tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71446887497092079672012-02-16T17:46:27.413-08:00A blog about all things related to music and the pro audio industry. It's about quality production and new ideas for the ever-changing market.Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.comBlogger201100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-54437665864045947042011-06-13T11:10:00.000-07:002011-06-14T16:46:01.363-07:00

Everytime I get in a rental car, the bass and treble of the stereo are ALWAYS boosted to their limits.  AND the "Loudness" button is engaged.  It only takes a couple of minutes to zero everything.  But, still, it's troubling.  Another typical trend is the "smiley face" eq curve.  You know...the shape a graphic eq dons on a friend's stereo system?  I envision the setup.  The moment the graphic eq

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-66180789724386697492011-03-25T15:27:00.000-07:002011-03-29T11:09:41.183-07:00

Have you ever watched a sitcom or a soap opera on TV, and the sound swirled around as two characters passed each other?  That's phase cancellation.  It happens when two or more microphones are picking up the same source from different distances.  On TV it's more apparent and changes because the mics are moving.  Sound consists of waveforms like ripples in a pond.  Two separate microphones will

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-74924296843783336582011-03-17T21:42:00.000-07:002011-03-19T11:15:42.085-07:00

The other day I was sharing a few amusing anecdotes about some personal audio experiences.  My colleague(we'll call him...Chuck)suggested I write a book.  Well, since I have a blog, perhaps this is a good place to start.  The stories you are about to read are true.  The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Most of the stories I shared with Chuck were about wireless microphone systems

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-59327353826465331672011-03-08T14:32:00.000-08:002011-03-08T15:51:47.193-08:00

Big Rob is a good friend, talented engineer and I'd like to thank him for this installment's topic. Talk to a musician about compression and they'll usually get a glazed look in their eye.  Unless they are technically savvy, most musicians know what a compressor is capable of, but not really how to use it to their advantage.  They know they can get an instrument louder in the mix, but that's it.

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-70906836830310560922011-02-21T13:25:00.000-08:002011-02-22T12:30:07.820-08:00

I have a theory.  Should I take a poll?  When was the last time you actually sat down and listened to a full-length recording from start to finish?  Unless you're an audiophile or an engineer, it's probably been awhile.  I suspect it's been several years.  My theory is this: We've returned to being consumers of single songs, much  like the early days of the recording industry.  Only this time,

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-42847156814525561062011-02-08T22:08:00.000-08:002011-02-09T07:37:58.769-08:00

Okay, we all watched or heard about the Superbowl XLV halftime show.  I have to say, I was amazed at the level (or lack thereof) of quality in the audio production.  There were some obvious oversights and some not so obvious.  Whether or not you like Black Eyed Peas, Slash or Usher, or any of the music performed, is not the point.  I've seen a live Black Eyed Peas concert from 10 feet off the

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-34490474586123882922011-02-01T13:41:00.001-08:002011-02-03T00:10:03.192-08:00

Thank you, Justin, for this post's topic. He would like me to explain why time code is not dead. At Rocky Mountain Recorders, engineers like Justin breathe time code. It isn't just old fashioned methodology. It's Alive! I imagine Justin suggested it because in today's computer-driven society, time code has been brushed aside as a secondary thought. Most consumer or "pro-sumer" video editors

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-43635160814579153432011-01-17T09:23:00.000-08:002011-01-18T09:19:29.814-08:00

Every once in awhile, in music, there are moments that are truly magical. I suppose that's why we audio engineers do what we do. We want to be a part of that moment. We want to be there when that combination of talent, equipment and sweat, culminates in the golden silence following a take because goosebumps are being felt and everyone in the building knows that was IT. I was blessed enough to be

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-18845526543757140352011-01-04T10:10:00.000-08:002011-01-06T14:47:19.996-08:00

Nice title, eh? Caught your attention?Next blog, I'll describe my best day in the studio. This entry is about my worst day in the studio. Mine is nowhere near as bad as Mixerman's, but close. If you haven't read Diary of a Mixerman, you should. It's a humorous daily account of a typically bad LA studio session. It's only funny because it's true.A band booked a day with me in the studio early on

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-17588005732998123122010-12-21T09:42:00.000-08:002011-02-04T09:23:25.965-08:00

Valuable lesson time. Stuff you cannot learn from books. Here are three adages I've adopted that have shaped me and my engineering skills. Otherwise known as wisdom and experience. Learn from them, young grasshopper, for they do not come easily."A good song starts with the songwriter"I forget where I heard this. But, it makes perfect sense. As engineers, we are lead to believe that we can

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-41184931968213925022010-10-05T09:30:00.000-07:002011-01-18T09:30:13.212-08:00

Is it October already? I didn't post anything in September. Where did it go? More importantly, where did I go? It seems like I disappeared. Oh, well...I'm back!I wanted to write this time about stereo miking techniques. Some of the best recordings use only two or three microphones. And as with all things audio, there are no hard and fast rules. Fortunately, there are some really good starting

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-84517580717955160732010-08-10T22:46:00.000-07:002010-08-10T22:47:41.706-07:00

Have you ever watched a Star Wars movie without sound? Better yet, have you listened to a Star Wars movie without the picture? Neither experience is any fun. You also don’t get the full picture (pun intended). Now, translate that to a music video. Audio and video need as equal attention. To sacrifice one or slough one off as “good enough” does not serve justice to the other. I was

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-89206129821031005252010-07-05T23:14:00.000-07:002010-07-05T23:44:53.960-07:00

Here's an article I wrote for a local magazine that was never published. At the time I wrote it, my foot had been in a boot for four weeks. Enjoy!Three Ways To CApTure The Skins. I was having trouble deciding on the best subject for my first article, and then the pain came. From my foot. I sprained it. Badly. That started me thinking about tracking sessions and how will I mic those pesky

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-53596402832562192502010-06-17T07:53:00.000-07:002010-07-05T23:39:36.248-07:00

A couple days ago, I had the pleasure of visiting a campus in Raleigh, North Carolina. Living Arts College is a modern educational facility with cutting-edge curriculums. Everyone was friendly and energetic. The faculty and staff were brilliant. The students eager to learn. An excellent recipe for success. Thank you LAC for your warm welcome and hospitality. I had a great time!Tuesday

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-27153704029551081632010-06-01T07:26:00.000-07:002010-06-09T13:08:43.471-07:00

One of my favorite scenes from Jurassic Park is when Samuel L Jackson's character says "Hold on to your butts" with a cigarette butt hanging out of his mouth. What was about to unfold was a wild ride. Sometimes, I feel that way about this blog.With all the standards surrounding surround sound (say that ten times really fast), the only consistency is the lack of one. I think standards are

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-27300781763176198562010-06-01T05:48:00.000-07:002010-06-01T23:23:45.984-07:00

I seem to have a lot to write about. I'm having trouble keeping the word count to a minimum. I always feel a little background is helpful when discussing complex topics. So, once again, this first part (and feel free to take out this part if you don't like it, Marx Brothers fans), will be background for Part 2. Here we go:Mono was paradoxically easy and difficult. Your audience had one

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-68391152882997628912010-05-21T20:54:00.000-07:002010-05-23T07:19:06.230-07:00

So the previous blog was background for how we used to do things. I should also add that musicians were not often their own engineers. There are, of course, exceptions to the rules. But, generally speaking, recording equipment was expensive and complicated. Musicians rarely let the technology get in the way of their creativity.With today's recording systems becoming more accessible to the

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-34248642685022302062010-05-20T22:40:00.000-07:002010-05-21T07:57:01.697-07:00

Okay. I know I said I'd talk about surround mixing. Next week. I promise. This post is of a little more critical matter. File management. There's so much material to cover, this will be a two part series. I hope I can keep straight which part is the first part. That reminds me of a Marx Brothers movie.I love the right brain. Its creativity and knack for problem solving are unparalleled.

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-2654196148488108952010-05-08T12:07:00.000-07:002010-05-23T07:15:13.483-07:00

I recently had a discussion with a friend about studio marketing in today's economy. The discussion was about the viability of specific strategies. How does a studio promulgate its existence to potential clients? One strategy is to let the engineers drive the business. This, in essence, is letting the engineers promote themselves concurrently with the studio. In my humble opinion, this does

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144688749709207967.post-58339034378787773432010-05-06T10:40:00.000-07:002010-05-07T16:51:25.117-07:00

WhiteWater Ramble is a band I tracked and mixed a few months ago with producer Tim Carbone. It's a fusion of bluegrass and rock. Very cool in and of itself. Last week I received an email from the band requesting the audio files for a DJ friend of theirs (from here out shall be known as simply "DJ") who would like to do a remix of a couple of songs. I'm thinking this is gonna be fun. I'm

Jay W Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979839965337222247noreply@blogger.com3