not sure if you've been reading my blog since the first post... if not, then see this post - my first actually - about the headphones that i own. mmm... no; that's half the truth! in the meantime i bought a pair of Sennheiser EH 250's to replace my HD 202's that broke during a recording session. anyway! back to the post!!

when i bought the AKG K601's i was disappointed because it simply didn't compare to my Sennheisers (HD 202's at the time) so i thought i'd have to buy a headphone amp to bring out their real potential.

WRONG!!!!!!!! they still sound thin :(

yesterday i finally bought a dedicated headphone amp (a Little Dot MK III) to drive the AKG K601 headphones. boy was i disappointed!  i have to admit they are louder. BUT - they still do not come close to the (fraction of the price) Sennheisers! i guess i'll "shtick" to "Zem" Sennnheiser headphones - JAWOHL!

ps: i still need to add those posts of how i've built the guitar, the house move with new studio layout, the Fender Mustang amp compared to software amps, Little Dot MK III headphone amp, all the new stuff i bought software/hardware etc etc... i'm very busy at the moment running my own web design/development company (chapter5 interactive) and contracting to other companies as Johan Pienaar, so i'll do it as soon as i get a moment ;) have a good one! LIFE IS SHORT! now there's a thought!!!! life is short... i don't know about you but i'm already one-quarter through my life (and you're probably too). Are you satisfied...?

software drum panning vs. drum panning on recordings

it sounds to that the panning in drum software like EZDrummer is by far wider than drumming that I hear on recordings. for example if you open EZDrummer > load any set > select a groove and press play. Or just click on random drums and cymbals... notice how wide they are panned?

now listen to this - notice how the toms, cymbals and sometimes even the room mics are all pretty much close to mono
"No One Loves Me & Neither Do I - Them Crooked Vultures"
"Hardened Sole - Firebird"
"Druganaut - Black Mountain" (this one have the hats on the left but everything else is very centre.)
"The Day I Tried To Live - Soundgarden"

happy new year!

if this is not an overdub then i need to know how they did it! i don't even think it's possible because wouldn't the guy's strings be muted by the girls chord changes?

mixdown for mastering tips

here's a really nice read: http://www.onlinemastering.dk/pdf/mixdown-for-mastering-tips.pdf
let me know if the link doesn't work anymore because they might take it off in the future and i'll email the document to you :)

tape hisssssssssssss

i was experimenting with some tape hiss to fill the black holes in my crystal clean digital recordings.
if you want some hiss - you can download it here: http://www.freesound.org/people/BoilingSand/sounds/49005/

in the market for a new Røde mic?

then check out this cool tool helping you decide which mic will be the best for the job at hand. and if you are a Røde member you can even download all the sound files.

Video Stroboscopy of the Vocal Cords

next time you record a beautiful vocal - this - is where it comes from...

reverb - one the most powerful tools

from the earliest recordings through to the 80's up to now. reverb is one of the most powerful tools you can use to craft/tweak/create your sound. here are a few articles on it (below). my favourite (that's how we spell it) bang for the buck reverb - Reflektor. i've got logic express so no space designer for me :(

a few basic reverb settings:
- drums: plate / rev time 1-2.5 sec / predelay 20-25 ms
- guitars: Small Room or plate / rev time 1-4 sec / predelay 15-50 ms
- vocals: small hall or plate / rev time 1.5-4 sec / predelay 20-70 ms

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Nov01/articles/advancedreverb2.asp

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul08/articles/reverb1.htm

must see youtube videos (16 of them)

great tutorials on how to get the most out of your Behringer BCF2000 with Logic 9!

here goes...

my DIY guitar - thought i'd never finish it!!