that was done would be done with complete bands, orchestras or groups that would place everything onto the disc at one time.

The change that occurred during this time combined the ability to monitor the sounds more effectively and to move into editing. It was during the late 1960s and 1970s that analog recording moved into the field, allowing for more complex machinery to be at the forefront of recording. The analog recording consisted of a magnetic tape that would carry the sound waves and read them back through the recording. This could then be written over and revised according to what was recorded.

This time period not only allowed for advancement within recording, but also created experimentation with new equipment, sounds and effects that became popular for individual recording studios, now considered to be signatures of various recording industries. Those who were working within the industry found not only new technologies for recording, but also developed sounds that were unique because of the ability to process the mixing and mastering in a different way.

It was the movement into analog recording that changed recording into an electronic and digital set of capabilities as well as industry standards that are now accepted as the normal setting among all recording studios. Because of this experimentation and new technology, those working within the industry came to certain conclusions about what worked better with recording and how the production could be effective.

This progression shows how recording has become a mainstream through innovations, creativity and experimentation. By the recording industry creating the effects of recording, it has allowed for new arenas of development in recording music to be explored.