Recording

In the first of this two-part series, David Mellor gives us an introduction to mic polar patterns.

A valuable test for recording engineers, David Mellor gives examples of different mic types to emphasise the importance of knowing your mic collection in detail.

Using more than one mic on a source can expand your sonic horizons — but it can also lead to problems. We explain when multi‑miking is and isn’t a good idea.

In the final part of this series, Rob Toulson focuses on mic techniques for recording drums and talks us through the issue of frequency cancellation in a multiple mic setup, details how to choose the recording sweet spot in a room and explains the various stereo mic options that are available including the famous Glyn Johns technique.

In the second episode David Mellor focuses on gain staging during recording, by balancing mic input, preamps and gain within your DAW to achieve the optimal sound level.

Recently I had to record a Japanese taiko drum ensemble, but I got a fair bit of distortion even though my recording levels never reached 0dBFS. Why was I getting this distortion/compression?

Binaural recordings are an easy and effective way to capture immersive audio.

M‑S miking is easy to set up, offers plenty of options at mixdown, and has some unique advantages over other stereo arrays. So if you've not yet tried it, why not give it a go?

How do you record a piano and drum kit in a modest live room, at the same time? Our engineer explains his approach...

Take a listen to these audio examples created when recording a piano and drum kit in a modest live room, at the same time.

What are your thoughts on recording stereo ambience on location (such as in a forest, supermarket, office, or restaurant) for use in movies, podcasts and so on?

With a little TLC and the right miking technique, even the most neglected piano can produce great recordings.

I’m soon going to be doing my first recording of live drums and it occurred to me that I don’t know the answer to this question...

M-S miking is already a versatile technique, but it can be built upon to provide surround-sound recording and a whole lot more besides!

Zwiepack: Our engineer captured one jazz session using two completely different recording techniques. Which one won the day?

I’m looking for extremely detailed and natural omnidirectional microphones for two-channel small ensemble recordings on location.

I get the impression that manufacturing tolerances for mid-range and cheaper microphones are not always as tight as one would desire. If I found a mic I liked, and were then to go out and buy that model of mic, might the one I tested and the one I bought sound significantly different?

I often wonder exactly what gets matched when microphones with interchangeable capsules are bought as a stereo pair. Is it the bodies, the capsules, or both?

I've been trying to use a pair of AKG C414s in a coincident X-Y mode, but am finding it physically difficult to mount the...

I'm recording a folk band soon, and the lead singer plays an accordion. I want to record most of the band live, but was...

I am attempting to record a violin for the first time. I want a nice deep sound, but am unsure about using stereo mic...