Choosing Your Mixing Board

Filed Under (Home Recording, Instruments, Music General, Musical Performance, Recording Studio) by Kevin on 31-08-2008

The realizations that have grown in the studio for mixing are ones that have also led to new applications and ideas for putting together the right mix of instruments. With this, has come a variety of technologies and options in order to ensure that every type of studio can easily change sound waves within the recording area. These options are allowing for better mixes and blends within each piece of music. Knowing the characteristics of different mixing boards can help you to decide what is your best option.

Number of input devices. Each mixing board comes with a set of number of channels. Each of these channels will allow for one instrument to be placed within the mixing board. You may have heard of concepts like the ‘24 mixer’ or ‘36 mixer’. The numbers that are being referred to are the channels used, each one allowing for an instrument to be in it’s place. Before you get a mixing board, you will want to think of how many channels you will need at one time, dependent on how many instruments you want or need to record at once.

Different uses for different environments. There are different innovations that are used for different areas of mixing. Because a sound board has to be able to adapt to both the software for recording and for the mix of instruments, different types of mixers will be available. Some of these will be focused on performance mixing while others will be strictly for the studio. You can determine which is being used according to the level control features and the way in which the sound board is built.

Analog or Digital. Technology innovations with mixers are constantly re-defining the best and latest types of mixers to use within recording. This has quickly made a transition from analog to digital mixers. Analog mixers are defined by wired controls that mix in changes and live sounds. Digital mixers; however, will use a digital interface in between. Typically, the mixing difference can be heard in the sound as well as the options for mixing. Because digital is using later technology, it is now moving into innovations such as audio streams, all in one editing options and more possibilities for controlling volume and input of the sound being used.

Extra effects. No matter what type of mixer you are looking into, you always want to pay attention to the little knobs that are a part of the mix. Depending on the mix and make of the sound board, you will also have different signal options as well as volume control options, dependent on the mixer. The more complex you want to make the mix, or the more instrumentation you have, will also help you to decide on what effects you want to take place in the mix and before the sound recording. You should keep in mind that, with these effects, they can not be undone if they are recorded that way as sound waves, meaning you will want to be cognizant of what is working and what doesn’t in the mix.

Interactions with software. Your mixing board not only provides you with options for pre-recording, but also should have options with how it interacts with the software. Not only does each mixing board have different features within the board itself, but can also interact with the software in certain ways in order to mix together the sound waves in a certain way. You will want to make sure that you have a mixing board that compliments your software system.

If you keep these things in mind with the right mixing board, it will save you time, money and will allow for the right sound to be developed from what you are creating. Your end option will be the ability to customize your sound and to create certain controls within your music that best fit what you want to do. By understanding the different qualities of mixing boards and how they can work for you, there will be the ability to have the perfect recipe for your instrumentation mix.

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Singing School Can Be Very Beneficial To You

Filed Under (Lessons, Music General, Music Theory, Musical Performance, Singing) by Kevin on 28-08-2008

Most often when people think of a singing school, images of a large music studio with an aspiring entertainer sitting in front of a grand piano comes to mind. However, singing schools are not just for professional singers, although many students are wonderful singers. It seems that more enrollees want to hone their skills for the enthusiastic pleasure of singing.

Although, some individuals mistakenly consider that singing school produces great singers from an assembly line of talent, a singing school exists to aid performers in polishing their crafts and talent, it also provides students with various opportunities to enhance their singing and performance skills.

Levels of natural talent varies from one student to the next, a singing school does not set apart average singers from great singers. Rather, its goal is to aid all students in developing their skills to the best of their ability as well as developing their passion for singing.

What types of musical styles are taught by singing schools?
In the past, classical music was taught in the formal setting of singing schools. However, today, the variety of music ranges widely. Almost all musical styles are covered to provide the student with a greater understanding of the diversity in musical expressions, whether it is blues to pop or country and rock.

What types of training is given?
Essentially, every student is taught various fundamental singing techniques. These include voice production, enunciation, resonance and voice projection. Of course, the levels of knowledge and skill will vary from beginners to those who are more advanced. However, consistent exercise is required at every level of training.

Will singing school help me overcome stage fright and make me a singing star?
Various singing schools will specialize in performing in public and will train its students to overcome stage fright, to some extent. However, this is not the purpose of a singing school. It can help guide you to a professional singing career, although, it cannot teach you how to become a star, since that will be up to you as a performer.

What if I would rather sing for myself, than to become a stage performer?
Simply attending a singing school does not mean you intend to become a recording artist or an entertainer. Sometimes the ultimate goal of a student is to master the art of singing, for its own sake, much like going to school to learn to sculpt or paint.

Considering a singing school is an option well worth considering and worth the effort to succeed, simply because a singing school can aid their students with vocal technique mastery to develop them into the very best singers they can ever be.

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Tips For Choosing A Guitar

Filed Under (Guitar, Instruments, Music General) by Kevin on 25-08-2008

There are many different types of guitar on the market today and which guitar you will choose will depend a great deal on the kind of music you want to play. You must also make sure it feels comfortable for you. If you have a small build, you’ll need a guitar to fit, while if you have very long arms, a small guitar will not do. Weight is another important factor. If you intend to play a lot, you don’t want to feel weighed down by an instrument that is way too heavy for your strength.

Other factors to consider when choosing a guitar is whether you like the look of it, and how it sounds. Guitars come in a range of different shapes, colors and finishes. All guitars have slightly different sounds and the quality of sound often depends on the quality, and hence the price of the guitar.

All these factors must be taken into consideration, yet always within the style of music you are interested in playing. If you are into classic, you’ll need a guitar with gut or nylon strings. The back and sides will usually be made of rosewood, with spruce or cedar for the top. The guitar for flamenco players is similar but the wood is thinner and the body shallower and made of cypress with a cedar top.

The two most popular types of guitar are the classic with its hollow body and nylon strings and the electric steel guitar with its solid wood body, bolted on neck and steel strings, like the well-known Fender Stratocaster. There are many variations within each type, of course. Semi- acoustic and semi-solid are just two of them. Then you get the bass guitars. But when buying your first guitar the main choice will be between electric or acoustic.

If you’ve never played one before, then consider buying an acoustic guitar. It is simpler to play and you don’t need anything else to accompany it - apart from a case, a strap, some picks and sheet music, all relatively cheap. If you buy an electric guitar, you’ll have to also buy an amplifier and at least one effects box. This can increase the cost dramatically and also make the choice more difficult.

While you don’t need to fork out a truckload of cash for your first guitar, it’s not wise to buy one that is cheap and nasty just because you’re not sure if you will continue to play. If you buy one that looks disgusting and feels worse, are you likely to want to play it at all? Take every chance you can to play guitars belonging to others and those in the shops before you decide. You needn’t be swayed by the top brand names, because there are plenty of top guitars out there with no-name brands on them.

Make sure your guitar is well made by running your fingers around the seams. If you can feel any part that could be coming apart or is rough, don’t buy that one. And make sure the frets are even and the top is not of plywood. Never rush out and buy the first guitar you pick up; there are many different guitars on the market and one of them has your name on it.

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Some Unusual Singing Jobs

Filed Under (Music General, Musical Performance, Practice, Singing) by Kevin on 22-08-2008

Even though there are many famous singers that earn high pay, there are those that struggle in the singing field to “make a living”. Copious amounts of time is undertaking by these struggling singers to book singing engagements along with other part-time jobs.

Many singers find other kinds of singing jobs to enable them to earn a little money. These singing jobs include:

Busking

Buskers are otherwise known as minstrels or bards, sidewalk musicians, street musicians, subway musicians, traveling musicians etc.

Some venues that you are more than likely to see a busker present at would include: bus depots, fairs, fetes, parks, shopping centers, sidewalks, subways, street corners, train stations, and any open spaces whereby there is a sufficient flow of traffic in the hope that they will find interested receptions and donations falling into their hats.

Deputising

Deputising refers to “filling in” singing or acting jobs, or acting as an “understudy” for another contracted singers in their musical engagements, at the times when they are unable to perform.

Session Singer

Session singers are highly skilled vocalists and professional. They generally have a solo career, are hired in a “contractual period”, generally have one performance, one track etc., of any style of music, primarily for the purpose of recording.

It is extremely important that they can work well with other singers without the need to rehearse and sight read, even though many session singers simply work by ear.

Session singers are more often than not self employed, which means that they do not possess an ongoing recording contract, and record companies who employ them do not provide a contract. They are simply paid by “sessions”.

Session singers must possess essential qualities including an excellent vocal ability, a capacity to work on a range of musical styles, and be reliable.

Tribute Singers

Tribute singers are also considered as being soundalikes, impersonators, and look-alikes. They are singers or singing bands that perform on stage imitating popular celebrities and famous bands.

Tribute singers, to put it simply, copy the movements, playing styles, and image of their chosen artist or band and perform several songs of that particular artist’ repertoire.

Being a tribute act is an extremely popular career option for many singers, especially those who tribute to famous artists such as Elvis Presley, Madonna, Prince, Kiss etc. These famous artists are imitated by tribute acts at corporate functions and talent competitions.

The competition to get a singing job is very strong. Your talent alone can guarantee your success. It is very glamorous to have a singing job, and they can offer high pay which is why so many singers want them.

Therefore, in order to obtain a singing career, or any career for that matter, you need motivation, persistence, and a great deal of luck. A small number of individuals earn a sufficient amount of money in order to support themselves.

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A Wave File Is A Wave File

Filed Under (Home Recording, Music General, Musical Performance, Recording Studio) by Kevin on 19-08-2008

People in the recording industry spend a lot of time thinking about the best way to produce recordings in order to get the best possible sound onto CD. Engineers and other professionals work on mixing wave files using various techniques in the attempt to create a great finished product. There are a lot of different pieces of hardware and software out there – but the tools you use may not matter as much as you think.

Whatever equipment or software you use to get your recordings or what the setup of your studio is like, there is one thing to keep in mind. This is that a wave file is nothing more or less than a wave file. This sound which goes from instrument to computer is the same file, no matter what sort of processing you perform on it along the way.

Your setup, no matter what its particular configuration, will always end up giving you the same thing – a sound wave, or wave file. This is the lingua franca of digital recording and it is what your recording will be, regardless of how you capture it.

What you should be concerned with when recording is getting the best possible sound. Your mixing and mastering process are all aimed towards this goal; the sound you envisioned for your recording project. You want your finished recording to be clear and at the proper volume level. When working on a recording, this is what should be your concern rather than the particulars of the file format you are working with.

Mixing is the key here – you want to do what is necessary to make your wave file sound its very nest. This entails keeping an eye on the dynamic range of the recording in order to make it sound best for the format you choose for its release.

Sound is the most important thing because it is this and only this which your listener will care about. Keeping this goal in mind will help you stay focused throughout the recording process and get the best possible recording.

So why is a wave file important? Because it is the medium you will be working with to create your recording. You will want to use the techniques and tools necessary to create the sound you want for your finished recording – working with your wave files is the first step to getting your CD mixed and mastered for a great end product.

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