Recording - February 2018 - 6

FadeIn
Give voice to your ideas
As I write this, it's the beginning of 2018, and we're getting excited about
the forthcoming Winter NAMM Show, where we expect to see a lot of new
arrivals... not least of which is the finally-completed North Annex of the Anaheim
Convention Center, a 2-level exhibit hall that will be packed to the rafters with
pro audio gear... and our magazine's booth! Whether you're a faithful subscriber
or someone who's just picked up this magazine for the first time at the show,
we'd love it if you'd come by and chat with us... and grab a SHUT UP WE'RE
RECORDING sticker while they last!
In this issue, we're revisiting that most personal, unique, and finicky musical
source: the human voice. We've got reviews of five impressive new vocal mics, from
unique takes on classic designs to... well... unique takes, period. Check out the
beyond-silent LEWITT LCT 540 SUBZERO, the groundbreaking Earthworks SV33,
the Manley Reference Silver (their first new mic in 27 years!), and our Once Over on
the Placid Audio Carbonphone RU-80 and Wasaphone MKII, to see what I mean.
We're also pleased to welcome Marc Urselli back to our pages with a great
rundown on getting fantastic vocal tracks as you track, rather than beating them
into shape in the editing and mixing stages. Marc has a unique perspective on this
subject, but it would be easy (and wrong) to assume that it comes solely from his
current gig. With a mic locker that would be the envy of any studio and a client list
that will make your eyes pop out (go check out his website if you don't believe me),
readers could argue that Marc's going to get world-class results no matter what.
"How can I possibly follow his advice? He's recording Bono, for heaven's sake,
and I'm just an engineer in a home studio, working with whoever I have handy."
The simple fact of the matter, however, is that the stuff he's teaching us in his
article is affordable to every engineer and applicable to any singer. Ideas and
techniques are free, and true to form, Marc's suggestions amount to a practical
takeaway that doesn't require a ridiculous gear budget. That's a target we aim
for in every article we publish.
You can certainly expect to get better results with a $3000 mic than a $100
one, all other things being equal... but that last phrase is the critical one. All
other things are rarely equal, whether in the studio or inside the engineer's head.
Costly gear or cheap, it all depends on you to use it, and expertise can't be
bought in a store-it can only be taught, and encouraged, and practiced, until
it blooms and bears fruit.
If your singer's pitchy and uncertain, they need to practice and work with voice
teachers to improve intonation, not give a half-hearted performance and tell you
to "do that thing to make them sound like Pharell." If your vocal recordings aren't
up to scratch, don't blame your gear and quit trying-read advice from folks
like Marc and realize that a truly great vocal performance can be yours before
you edit a single breath or reach for the intonation plug-ins. It takes thought, and
preparation, and practice... but the good news is, those are available to anyone
who wants them and who is willing to pay for them-not in dollars, but in time
and hard work.
Enjoy the issue.

publisher:

Thomas Hawley
Brent Heintz

associate publisher:

EDITORIAL
Mike Metlay
special projects editor: Lorenz Rychner
technical editor: Paul Vnuk Jr.
editor at large: Beto Hale
copy editor: Diana Smethurst
músico pro editor: Fernando Curiel
editor:

CONTRIBUTORS
Marc Urselli, Paul Vnuk Jr., Justin Perkins,
Aaron J. Trumm, Darwin Grosse,
Marty Peters, Michael Nickolas
SOCIAL MEDIA
Brent Heintz, Paul Vnuk Jr.
ART & PRODUCTION
Joseph Hawley
production manager: Colin Courtney
web goalie: Colin Courtney
creative director:

PLAYBACK PLATINUM SERIES
Lorenz Rychner

editor/producer:

CIRCULATION
Tiffany Sepe

circulation manager:

ADVERTISING SALES AND MARKETING
director: Brent Heintz
classifieds manager: Colin Courtney
ADMINISTRATION
Thomas Hawley

accounts receivable:

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Thomas Hawley
vice president: Brent Heintz
president:

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RECORDING MAGAZINE
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RECORDING February 2018
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - February 2018
