Skip to main content

Recording Archives - Page 2

Should You Record Yourself Practicing?
Ask Damian Erskine

Should You Record Yourself Practicing?

A reader asked Damian about his thoughts on recording yourself practicing. Damian, who has long been an advocate of this, breaks down the benefits of recording your practice sessions in this week’s “Ask” column.

The Lightbulb Moment: Keeping Time In The Studio
The Lightbulb Moment

The Lightbulb Moment: Keeping Time In The Studio

I pledge allegiance to the time… set by the drummer? By the click? Somewhere in between? These days, almost all recordings are done to a click track. And why not? It forces everyone to be aware of the desired tempo and to be responsible for their own sense of good time-keeping. It eliminates huge fluctuations, assuring that the adrenaline rush...

How Do I Become a Good Session Musician?
Ask Damian Erskine

How Do I Become a Good Session Musician?

Q: Do You have any advice for those bassists aspiring to become session musicians? Not so much how to get exposure but how to handle yourself, gear, getting lines on the first take, being solid, etc… A: I’ve always found the studio to be very satisfying. I’m one of those players who wouldn’t mind being solely a session bassist. Invisible...

Recording Audio and Video
Ask Damian Erskine

Recording Audio and Video

Q: I want to record audio/video simultaneously that I can easily post to social media. I’d want the range to go from solo bass pieces or pedal reviews recorded at home to live coffeehouse/house party “warts and all” mono live duo/trio recordings. I’d want to use two cameras for close-ups on the solo pieces/demos and two/three angles of video for...

The Lightbulb Moment: Habit Vs. Intuition
The Lightbulb Moment

The Lightbulb Moment: Habit Vs. Intuition

If there’s one thing I love doing, it’s pedaling eighth notes. So much so, you might say that I make a habit of it. There’s something incredibly therapeutic about playing one note, but playing it well, and focusing on all of the ways this seemingly simple rhythmic pattern can be manipulated. The art of the eighth note lies somewhere between...

What Do I Need To Record Bass At Home?
Ask Damian Erskine

What Do I Need To Record Bass At Home?

Q: What kind of gear might I need to start recording bass lines from home? I’m thinking of the ability to record for albums remotely but also to get better sound for social media videos and things along those lines. Preferably something that doesn’t cost thousands of dollars! I’m curious what you use, too. A: It sounds like you already...

The Lightbulb Moment: Studio Tones
The Lightbulb Moment

The Lightbulb Moment: Studio Tones

For most musicians, walking into a professional recording studio is like setting foot in Disneyland. There are so many colors, so many shiny microphones, so many synthesizers! You want to touch everything, including those knobs on the console that are so perfectly aligned. The faint scent of aged wood, treated walls, and ghostly vibrations transport you to a world of...

How To Get “Your Sound” In The Studio
Ask Damian Erskine

How To Get “Your Sound” In The Studio

Q: I was recently listening to your newer album and was really loving the tone you get. Can you talk a little about how make sure to get “your sound” in the studio? Also, any general tips for recording in the studio would be helpful, too. I’m about to record our band’s first album and want to make sure I’m...

Book Offers Insight on Using an iPad to Record Music
News

Book Offers Insight on Using an iPad to Record Music

You may already be aware of many ways to use an iPad for making music. However, Hal Leonard Corp. has put together an book — — that covers the device’s “connectivity to the professional, project, and home music studios.” Written by music technology authors Vincent Leonard and Thomas Rudolph, the book in the Hal Leonard Quick Pro Guides series, the...

Learn More About Electronics and Sound In New Music Pro Guide
News

Learn More About Electronics and Sound In New Music Pro Guide

So, you’re not a math person. And you really don’t feel like technical electronics tasks are really your thing. However, you need to know some concepts about sound and recording. was written with someone like you in mind. The book, publishing as of Hal Leonard Corp.’s Music Pro Guides series, teaches you how to test cables, use an oscilloscope, and...

Line 6 Introduces Sonic Port VX Audio Interface
Accessories & Strings

Line 6 Introduces Sonic Port VX Audio Interface

Line 6 has introduced the Sonic Port VX mobile audio interface. Designed for portability, it’s equipped with a three built-in condenser microphones with preamps, a stereo line input, and a guitar/bass input with 120dB of dynamic range. The microphone setup includes a stereo matched pair and a front-facing mono mic for versatility. Aside from its inputs, the Sonic Port VX...

Focusrite Introduces Scarlett Solo USB Recording Interface
Accessories & Strings

Focusrite Introduces Scarlett Solo USB Recording Interface

For bassists looking to record, Focusrite has just announced the Scarlett Solo, a USB interface with dual inputs and outputs. The device is a continuation of the Scarlett series and retains the recording capabilities in a smaller package. The Scarlett Solo has a mic pre and high headroom instrument input for flexibility. Other features include direct latency-free monitoring, 24-bit audio...