Here at Sage Audio we have written about both “Les Miserables” and “The Hobbit” last year, and now that “Man of Steel” has released we will go ahead and take a look into the differences in music audio and movie audio. Some of the differences come from the software and other technology like Dolby Atmos that will allow for more directional control of the sound. Dolby Atmos technology includes front-to-back and up-and-down in addition to left-and-right. When it comes down to it, it is all just a balancing act and both studios could even possibly look very similar with the exception of software within the computers.
The growth of mobile music is starting to have a direct impact on the digital music world as a whole which will in turn have a direct impact on independent artists if leveraged properly. We have written quite a bit about the importance of streaming services and internet radio programs but we have yet to look at the differences on how these are used at home on a desktop as well as on a mobile phone. Junipers new information projects a 40 percent growth throughout the rest of this year in global music subscriptions and that is not including ad-free models. Unfortunately at this time it is rather complicated on how independent artists can use this information on mobile trends to their benefit. However what we do know is when it comes to subscription models these favor independent artists more than more established acts.
Myspace is coming back to being a brand new social network and finding their own niche in the industry. At this point they are aiming towards consumers involved in the music industry, whether that is an independent artist or just consumers that enjoy listening to internet radio in a sense. Myspace is currently allowing users to create playlists and mixes. While doing so in this social network, they are also able to share those with friends and even create animated GIFs on the website. There are a few concerns with coming into this market again and that could range on whether the name they had before will help or hinder them. Also the market they are trying so hard to get back into has already been saturated by other companies such as Spotify, Pandora, and they will soon have to face Google Play Music All Access and iTunes Radio.
TuneCore and CDBaby are two companies in the same industry aimed at the importance of independent distribution. These are key for independent artists getting their music on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play and nearly all other major players in the digital music scene. TuneCore opened in 2005 and has paid out more than $300 million to its loyal artists. CDBaby opened in 1998 and has paid out $250 million to its loyal artists. Each service will benefit artists in its own individual way. CDBaby charges a one-time fee and then collects a percentage of net earnings compared to TuneCore who charges a reasonable annual fee (depending on what kind of service you want) and then pays everything it collects from each service to the artist minus fees from each individual service. Both companies provide similar services, so it is really up to which one best suites the needs of the artist and pays them the most.
Daft Punk has had a major influence on EDM from the early stages of this genre in today’s society. Daft Punk gave a surprise call to Mick Guzauski, the engineer for the record Random Access Memories, so he could show him what he could do to help the duo achieve the vision they both wanted. Part of their goal was to have the music sound like it was being recorded in the 1970s when things were not very processed and you could hear more natural sounds. In order to achieve this, they relied less on computers and more on analog equipment and real instruments. Then it was recorded in L.A. at Conway Recording’s Studio C, which is a large and “live” sounding room.
With today’s ever advancing technology and being in the music industry we get to experience new ways to record. Everyone has their own opinions on what they like best whether it’s recording from a computer or from an amp. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. An advantage of recording from a modeler, in a computer, is you don’t have to have your tone perfect because you can manipulate your guitar’s sound to almost anything you want it to be. Now because of this it can also be a disadvantage because of all the options available someone might be putting too many effects on each song which will end up making the sound of the song change so much it doesn't fit well anymore. An advantage to recording with an amp is that no matter what a modeler is capable of it can never reproduce the actual sound that comes straight from the guitar and amp because the sound coming from those are achieved by a real guitar and real circuits. Many prefer to use a combination of both so try and keep an open mind as the music and technology industries keep on changing.
Mic placement can make or break a recording. Here are three tips to get better sounds.
Today’s recording equipment has changed a lot over the years and is now more important than ever. Now it’s possible to record on the go through mobile devices and there is different recording software depending on what mobile device you have. If you have an iPad, iPhone, or iPod GarageBand may be the way to go because this service comes with a lot of virtual instruments and you can have recordable jam sessions with up to three friends via Wifi or Bluetooth that can be stored on the Cloud. If you have an Android your best bet would be to go with Audio Evolution Mobile because it is the most comparable to GarageBand but it is lacking virtual instruments. If you do have an Android and would like to have the option of using virtual instruments you may want to go and get PocketBand Pro because it not only has virtual instruments but you can also import files to the app. If you want something simple and to the point of just recording the J4T for Android is the route you should take and it also includes a loop function as well.
Facebook is the largest social networking site currently and it just so happens to be the second most visited website in the world. This is one great reason you should use Facebook to your advantage and set up a band page to help further your marketing strategies. Once you have your Facebook page set up it is crucial that in order to keep your fans and audience connected with you that you respond and stay interactive with them. On Facebook it is also possible to post songs and if you have a CDBaby account you can also sell your music on Facebook as well.
How to pick the best monitor for your studio in regards to budget and different equipment goals. To start off there is the Yamaha HS Series that offers a great sound at a relatively low price which makes it ideal for a home studio. Second we have the Genelec M Series which is in the md-range price level for home studios and there monitors are made of wood fiber and recyclable material because of their philosophy to create environmentally friendly speakers that don’t skimp on sound quality. Lastly we have a Neumann KH310 A which is on the high end of the previous monitors mentioned and that is because it is a three-way active tri-amplified monitor. This will be able to give you an extremely versatile speaker but you definitely pay for what you get with this speaker having an MSRP of $2,249.95.
Here are some tips to improve your home recording studio; no matter the size. Make sure to limit the natural audio reflections. This can be attempted in a few different various ways depending on your budget, space, and what is available. Acoustic foam can be very handy when trying to limit audio reflections. If this isn't inside your budget range you can simply lay carpet or rugs on the ground, walls, and ceilings to help minimize the audio reflections. Both ways will help provide a “dry” audio source. If this doesn't help you get closer to the sound you are looking for, then you mat want to consider changing the mic. You have a choice of choosing a condenser mic or a dynamic mic and this will all depend on what kind of audio sound you are looking for specifically. You should take into account the size of your home recording studio because that will make just as big of an impact when choosing the correct mic to go with.
A reference track is a professionally recorded track that you use to compare your mix with. When picking a track make sure it sounds similar to the sound you are trying to achieve. You are referencing for sound that you may want to adjust between the reference tack and your mix for better comparison. When referencing a track there are many ways to do this but the easiest is to import it into the session you are working in. So you can simply mute and un-mute the track for a reference.
Acoustic guitar pickups are typically bridge piezo pickups or magnetic models installed in the sound hole. We explore the differences between the two, and what they can do for your recordings and live performance. Some artists prefer one over the other depending on what kind of sound they are looking for. Although piezo bridge pickups are more standard than a sound hole pickup because the piezo generally comes from the factory. It comes down to your particular recording needs, but keep in mind these may be best for recording. When playing live nothing can reproduce the sound of an acoustic guitar quite like a great microphone on an instrument.
We take a close look at some specific advantages and disadvantages of signing with an Indie Label. Every artist, band, and independent artist has their own unique path to follow. Every step leads you into a new direction and into a new learning experience. Many independent artists have thought about being on an Indie Label or actually pursuing it, but many labels in the music industry have there there are ups and downs. It is the artist that chooses what path best suits them, much like the sound of the music they play. With Indie Labels you will generally have more freedom and an added bonus of splitting profits evenly between the label and the artist.
Sage Audio’s advice on getting a great bass sound for your track. When it comes to recording a bass guitar adjusting your EQ will help you produce the best results. While recording the bass guitar and making adjustments , keep in mind you want it to mesh well with the frequencies of the other instruments in the track. Always make sure that it sounds and sits well in the mix with all of the other instruments. That often depends on the frequencies the other instruments are using. Once you attain the bass sound you desire make a duplicate track. This way you can make some extreme changes and then add it in very subtly with the original track and this will bring some surprising results. Always remember it may not be your bass sound that is off EQ and it could be the other instruments. So check and make sure all of the instruments involved in the same track have corresponding frequencies so not one instrument’s frequencies is covering another.
