Mic It! : Microphones, Microphone Techniques, and Their Impact on the Final Mix

Description

Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents About the Author Acknowledgments Chapter 1: Audio Basics 1.1 It’s Not Always About the Gear! 1.2 What is Sound? 1.3 The Decibel (dB) 1.4 Power Relationships 1.5 Decibel Scales 1.6 Dynamic Range 1.7 Signal-to-Noise Ratio 1.8 Frequency 1.9 Frequency Response 1.10 Waveforms, Fundamentals, and Harmonics 1.11 Wavelength, Velocity, Phase 1.12 Amplitude Summation 1.13 Human Hearing 1.14 Signal Flow and Audio Level Standards 1.15 Gain Structure 1.16 Analog Audio Connectors 1.17 Digital Audio Connectors 1.18 Digital Audio Basics Chapter 2: “Good Sound” 2.1 Recognizing Good Sound 2.2 Sound Reproduction Formats 2.3 Monitoring Options – Loudspeakers, Headphones, and Earbuds 2.4 Compressed Audio Formats 2.5 Dynamic Range 2.6 What About Distortion? 2.7 What is a Good Recording? 2.8 Accuracy 2.9 Non-Natural Sounds and Balances 2.10 What are the Elements of a Good Mix? 2.11 Frequency Balance 2.12 Clarity and Intelligibility 2.13 Musical Arrangement 2.14 The Stereo Image 2.15 Focus and Amplitude Balance 2.16 Processing and Effects 2.17 Song Structure and Arrangement 2.18 Making a Great Record Chapter 3: About Microphones… 3.1 The Microphone 3.2 End Address or Side Address? 3.3 Directionality and Pick-Up Patterns 3.4 Dynamic Microphones 3.5 Condenser (Capacitor) Microphones 3.6 Ribbon Microphones 3.7 Tube (Valve) Microphones 3.8 Other Microphone Technologies 3.9 Phantom Power 3.10 Proximity Effect 3.11 Frequency Response 3.12 Off-Axis Response 3.13 Flat Microphones vs Vocal Microphones 3.14 Low Frequency Response 3.15 Low Frequency Instrument Microphones 3.16 Sensitivity 3.17 Self-Noise and Equivalent Noise Rating (ENR) 3.18 Signal-to-Noise Ratio 3.19 Maximum SPL 3.20 Dynamic Range 3.21 Transient Response 3.22 Pop Filters, Windscreens, and Dead Cats 3.23 Shock Mounts 3.24 Mic Pre-Amps 3.25 What Mic to Use? 3.26 There’s More to it than Specifications! Chapter 4: EQ Basics 4.1 What is EQ? 4.2 Last Resort, and Creative Mix Tool 4.3 Can You EQ Spill? 4.4 EQ Filters 4.5 Analog vs Digital EQ 4.6 Additive vs Subtractive EQ 4.7 The Fewer Filters the Better 4.8 How Much to EQ? 4.9 When to EQ? 4.10 Golden Rules of EQ Chapter 5: Stereo Imaging 5.1 The Stereo Soundstage 5.2 Phantom and Discrete Images 5.3 Image Width 5.4 Beyond the Loudspeakers 5.5 Depth Concepts 5.6 The Illusion of Height 5.7 Static and Dynamic Panning 5.8 Image Symmetry 5.9 Use All of the Soundstage! 5.10 How to Listen 5.11 Reality vs Recording Chapter 6: Stereo Microphone Arrays 6.1 Microphone Arrays 6.2 XY Coincident Pair Techniques 6.3 Blumlein Pair Technique 6.4 Near-Coincident Pair Techniques 6.5 Spaced Pair (AB) Techniques 6.6 MS (Middle-Side) Techniques 6.7 The Decca Tree 6.8 Binaural and Baffle Techniques Chapter 7: The Effect of Microphone Position 7.1 Art and Science 7.2 Distance and Tonal Qualities 7.3 “Zoom Factor” 7.4 Off-Axis Response 7.5 Direct vs Reflected Sound 7.6 Floor Reflections – the Good, the Bad, and Boundary Mics 7.7 Distance and Stereo Arrays 7.8 Spill – Enemy or Creative Tool? 7.9 Why Minor Changes in Mic Position Change the Sound So Much 7.10 Experimentation and Exploration 7.11 Practical Tips to Help Set Mic Position Chapter 8: The Recording Room 8.1 Room Sound 8.2 Live Rooms 8.3 Dead Rooms 8.4 Room Size 8.5 Cubic Airspace 8.6 Standing Waves and Resonant Frequencies 8.7 Flutter Echo 8.8 Microphone Directionality and Room Considerations 8.9 Room Shape 8.10 Absorption 8.11 Diffusion 8.12 The Purpose of the Room 8.13 Acoustical “Home Remedies” Chapter 9: Recording Vocals 9.1 Is it Really About the Mic? 9.2 Getting the Performance 9.3 Vocal Tracking Methods 9.4 Miking Individuals 9.5 Voice and Acoustic Guitar 9.6 Small Vocal Groups 9.7 Larger Contemporary Vocal Groups 9.8 Gang Vocals 9.9 Vocal Processing Tips 9.10 Vocal EQ Frequencies Chapter 10: Drum Miking 10.1 What Kind of Sound Does the Project Call for? 10.2 How Many Mics Do You Really Need? 10.3 Kick Drums 10.4 Snare Drums 10.5 Hi-Hats 10.6 Tom Toms 10.7 Cymbals and Overheads 10.8 Room Mics 10.9 Rock Drums vs Acoustic Jazz Drums 10.10 Drum EQ Frequencies Chapter 11: Guitars, Basses, and Keyboards 11.1 The Role of the Rhythm Section Instruments 11.2 Electric Guitar 11.3 Electric Bass, and DI Boxes 11.4 Acoustic (Upright) Bass 11.5 Acoustic Guitar 11.6 The Grand Piano 11.7 The Upright Piano 11.8 Electric Keyboards and Synthesizers 11.9 Leslie Speakers and the Hammond Organ 11.10 Accordions 11.11 EQ Frequencies Chapter 12: Strings, Winds, Brass, and Percussion 12.1 Orchestral String Instruments 12.2 Horn Section Instruments 12.3 Other Wind and String Instruments 12.4 Percussion Instruments 12.5 EQ Frequencies Chapter 13: Beyond the Basics 13.1 “Ear Candy” 13.2 Fixing Dull or Small Sounding Tracks 13.3 Multi-Miking = Closer Miking 13.4 Distance Mics – Guitar and Bass Cabinets 13.5 Comb Filtering – Problems 13.6 Comb Filtering – Creative Tool 13.7 Double Tracking 13.8 Room Mics Chapter 14: Setting Up the Studio 14.1 The Three or Seven Ps 14.2 Bands – Small Room Recording 14.3 Bands – Large Room Recording 14.4 Iso-Rooms and Multi-Room Studios 14.5 Gobos and Sound Barriers 14.6 Drum Rooms 14.7 String Sections 14.8 Horn Sections Chapter 15: Miking Large Ensembles 15.1 Orchestras and Large Instrumental Ensembles 15.2 Main Arrays 15.3 Outriggers 15.4 Woodwind Mics 15.5 Natural Reverb and Room Acoustics 15.6 Audience Mics 15.7 Spot Mics 15.8 To Time Align or Not to Time Align? 15.9 Artificial Reverb 15.10 The Hollywood Sound 15.11 Large Choirs 15.12 Jazz Big Bands – Concert Seating 15.13 Jazz Big Bands – Studio Isolation Seating Chapter 16: Putting it All Together 16.1 The Pre-Mix 16.2 The Monitor/Headphone Mix 16.3 Click Tracks 16.4 Knowing the Song 16.5 Don’t Give Everything Away at Once 16.6 Loudspeakers or Headphones? Again… 16.7 Recording for the Mix 16.8 Correct Problems Early (But Know When to Let Them Go) 16.9 “Polishing a Turd” 16.10 Exploration and Experimentation Chapter 17: Tips from the Professionals… 17.1 To Conclude… 17.2 Lenise Bent 17.3 David V. R. Bowles 17.4 Kerry-Anne Kubisa 17.5 Wes Maebe 17.6 Matt Ross-Spang 17.7 Mark Rubel Index