Literature and Information

[Call_me_Switters]

Hello mate...
I my opinion you should start from the basics. What is sound. Some little theory to understand what the hack is this thing that you want to record. Secondly some basics about music. Scales, chords and some general music introduction theory.
This two things are the base that you need, to go a bit further and start understanding about production and mixing.
At the other hand lots of engineers don't have a clue about music theory, and lots of producers don't have a clue about sound. But as long as you start fresh, you should do it the right way.
Oh, and the most important of all. Stop just reading and watching movies!
Go to a real studio and just sit, observe and make questions until they kick you out. Try to experiment with the gear you have and the tons of freebies you can find on line.
Don't expect to understand compression from a video or a book if you don't hook one and start messing with the buttons!
Start reading some magazine like Sound on sound or Future music, in order to find new techniques and useful information about gear.

Don't mess your mind. If you dig on all this huge subjects that you mention at once you will find yourself lost in an enormous amount of information. Take it easy.
Sound theory->Music Theory->Production basics->Recording basics->mixing basics-> and again from the beginning in a more advanced level.
Keep out of mastering till you really know all the above in a decent level!

Jut some thoughts!
have a great day!

[The Aristocrat]

You can also check out this site

Tweak's Guide to the Home and Project Studio

Starts at the very basics and carries on through, there are a list of topics you can hit at the side, not necessarily in order but topics further along assume you know previous ones so it might help to do it chronologically.

When your done you can check out the yamaha sound reinforcement handbook.
Incredibly detailed, pretty advanced and forms a good synergy between going to the studio and learning stuff at home.

Lastly as Switters posted, no substitute for going to an actual studio and seeing how things work, only there will you finally get everything clicking with what you should and shouldn't know. Hope this helps.

[manuel alejandro]

I read the same book when I was first starting out and didn't quite get it like you. Over the years a I read it again about every 6mo and just from being immersed in the Art of music i have gained the knowledge needed for me to understand the material. What im saying is read it even if you dont understand and keep learning. Your brain will pick up on it and you'll get the info in no time. Just don't be down on yourself and keep pushing, keep learning; you'll get it.

Check this out
The Art Of Mixing (A Arte da Mixagem) - David Gibson - YouTube

Over the years I gathered a lot of material that really helped me learn a lot about mixing, mastering, recording, etc, etc...

I will look up all the files and update you. Keep working man, with desire, dedication and self discipline anything is possible, good luck.

[Louis Bernstone]

Look up John l Sayers website. He has a noob recording handbook online

[Billly]

Hello mate...
I my opinion you should start from the basics. What is sound. Some little theory to understand what the hack is this thing that you want to record. Secondly some basics about music. Scales, chords and some general music introduction theory.
This two things are the base that you need, to go a bit further and start understanding about production and mixing.
At the other hand lots of engineers don't have a clue about music theory, and lots of producers don't have a clue about sound. But as long as you start fresh, you should do it the right way.
Oh, and the most important of all. Stop just reading and watching movies!
Go to a real studio and just sit, observe and make questions until they kick you out. Try to experiment with the gear you have and the tons of freebies you can find on line.
Don't expect to understand compression from a video or a book if you don't hook one and start messing with the buttons!
Start reading some magazine like Sound on sound or Future music, in order to find new techniques and useful information about gear.

Don't mess your mind. If you dig on all this huge subjects that you mention at once you will find yourself lost in an enormous amount of information. Take it easy.
Sound theory->Music Theory->Production basics->Recording basics->mixing basics-> and again from the beginning in a more advanced level.
Keep out of mastering till you really know all the above in a decent level!

Jut some thoughts!
have a great day!
__________________
Phonographic Society an exciting new Indie Music Label from Greece
"Cause even broken clocks, twice a day can show, the right hour"

I already know a lot of music theory and know some stuff about sound so thanks I'll start with production basics now

[Billly]

I read the same book when I was first starting out and didn't quite get it like you. Over the years a I read it again about every 6mo and just from being immersed in the Art of music i have gained the knowledge needed for me to understand the material. What im saying is read it even if you dont understand and keep learning. Your brain will pick up on it and you'll get the info in no time. Just don't be down on yourself and keep pushing, keep learning; you'll get it.

Yeah I'll do that thank you

[Billly]

Lastly as Switters posted, no substitute for going to an actual studio and seeing how things work, only there will you finally get everything clicking with what you should and shouldn't know. Hope this helps.

how would i sit in on a studio session? do I just call them up and ask if I can watch? or like what?

[Billly]

Look up John l Sayers website. He has a noob recording handbook online

is this the website you were talking about?
The Recording Manual

[Zachariah]

Honestly...I would just frequent this forum. There is countless information available by simply searching, but if you would like specific answers to specific questions, feel free to ask.

Search amazon for "audio recording" or "audio mixing" and you will have plenty of literature to read through by countless engineers with experience.

[The Aristocrat]

Originally Posted by Billly

how would i sit in on a studio session? do I just call them up and ask if I can watch? or like what?

well not exactly in those words but you could say visit the studio, let them know what you're about, what your plans are and ask if its possible if you can sit in a session. Naturally it might not be as easy as that and you might have to talk with them a little longer, drop by a few times and since the days of mentors are pretty much over you're chances are slim, however I would take slim odds than guarantee failure by not trying at all. Finding a good mentor that will help you gratis is more than a little difficult but as I said, only by trying will you know for sure.
Good luck.

[Call_me_Switters]

Originally Posted by The Aristocrat

well not exactly in those words but you could say visit the studio, let them know what you're about, what your plans are and ask if its possible if you can sit in a session. Naturally it might not be as easy as that and you might have to talk with them a little longer, drop by a few times and since the days of mentors are pretty much over you're chances are slim, however I would take slim odds than guarantee failure by not trying at all. Finding a good mentor that will help you gratis is more than a little difficult but as I said, only by trying will you know for sure.
Good luck.

Also you can attend recordings from fellow bands, stick by the engineer on live events you might find around, visit some open day clinics from local music schools or just offer yourself to help in some really small studio that might need the (free) extra hand.

Just get sure that you will be polite and respectful with all this people that are actually working.

[GJ999x]

v. much depends what level you're at but I found this series helpful, it really is good at going through the basics, perhaps too simple if you're ready katz etc..,, but if you're starting out as an amateur making your own tunes, well it helped me anyway...

5 Minutes To A Better Mix

[otaku]

Originally Posted by Call_me_Switters

Also you can attend recordings from fellow bands, stick by the engineer on live events you might find around, visit some open day clinics from local music schools or just offer yourself to help in some really small studio that might need the (free) extra hand.

Just get sure that you will be polite and respectful with all this people that are actually working.

I would need to gather a lot of courage to ask, "Hey, can I bother you with a bunch of questions while you're working?" Even if it were for a 'small' band.

[Call_me_Switters]

Originally Posted by otaku

I would need to gather a lot of courage to ask, "Hey, can I bother you with a bunch of questions while you're working?" Even if it were for a 'small' band.

You will not bother with a bunch of questions!You ll just sit back and observe.On a coffee brake you can discuss some things you might want.Call me romantic but everyone had something like a mentor and recalling his own days as a beginner I can t imagine that he will refuse to help you if you are discrete and polite.

[otaku]

I feel like observing might even be too much. But it never hurts to try. Something about studios are just intimidating.

[Billly]

Thanks guys, this is all so much help, I'm going to try this guy with a nice home studio (i heard he has a Neve console.......) and maybe he can mentor me.

Also that 5 minutes to a better mix was good too, their are always little tips and tricks that i want to pick up from places

[The Aristocrat]

Originally Posted by Billly

Thanks guys, this is all so much help, I'm going to try this guy with a nice home studio (i heard he has a Neve console.......) and maybe he can mentor me.

Also that 5 minutes to a better mix was good too, their are always little tips and tricks that i want to pick up from places

let us know how it works out.

[joe_04_04]

Try www.puremix.net

Lots of good free videos on mixing! I haven't taken any plunges by buying any vids yet, but I'm heavily considering.

[Billly]

Thanks guys, I just got the Mixing Engineer's Handbook Second Edition and it's very helpful