Learning Aim A
May 19th 2014
This Tuesday, we started our new project, which is recording. To begin with, we were given two stations with mixing desk, a laptop, and were told to find XLR to jack cables and jack to jack cables if necessary. Our task (in groups of about six, I was with Abbie, Charlotte, Kelly and Demi) was to record four pieces of sound using the mixing desk and laptop plus extras if we needed them (microphones etc).
To begin with, I had no idea how to use a mixing desk with the software on the laptop called Cubase 5. As a group, we managed to find XLR to jack cables, jack to jack cables, and a microphone. I discovered that the XLR to jack cables connect the microphone to the mixing desk. The jack to jack cable can be used to connect an electric guitar to the mixing desk.
The mixing desk is plugged into the laptop, where you open Cubase 5, and this is where you record and produce different types of recordings. We had to use the headphones which were also plugged into the mixing desk, therefore we could hear what we are recording. There are different rows and columns on the mixing desk, and at the top of each column there is a plug-in and underneath these are different types of gain controls, EQ controls and auxiliary sends. These controls are there so you can control different parts of the recording, for example the pitch, frequency and dynamics of a recording.
Monday 2nd of June
This week, we all carried on with our recording topic. Abbie, Kelly, Keira and I all have to record a song together, with Charlotte helping out with the recording and managing the Cubase system on the computer from the recording studio. We also have help from Ben who is in year 11 on study leave, he guides us and helps us with what to do and what feature is what etc. it is really helpful having him guide us because he knows what he is doing and teaches us. We had to record Keira doing a solo on the drums individually without any other instruments or vocals. This was so the drums could be focused on and picked up clearer by the microphones. We listened back and made tiny adjustments to Keira's drum solo. After this, we compared the drums individually to the previous recording we did last week - it sounded much better and clearer compared to it.We figured out that this was due to the fact that there were louder noises surrounding the drums so it drowned them out and damaged the quality of the drum playing.Monday 16th June
This Tuesday, we focused on the guitar playing in the recording, as we have now sorted out the drum recording, we just have the guitar and vocal recording to do. Abbie had to go in the studio and place the dynamic microphone pointing towards the strings of the guitar so it was finer, louder and more focused than before. It was quite straightforward because Abbie had to put the headphones on in order to hear Ben and Kelly on the other side of the studio, and they played Keiras drum solo through the headphones so therefore Abbie could play the guitar in time with the drums and get the accuracy right.Additionally, this week Abbie and I have to present our presenation on promoters as part of our Music Industry unit. We have to give the class information on promoters and then give them all a quiz to complete based on the information we give them.
Different features in recording
This is a jack to jack cable, used to connect electric guitars to mixing desks or other features in a recording studio. Also has other purposes (which I haven't discovered yet).
This is an XLR to jack cable, used to connect microphones to amps, mixing desks, and other different features in a recording studio.
This is a dynamic microphone, they are resistant to moisture, and work via electromagnetic induction and their gain is potentially high before feedback.
This is a condenser microphone, it picks up gain from all around the surface area of the microphone. It has much greater frequency response, a louder output and are usually found in recording studios, whereas the dynamic microphone is usually found during performances.Session One (40 minutes)
For my first session I'm going to record Keira on the drums. I need to make sure she knows the beat prior to her recording it. For this I will use a condenser microphone, I will only need one microphone and one stand to record the drums, making sure it is positioned at an angle where it will pick up the sound clearly. For a condenser microphone I will need and XLR to XLR lead to plug into the snake in order for it to work correctly. I will need headphones in order to hear the people in the opposite room or to hear background music, and the people in the opposite room will need speakers that are working correctly in order for them to be able to hear the recording. I will need a pop shield over the microphone to prevent a popping noise through the recording and to protect the microphone itself. This recording is on channel one. This is saved to My Computer/BTECmusic/Year11/gracedurant.Session Two (30 minutes)
For my second session I am going to record Abbie on the guitar. I need to make sure that it sounds ok on the microphone. For this I will use a condenser microphone, I will only need one microphone and one stand for the guitar recording. For a condenser microphone I will need and XLR to XLR lead to plug into the snake in order for it to work correctly. I will need headphones in order to hear the people in the opposite room or to hear background music, and the people in the opposite room will need speakers that are working correctly in order for them to be able to hear the recording.I will need a pop shield over the microphone to prevent a popping noise through the recording and to protect the microphone itself. This recording is on channel two. This is saved to My Computer/BTECmusic/Year11/gracedurant.Session three (30 minutes)
I am going to record Abbie on the tambourine and make sure it fits in with the song. For this I will use a condenser microphone. Again, I will only need one microphone for this. For a condenser microphone I will need and XLR to XLR lead to plug into the snake in order for it to work correctly. I will need headphones in order to hear the people in the opposite room or to hear background music, and the people in the opposite room will need speakers that are working correctly in order for them to be able to hear the recording. I will need a pop shield over the microphone to prevent a popping noise through the recording and to protect the microphone itself. This recording is on channel three. This is saved to My Computer/BTECmusic/Year11/gracedurant.Session four (45 minutes)
I am going to record the vocals from me. I need to ensure that the microphone is positioned correctly in proportion to the vocalist. I need to make sure that I am singing at a reasonable volume. For this I need to use a condenser microphone to record this. I will only use one condenser microphone.For a condenser microphone I will need and XLR to XLR lead to plug into the snake in order for it to work correctly. I will need headphones in order to hear the people in the opposite room or to hear background music, and the people in the opposite room will need speakers that are working correctly in order for them to be able to hear the recording. I will need a pop shield over the microphone to prevent a popping noise through the recording and to protect the microphone itself. This recording is on channel four. This is saved to My Computer/BTECmusic/Year11/gracedurant.
Session five (45 minutes)
I am going to listen to each session one by one and see if anything needs re-doing, if not then I will begin to mix each recording. I used the inserts EQ, Reverb, Compression and Gating. I used the techniques of balance and panning. This is saved to My Computer/BTECmusic/gracedurant.Health and Safety
When recording in the studio, I need to ensure that all the wires are not a hazard, this can be done making sure that they are leading to where they are supposed to be and that they are taped down safely. I need to make sure that the people in the studio can hear me clearly when necessary and that I can hear them too.To ensure that the sound is safe, I will need to check the sound levels before recording so it doesn't damage ears and is at a reasonable sound. I need to ensure that all equipment is working correctly and safely.
Lastly I would need to make sure anyone working with me does not eat in the studio or having any liquids near electrical equipment to avoid potential damage.
Learning Aim B
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