In this episode; more critical listening, the evils of various lossy encoders, Fletcher-Munson curves, monitoring levels, headphone mixes, a listener question, tracking with compression, and more.

Studio Rats Podcast #20 - Critical Listening

Feb 22nd, 2012

In this episode, I discuss various ways to improve your critical listening skills using a variety of source material.

Studio Rats Podcast #19 - Creative EQing

Feb 17th, 2012

In this episode, I discuss the creative use of equalization to improve your mixes, adding character to digital delays and reverbs, and more.

Studio Rats Podcast #18 - Audio Restoration

Feb 16th, 2012

In this episode, I talk about an audio restoration project involving a World War Two veteran and how I used iZotope RX to clean-up the recording.

Studio Rats Podcast #17 - Maybe It's Your Software?

Feb 14th, 2012

In this episode, a follow-up email from Bandcamp regarding 24-bit Apple Lossless downloads, hardware/software limitations, a Waveburner rant, Wave Editor, and more.

Studio Rats Podcast #16 - Commit!

Feb 14th, 2012

Studio Rats Podcast #16 - Commit!A discussion about getting good sounds from the get-go.

Episode 14 - What Goes In Doesn't Necessarily Come Out

Feb 10th, 2012

Some additional discussion regarding Bandcamp, lossless files, dither, and nulls tests.

Episode 13 - Neil Young. The savior of digital music?

Feb 9th, 2012

In this episode, I use a Neil Young interview regarding the quality of digital music available to consumers (24-bit vs. mp3) as a springboard for further discussion.

Episode 12 - Use Your Studio To Your Advantage

Feb 8th, 2012

In this episode, I talk about leveraging your home studio to get the best possible performances. In other words, take your time!

Studio Rats Podcast #11 - Workflow

Feb 6th, 2012

In this episode, I try recording the podcast while on the road. Literally. Topics include; NAMM product announcements, Nord drum, Moog Minitaur, simple user interfaces, iZotope Ozone, and of course, workflows.

Studio Rats Podcast #10 - Improve Your Guitar Tone for 34 Cents or Less!

May 23rd, 2011

This episode is going to be a bit guitar centric - so I apologize to you non-guitar players out there. But, I think this information will also be valuable for all engineers that record guitars...and who doesn’t.

Studio Rats Podcast #9 - Consider the Source (Mic Preamps)

May 10th, 2011

In this episode of the podcast, I discuss colored vs. transparent mic preamps.

Studio Rats Podcast #8 - Know Your Tools

Apr 13th, 2011

In this episode, I expand a bit on our discussion last week about gear shootouts. I think it’s time well spent to shootout gear you already own - not only for discovering what gear sounds the best, but also from a workflow perspective. In o

Studio Rats Podcast #7 - Pushing The Limits

Apr 5th, 2011

In this episode of the podcast, I evaluate a handful of software limiter plug-ins, including; Logic Adaptive Limiter, Sonnex Oxford Limiter, Flux Pure Limiter II, and iZotope Ozone (Loudness Maximizer).Click here to download the limiter test

Studio Rats Podcast #6 - Is DIY Killing Your Creativity And Efficiency?

Sep 24th, 2010

In this episode of the podcast, Jeff and I discuss topics that are only sometimes tangentially related to the topic! Along the way, we mention; Mumble, Crane Song HEDD, George Lucas, the excellent book by Howard Massey called Behind The Glass V

Studio Rats Podcast #5 - Recording Acoustic Guitar

Jul 30th, 2010

In this episode of the Studio Rats Podcast, Jeff and I discuss recording the acoustic guitar. We touch on topics such as microphone placement, the merits of recording that really horrible sounding direct output found on most acoustic guitars th

Studio Rats Podcast #4 - Studio Six Digital RTA

Jul 7th, 2010

In this episode of the podcast, I review the Studio Six Digital RTA app for iPhone.Don't have an iPhone? No worries! I also touch on the following topics; calibrating your monitors (how to article by Bob Katz, Fletcher-Munson curves, Radio Sh

Studio Rats Podcast #3 - Recording Electric Guitar

Jun 28th, 2010

In this episode of the podcast, Jeff and I discuss recording the electric guitar. Topics include DI vs. mic'ed cabinets, wet or dry, favorite microphones and placement, the merits of double tracking and more.In no particular order, we mentio

Studio Rats Podcast #2 - Willard Marcell Theory

Aug 18th, 2007

Matt McCabe and Jeff Elbel interview Will Willard from the band Willard Marcell Theory. We discuss the Space Modulator, vintage Shure 57s, recording the Chapman Stick, guitar synths, eBows, printing effects, cheap recording software, composing