III. All about Dynamics // JAN 25
After you've created your perfect track with the editing techniques we've discovered in the second live stream, we will explore how we can elevate our recording with different plugins, especially with a compressor and an equalizer! 
Please use this thread if you have any questions concerning the workbook or general questions concerning All about Dynamics!
Click here to access Session 3: All About Dynamics // Jan 25th (Live!)
Find the other sessions here: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 4 | Part 5
Download the third workbook here
I will post the answers to the questionnaire on Jan 31th!
After the livestream, submit your assignments by replying to this thread!
Time Stamps (with courtesy of philip.1 )
Spectral Peaks. (13:45)
Line Audio CM4 position (23:30)
Editing fast moving pieces. (26:45)
Purpose of spectral analysis. (27:50)
Mixing (30:00)
Mix bus (36:00)
Compressor (42:00).
What is a compressor? (57:20)
ReaComp (1:06:00)
Poll Result. (1:19)
Compression different to limiter. (1:20)
Ride the faders. (1:26)
Outboard Compressors. (1:30)
EQ (1:34:30). FX: ReaEQ
Cut low freqeuencies: High Pass to 56 Hz
Removing String Squeaks. (1:51:00)
Boxiness. (1:56)
Reverb (2:02). FX: ReaVerberate
Limiter. (2:17)
Export recording. (2:26)
De-noising. (2:37). FX: ReaFir.
Normalizing. (2:40:30)
Answers to the Questionnaire:
1. What is normalizing?
Normalizing is maximizing the highest peak in your file to 0db without any dynamic compression. If you're highest peak is at -6db, normalizing will boost your signal with 6db gain, but this will also bring up your noise floor +6db. This is why we need to adjust our input gain levels to peak about -12db to -6db during soundcheck to ensure the highest signal to noise ratio possible!
2. How do we reduce low bass rumble?
A high pass or low cut filter will reduce every frequencies below a point of your choosing with a slope of 6db/octave or steeper! In classical music, we usually use flatter slopes as higher slopes (like 24db/octave) will mess with the phase of your signal.
3. What is displayed in the EQ?
The EQ displays the frequency spectrum of the audible channels if the plugin is inserted in the master channel. If you insert it only one the left channel, it will meter only the left channel. The visualization is also capable of showing frequency spectrum post-EQ and pre-EQ.
See you tomorrow, where I will dive deep into YOUR recordings!
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this is a beautiful lesson, i only used reverb only (bad) but when in my recording you recommended the EQ with the right parameters, it was great, i can't wait to understand the compressor too, thanks
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Giuseppe Gasparini Cool! I also want to address how to apply noise reduction, reducing squeaks and some visual aids for further editing, will be a fun one
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Hi Martin
Here is my new record - Se Ela Perguntar
Two mics AKG P170, XY 60 cm from the guitar (cedar). I used the Reaper's plugins - Compressor, EQ, Reverb and the Limiter. I used also the spectrograph.
Thank you for your attention
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Joao Franco Awesome, that's a very full sound! I personally would try to make the threshold of the compressor less agressive and adjust the ratio, I can hear the compressor kicking in quite hard sometimes! The Reverb is very subtle, I'd go with a little bit more and shape it a little bit to the darker side!
Did you by any chance use a low pass filter at around 12khz?
Good job!
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martin Hi Martin. Thanks for your analysis of my record. I used a highpass filter at 86 Hz and low pass at 13.3 kHz (I have some electric interference at 15 kHz). A little boost (high shelf) 2.8 dB at 8.8 kHz. Also I cut with very narrow Q at 0.39 kHz and 0.779 kHz (G4 and G5).
I will adjust the compressor and the reverb (more dark!!!).
Thanks a lot
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here is my latest recording- I did try to fade in a couple of seconds - there is some excess outside traffic today because of snow coming - I did the right side phase inversion of the figure 8 and cardioid in the center like you did last week and the mics are about 50 cm away
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David Thank you! Can you elaborate a little bit of the setup?
A Blumlein configuration is made up of two figure of 8 mics, what you are describing sounds a little bit more like an MS configuration (that's the one I showed). But looking at your file, the metering tells me that it is mono and oddly enough it does sound like the mic which is pointed to the side, so I think something went wrong with the phase inversion, let me write you a step by step guide!
1) Channel 1 is the cardioid mic pointing at your guitar, pan knob is "center"
2) Channel 2 is the figure of 8 mic, panned to the left
3) Channel 3 is the figure of 8 mic again, panned to the right and phase inverted
Try that and re-send the file!
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Here's some time stamps for session 3:
Spectral Peaks. (13:45)
Line Audio CM4 position. (23:30)
Editing fast moving pieces. (26:45)
Purpose of spectral analysis. (27:50)Mixing. (30:00)
Mix bus (36:00)
Compressor (42:00). What is a compressor? (57:20)ReaComp (1:06:00)
Poll Result. (1:19)
Compression different to limiter. (1:20)
Ride the faders. (1:26)
Outboard Compressors. (1:30)EQ (1:34:30). FX: ReaEQ
Cut low freqeuencies: High Pass to 56 HzRemoving String Squeaks. (1:51:00)
Boxiness. (1:56)
Reverb (2:02). FX: ReaVerberate
Limiter. (2:17)Export recording. (2:26)
De-noising. (2:37). FX: ReaFir.
Normalizing. (2:40:30)
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Philip This is so awesome of you, so helpful! True Academy Hero here!
I'll attach that to my post in the beginning!
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martin
here is my first attempt at mixing a recording - I am did the Blumlein combo like you did last week - I am OK with the raw recording but there is something I really do not like - I really did not like the reverb and I saw clipping that didn’t exist when I made the recording
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David Hey there again! This does sound more like a MS-Recording, but the side channels are a bit too high. With MS you have to be very careful as the sound can get quickly "phasey" since you have a phase inverted signal in your signal path! Try lowering the side signal about 6-12db, that'll do good thing to this recording!
The reverb does indeed sound quite hard, make sure that is no dry signal in your reverb plugin (depending on how you set up your reverb channel). Furthermore, I would increase the room size and adjust the EQ in the reverb signifcantly!
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here's my attempt at producing a master track. What do you think?
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Vilio Celli Thank you! I see that you put all of the plugins to good use, this is a very thick sound!
Try to find a balance between maximizing your output and a certain naturalness of your sound, right now I feel that the compressor is maybe hitting a little bit to hard, especially on the bass notes! -
martin thanks Martin it does sound a bit heavy
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Hi Martin.
Thank you for a really good course so far.
You mentioned the Line Audio CM4 mics. a few times the other day.
I have these mics and I'm very pleased with them. However I think they are a little dark sounding or the opposite or hars/to bright (hope you know what I mean)
You mentioned you have the same mics. what are your opinion about this ? compared to the Neumann KM184 or your AKG414 for example ?
The only thing I have to compare with is my Apogee mic+ also a great mic but very different than the CM4.
Once again thank you and btw. the workbooks are great :-)
Cheers,
Anders
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Anders Skadborg Hansen As opposed to other cardioid mics, those mics have a very flat frequency response, so they can definitely take a subtle EQ boost with a high shelf filter around 5-6khz!
Furthermore, they don't have a standard cardioid pattern but a "wide cardioid", so you could place them a little bit closer to your sound source as it will pick up more frequencies from the room!
The CM4 offer a lot of bang for the buck, they perform incredibly well for their price tag. Of course there is a difference between KM184 or the AKG414 or Sennhesier 8040, but since the CM4 are just a fraction of the prices of the big players, I am very satisfied with their performance!
Glad you like the workbooks :)
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martin
Hi Martin.
Thank you for your very detailed reply that was just was I was looking for
I will play around with the eq a little more and your info will definitely help me in the future.
Maybe I will record a simple piece and post in the forum one version with eq or one without. Maybe it could be helpful for other forum members interested in the cm4
Once again thank you
cheers
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Anders Skadborg Hansen Please post a recording using the CM4. I haven't decided yet if I want the OM1 or the OM4. A recording would definitely help :-)
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Philip
Hi Phillip
Here are a little bit (only a few bars sorry) of Giuliani's op. 111 no. 3
The RAW file is without any kind of effect. just the mics. around 50 cm's from the guitar in a XY stereo setup.
The effect file is normalized and with a eq boost from 5K and a high shelf filter.
And some reverb but the idea is you can play around with the raw file yourself.
I can do a few more recordings if you're interested.
Hope this will help you but very nice mics. for a very good price.
Cheers, Anders
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Philip
Hi Phillip
Here are one more recording this time the raw file is normalised and the effect file is same as the Giuliani but the wet signal of the reverb is a little diffrent, better this time I think.
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Philip Hi Phillip, please make sure to send both of your recording channels into the reverb channel, I think I can hear the reverb only on the left side right now! I'm not sure if it goes the same way with the compressor, but since your left channel is approx. 10db louder, I think that you didn't create a mix bus for both your left and right channel to be affected at the same time! I'm looking forward to your adjustment!
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Anders Skadborg Hansen wonderful mics indeed and wonderfully played! Try to imagine yourself being in a beautiful hall and try to find a natural balance between the dry and the wet signal! I also prefer your reverb settings in the Bach recording!
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martin I actually uploaded that edit by mistake. Don't know why.
Anyway I will upload a new version before Monday P.S.: Is it possible to edit your personal comments?
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Anders Skadborg Hansen Thank you so much Anders - really appreciate it. That did help. I think the RAW recordings of CM4 have a full sound that is present to the listener. Fine Bach recording
martin Is there an advantage of buying the OM1 in order to get the full acoustic of the my living room? Or is it better to buy the CM4 and add the hall effect in the edit process?
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Philip I wouldn't say that there is a certain advantage, they are just different tools which need different approaches! One thing worth noticing is that omni mics have a higher sensitivity in the bass frequencies, so they will pick up more low end rumble which might be tricky to avoid.
But I don't think you won't regret either the OM1 or the CM4! It is nice to have pair of omnis in case you can record in a really nice reverberant location. But if you are generally in a "living room" situation, cardioids will perform perfectly fine as well!
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