Class of Feb '23 Live Q&A Replays

WEEK 1: BONUS MODULE

Overcoming your Music Tech Mindset Blocks

Feb 14th @ 10am GMT

 
BONUS MODULE: OVERCOMING YOUR MUSIC TECH MINDSET BLOCKS

SUSAN MEERTENS
This quote is vital for creative self-esteem and clarity of artistic voice >> https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/475763148109608234/

SOUND TREATMENT + GEAR

ANNI CAT
Google the noise floor or “self-noise” level of your microphone and/or interface and see if this is unusually louder than most. This article explains more about what this is >> https://service.shure.com/s/article/condenser-microphone-self-noise-or-noise-floor?language=en_US

SARAH-JANE MUSKETT
Before you buy any new gear, check if your speakers have the ability to tune the low frequency out on the back of their case. This video may be helpful >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpU0Gv576x 

KYM WEATHERLEY 
All DAWs will give the system requirements - just google this with the software brand. For example, this is Ableton’s: https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001663530-Live-Minimum-System-Requirements 

LAURA SYKES
DAW Remote >> http://eumlab.com/daw-remote/

SEEMA KAPILA
On PC, I recommend both Cakewalk (https://www.bandlab.com/products/cakewalk) and Ableton (try FREE for 90 days >> https://www.ableton.com/en/trial)

OTHER

PRECILIA DE CARVALHO
You won’t *need* your MOTU M4 to record on a Zoom. Instead, you might consider investing in some binaural microphones to capture your on-location ceremonies >> https://www.gak.co.uk/en/roland-cs-10em/37632?gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=CjwKCAiA3KefBhByEiwAi2LDHGb8S0j5-R7lASYlhGfQeZAMz-VvOBA7dJh9He-8MDk2ZRuZ2n9G8xoCfXcQAvD_BwE 

IDA TORNVIG MADSEN
I recommend downloading my FREE Guide, How to Start Field Recording with your Smartphone - you’ll see upgrades beyond your phone there too >> https://mailchi.mp/565cce9945d8/field-recording-checklist 

LAURA SYKES
I find having a plan can help a lot - especially if it’s visual. Listen to strategy 2 + 3 in this episode of Girls Twiddling Knobs >> https://femalediymusician.com/72 

ANNA MC
Table top mic stand: Something like this should be ample >> https://bit.ly/3K40Vgn pop shield - any will be fine.

JO GENDLE
Definitely join PRS if you have written music and PPL if you’ve released recorded music. This VERY OLD PDF guide will walk you through why >> https://www.dropbox.com/s/axjvt36lgzus1gh/Getting%20To%20Grips%20With%20%281%29.pdf?dl=0 

HINEMOANA BAKER
Check out Linkfire >> https://www.linkfire.com/

WEEK 2: MODULE 01

Let's Train Your Ears!

Feb 21st @ 6pm GMT

 
BONUS MODULE: OVERCOMING YOUR MUSIC TECH MINDSET BLOCKS

SARAH HARMONY
If your song was a child, how well are you nurturing its potential? Are you allowing it to grow and evolve and be its own unique self? Or are you cutting it off as soon as it deviates from your expectations or desires?

DORJE KHANDO
Recording & production can be very collaborative. However, your recordings will connect with listeners regardless of if you make them collaboratively, so bring that intention into your whole process - how will the production decisions you make emotional connect with your listeners? This will profoundly define your end results.

MODULE 01: LET'S TRAIN YOUR EARS!

ANNABETH MCNAMARAH
This is partly because IRL our ears pick up what’s called Head Related Transfer Functions that help place the sound in front of us, not just central between our ears (in our heads). But there are ways to create depth in a mix. More info here >> http://bit.ly/3Z79f3l 

HELEN BOTMAN

  1. Practice and experience is the key but I also really love this article with audio examples from iZotope >> http://bit.ly/3IGyB2A
  2. The lead vocal for Flint Shingle is the original demo recorded on my Zoom H4N) with guitar in same track!!) because I couldn’t re-create the same quality in the studio.

ENKO CEZKO

  1. Both! You can record in stereo and, therefore, decide where you’ll position the mic in relation to the sound source (M03) and you can use volume automation to place the sound L, C or R too (M05).
  2. As there’s far too many for me to attend to across all 5 tracks on the listening playlist, I suggest choosing one effect you can hear on one track and post this as a Q in the group.

TUULA VOUTILAINEN
What awakened your ears and your heart to pursue music in the first place? The ability to express an emotion, thought or atmosphere in such clarity without needing to clumsily attempt this with words.

OTHER

LAURA BOURGEOIS

  1. For more control over the character of each individual part - including effects and the ability to ‘comp’ your vocals - record vocals and guitar separately. If none of that matters and you want a more natural, ‘Live’ sound, together is OK.
  2. Yes, you’ll learn about volume automation in M05 of HRA.

HELEN RILEY
We cover file back up in M03 but I would do both cloud back ups and ext. HD backups together.

OHARA HALE

  1. This article has some suggestions of alternatives >> https://bit.ly/3lT254y Kodai app won’t be as good but worth exploring >> https://kodai.app/
  2. You can control Ableton Live with DAW Remote >> http://bit.ly/3lVF40

WENDY PICKLES
Make a recording and listen for any significant reflections. If you’re still not happy, then add some absorptive material to the ceiling as well.

VIVIAN KHOR

  1. This is not my area of expertise, but this resource might be helpful >> http://bit.ly/3xDQ9WP
  2. Look up the replay in your course hub - you’ll find all my answers and links there in written form below the video.

HELEN BOTMAN

  1. This is called a condenser microphone shock mount
  2. Here’s a link to an image of a similar model >> https://bit.ly/3YKLKNM
  3. This stops your sensitive condenser picking up sound vibrations moving up your mic stand.
  4. Search for a shock mount for your mic’s make and model.

SAMIA MALIK
I like this website for converting MP4s to audio >> https://cloudconvert.com/

ANNA MC
I would recommend treating your small box room and just setting up your equipment inside there when you’re going to record. You can then pack it down (which you’d want to do anyway) and edit/produce/mix in your other room if you don’t want to stay there (just thinking of the damp)

SARAH-JANE MUSKETT
I would take the principles laid out in this article >> http://bit.ly/3kn9ngj but you could create the structure with cardboard and fill them with pillows or other absorbative materials.

WENDY PICKLES
You would need to export all your audio channels as stems >> http://bit.ly/3EqHcnH Then you would import these into your new Logic file.

LOUISE FRENCH
You can record your guitar with a microphone (M03) and if you use a USB mic for this without an audio interface.

TUULA VOUTILAINEN
It might help to see recording as a new or different way of experiencing your voice - but you might also want to record in a more ‘natural’ situation and embrace this as your sonic signature.

JENNY TAYLOR
You have to use two mics to record in stereo, or a mic that is specifically designed to be stereo. Recording into two separate tracks can help you see the wave form more easily and if you’ve used different kinds of mics  you can treat them separately with EQ for example.

WEEK 3: MODULE 02

Let's Build Your Studio!

Feb 28th @ 10am GMT

 
MODULE 02: LET'S BUILD YOUR STUDIO

JENNY TAYLOR
1. I always believe that something is better than nothing, however I don’t use egg cartons precisely because other materials are far more effective - stands to reason when you think about the water analogy.

2. A small gap won’t make much difference - do a test recording + if you’re still not happy with the absorption (I.e. you can tell there’s some reflections being picked up in your mic because the recording sounds muddy) then try closing the gap.

HELEN RILEY
1. WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE: The carpet + foam panels will be great. The material on the ceiling likely won’t absorb much (think about how much water they’d soak up in comparison to a duvet or carpet, for example)

2. WHAT TO ADD: A duvet draped over the speakers behind you paired with a vocal reflection filter in front of you would work well. You could also swap out your ceiling material for more duvets or sound absorption panels (see new FREE guide above)

KYM WEATHERLEY
Ohm Ω relates to the unit of electrical resistance in the International System of Units. 80ohms will be best for a typical audio interface and laptop/computer.

WENDY SMITH
Any recording that has been made in a cathedral. This is a video about Abbey Road’s Reverb Chamber too >> https://bit.ly/41vYcmk 

NGAIO
If you have a vocal-booth that fits around your mic, but you don’t have any treatment behind you when you’re singing, add some absorption behind you too.

HANNAH PARRY
1. If you can afford it, a curtain rail that can go all around your room would mean you could have heavy sound absorption/velvet curtains you can pull across just for when you’re recording but I would consider just treating all your walls with duvets if that’s more realistic.

2. If your room is small, then smaller-medium monitors will be best. The one’s I’ve recommended should be fine.

VIVIAN KHOR
It sounds like you’re happy with the sound. Personally, I like it as dry as possible but this may be fine for you!

KATERNIA PUSHKIN
Without hearing, it’s hard for me to say. But it doesn’t sound like an acoustics thing to me - could be something to do with your mic picking up bleed from your headphones when you’re recording?

LEAH R JESKIE
1. For some acoustic instruments you *might* decide to record with natural reflections but only do this if you already like the acoustics of the room.

2. Acoustic treatment can be used for mixing. The mirror technique is helpful for positioning in this way (See ‘Resources’ section of your course hub)

LAURA SYKES
See both my answer to LEAH R JESKIE above.

OTHER

MARTINE LA
1. Bring the whole live recording into one recording session and edit it into the different songs.

2. Export each song as separate audio files, or stems. Here’s an example of how to do this in GarageBand >> https://bit.ly/3EDEyuX
3. Then re-import the stems into a separate recording session for each song.

4. Do a mix on one song first, saving your effects like EQ, compression etc. as presets, so you can consistently apply them across each song later.
5. Mix the other songs using the same effects presets + check for volume, panning, frequency consistency across all tracks.
6. Maybe even do a stereo export of all the tracks once they’re nearly mixed and import them all into the same recording session to check this.

MILLIE GAUM
1. Partly vocal performance, also EQ, and possibly the mic’s frequency response.

2. Well done for identifying the crackle! If you can only buy one pair of headphones, get the DT 770 closed backs.

SARAH-JANE MUSKETT
1. This YouTube tutorial might be helpful >> https://bit.ly/3Z97KlD
2. There are some really lovely paid piano virtual instruments out there too. Check out Spitfire Audio’s range here >> https://bit.ly/41vJStY 

ANNABETH MCNAMARAH
This video might be helpful >> https://bit.ly/41ubVds

ANNA MC
I have Ableton Live Standard - wait for M04 where you’ll learn about Reverb in some detail.

FRANZI BERG
1. I sit/stand with my back to a sound treated wall, facing the centre of my room with my vocal reflection filter behind my mic.

2. You can add presence and reverb later in the production process - a dead sound will give you a more professional sound later on.

ANNA-KAISA VOURINEN
I haven’t tried this plugin myself, but Sennheiser are a good brand and have a FREE binaural spatialisation plugin called dearVR MICRO >> https://bit.ly/41z1jK8

WEEK 4: MODULE 03

Let's Hit Record!

March 7th @ 6pm GMT

 
 MODULE 02

VIVIAN KHOR

  1. The +4bd is for balanced cables and the -10db is for unbalanced. More info on how to tell if your cables are balanced or unbalanced >> http://bit.ly/3ZOJ3e2

  2.  Yes, the ‘Room Control’ + ‘High Trim’ relate to frequencies. You can measure your room’s frequency response with software like Sonarworks >> http://bit.ly/3ZjrCCJ

MODULE 03

LAURA BOURGEOIS
How to use a Zoom handy recorder as both an audio interface and stereo mic input >> https://bit.ly/3Ym5uGw

JENNY TAYLOR
You also have the option to change the polar pattern of your mic which relates to the direction your mic is listen to sound around it. Here’s an explanation of this >> http://bit.ly/3SWkd9V

SUSANNE WAGNER
As above re my answer to Jenny. Go to section 17.8 of this Ableton help article >> http://bit.ly/3SSI6PV

MILLIE GAUM
The Air button adds a little more high frequencies (amongst other things) to compliment vocal recordings >> http://bit.ly/404ogUj

OTHER

CAROLINE BROWN
I have used these Alpine MusicSafe Pro ear plugs >> http://bit.ly/3myaue3 

CHERLEY KANE

  1. Vocal comping is when you edit together the best sections of numerous takes into one vocal line. Here’s some more info >> http://bit.ly/3mv4ant
  2. You will learn more about using EQ, reverb and compression in M04. Here’s an article to wet your whistle though >> http://bit.ly/3mthmcy

 

WEEK 5: IMPLEMENTATION WEEK

Implementation Week #1

March 14th @ 10am GMT

 
MODULE 02: LET'S BUILD YOUR STUDIO

MILLIE GAUM 
This is an example of more attractive sound absorption panels >> http://bit.ly/3JBPeNs

MODULE 03: LET'S MAKE SOME RECORDINGS

ANNA MCNAMARA
- Yes, latency is likely due to a buffer size issue. This is a helpful article from Ableton on reducing latency >> https://bit.ly/428CipF
- Last Night’s Party (2011) >> http://bit.ly/406oASh

LAURA SYKES
Here’s an explanation of what your audio interface’s ‘Mixer’ knob does >> https://bit.ly/3yA1pE7

SARA MCCARTHY
- Unless you really like the sound of your Roland FP-90, I would recommend recording in MIDI. The easiest way to do this would be through Bluetooth >>  https://bit.ly/3JzEGhP

- Because you’ll have lots more control over editing the notes after and can switch up the piano sound with anything else - including a fancy sample library or virtual instrument, like these >> http://bit.ly/3mT3XdS
- Otherwise, this is a good article on recording a digital piano inside your computer >> https://www.musicrepo.com/recording-a-keyboard-on-computer/

OTHER

VIVIAN KHOR
- Yes, definitely copyright anything you have written >> http://bit.ly/3Likjal
- If you (or others) are performing your music live you need to register the performing rights [in the UK that’s with PRS >> https://www.prsformusic.com]

- And anything you’ve recorded and are releasing/sharing publicly should be registered for master rights [in the UK that’s with PPL >> https://www.ppluk.com].

WEEK 6: MODULE 04

Editing & The Fundamentals of Production

March 21st @ 6pm GMT

 
MODULE 03

  ANNABETH MCNAMARAH
You can increase a clip’s gain inside the bottom ‘Sample’ section Ableton opens up when you click on it >> http://bit.ly/404whIW 

FRANZI BERG
Some DAWs have ways to add tempo settings after you’ve recorded allowing you to play more freely, such as Logic Pro’s ‘automatic tempo’ >> http://bit.ly/3Z5YyOf 

NGAIO
Go through every step in this Ableton help article with a fine tooth comb >> https://bit.ly/401Fz8T 

TUULA VOUTILAINEN
Waves do good reverb plugins >> http://bit.ly/3lxdlDG and iZotope’s NeoVerb is really nice >>
http://bit.ly/42sLpl6 

MODULE 04

JESSICA LYDIA
You can set bit depth from the Logic Pro X > Preferences > Recording menu. By default, Logic's bit depth is 16. You can choose 24 by checking the box in the Recording menu.

I suggest taking a read through this help article on adding effects and more >> http://bit.ly/3lCW246

 JENNY TAYLOR
This Logic Support article will help with effects automation >> http://bit.ly/3lvBhYg

OTHER

SARA MCCARTHY
Mastering software - Izotope Ozone >> http://bit.ly/42F0y30

I also recommend looking at Landr as a cheeper option >> https://join.landr.com/

WEEK 7: MODULE 05

Mixing It All Together

March 28th @ 10am GMT

 
MODULE 02: LET'S BUILD YOUR STUDIO

DEBRA K WILSON
FL Studio will be fine for also recording audio into, BUT it’s more about whether you ‘vibe’ with the layout and workflow inside. I recommend getting acquainted with the software through their YouTube channel >> http://bit.ly/3FYE3wd

MODULE 03: LET'S MAKE SOME RECORDINGS!

LAURA BOURGEOIS

ANNA MC

  • An even “hiss”? Usually self-noise of the mic itself being amplified incorrectly or inefficiently. This is usually because:
  1. Your microphone has a very low noisy output that when plugged into a mic pre-amp/interface, will need to be turned up more, which emphasises the inherent noise in the signal path. 
  2. Phantom power has not been applied when the mic requires it (although usually the output of the mic is nearly zero in this case)
  3. A poor quality, old or faulty cable (try swapping it out)
  4. The mic is plugged into a Line input on a mixer/interface. The mixer is expecting a much louder signal and needs to amplify the mic signal more.
  5. You are recording something very quiet, or from very far away, and, therefore you’ve had to turn up the input gain, amplifying the low-level noise that any mic will have.

ANITA MALZONE
Is there a reason you don’t like the pickup? Does it have clarity and frequency fullness that you can craft in production? 

If you want to switch to a condenser, that will give you more of the ‘room’ - if you can, I would try and coach the bassist to breathe quieter! 

[BONUS MODULE] RECORDING WITH MIDI

SARAH-JANE MUSKETT
Details on using the arpeggiator in GarageBand >> http://bit.ly/3JUhLN8

MODULE 04: EDITING & THE FUNDAMENTALS OF PRODUCTION

ALICE HIGHET

  • It’s helpful with compression to start by making very extreme adjustments to the parameters so you can *really* hear what’s going on when you make changes.
  • If you don’t want to upgrade your Ableton software but don’t want to twitch, there’s 2 options:
  1. Just use the Channel EQ (it’s still good!) >> https://bit.ly/3npcfuy
  2. You could buy a separate 8 band EQ plugin, like this >> http://bit.ly/3TOLGLb - You would then have to instal it into your Ableton software, instructions here for Windows >> https://bit.ly/3zchxfn & Mac >> https://bit.ly/40J8A9h 

WENDY PICKLES

MODULE 05: MIXING IT ALL TOGETHER

ANNI CAT 
Digital masters? Export as an ‘Uncompressed 24 bit WAVE’. For CD? Export in 16 bit WAVE

OTHER

CAMILLA ERNEN
Tutorial on mastering with Logic stock plugins >> http://bit.ly/3TNMzDI

DEBRA K WILSON
Yes, artists do press vinyl, sometimes as their only physical merch. Further reading on the topic >> http://bit.ly/3FWGGi7

WEEK 8

Implementation Week 2

April 4th @ 6pm BST

 
MODULE 03

  ANNABETH MCNAMARAH
You can increase a clip’s gain inside the bottom ‘Sample’ section Ableton opens up when you click on it >> http://bit.ly/404whIW 

FRANZI BERG
Some DAWs have ways to add tempo settings after you’ve recorded allowing you to play more freely, such as Logic Pro’s ‘automatic tempo’ >> http://bit.ly/3Z5YyOf 

NGAIO
Go through every step in this Ableton help article with a fine tooth comb >> https://bit.ly/401Fz8T 

TUULA VOUTILAINEN
Waves do good reverb plugins >> http://bit.ly/3lxdlDG and iZotope’s NeoVerb is really nice >>
http://bit.ly/42sLpl6 

MODULE 04

JESSICA LYDIA
You can set bit depth from the Logic Pro X > Preferences > Recording menu. By default, Logic's bit depth is 16. You can choose 24 by checking the box in the Recording menu.

I suggest taking a read through this help article on adding effects and more >> http://bit.ly/3lCW246

 JENNY TAYLOR
This Logic Support article will help with effects automation >> http://bit.ly/3lvBhYg

OTHER

SARA MCCARTHY
Mastering software - Izotope Ozone >> http://bit.ly/42F0y30

I also recommend looking at Landr as a cheeper option >> https://join.landr.com/

WEEK 9: MODULE 06

What's Next?

April 11th @ 10am BST

 
MODULE 02

OHARA HALE
Ableton recommends keeping Live on your main computer drive (although it’s OK to save your projects to an external drive >> https://bit.ly/41eQ88C

MODULE 03

DEBRA WILSON
 ‘Arrangement Markers’ that mean you can create a new section of your track and drag it between other ones >> http://bit.ly/400RUct
Having multiple time signatures in one GarageBand session: It’s slightly convoluted but it is possible >> https://bit.ly/3Mz7SYm

MODULE 05

OHARA HALE
I think your best bet would be giving to a professional audio restorer. Failing that, you could invest in some repair software like iZotope’s RX10 >> http://bit.ly/40XoOvX or Waves’ Restoration software >> http://bit.ly/3o47dUv
Yes, either hire a studio for a day and mix yourself, or also hire a mix engineer and mix with them, or just ask them to do the final mix, or use software like Sonarworks to get a more accurate mix on your system >> https://www.sonarworks.com/

SARA MCCARTHY
Use ‘Split Stereo Mode’ in Ableton >> https://bit.ly/3KPJAbi

 

WEEK 10

Wrap Up Week

April 18th @ 6pm BST

 
MODULE 03

JO GENDLE
Sibilance can be a very annoying issue when recording vocals. This article shares some ways to avoid this both when recording and also after with a De-Esser plug in and/or EQ >> https://bit.ly/3FWMzvB

ANITA MALZONE
Here’s more information about different mic polar patterns and when you might use them >> https://bit.ly/40jDt3h

[BONUS MODULE] RECORDING WITH MIDI

ELLIE LAYCOCK

  1. Make sure you double-check you’ve followed the steps on loading in a 3rd party Audio Unit/plug-in to GarageBand 10.4 >> https://bit.ly/3GTGsbI 
  2. I’m not an expert on saxophone VSTs but this is a helpful article on such things >> https://bit.ly/3mLN6Kk
MODULE 04

KATERINA PUSHKIN
Logic user manual article on showing different automation ‘curves’ including panning >> https://bit.ly/3A9Zo2m

MODULE 05

JESSICA LYDIA BENINI

  1. These are Logic’s instructions for how to export your recording session as an audio file >> https://bit.ly/3MTzvLY
  2. You can undo automation markers and also remove all the automation you’ve applied entirely if you like. Instructions here >> https://bit.ly/3UNCE1F 
  3. This is a demo of how to bus tracks to an Aux channel in Logic >> https://bit.ly/40jNKMM 
MODULE 06

ANNA MCNAMARA
Firstly, copyrighting your music is definitely something you should do but DON’T get into a funk with it - just do something from this article (I trust the PRS!) >> https://bit.ly/3UIYseT

 
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