Recording - November 2017 - 12

Sound
Studio

...in all senses of the word

The space where a recording
engineer captures audio could
be referred to as a sound studio, but there's another meaning
to the word "sound"-healthy or sturdy. We talk about being of
sound mind and body, or of a building that's structurally sound.
While most folks wouldn't usually apply these definitions of
"sound" to a studio, they're actually quite relevant.
There are lots of unsound studios and unsound studio
practices out there. They make for great stories to tell over a
beer-the session lasting long into the night while struggling to
get the perfect take, the excesses in food / drink / chemicals
that turned into a totally-off-the-chain party, the slappedtogether chain of adapters to simulate the one cable the studio
didn't have-but in the end, that's about all they're good for.
Great music isn't made because studios aren't set up properly
or the engineer isn't taking care of himself or there are missing
pieces that require frantic DIY workarounds. Great music is
made despite those things, and taking steps beforehand to
minimize them is a sound decision.
A sound studio should be based on sound practices. That
goes counter to the expectation of the crazy music lifestyle
and the mad-genius mess of the stereotypical studio, but when
your sessions go smoothly and your clients (and you!) come
away happy, you'll be able to forgive yourself for not doing
things the picturesque way.
Here, in no particular order, are ten crucial elements of a
sound studio.

By Mike Metlay

1. Your ears
I know I say this a lot, but it's the most
important advice I can possibly give: all
your tools and techniques are useless if
you're deaf. The mere act of aging is
going to gradually rob your hearing of
acuity, and if you want to make a living with
your ears, you owe it to yourself to take care of them.
The easiest thing to do in your studio to help save your ears
is to set a specific listening level at your mix position, say 80
to 85 dB SPL, measure it with a meter (there are usable apps
for smartphones if you don't have an actual meter), calibrate
your monitor controller to drive your speakers at that level, and
keep them there whenever possible. My article "Listening Levels:
Set And Forget!" (March 2015) covers this in more detail.
By sticking to a consistent and moderate SPL, you'll mix
more consistently because your brain won't be changing your
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RECORDING November 2017

EQ thanks to the Equal Loudness Contours, and you'll be able
to listen longer without fatigue. Keep it quiet on speakers, keep
it quieter in headphones, and if you don't have control over it
(say, at a concert), get good-quality earplugs and use them.

2. Your guts
You need to stay healthy or you can't
work. This is basic-level stuff, and maybe that's why it's so commonly ignored
by hard-working people all over the
world. "Yeah, yeah, I know I need to do
something about my health, but who has
time?" You do. Making time for taking care of oneself yields
huge dividends in the long run.
No matter what your views on health are, there are a few
basic common-sense rules that everyone in a studio should follow.
Recreational substances should be used in moderation. Stay well
hydrated during long sessions (and every other time). Stand up,
take breaks, move around, rest when you need to, get enough
sleep. As I said: basic-level stuff... but you've still got to do it.

3. Your hands
Engineering in the DAW-based studio isn't really different than working
with a computer for any other task. Using a mouse and keyboard for hours at a
time puts you at risk for repetitive stress injuries, and you'll benefit when you take breaks to rest your
arms and hands.
If you can't tear yourself away (or if you're already suffering
from an RSI), you should consider investing in ergonomic
keyboards and pointing devices. Everyone has different likes
and dislikes-one person prefers the snap of mechanical keys
while another likes a low-profile membrane keyboard, one
person prefers a trackpad while another uses a trackball.
Then there are devices that are designed specifically to avoid
movements that hurt the arms and wrists while allowing for
fine cursor control; one popular alternative to the usual mouse
is the Contour Design RollerMouse, a cylindrical controller
that lives between your keyboard and wrist rest.

The Contour Designs
RollerMouse Red gives
you cursor control without
straining your wrists.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - November 2017