Let’s get right into the core. Understanding and absorbing a song is one of the most gratifying aspects of the life of an Engineer. An Engineer should develop himself to be multifaceted. He should have the ability to approach and listen to a song from the spheres of a critical listener, a musician, and even that of a layman. If an Engineer can exist in all these dimensions while listening to a song, an ocean of opportunities will open up for him where he will be confronted wi

The genres may vary, the cultures may differ but the spotlight that the vocals get in music is universal. The vocals are the most human and the most expressive element in a song. People invest a lot of money on microphones, pre-amps, outboard gear, etc. to capture that perfect vocals and the perfect tone. All of us know about the phenomenon of proximity effect. This phenomenon plays a critical role when it comes to recording vocals. The recording skills of the Engineer should

A control room can be a stimulating place for an Engineer. The desk, decked with various gear, is a playing field of opportunities to experiment with. That’s exactly the case with the microphone locker as well. A collection of microphones, all awaiting the right opportunity to capture that perfect sound. When it comes to the art of recording, the equipment we use and the way in which we use them plays a vital role. The Engineer should be well aware of which cables and connect

Indian percussion is a family with a rich and varied history. From filling up the halls of a court to expressing the pains of poverty, the range of emotions these convey are wide and intricate. Recording these instruments is an art in and of itself. In other words, recording Indian percussion is a totally different ballgame. In the centuries long history of Indian instruments, we are on the verge of losing many to time like Mayuri, Gubguba, Mizhavu, etc. This could have been

It is a renowned fact that acoustics play a major role when it comes to a studio recording. The engineer should be well aware of the dimensions and the response of the room. The legends say that it would take a minimum of 5 years for an engineer to learn and experience the behaviour of a room. Different studios treat their rooms in different styles and sounds. When the size of the room differs, the instrument’s or the individual’s sound characteristics would also differ, be i

The Followers Conventions are a set of rules we’ve made for ourselves to guide us through the cores. Though we can use them as blueprints to trace our paths, they can also shackle us to our perceived set ways and prevent us from progressing. From living in the caves, to building empires and civilizations, to innumerable inventions and innovations, everything started with a maverick mind thinking outside the box and breaking conventions. The Engineer’s hot seat comes with a pl

So you have the landscape, you know the instrument. Take a deep breath! You’re going to create a beautiful environment. Managing the session and simultaneously getting into the vibes of the song is the key in a recording session. You could be under pressure, working on tight timelines. Yet, make sure things are always under your control as the onus is on you, the engineer, to keep the session balanced and productive. We are not super human. We are bound to make mistakes or t

An artist, can only express himself on a canvas and will always be searching newer terrains. The Engineer should execute this approach in his sound. The key is to build a landscape in our minds and to place ourselves in that plane and start visualizing things sonically. Recording Engineers envisage the vision of the Musician/Composer through their Experience, Techniques, Versatility, Adaptability and most importantly, Session Management Skills. Strike The Right Balance There