Mixing concepts
I have this theory for getting a great mix really easily:
--- 1. solo the bass until it reads just over halfway on the stereo meters.
--- 2. turn up the volume of the monitoring until you 'feel' the bass and it is 'satisfying'.
--- 3. don't look at the meters again til the very end.
--- 4. introduce whatever instrument is playing the chords, eg piano, rhythm guitar etc, don't look at the meters but slowly bring up the volume againsst the bass until it 'sounds right'
--- 5 again, don't look at the meters and bring in whatever bangs on the snare part of the bar, beats 2 and 4 for instance, get that nice and firm then bring up the kick to go with it. No peeking...
--- 6 add the other elements of the drums and percussion by increasing their volume from zero upwards and just listening.
--- 7 quickly add all the other non vocal instruments and check their panning and eqs, roll off bass from anything that muddies it up when added.
--- 8 creep in the volume of the backing vocals
---9. add the lead vocal finally and have a look at the stereo meters: you should find that they are now peaking at the top of their range and not going over. The mix should be sounding good with levels of vocals and other instruments looking lower than you would have thought, but sounding louder than you expect! It's magic.
If it doesn't work, go back to the bass and make sure it satisfies, that's the key to it. Your problem will most probably be in bass end confusion, so get ready to roll off bass from things like pads, pianos, acoustic guitars and even backing vocals in order to get a clear bottom end.
Preparing for the studio
We love to make you happy in the studio, but there are things that you can do to prepare that will enhance your experience and make it even more productive. We will run a piece about what you can do to make it good for you real soon now, watch this space...
Boiling bass strings
Does it work? in a word: no...although Mark from Fly on the Wall says it does, for a week or so... Now Neil from Hipplestreet says it does work too, so maybe there is something in it...
Chord charts and lyric documents
Please prepare these before you come in the studio. So far only a handful of artists have, but wow what a difference that preparation makes for them and for the producer and musicians.
Audio quantisation
so, is it a good thing or is it the work of the music technology devil? the jury is still out...
CeolNua Music Technology Page
The Korn 7 string and 5 string sound
We now know how to get that Korn or Slipknot guitar sound with the very low chugging guitars and we are using those techniques on a great album by Irish rock band MonkeyTooth.
Logic Audio
We love Logic Audio on the Mac, its the best musical program and fits right in with the production techniques that we use in the studio here. Better than ProTools? Well, i would have to say ProTools is old technology and Logic is new...but I don't care so long as it makes music, and Logic makes it so cool... you'll see!
Amplitube
I never thought it would happen, but i have been using Amplitube instead of my mega guitar stack set up for super heavy rock legend Monkey O'Keeffe's album with his band MonkeyTooth. When it comes to rock it, er, rocks!
Vocal production technique
So many singers have loved what we do in the studio and have commented on how their voice is better after the production that I may have to share those techniques with the world...NOT!!!!
7 string guitar
ok, I got one and its cool. So cool that it writes songs for you all by itself just as soon as you pick it up... that's how cool. oh, and it also rocks the big one.. So: its a 7 string by ESP and it like totally cool dude. It was the inspiration for a new song for MonkeyTooth called Destruction Oblivion and it goes all the way down to a low B meaning that it locks in perfectly with a 5 string bass.