Recording - October 2009 - 2

Masters They make their own rules, conventional wisdom be damned. How many times have you heard and read (in these pages and elsewhere) that it is not a good idea to compress vocals during tracking, since there is no “uncompress” button? The same goes for using equalization, although with eq a later correction may be more feasible than with compression. Now read what mixer/engineer/producer Joe Chiccarelli, winner of multiple Grammys, says in this month’s interview with our Mike Metlay: “ I record as if I’m mixing. In other words, I print all my eq and compression as I go. I try to record the album as I hear it in my head.” With a résumé like Joe’s (look it up at www.studioexpresso.com), there is no doubt that the man knows whereof he speaks. Score a strike against conventional wisdom. Similarly, there is a conventional wisdom that has been creeping in about making recordings “loud”—the clients want theirs to be “as loud” as some others, and this has escalated into a real “loudness war”. People are fighting over a dB or two near full scale, and some are claiming that “tickling” zero dBFS can give their sound a trendy edge. You may remember the debacle over Metallica’s Death Magnetic where the label release was blasted for being overly compressed, so much so that many upset fans preferred the imbalanced but less brickwalled version released with Guitar Hero. So it may come as a surprise to many that mastering veteran Bob Katz, also a multiple Grammy winner, recommends, in our interview that begins on page 24, that” Your mix should not exceed –14 dBFS RMS if you want to have a dynamic (and loud) master.” Go to his website and read his take on levels (www.digido.com/level-practicespart-2-includes-the-k-system.html); check out his graph labelled “The Insane Increase in ”Hottest” Pop CD Levels”—it dates back to the year 2000 and shows 3 dB headroom for peaks. What would it look like if he updated it? In our interview, Katz goes on to say “And in fact I recommend a lower RMS level, –20 ”, and on his website, he also writes ” It should be more widely known that hyper-compressed recordings do not play well on the radio.” So if Katz’s low dB recommendation comes as a surprise, score another strike against (the “new”) conventional wisdom. In August I had once again the opportunity to hear and watch engineer Mike Pappas address an audience of Sennheiser Academy attendees. He again delivered his Miking Clinic lecture and demo at the famed Skywalker Ranch in the hills of Marin County north of San Francisco, in the fabulous room known as the “scoring stage”. You’ve read about Pappas’ recording projects in this magazine, and you will again soon. He has a wealth of multi-faceted audio experience, and he never fails to raise some eyebrows when he proposes miking a drum kit with just three mics, including an omni on the beater side of the kick drum. He used an M150 and reversed the polarity (so that the woofers of the playback speakers will represent the motion of the head on the kick drum); it didn’t take him long to convince some skeptics in the audience of the validity of this method—the audible results simply spoke for themselves. Another strike against conventional wisdom. When Les Paul (June 9, 1915—August 13, 2009) worked his magic back in the day, there was no conventional wisdom about his two major achievements—singlehandedly inventing the foundations for not just multitracking but also for rock ‘n roll and any other kind of music that uses electric guitars. If he had just remained the wonderful musician he was, we’d still be listening to his music. But we owe him a debt of gratitude every time we listen to most any kind of music recording—he pretty much made that possible. If you ever get to Cleveland, OH, visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and marvel at the original “Log” guitar, and the other Les Paul exhibits. What a man, and what a life! Happy Recording, PUBLISHER: ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Thomas Hawley Brent Heintz EDITORIAL EDITOR: Lorenz Rychner ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Mike Metlay WEB EDITOR: Justin Peacock MÚSICO PRO EDITOR: Fernando Curiel CONTRIBUTORS Sean Shannon, Paul Vnuk Jr., Fabio García, Paul J. Stamler, Dave Martin, Mark Hornsby, Marty Peters, Scott Dorsey TAXI METER EDITOR: Kenny Kerner ART & PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR: Scott Simmonds GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Colin Courtney PRODUCTION MANAGER: Colin Courtney PHOTOGRAPHY: Brent Heintz PLAYBACK PLATINUM SERIES EDITOR/PRODUCER: Lorenz Rychner CIRCULATION CIRCULATION MANAGER: Tiffany Sepe ADVERTISING SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR: Brent Heintz CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER: Stephanie King ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: Stephanie King EXECUTIVE OFFICERS PRESIDENT: Thomas Hawley VICE PRESIDENT: Brent Heintz Subscriptions/Address Changes: 1-800-582-8326 281-261-2581 Advertising/Classifieds/Main Office: (303) 516-9118 RECORDING MAGAZINE (ISSN 1078-8352; USPS 002-298) is published monthly, 12 times per year, by Music Maker Publications, Inc., 5408 Idylwild Trail, Boulder, CO 80301-3523. Tel: (303) 516-9118 Fax: (303) 516-9119 email: info@recordingmag.com Periodicals Postage is paid at Boulder, CO and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to RECORDING, Subscriber Services, P.O. Box 334, Stafford, TX, 77497. Tel: 1-800-582-8326 or 832-886-1126. Subscription rate: $19.95 per year. All material is subject to worldwide copyright protection, and reproduction or imitation in whole or in part is expressly forbidden without written consent from the publishers. All reasonable care is taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of the magazine, but Music Maker Publications, Inc. cannot be held legally responsible for its contents. The publishers cannot assume responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or materials. All trademarked names, whether indicated as such or not, are owned by their respective companies. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #41491032. Canada Returns to be sent to Bleuchip International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2 © Copyright 2009 Music Maker Publications, Inc. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Follow us on Twitter – www.twitter.com/recordingmag 2 RECORDING OCTOBER 2009
http://www.studioexpresso.com http://www.digido.com/level-practices-part-2-includes-the-k-system.html http://www.digido.com/level-practices-part-2-includes-the-k-system.html http://www.twitter.com/recordingmag

Recording - October 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - October 2009

Recording - October 2009
Fade In
Contents
Talkback
Fast Forward
Joe Chiccarelli And The Perfect Mix
Zoom R16
The Mixing Workshop
Lauten ST-221 Torch Microphones
Mastering Engineer Bob Katz—The Voice of Experience
Benchmark MPA1 Preamplifier
What The Heck IS Mastering?
Reviewed and Revisited: M-Audio ProFire 610
Universal Audio 710 Twin-Finity
Recording’s Drum Column
Plug-In Outlet
Readers' Tapes
Chameleon Labs 7802 Tube Compressor
Recording’s Showcase of Sounds
Advertiser Index
Fade Out
Recording - October 2009 - Recording - October 2009
Recording - October 2009 - Cover2
Recording - October 2009 - 1
Recording - October 2009 - Fade In
Recording - October 2009 - 3
Recording - October 2009 - Contents
Recording - October 2009 - 5
Recording - October 2009 - Talkback
Recording - October 2009 - 7
Recording - October 2009 - Fast Forward
Recording - October 2009 - 9
Recording - October 2009 - 10
Recording - October 2009 - 11
Recording - October 2009 - Joe Chiccarelli And The Perfect Mix
Recording - October 2009 - 13
Recording - October 2009 - Zoom R16
Recording - October 2009 - 15
Recording - October 2009 - 16
Recording - October 2009 - 17
Recording - October 2009 - The Mixing Workshop
Recording - October 2009 - 19
Recording - October 2009 - 20
Recording - October 2009 - 21
Recording - October 2009 - Lauten ST-221 Torch Microphones
Recording - October 2009 - 23
Recording - October 2009 - Mastering Engineer Bob Katz—The Voice of Experience
Recording - October 2009 - 25
Recording - October 2009 - 26
Recording - October 2009 - 27
Recording - October 2009 - Benchmark MPA1 Preamplifier
Recording - October 2009 - 29
Recording - October 2009 - 30
Recording - October 2009 - 31
Recording - October 2009 - What The Heck IS Mastering?
Recording - October 2009 - 33
Recording - October 2009 - 34
Recording - October 2009 - 35
Recording - October 2009 - Reviewed and Revisited: M-Audio ProFire 610
Recording - October 2009 - 37
Recording - October 2009 - Universal Audio 710 Twin-Finity
Recording - October 2009 - 39
Recording - October 2009 - 40
Recording - October 2009 - 41
Recording - October 2009 - 42
Recording - October 2009 - 43
Recording - October 2009 - 44
Recording - October 2009 - 45
Recording - October 2009 - Recording’s Drum Column
Recording - October 2009 - 47
Recording - October 2009 - Plug-In Outlet
Recording - October 2009 - 49
Recording - October 2009 - 50
Recording - October 2009 - 51
Recording - October 2009 - Readers' Tapes
Recording - October 2009 - 53
Recording - October 2009 - Chameleon Labs 7802 Tube Compressor
Recording - October 2009 - 55
Recording - October 2009 - Recording’s Showcase of Sounds
Recording - October 2009 - Advertiser Index
Recording - October 2009 - 58
Recording - October 2009 - 59
Recording - October 2009 - 60
Recording - October 2009 - 61
Recording - October 2009 - 62
Recording - October 2009 - 63
Recording - October 2009 - Fade Out
Recording - October 2009 - Cover3
Recording - October 2009 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202503
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202502
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202501
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202412
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202411
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording-november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_20205
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/nxtd
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com