Studio Recording.
We had a session with Dan Fox where we learnt how to use the mixing desk connect to one of our practice rooms. I made notes during this session about how record different things, like vocals, guitar/bass and drums and how to connect the headphones as well as what microphones are best to record each one. This is a useful session to take part in, as it is important for us to know how to do this for our recording section of our project. Here are some notes I made:
What mics are most effective, SM57- guitar bass & drum amp (industry standard) Condenser mics for vocals & better for overhead (hi-hats) Big mic w green band for bass drum (stick next to sound hole you want the mic end pointed like 100-120°) D40 mic for toms
How to set everything up, Turn on deck before computer. Make sure B, L &R are pressed on the right hand side of the desk. The two sliders on the far right are the output volume sliders for the computer to speakers in room. Use the template on the desktop screen. Save the template as a folder before you’re recording. XLRS 1&2 (on wall by piano) go into channel numbers 14&15 And jack inputs (3&4) go into valve channel numbers 1&2. 2 left red sliders are master volume (keep fully down when recording in here).
-VOCALS (set up), plug your mic into XLR. Set master volume, set gain level, if you need phantom power press the red button below the gain knob (green light will show on mic if it has the power, you don’t want this in red, green / orange is ideal if red turn down gain). You want plenty of gain when recording vocals- so we don’t get horrible background noise when we turn things up in the mix.
GUITAR (set up), Valve channel 1&2 gain knob to ½. Big black knob is volume. To put built-in effects on logic, scroll to the channel go to effects then amps & pedals. To add chorus, go to effects and in modulation. If mixing amps, position just off centre of speaker and about 1/2 inches away (sm57 p gd for amp recording).
DRUMS (set up), Channels 1-13 in yellow studio join to 1-13 in studio. Set your volumes and gain set then record into logic.
HEADPHONE AMP (set up)- for headphone use in studio, blue part of the headphone amp (under the piano). Set aux levels on channels 22&23 to ¾. Make the master aux level above the master volume. Use the yellow patch cable & plug one end into your aux number and plug it into far left hole (5-8).
RECORDING, you can move recordings slightly out of time when doubled up press control & move with mouse. For vocals- press record enabled (R on keyboard), press ‘i' (input monitor) on logic, use EQ to turn down unwanted frequencies, add reverb to vocals (ALWAYS)! For guitar- it's good to double up with guitar, copy & paste where and on what track you want.
Logic research
Generally you want to start with an empty template so as you record you can add different tracks for different instruments, before opening the template though you will want to set up your audio input output device, whether that be a Scarlett XiX interface like we plan to use or headphones plugged straight into you laptop. When using a mixing desk like the one we’ve got in Hereford College of Arts you need to make sure to select the correct input and output channels before opening your blank template, although when recording at home its unlikely you’ll have more than 1 or 2 channels (especially as a beginner). We can then create a track on our empty template, you can then add a metronome for when you record if you wish as well as a count in. You can also alter the time signature and tempo at the top of the screen in the middle. We can then add initial effects and rename the track to whatever you are recording exp “guitar 2”. When making new tracks if you want the same effects on the new one if you click on the track with the effects and press command & D it will duplicate the track with all the existing effects. When double tracking if you duplicate the track then right click the audio file and copy then paste the track you will get the identical track, just make sure you’re playhead is positioned where you want the track to start and you are on the correct track. You can also split audio files by moving your playhead to the place you would like to split it and right clicking and pressing “split at playhead” now you have split the one track into two, this is especially useful when wanting to thicken vocals as you can then copy and paste the split part to a new track. You can pan tracks to the left and right creating a 360 sound feeling, this is especially useful when double tracking instruments.
When mixing your track you want to go to the far left hand side or by hitting command & 2 you can see the mixer mode and add a range of different EQing additives like a compressor, multiplier, chorus and channel EQ. As a beginner for channel EQ it is suggested to search up what it should generally look like then just to taste until you get the hang of it, for example search“clean electric guitar channel EQ Logic Pro X” and go on photos. Then when you’re happy with the track you can click file on the top left and scroll down to bounce this is how you can compile your track into one MP3 file.
MusicTech. (n.d.). Logic Pro X: The Beginner’s Guide. [online] Available at: https://musictech.com/guides/essential-guide/logic-pro-x-the-beginners-guide/ [Accessed 11 May. 2022]
Logic Pro X Tutorial (Everything You Need To Know). (2018) Youtube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QQN_UFVpbk [Accessed 11 May. 2022]