Gear of another sort...

[Blister]

I guess the term 'Gear' is farily defined in our minds.

Hardware.

I would like to think that the best bit of gear any engineer with experience owns is their brain.

The ol' 'grey matter' is really the best processor on the market!

With that in mind... The best way to get access to these highest of high end processors, both vintage and new, is via the written word.

Are there any books, movies, documentaries, blogs etc... where knowledge of recording, mixing, mastering etc. that are absolute must reads for amatures like me.

Personally i'm interested in finding information on mixing (heavier stuuf??)... Acheiving that "sound" where everything has it's place in the stereo field even though there are 23 guitar parts... seems like as much an esoteric art as mastering, and when I listen to a mix where instruments are so clear amd defined yet sooo gelled, it blows me away, I feel like i'll never get my recordings where I want them. I just can't understand it.

I'm looking for some good reference material in mixing.

I should have just said that at the start of the thread.

[AudioFocus]

Originally Posted by Blister

I guess the term 'Gear' is farily defined in our minds.

Hardware.

I would like to think that the best bit of gear any engineer with experience owns is their brain.

The ol' 'grey matter' is really the best processor on the market!

With that in mind... The best way to get access to these highest of high end processors, both vintage and new, is via the written word.

Are there any books, movies, documentaries, blogs etc... where knowledge of recording, mixing, mastering etc. that are absolute must reads for amatures like me.

Personally i'm interested in finding information on mixing (heavier stuuf??)... Acheiving that "sound" where everything has it's place in the stereo field even though there are 23 guitar parts... seems like as much an esoteric art as mastering, and when I listen to a mix where instruments are so clear amd defined yet sooo gelled, it blows me away, I feel like i'll never get my recording where I want them. I just can't understand it.

So I'm looking for som good reference material in mixing.

Man... I should have just said that at the start of the thread.

There are a few cool things out there. However when it comes to mixing you won't find a lot of specifics. The first thing I would suggest is Mix It Like A Record. This is a DVD from Charles Dye. Search Amazon or google for it. The only other thing worth spending your time on is actually mixing. Listen to your favorite records, disect them mercilessly. Find every little thing you like and try to achieve similar results. Practice, Practice, Practice!!!

[hle144]

Start with 9000 hours in the studio. Leave the books for the library.

[Blister]

Originally Posted by hle144

Start with 9000 hours in the studio. Leave the books for the library.

Not a particularly usefull comment.... If thats the kind of attitiude you get after 9000 hours in a studio, you can keep it.

Seriously though... 9000 hours (or 3 years at 40 hrs a week?) in a quality studio is never going to be acheivable for many here. Not over three years anyway. Personally I already have a busy career to pursue, in order that I might feed and clothe my family.

Just because I dont have 9000 hours to spare, does not mean I dont want to learn. If reading books is going help me, even a little, bring it on I say.

Thanks for your quality input.

[Dr.Wu]

"mixing with your mind" is an interesting read with some fresh approaches.

[Blister]

Originally Posted by AudioFocus

There are a few cool things out there. However when it comes to mixing you won't find a lot of specifics. The first thing I would suggest is Mix It Like A Record. This is a DVD from Charles Dye. Search Amazon or google for it. The only other thing worth spending your time on is actually mixing. Listen to your favorite records, disect them mercilessly. Find every little thing you like and try to achieve similar results. Practice, Practice, Practice!!!

Cheers man. I'll definately check those out.

What about The Mixing Engineers handbook, by Bobby Owinsky? Anyone had experience with this?

[hle144]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Those who can do, those who can't teach and write books. This is especially true for this profession of music production.

You can read as many outdated books until you turn blue, will it get you a better mix, probably not. By the time the book is published and released, thats 3 generations ago in digital auido time.

I do not mean to be condescending, but here in the world where some of us make a living from our music production skills, nothing subsitutes long hours and years in the studio. And yes, over time, you will be able to support yourself and family following the above advice.

[Blister]

Originally Posted by hle144

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Those who can do, those who can't teach and write books. This is especially true for this profession of music production.

You can read as many outdated books until you turn blue, will it get you a better mix, probably not. By the time the book is published and released, thats 3 generations ago in digital auido time.

I do not mean to be condescending, but here in the world where some of us make a living from our music production skills, nothing subsitutes long hours and years in the studio. And yes, over time, you will be able to support yourself and family following the above advice.

Hence why I posted in the 'Low End Theory' forum...

Anyway... I understand what your saying. There is no substitute for experience. But me working in a studio is never going to happen. Trust me. So in leu of that, what's a guy to do?

I also know I'll never have a record in the charts... But i'll never stop writng music either. I'll never have a record that sounds like gold, I know that... I just dont want mine to sound like brown.

Give me a break.

[whosyourdaddy00]

Bob Katz "Mastering Audio"

[Chrisc_o]

Originally Posted by Blister

I just dont want mine to sound like brown.

I thought that the Brown album had a really cool and original sound, even for Primus!

[Slaytex]

What works great for me is this: Get yourself a little recording rig with a variety of mics and maybe some outboard. Read some books and go through this forum top to bottom. When you hear about people trying cool techniques like parallel compression, go home and try it with your setup. This way you get hands on practice and get to find out what things work for you along the way. I agree though that hands on use is the biggest.
Good luck.

[taturana]

Originally Posted by Blister

Not a particularly usefull comment.... If thats the kind of attitiude you get after 9000 hours in a studio, you can keep it.

Seriously though... 9000 hours (or 3 years at 40 hrs a week?) in a quality studio is never going to be acheivable for many here. Not over three years anyway. Personally I already have a busy career to pursue, in order that I might feed and clothe my family.

Just because I dont have 9000 hours to spare, does not mean I dont want to learn. If reading books is going help me, even a little, bring it on I say.

Thanks for your quality input.

WELL... he did answer correctly. if you are not able to handle the thruth it´s a different matter.

i actually think 9000 hrs woud be a decent start. even though you´d probably need a lot more than that to actually be a pro engineer, let´s say...

and sure books are cool and you do learn from reading, but it´s hands-on experience that really, really matters. of course you can get some valuable experience in your own home studio (i know i did!)

and there´s no way round the hands-on experience. none at all. so roll up your sleeves, get to work and stop whining...

[Chrisc_o]

No one can argue that his comment re. experience is incorrect, but I will say that he is simply stating the obvious and not really trying to help a guy out.

I will say that being here is a step in the right direction. Now, by correlating the fact that reading as much as possible on a public forum to profit from the experience and wisdom of fellow gearslutz is seen as a good step forward to improving one's skills, then why would a book not then hold any value?

I myself am not much of one for book learning, but there sure as hell are a whole bunch of people who are not like me. Different strokes....

[Stevil]

i'd been happy exploring recording for years on my own but after coming here i realized there were some huge gaps in the knowledge i'd aquired from experience & what was out there as possible.

here's the list i've compiled from here & other sources:

Modern Recording Techniques : David Miles Huber, Robert E. Runstein
Sound Recording : John Eargle
Assistant Engineers Handbook: Timothy Crich
All You Need Is Ears: George Martin, Jeremy Hornsby
Behind the Glass: Howard Massey
Mastering Audio: Bob Katz
Audio Cyclopedia: Howard M. Tremaine
Audio Electronics Reference Book: Ian R. Sinclair
Master Handbook of Acoustics: F. Alton Everest

havent aquired or read them all yet but i've picked up good info from the ones i have. also you can find older editions of books for cheap. people tend to think of them as 'obsolete' since they dont have alot of information about current digital recording technlogy. but the fundamentals of micing things up, signal processing, room acoustics & mixing havent changed. only the tools. so if yer comfortable with your computer & are looking for more outboard tips check out the older editions.

[Blister]

Thanks muchly folks. really appreciate it!

[Blister]

Originally Posted by Slaytex

What works great for me is this: Get yourself a little recording rig with a variety of mics and maybe some outboard. Read some books and go through this forum top to bottom. When you hear about people trying cool techniques like parallel compression, go home and try it with your setup. This way you get hands on practice and get to find out what things work for you along the way. I agree though that hands on use is the biggest.
Good luck.

Thanks slaytex. I've started combing the site, but so far alot of this stuff is kind of beyond me without knowing the technical application of a thing, if you get what I mean. I find reference to something, but not necessarily how to apply it in most cases. I guess alot of people here already know what they are doing enough to follow these things.

Hence why I want to get back to basics & learn the fundamental terminologies and applications. I've been recording my own stuff for the last 5 years in my ever growing home studio, and am at a level know where just tinkering around wont improve my sound too much... and the presets on those expensive plugs I bought will only get me so far!

[Blister]

Originally Posted by taturana

WELL... he did answer correctly. if you are not able to handle the thruth it´s a different matter.

Obviously you did'nt read my responses at all... I never argued that hands on experience wasn't the best way to learn, I whole-heartedly agree! It had nothing to do with why I started the thread, in the knowledge that prior to doing so, that level of commitment is simply not possible for me.

So I can handle the truth quite well. Thankyou.

Originally Posted by taturana

i actually think 9000 hrs woud be a decent start. even though you´d probably need a lot more than that to actually be a pro engineer, let´s say....

I'll never be a pro engineer. I stated thatalready. I already have a bread and butter proffession. But I still love music... I simply want to be able to produce my own music at a reasonably competant level. I live in a rural community and sometimes do jingle and game soundtrack work on the side. There are no studios here, so am forced to produce this stuff myself.

Originally Posted by taturana

and sure books are cool and you do learn from reading, but it´s hands-on experience that really, really matters. of course you can get some valuable experience in your own home studio (i know i did!)

This is my intention....

Originally Posted by taturana

and there´s no way round the hands-on experience. none at all. so roll up your sleeves, get to work and stop whining...

Australians dont 'whine'... we 'whinge'... Jeeez...

[Blister]

Originally Posted by Chrisc_o

No one can argue that his comment re. experience is incorrect, but I will say that he is simply stating the obvious and not really trying to help a guy out.

I will say that being here is a step in the right direction. Now, by correlating the fact that reading as much as possible on a public forum to profit from the experience and wisdom of fellow gearslutz is seen as a good step forward to improving one's skills, then why would a book not then hold any value?

I myself am not much of one for book learning, but there sure as hell are a whole bunch of people who are not like me. Different strokes....

Thanks. My thoughts exactly.

[peeder]

I've got both 9000 hours and the books. I suggest both!

[moon_unit]

Originally Posted by Blister

Not a particularly usefull comment.... If thats the kind of attitiude you get after 9000 hours in a studio, you can keep it.

I have a great book for you ... it's called "Quit whining" by Ima Winer.

It's on sale at "Babies R Us."

[Unclenny]

Originally Posted by Blister

What about The Mixing Engineers handbook, by Bobby Owinsky? Anyone had experience with this?

My copy is well worn.

[8th_note]

I think your question is perfectly on target, Blister. I totally disagree with those who discount the value of reading books about a skill you're interested in improving. The object of the game is to try to have the skill level of 9000 studio hours at 4500 studio hours. Can you imagine telling a pilot that he doesn't need to know anything about how an airplane flies, he should just get in the cockpit and fly the damn thing! He'll figure it out eventually, right?

Besides the excellent reading suggestions above, I've got a few more;

Jezar's How To Mix A Pop Song From Scratch. This is a great place to start.

Slipperman's Recording Distorted Electric Guitars From Hell. Best thing out there for recording guitar rock and very funny.

The Classic Album series on DVD. I've only watched a couple so far but this is great entertainment and gives an insight into the recording process.

Tom Dowd and the Language of Music DVD. This won't teach you how to record but it will give you a concept of what a high standard Dowd had and how effective he was.

Mixerman Diaries - This is like getting your vitamins in a candy bar. It won't teach you everything you need to know about recording but you'll pick up some useful stuff in an absolutely entertaining read.

[Blister]

Originally Posted by 8th_note

I think your question is perfectly on target, Blister. I totally disagree with those who discount the value of reading books about a skill you're interested in improving. The object of the game is to try to have the skill level of 9000 studio hours at 4500 studio hours. Can you imagine telling a pilot that he doesn't need to know anything about how an airplane flies, he should just get in the cockpit and fly the damn thing! He'll figure it out eventually, right?

Besides the excellent reading suggestions above, I've got a few more;

Jezar's How To Mix A Pop Song From Scratch. This is a great place to start.

Slipperman's Recording Distorted Electric Guitars From Hell. Best thing out there for recording guitar rock and very funny.

The Classic Album series on DVD. I've only watched a couple so far but this is great entertainment and gives an insight into the recording process.

Tom Dowd and the Language of Music DVD. This won't teach you how to record but it will give you a concept of what a high standard Dowd had and how effective he was.

Mixerman Diaries - This is like getting your vitamins in a candy bar. It won't teach you everything you need to know about recording but you'll pick up some useful stuff in an absolutely entertaining read.

Awesome. Thanks for the helpfull input.

I've come across slipperman before... He's a nut!

[Master Tang]

Originally Posted by hle144

Start with 9000 hours in the studio. Leave the books for the library.

"9000 Hours In the Studio"

Is that the one by I. Fetcher Cauphy, and Mike Stanz?


Great book, outta print, try E-Bay.

[poncival]

Yeah that I. Phetcher Cophee book is a great one, you can even read it on the weekends or at night during the regular 9-5 type gig. Yeah there are some great books but most of them seem to have been touched upon already but along those same lines you can get more up-to-date info by A- keeping in touch with Gearslutz on a regular basis (what book can answer your specific questions and raise so many others so well?) and 2- getting every magazine on the subject that you can. I have been reading Mix pretty much every day for 15 years (it's in the bathroom eternally) and back when I first started reading it I had no idea what any of that stuff was or what they were talking about but I stuck with it and I feel pretty at home reading it now. Also essentials are Tape Op, EQ, Electronic Musician, Pro Audio etc. I am leaving a lot of them out I am sure, there are lots but over the years I have had to choose what subscriptions to keep and Mix and Tape Op are the ones I find myself actually reading every time I find a few moments to relaxxxxx But now that I have this new fold-down table on my bathroom door (like on the back of airplane seats) I find myself reading gearslutz more in there as wellaaaaaah