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“I didn’t know my voice sounded like that!”
This is just one of the many comments I hear when someone first hears sound recorded through a high-quality studio mic.
Next, they usually ask, “Can you make me sound better?”
Answering this question requires tact and nuance. Sometimes a small tweak to the EQ or reverb is all it takes, other times more time practicing is the most effective improvement.
In my studio’s work with first-time recording artists of all ages, styles, and skill levels, the main goal has always remained the same: to faithfully capture to the computer the sound the artist envisioned. Sometimes it’s easy. The artists rehearse well, the songs are well written, and all the technical equipment is flawless. Other times it’s a nightmare. The artist stayed up all night groggy, the song was only half written, and halfway through the computer decided to update and restart!
Like any career, you have to accept the good and the bad and try to find a way to accomplish your goals. However, sometimes you have to think outside the box to achieve flawless performance when recording music.
Maybe we’ll bring in a cool rug to make the recording space more comfortable, or make the lighting more like a stage than a waiting room. Do we need different microphones? Is the guitar in tune? Have we had breakfast?
Recording is like catching lightning in a bottle—sometimes, you only have one chance to get the perfect shot, and you want to make sure everything is ready for that moment.
This summer, I had the privilege of teaching music recording at Sheridan College’s custom Music Technology Camp for high school students. Most of the participants in the class are new audio engineers excited to learn the art of recording. It’s always fun watching them go through the same process I outlined earlier for the first time.
For a project in the camp, I set up a student with a microphone to act as the “artist” and another student with a mixing board to act as the recording engineer. They quickly realized that recording was much more than pressing a few buttons and moving a few faders. Every detail of their voice, guitar or keyboard is captured, for better or worse!
“Why is my voice so loud?”
“How can I make my guitar sound louder?”
“What do I use to make it sound like I’m playing the trumpet in the Grand Canyon? Or Carnegie Hall? Or outer space?”
I love it when aspiring recording engineers ask these questions, because it means they have a sound in their head, but they don’t quite know how to achieve it yet. Bridging the gap between artistic vision and technical ability can be frustrating at times, but with the right tools and guidance, it can be a lot easier. The voices you hear in your head when you close your eyes are often only a few steps away—you just need to know to take the right steps.
I will be teaching the 3rd annual Sheridan College Music Technology Camp July 24-28. Registration information can be found on Sheridan College’s official website.
Jacob Hirschman is the technical director of Sheridan College Music Hall.
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