5 Tips to Keep In Mind The Next Time You Record

Tips, Techniques and Tutorials
5 Tips to Keep In Mind The Next Time You Record

Every once in a while someone will ask me to give them a few tips on things they should think about when recording themselves – things that are different from the usual fare of advice. Based on some of the common mistakes I see some engineers make, being mindful of these few items the next time you’re working on your own stuff will make a big difference.

1. Do not, under any circumstance, CLIP the input while you’re recording. It’s likely not analogue, and therefore will sound like utter crap when clipped, and there’s no way to fix it.
2. If you’re not an experienced engineer, use EQ and compression sparingly if at all. If you don’t like the way something sounds, try changing it at the source instead. Use a different mic, move the mic, use a different guitar, change the settings on the amp until you’re closer to what you hear in your head. If something doesn’t sound the way you think it should, it’s likely because of the instrument, the amps, the mic or the player. NOT THE EQ, AND NOT THE COMPRESSION.
3. Guitar cabinets don’t effectively produce much below 150hz. Mid-range on your guitar is your friend, not your enemy. Remember, with EQ it’s easy to take it way, but hard to add it.
4. Louder in digital is not better. Recording loud was important when recording to tape because you were effectively lowering the noise floor and it sounded better. Recording loud in digital is irrelevant.
5. I usually record in 44.1 or 48, as the destination will likely not be a higher resolution that that. If you’re recording rock or pop, it’s even less relevant. If you do decide to record at 88k or 96k, stick with it for the entire project.

- Christian Cummings

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