Recording and Mixing

Recording and Mixing

Do you need help mixing your own self-recorded tracks?

Over the last 20 years or so, home recording setups have become increasingly accessible to musicians, giving them the power to bring their music to life without leaving the comfort of their own space. However, while the tools available today are remarkable - achieving a truly polished and professional sound still requires expertise that goes beyond plugging in a microphone and pressing "record." This is where the role of a professional producer may need to come into play.

The process of combining individual tracks of vocals and instruments into a cohesive whole involves adjusting balance, panning, equalization, compression, reverb and various other effects to create the finished article. While there are various software tools that can assist with this process, the skills and experience of a professional mixer are invaluable when it comes to transforming raw clean recordings into a releaseable completed product.

Here's why you might need a producer to help you finish your home-recordings.

  1. Fresh Perspective: When you're deeply focussed in the creation of your songs, it's easy to lose objectivity. A professional mixer brings a fresh pair of ears to your music; to identify sonic imperfections, tonal imbalances, and areas that may need improvement.
  2. Technical Expertise: Audio mixing is a skill that takes years to cultivate. A professional mixer knows how to enhance and improve recordings, and is immersed in the latest audio techniques.
  3. Higher quality gear: While your home recording setup will very likely include some decent software, a mixing engineer typically has access to a vast selection of external plugin effects and various other tools that can take your recordings to the next level.
  4. Save your precious time: Mixing can be a time-consuming process that requires patience and focus. By enlisting the services of a mixing engineer, you can save yourself the time and effort it takes to learn the ins and outs of mixing, allowing you to concentrate on actually performing the music.

Contact Ben about your project here

Do you need help with recording and/or editing Podcasts or Audiobooks?

Podcasting has evolved beyond just being the preserve of hobbyists. It's now a medium for storytelling, education, entertainment, and increasingly, business promotion. To make your podcast resonate with your audience and keep them coming back for more, you need to offer an engaging and addictive listen.

Here's why you might need help with creating your podcast or audiobook:

  1. Audio Quality: The foundation of any successful podcast recording lies firstly with the quality of the recorded audio and room acoustics. You need the right equipment and knowledge to capture a clear, balanced sound that keeps people listening.
  2. Editing: A professional podcast recordist and editor can remove background hum, plosives and sibilance and ensure seamless edits. This helps creates a polished and professional final product.
  3. Time: Editing a podcast can be time-consuming, especially if you're not experienced in audio editing software, time which may be better spent on other areas of your show.
  4. Narrative: A sound editor can enhance the flow of your podcast. They know how to structure episodes, insert music and FX and optimise the listening experience.

Contact Ben about your project here

Do you need help with mobile recording on location (rehearsal rooms, choirs, church halls etc)?

Historically the recording process involved booking time in a professional recording studio. However, the constraints of time and budget have driven the rise of mobile and home recording services. Recording engineers can bring the studio experience easily to your doorstep.

This may be your bands rehearsal space or perhaps you are part of a local choir, jam session or church congregation that would like to produce a professional recording without leaving the space.

Here's why you might need the services of a mobile recording engineer:

  1. Comfort: Your creative space can play a suprisingly large role in the quality of your artistic output. By recording at home or in a space you're familiar with, you can be more relaxed, resulting in performances that sound and feel natural and recordings that capture spontaneity and happy accidents.
  2. Cost: Recording studios can be very expensive to use, and the costs can quickly add up. Hiring an engineer to come to you can often be a more cost-effective option, as it eliminates hourly studio fees.
  3. Flexible Scheduling: Keep to your own usual schedule and let the mobile recording engineer work around you.

Contact Ben about your project here