Engineering a Great Sound

There is so much about Engineering sound that starts before you even push the record button. I’m going to go over a check list of things you should do before you start recording to make sure that you get the best sound possible. Not every thing on the list will be in your direct control, but you can do a lot to put the odds of getting a killer recording in your favor.

Great Musicians

You can’t always choose who you will be recording, but the better the Musician the better quality of a recording.

Great Intruments

There is a reason one guitar cost $100.00 and a Gibson Les Paul costs is well over $2000.00. If you want the best sounding recording, you need to be using the best intruments.

Great Permance

You can’t control this, but you can influence it a lot. I was once told a story of Dr. Dre punching Eminem in the mouth during a recording session to inspire an angry tone in the Rapper’s voice. I don’t know if the story is true, but a lesson can be learned from it.

Great Acoustics

No this is where we can start having more control and why we want to do our recording in a quality studio. Of course there are still time where you can’t choose your location, like when I recorded a school symphony and their theater had 2 huge concrete walls on either side. It was like recording in a sewer system.

Great Microphones

Buy quality mics and you will never regret it.

Great Mic Placement

This is what sets apart great engineers from the amateurs.

If you follow all of these rules, you will end up with a great sounding recording. Having these things when you record will also make your job of mixing and master tons easier. Since most of you amateurs will be payed by the job, and not by the hour, quick and quality is the best policy.