Hello everyone, hope you’re doing marvellously properly!
Our third day at AES Nashville became an infinite celebration of recording, with 35 totally different merchandise mentioned in a video working two hours and 40 minutes! We’ve bought compressors, microphones, headphones, consoles, displays, plug-ins and a few fantastic conversations with the individuals who design and use them.
We even have 4 implausible giveaways from Audeze, Lauten Audio, Austrian Audio and Audio-Technica, so be sure to enter utilizing the hyperlinks under.
And alongside all of the gear, Steve Marcantonio joined me for a deeply private dialog remembering our buddy and mentor, Jack Douglas.
Nashville Is the Good Residence for AES
I’ve been attending AES since 1996, and seeing this enthusiasm in Nashville makes me extremely pleased.
In every single place we went, we discovered folks having correct conversations about making data. Producers, engineers, mixers, college students and gear designers had been sharing concepts, listening to demonstrations and reconnecting with associates.
The venue was fantastic, too. Between the exhibition ground and people huge atriums crammed with timber, it was fairly a setting for an audio present!
Thanks to Graeme Kirk and everybody concerned in bringing AES to Nashville. It is a metropolis constructed round music, and the power all through the present mirrored that.
4 Unbelievable Giveaways!
An enormous thanks to those 4 corporations for giving our group the chance to win some glorious recording gear.
Giveaway One: Audeze LCD-S20 Headphones
The Audeze LCD-S20s have grow to be a favorite of mine for on a regular basis use.
I like my LCD-Xs, however closed-back headphones are notably helpful when filming as a result of they assist preserve headphone playback out of my microphone. The LCD-S20s even have the midrange presence I get pleasure from when engaged on aggressive rock music, and so they’re glorious monitoring headphones.
Chris from Audeze has kindly provided a pair for one fortunate winner!
ENTER THE AUDEZE GIVEAWAY HERE:
https://gleam.io/O0xwX/audeze-lcd-s20
Giveaway Two: Lauten Audio Snare Microphone
Instantly earlier than AES, we spent three days at Blackbird Studio D for our Produce Like A Professional masterclass. Throughout my monitoring day, we in contrast microphones at totally different worth factors, and the Lauten Audio snare microphone was a standout.
Blackbird’s Joey advisable it, which says an amazing deal when you think about the microphone assortment obtainable there!
I like its tight pickup sample, the best way it captures the snare with out bringing in extreme hi-hat spill and its compact design. The sturdy mount retains it the place you place it, whereas the onboard filters offer you helpful choices for shaping the sound.
Trent and the Lauten Audio crew have kindly provided one for a giveaway!
ENTER THE LAUTEN AUDIO GIVEAWAY HERE:
https://gleam.io/CZrYL/lauten-audio-snare-mic
Giveaway Three: Austrian Audio OD505 Microphone
Martin from Austrian Audio walked us via the OD505, an energetic dynamic vocal microphone with some very considerate engineering.
Its open development locations the capsule away from the physique to scale back undesirable acoustic reflections. Martin additionally defined how its dual-diaphragm association helps scale back dealing with noise.
Though it’s a dynamic microphone, its energetic electronics require phantom energy and supply the next output degree. It’s an enchanting method to constructing a sensible stage vocal microphone.
And sure, we’re giving one away!
ENTER THE AUSTRIAN AUDIO GIVEAWAY HERE:
https://gleam.io/yiGZ8/austrian-audio-od505
Giveaway 4: Audio-Technica ATH-R50x Headphones
I’ve mentioned this many occasions: Audio-Technica makes some distinctive inexpensive headphones.
We’ve performed quite a few headphone comparisons over time, and their fashions preserve impressing me. At AES, Pat launched me to the open-back R-Sequence, and the ATH-R50x actually caught my consideration.
Listening on the sales space, I used to be impressed by the low-end extension, readability and general stability. Eric tried them as properly, and we each thought they sounded glorious.
Audio-Technica has kindly provided a pair of ATH-R50x headphones for one fortunate winner!
ENTER THE AUDIO-TECHNICA GIVEAWAY HERE:
https://gleam.io/VYkGR/audio-technica-ath-r50x
SSL Bus Comp Traditional: Acquainted Glue With Extra Character on Faucet
One of many highlights was catching up with Ross at SSL to listen to the Bus Comp Traditional.
Having owned and labored on classic SSL consoles, I do know that centre-section compressor sound very properly. There’s a purpose so many people love mixing into one.
The Bus Comp Traditional brings that acquainted method right into a devoted {hardware} unit, with some helpful additions, together with a sidechain high-pass filter, further timing and ratio choices, and an exterior stereo sidechain enter.
The function that notably me was VCA Drive.
Through the demonstration, we moved from a cleaner presentation into the character I affiliate with an older SSL, then pushed additional into one thing significantly grittier. That opens up some thrilling potentialities for drum buses and parallel compression.
The exterior sidechain additionally prompted a dialog about printing stems whereas retaining the compression behaviour of the whole combine. With artists more and more taking intensive backing tracks on tour, that’s a really helpful functionality.
Paul Wolff: Intelligent Metering, Versatile Preamps and Recallable Analogue EQ
Catching up with Paul Wolff is all the time entertaining, and there was loads to discover.
His metering demonstration moved between conventional VU-style shows, peak and RMS info, spectrum evaluation, part metering and stereo power shows. It’s the form of info that may aid you perceive an issue rapidly and get again to creating selections.
We additionally mentioned preamp headroom and the way participating a pad can change the interplay between a microphone and its preamp. Paul demonstrated a technique to evaluate these adjustments whereas compensating for the extent distinction.
His EQ provided one other helpful concept: the flexibility to retain a slim bandwidth for a refined lower after discovering an undesirable resonance.
We additionally noticed work in direction of a recallable Pultec-style analogue EQ, with software program controlling the {hardware} settings. For anybody who loves analogue processing however wants reliable session recall, that’s an thrilling path.
And I’m nonetheless very eager to spend time with these Sundown Sound-style preamps. Having made data via that console, I understand how fantastic they will sound if you push them!
Neve Components: Eight Channels of Analogue Processing With Digital Management
Joe at Neve confirmed us the Components vary, combining multichannel analogue processing with software program management.
The demonstration that instantly grabbed me was eight channels of 1084-style EQ in a single unit.
The audio processing stays analogue, whereas software program offers management, grouping and recall. We additionally mentioned plug-in management and integration with the 8424 console system.
For these of us who get pleasure from working via analogue gear, recalling a session could be a substantial a part of the job. Bringing these capabilities collectively may make a really sensible distinction.
My response within the video most likely tells you all the things: I used to be quite excited!
API: From the 2448 to THE BOX
David at API walked us via the 2448, together with its inline workflow, traditional API preamps, EQ choices and automation.
I’ve made a primary album on a 1608, so that is acquainted territory for me. The 2448 builds on that method with extra monitoring flexibility and room for various studio configurations.
We additionally hung out with THE BOX, which I appear to come across in increasingly studios.
After utilizing one, I understood why. Eight recording inputs cowl a stunning variety of classes, whereas its summing channels and insert choices present flexibility at mixdown.
It’s a compelling technique to construct a studio round a console workflow.
Microphones: Listening, Capsule Design and New Concepts
There was no scarcity of fascinating microphone conversations.
At Sontronics, Derek demonstrated the Apollo 2 stereo ribbon microphone. Strolling round it whereas listening on headphones made the stereo picture instantly obvious. We additionally tried a number of different microphones and mentioned purposes starting from rock vocals to guitar cupboards, piano and ensemble recording.
My dialog with Ben at BeesNeez went deep into capsule manufacturing.
We mentioned the challenges of manufacturing constant capsules, the development of acquainted capsule designs and the work concerned in manufacturing them in-house in Australia. We additionally explored valve decisions and the sensible realities of working with finite provides of classic elements.
At Nordic Audio Labs, Martin defined his method to designing capsules and electronics collectively. We listened to microphones providing totally different tonal shows, explored adjustable pickup choices and tried a prototype with a number of distinct analogue voicings.
These are precisely the conversations I like having at AES. You’ll be able to ask the designer why one thing works the best way it does, then placed on headphones and pay attention.
Chandler Restricted: Committing to the Sound
Wade at Chandler Restricted gave us an opportunity to speak about one thing I’ve been experiencing whereas mixing Pete Mroz’s recordings: the character you seize if you decide to a recording chain.
We recorded at Abbey Street utilizing Chandler gear, and that sound is already there after I deliver up the tracks.
The RS124 was a selected speaking level. Its slower behaviour can produce superbly managed performances with out making the compression really feel apparent.
We additionally mentioned achieve staging via the console, together with how the enter, bus and output controls allow you to form the response.
These selections grow to be a part of the file from the second you press file.
Eventide SplitEQ 2: Dynamics and Masking Instruments
Joe at Eventide demonstrated the forthcoming SplitEQ 2, constructing on its capacity to course of transient and tonal info independently.
The demonstration included dynamic EQ bands, separate dynamics management for the 2 streams and masking visualisation between situations.
The acoustic guitar and vocal instance notably me. In a sparse association, it’s straightforward to skinny out an instrument an excessive amount of whereas making an attempt to make room for the singer.
Utilizing a dynamic adjustment to deal with the conflict solely when it happens may assist protect the physique of the instrument.
I’ve additionally discovered the unique SplitEQ helpful for bringing pleasure again to materials that has been closely processed. These additions give us extra potentialities to discover.
Monitoring, Immersive Audio and Higher Studio Communication
We heard Augspurger’s method to bringing its monitoring character right into a compact system, with a dialogue about cupboard design, driver behaviour and tuning audio system for the room.
At Ex Machina, we listened to the third-generation displays and mentioned sealed cupboards, low-level listening and system configurations for immersive rooms.
The Eclipsa Audio demonstration explored open-source immersive audio instruments and a workflow for making ready content material for supported YouTube playback. It was encouraging to see work geared toward making immersive manufacturing extra accessible.
We additionally checked out a number of methods to enhance musicians’ headphone mixes and studio communication.
Fantastic Line demonstrated a private headphone mixer with hands-on controls and modular connectivity. At Hear Applied sciences, we explored monitoring programs designed to maintain the musician’s expertise simple.
And Sound Radix confirmed an expanded method to talkback with Mutomatic Studio, together with routing communication to totally different cue mixes and controlling talkback via MIDI.
This stuff matter enormously throughout a session. A musician who can hear comfortably and talk simply has a a lot better probability of delivering an amazing efficiency.
Extra Compression, EQ and Recording Inspiration
There was loads extra to listen to, together with Burl’s Bigfoot compressor, with transformer choices and a design centered on musical character.
At Undertone Audio, Nick confirmed us a hands-on setup that includes the UnFairchild, preamps, EQs and guitar recording instruments. We additionally mentioned their EQ plug-in, which we have now been making ready a separate video about.
My admiration for Eric Valentine’s engineering isn’t any secret. Listening to how his recording expertise informs the gear is all the time fascinating.
Elsewhere, we explored a blue 500-series channel strip, inexpensive compact chassis choices and a valve-based bass amplifier demonstration that gave me an excuse to choose up a bass!
Remembering Jack Douglas With Steve Marcantonio
Amongst all of the demonstrations, probably the most significant elements of the day was sitting down with Steve Marcantonio to recollect Jack Douglas.
Jack was a buddy and mentor to each of us. We shared tales about his humour, his work ethic and the best way he made folks really feel snug within the studio.
Steve recalled working with Jack, John Lennon and Yoko Ono on “Strolling on Skinny Ice”. I shared recollections of constructing data with Jack and Aerosmith, together with the lengthy days, the experimentation and the seemingly small moments that turned a part of the completed recordings.
What saved coming again was Jack’s capacity to make everyone really feel included.
An concept from one band member mattered simply as a lot as an concept from one other. He listened, inspired folks to strive issues and knew when to maintain pursuing a sound and when to maneuver ahead.
He may make everybody chuckle with out dropping the main focus of the session. He cared deeply concerning the artist, the track and the folks making it occur.
I additionally talked about listening beside him to the stripped-back recordings from Double Fantasy. Listening to these performances so immediately, from an album I’d liked since I used to be 13, was extremely emotional.
Steve and I may have continued sharing tales for hours. I’m grateful we had the chance to recollect him collectively.
We miss you, Jack.
This was a beautiful technique to end AES Nashville: fascinating gear, beneficiant giveaways, previous associates, new connections and conversations about why we love making data.
An enormous thanks to everybody who took the time to talk with us, everybody who came visiting to say good day and the crew who made the present occur.
And don’t neglect to enter all 4 giveaways utilizing the hyperlinks above!
Which product caught your consideration most, and what would you want us to take into the studio for a more in-depth look?
Have a marvellous time recording and mixing!
