Recording - The Home Recording Studio

09May 2024 by Jon

Free Funk Bass

Home Recording Blogs, Recording, Sampling, Sound Design, Techniques, Virtual Instruments

Want a FREE Funk Bass Virtual Instrument? Check out my latest video where I create a Funk Bass patch using the Behringer Poly D analogue synth. Download the FREE virtual instrument which works in both Decent Sampler and Logic Sampler / EXS24 Experience the warmth and character of an analogue synth bass and add some funk to your music productions. The Behringer Poly D is a modern recreation of the famous Moog Model D which retains that all-analogue character of the original synth. In my video I explain the settings I used to create this patch using the Poly D. Download my FREE Funk Bass virtual instrument and you'll be able to use the patch within your DAW. Just enter you email address below and I'll send you the download…

29Dec 2023 by Jon

Rubber Bridge Acoustic Guitar – Free VST

Blog, Home Recording Blogs, Recording, Techniques

Rubber bridge guitars have become a widespread phenomenon in the music scene, with their impact extending far beyond just altering the sound of a guitar. It's surprising that simply replacing a guitar's bridge can influence pop production and songwriting. Notable fans of the rubber bridge sound include artists like Taylor Swift, Aaron Dessner, Phoebe Bridgers and Olivia Rodrigo. My desire to make this unique guitar sound accessible to everyone, led to the idea of sampling a rubber bridge guitar. However, the project faced two challenges: my lack of experience, both in sampling acoustic guitars and in modifying guitars. Nevertheless, I decided to explore this uncharted territory! Finding a Guitar The first step was finding a suitable guitar for the experiment. Opting for an old Archtop parlour guitar seemed like the…

27Sep 2023 by Jon

5 Best electric piano VST’s for producing lo-fi hip-hop

Blog, Composing, Home Recording Blogs, Recording, Recording & Mixing, Sound Effects, Techniques

Bedroom Music Studio Computer Music Equipment Lo-fi hip-hop is a genre of music that is characterized by its warm, mellow sound and its use of vintage and lo-fidelity samples. Electric pianos are a popular instrument in lo-fi hip-hop, as they can provide a rich and atmospheric sound that is perfect for the genre. In this post I'll discuss the 5 best electric piano VST's for Lo-fi Hip-Hop. Watch my latest video to hear 5 of the best VSTs for Lo-fi Hip-Hop. https://youtu.be/24xqw9ybE4g?si=VblGikEsBAH4qOnR If you are looking for the best electric piano virtual instruments for producing lo-fi hip-hop, here are a few of my recommendations: 1. Lounge Lizard.Lounge Lizard is a great sounding electric piano with both tine-based and reed-based presets. The tine-based are mainly Rhodes pianos and the reed-based are…

03Jul 2023 by Jon

Budget vs Pro Mics on Piano

Blog, Home Recording Blogs, Microphones, Recording, Uncategorized

Can budget microphones really compete with high-end microphones when recording piano? In this piano microphone test, I compare two omnidirectional condenser microphones at very different price points to see how they perform on a real acoustic piano in a real-world recording environment. The test took place in a pretty special location — the John Lennon Suite at the Hard Day’s Night Hotel in Liverpool, complete with a beautiful white baby grand piano. This was a great opportunity to put a pair of microphones to the test and let you hear the results for yourself. 👉 Watch the full piano microphone test video here:https://youtu.be/UiaxBd_O4ME https://youtu.be/UiaxBd_O4ME The Piano Microphone Setup For this test, I used two pairs of omnidirectional microphones, both well suited to capturing the full frequency range and natural resonance…

05May 2023 by Jon

Introducing Imagine Piano

Blog, Home Recording Blogs, Recording, Sound Design

Imagine Piano was recorded at the iconic Hard Days Night Hotel in Liverpool, England. The setting is rich with musical history and atmosphere. With two carefully sampled velocity layers and authentic key release samples, this instrument captures the full nuance and personality of a very special piano. To ensure incredible depth and realism, the piano was recorded using six different microphones, organized into three groups: Two pairs of omnidirectional microphones One XY stereo pair of cardioid microphones Each microphone group has its own distinct character, and users can blend them freely to sculpt their perfect piano sound. Whether you want something soft and natural or bright and detailed, Imagine Piano offers the flexibility to create a sound that fits your track perfectly. All samples were recorded with the sustain pedal…

01Apr 2023 by Jon

Open-Back vs Closed-Back Headphones: Which Are Best for Mixing and Recording?

Blog, Home Recording Blogs, Mixing, Recording, Recording & Mixing

When it comes to audio mixing and recording, choosing the right headphones can make a huge difference to how accurately you hear your music. One of the most common questions home producers ask is: Should I use open-back or closed-back headphones? In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between open-back and closed-back headphones, their pros and cons, and when you should use each type in a home recording studio. What’s the Difference Between Open-Back and Closed-Back Headphones? The difference comes down to how the ear cups are designed: Open-back headphones have perforated or vented ear cups that allow air and sound to pass through. Closed-back headphones have sealed ear cups that isolate sound inside the headphones. That design choice affects soundstage, isolation, comfort, and how suitable they are…

04Feb 2023 by Jon

Lo-Fi Guitar Effect Tutorial (Boss GT-1000 / GT-1000 Core)

Blog, Home Recording Blogs, Recording, Techniques

Creating a convincing lo-fi guitar sound doesn’t require exotic gear or complicated signal chains. In this tutorial, I’ll show you exactly how I built a lo-fi guitar patch on the Boss GT-1000 / GT-1000 Core, explain the key effects that give it that wobbly, degraded character, and show you how to recreate the sound even if you don’t own this unit. 👉 Watch the full video tutorial here:https://youtu.be/s0WPXnXadEQ https://youtu.be/s0WPXnXadEQ You can also download the patch for free if you own a Boss GT-1000 or GT-1000 Core. What Makes a Guitar Sound “Lo-Fi”? Before diving into the patch, it’s worth clarifying what we actually mean by lo-fi guitar. Lo-fi guitar tones typically include: Pitch instability (wow & flutter) Subtle distortion or saturation Reduced clarity or bandwidth Modulation and ambience that feels…

09Oct 2022 by Jon

Record Audio For Screencasts – with separate audio feeds

Home Recording Blogs, Microphones, Mixing, Podcast, Recording, Recording & Mixing, Techniques, Uncategorized

In this post, I will demonstrate how I record audio for screencasts and video tutorials. I'll show you a FREE application that allows you to record audio for screencasts with separate audio feeds for my microphone and system sound. Why do I need separate audio feeds? Most screen recording applications will record a mix of microphone and system audio. This means you don't have any control over the individual levels once the screencast has been recorded. In my videos, I like to demonstrate audio techniques by playing audio and talking at the same time. If I record my system audio too loud people won't be able to hear my voice and there is no way to fix this afterwards. How to record separate audio feeds In this video, I walk…

24Apr 2022 by Jon

Recording the sound of nature: Stereo microphone shootout

Blog, Field Recording, Foley, Home Recording Blogs, Microphones, Recording, Sound Design, Sound Effects, Techniques

Stereo Recording Shootout In this stereo recording shootout I test two different stereo recording techniques. One, a mid-side (M/S) stereo setup costing over $2000. The other, a pair of inexpensive stereo omni-directional mics. Can these $100 microphones compete against the higher priced alternatives? So, join me for this stereo recording shootout as I record the sound of nature. The Location I recently visited the Welsh countryside and took the opportunity to record the sounds of nature. Understandably, it's difficult to make good recordings near cities or towns. For example, traffic, and other noise can easily ruin recordings. So, while I had the chance I compared two stereo recording techniques. Read on to find out how I made the recordings. Listen to the results In the video below I explain the…

29Aug 2021 by Jon

How to fit acoustic foam tiles

Acoustic Treatment, Blog, Home Recording Blogs, Mixing, Recording, Recording & Mixing, Techniques

If you've ever thought about improving the sound in your home studio you may have considered using acoustic foam. In this post, we explore how to fit acoustic foam tiles. For many home studio owners sticking foam panels to the wall is a worry. If you are renting a space then you might not want to damage the walls. Likewise, if you decide to move rooms or change your studio layout then you may want to move the panels at a later date. Let's take a look at some of the options in this video. https://youtu.be/AP4tNcLTv8s The benefits of using acoustic foam tiles are:- Medium to high frequency sounds are more controlledImproves recording of acoustic instruments and vocalsImproves mixing when monitoring on speakersLooks great on the walls! Depending on your…

Category: Recording