Audio recording basics from the pros - pure knowledge, no specific brands

Apr 19, 2007 11:57 GMT  ·  By

Usually, the "people at the knobs" are the least known persons in the history of all music; since the glamour and spotlights are centered almost all the time on the artists (and when they're not, they are on the artists' lovers), the tech staff is rarely a subject of discussion. If you get really good and do extraordinary things like Rick Rubin, you can get a Grammy or other prestigious award and make it to the front cover of some magazines.

The nice thing is that tech people are not looking for the frontpage as most artists are and would rather do things as good as possible and rather spread knowledge and tech than perfume and acting cool. Instead, they further contribute to raising the new generation of sound engineers and technicians by either training individuals themselves or making serious instructional materials for the public.

Francis Buckley has worked with and for a lot of big names in the music industry, including Aerosmith and Alanis Morissette and he even won a Grammy award for "The Best engineered Album" category with Quincy Jones' "Jook Joint"; he also is the winner of multiple platinum records and Golden Reel awards. Now he has put together a very interesting instructional DVD related to the most frequent problems one young engineer has to take care of when recording.

Released through Qtec Designs International, the Essential Recording Concepts Volume 1: Studio Fundamentals DVD, offers a share of Francis' vast knowledge in the field and will showcase you hints and tips as well as "specced by the book - done and improved by the pros" how-to's on basic subjects such as setting up your space acoustically, monitoring, dealing with stationary waves, signal paths, gains, microphones and their setup.

The coolest thing about this DVD is the fact that it isn't at all commercial (the way similar products are) as they are presenting how things can be done using only brand X mixers, brand Y mics, brand W preamps and so on. Francis Buckley will simply demonstrate you concepts which are time-proven and time-approved, far beyond any specific brands and definitely covering a wider area, from computer DAWs to hard-disk recorders and so many more.

From the smallest home studio-wannabe places up to the fully-rigged and equipment loaded big studios, everything has been dealt with: no matter if you plan to turn your garage in a place where you can record some demos with your band or you plan on spending the big bucks and enter the pros' world, the Francis Buckley's Essential Recording Concepts Volume 1: Studio Fundamentals is one DVD you should thoroughly consider.

As a matter of fact, I guess I will have to buy one myself as me and some friends are indeed starting a small studio business ourselves these months. For $34.99, you'll get your hands on a video and audio material which can mean the difference between your studio sounding great instead of good.

Photo credit: RecordProduction.com

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