In this article Julian highlights a video in which Bob Clearmountain shared his methods and approach when remixing recordings of The Band from 1968. The simple approach belies the cutting edge technology used to separate the material on the multitrack.
LiquidSonics make a number of audio plugin reverbs for realistic rooms. We take a look at using their modern take on classic reverb hardware for drums, and why two of its controls especially could make it a secret weapon for drum ambiences to inspire.
This decade has seen some big changes in how the industry gets things done remotely. With a number of competing platforms letting audio pros do their thing wherever they are, here we round up some of those out there and what they offer.
The Cargo Cult’s new Subquake is a powerful tool, for shaping the bass in the content you create. In this article Damian Kearns explains what it is and how this plugin can sculpt your bottom end and get your speakers bouncing.
Safari Pedals has announced the release of its latest innovation, Rabbit Tape - Wild Tape Distortion. This new product offers musicians and producers an expansive range of effects, from the subtle nuances of tape saturation to the intense dynamics of wild distortion and tape compression.
In this article we thought it would be interesting to categorise what we see as the hierarchy of ways to record. They are all valid and they all meet the needs of the people using them. Which is right for you depends on what you’re trying to achieve.
Just 5 months ago, Apple released the first 3rd generation Apple silicon equipped computers, and we now learn that it is accelerating the release timetable for the M4 chips to try and turn around falling sales for Mac computers. It also may mean they won’t release M3 versions of some products. We have the details.
While Imposter Syndrome is typically viewed as a hindrance to success, it can actually be reframed and used as a catalyst for growth and productivity. In this article, we will explore how composers, musicians, and audio professionals can harness Imposter Syndrome to their advantage, turning doubt into fuel for personal and professional development.
Although most DAWs have their own way of bypassing chains of audio plugins for decision-making, none do what is really needed for meaningful choices: loudness and delay-compensated monitoring. We check out one tool that can do it all…
Blackmagic Design has announced DaVinci Resolve 19 with over 100 new features, including some impressive tools for audio in the Fairlight section. We have the details.
In this article, with help from some of the Expert contributors, Julian discusses the desire for the analogue experience when mixing in software and some of the preferred ways of getting the analogue experience in software.
This week’s free plugin is Bitter Sweet from Flux. An old plugin which we were pleasantly surprised is bang up to date in terms of compatibility and still sounds great.
As the choices out there for that next new mic grow by the year, choosing a single does-it-all option gets harder. We on the blog have been keeping an eye on developments new and not-so-new - here are five of our favourites for any occasion.
In this article and video, Julian shares 5 things he wishes he’d known when he was getting to know the automation features of Pro Tools. From how to clear out automation from a session through to the reason he didn’t understand Preview when he first tried to use it. There should be something for most users here...
The all-conquering real time audio plugin might be the first stop for audio processing, but rendered treatments can still have their place. Here we look at the Why and How of offline audio processing in the age of mega-track counts and ever-faster computers…
Today Avid released Pro Tools 2024.3.1. As a bug fix release there are no new features. We have full details of the bug fixes.
As some budgets get smaller, attended client approvals for post production mixes might be a luxury some projects cannot stretch to. In this video, Paul Maunder and Luke Goddard check out one tool that allows post mixers and clients to review and collaborate remotely.
In this article Julian dares to consider using less gear with fewer features to get the job done. Considering the extraordinary capabilities of even the humblest studio, why wouldn’t you squeeze every last bit of potential out of your hardware and software?
Following its recent big update, Paul Maunder demonstrates some of the new features in the Soundly sound effects platform which he’s finding most useful for his Post Production work.
Some of the team have published lists of their must have plug-ins over the last few weeks. initially Julian was reluctant to write a list because his choices hadn't changed significantly in a long time. However that in itself was a point worth making and along with some old favourites there are some very recent additions as well as some difficult omissions. Check out the list here.
Many engineers will have been faced with snare drum recordings that are far from ideal. Whether it’s a self-recorded session from the artist, or a time-poor studio recording, here Luke shows some fast go-to methods to revive snare drums’ sounds, using what’s already there.
With the industry shift towards digital ways of working really taking off in the 1990’s, pro studios and smaller project setups alike shared a number of familiar devices that have today all but disappeared. Here we list some of the studio staples that cease to be despite changing our working lives forever…
We are seeing loudness normalisation in more workflows, not just broadcast audio but music streaming services, too. There is a wide range of Loudness meters out there now, and we thought it would be helpful to provide a round-up of the different options that are now available. We know it is not completely exhaustive, but it covers the main players in the loudness meter plug-in sector.
Audio production is facing attack from several sides, some technology based, and attitudes that expect us to do more with less. I've come to realise that technical skills alone are no longer sufficient to stand out. Today, distinguishing myself requires a blend of abilities and character traits that extend beyond mere technical proficiency. In this article, I'll look at two fundamental character traits that I believe set modern audio professionals apart, the second one may surprise you.
In this article, we name some of the most iconic piano intros in music history, saying what we think makes them truly stand out.
Here’s our five things we think should be default in a DAW, in other words, on unless you choose otherwise.
We‘re never pleased to hear that an audio business has decided to close its doors. Diversity is what keeps the pro audio business as innovative as it is. Spectral plugins, makers of Pancz, Spacer and OCS-45 have done exactly that and have decided to make their plugins available to all for free. Find out what they are and how to get them here.
Time based effects like delay and reverb can transform a part. In this article Julian shares some creative uses of time based effects which can inspire and encourage experimentation. And you can do all of them using the stock plugins you already have.
It is just a matter of weeks since Virtuoso first came to Julian’s attention courtesy of Mark Gittins’ excellent review but he appears to have been influenced by Mark’s positivity as he’s been testing Virtuoso for a couple of weeks now and he’s in!
Audio reversioning is something we have been doing in the audio post-production sector for a long time now, but until recently, it didn’t have a proper name. However, with the explosion of multiple audio formats and speaker layouts and the adoption of immersive formats like Dolby Atmos, the need to go from one format to another has exploded. In response, the tools to handle this have improved and the term audio reversioning has been born.
Safari Pedals has announced the release of its latest innovation, Rabbit Tape - Wild Tape Distortion. This new product offers musicians and producers an expansive range of effects, from the subtle nuances of tape saturation to the intense dynamics of wild distortion and tape compression.
Just 5 months ago, Apple released the first 3rd generation Apple silicon equipped computers, and we now learn that it is accelerating the release timetable for the M4 chips to try and turn around falling sales for Mac computers. It also may mean they won’t release M3 versions of some products. We have the details.
At NAB 2024 Avid are showing some previously unseen Pro Tools features. Given the nature of the show there is a particular focus on the improved interoperability features between Pro Tools and Media Composer. Three new Media Composer related Pro Tools features are being previewed.
Blackmagic Design has announced DaVinci Resolve 19 with over 100 new features, including some impressive tools for audio in the Fairlight section. We have the details.
As part of their Sonic Drop initiative Avid have released the latest of their Sonic Drops of new content for Pro Tools - GrooveCell Spectral Particles.
Today Avid released Pro Tools 2024.3.1. As a bug fix release there are no new features. We have full details of the bug fixes.
We’ve been made aware that in Pro Tools 2024.3, the M-Audio Keyboard option is missing from the MIDI Controllers tab of the Peripherals window. Despite its age, this missing driver affects some users today, particularly users of the clever control software Mulligan from ReFuse.
Antares Audio Technologies have announced the release of Auto-Tune Pro 11, a major update to the flagship vocal tuning software.
Softube has released an update to its popular Console 1 Mixing System which includes the ability for users to load and control FabFilter and UADx plugins directly without the need for mapping. We have the details…
Avid have provided Production Expert with more information about the specific Pro Tools price changes coming on May 1st as notified in an email to certain customers earlier this week. We have the details.
Universal Audio Inc. has today announced the launch of Verve Analog Machines and Verve Analog Machines Essentials. Check it out as until April 30th 2024 Analog Machines Essentials is available for free.
Want to make your drums sound like they were recorded in a beautiful spring meadow? Nugen Audio’s Paragon and Paragon ST’s bespoke library of Impulse Responses includes outdoor sounds made from real spaces, and there’s 25% off until April 17.
Our friends at SoundFlow are offering Production Expert readers 15% off their first year of SoundFlow Cloud Pro for a limited time!
Klevgrand, makers of creative audio plugins and instruments that dare to be different recently announced the release of their OneShot drum sampler and percussive workstation and for a limited time there’s an introductory 33% off!
Focusrite, a leading audio interface manufacturer, announces a limited-time offer on their FAST plugin range. These plugins utilise AI to adjust settings based on the audio and instruments used, aiming to simplify achieving quality sound results. Users can access detailed controls for precise adjustments.
Save a huge 50% off VIRTUOSO - a binaural audio renderer that uses binaural technology for virtualising stereo or immersive loudspeaker setups and listening rooms for headphone monitoring.
Denise Audio has released Motion Filter, a reimagining of their cult plugin The Sweeper that adds animation to static sounds with a flexible and powerful filter. We have the details…