In this article Julian highlights some frequently considered things in audio production we perhaps ought to think about rather less. Maybe if we did we’d finally make some progress on those unfinished projects…
Generative AI Is The Porn Of Creativity
This article explores the provocative comparison between generative AI and pornography, examining their implications for human expression, connection, and the erosion of creativity's essence.
Are We Over-Engineering Our Audio Productions?
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?
Things Every Recording Studio Relied On That Most Of Us Have Forgotten
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…
What Is Audio Reversioning?
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.
We Need To Talk About AI In The Professional Audio World
Russ Hughes thinks we need to have a discussion about the impact of AI for audio professionals, but it needs to go beyond the common trope of “All AI is bad!” To something far deeper and more human.
3 Recording Things I Would Have Lost My Mind About 30 Years Ago
In this article Julian looks at three ways the audio production world has changed since his and Russ’s formative years. Change over time can lead us to places which would have astonished us comparatively few years before but we now take for granted. Here are three examples of things we discussed which would have blown our minds when we started an audio production in the late 80s and early 90s.
Creativity Blocked? John Cleese Has A Solution
In audio production, songwriting or music composition, creativity is the lifeblood of the industry. Yet, despite its importance, creativity remains an elusive concept. The most enlightening, and entertaining breakdown of creativity has to be a lecture by John Cleese which methodically explains the conditions necessary for successful creative work.
I Went From Mixing In A DAW To An Analogue Console... Guess What?
A recent client request to complete the mix on the console which had been used for tracking made Steve DeMott realise that while he was giving up many useful things his DAW enabled him to do he found he gained at least as much as much as he lost.
Are Screens Affecting What We Hear When Mixing?
I was talking to a Swedish producer on Zoom last week and he made a throw away comment, “mixes always sound better when I play them in the finder.” My jaw dropped, I had also felt this for some time but thought I was being irrational. So I asked some more producers and engineers what they thought, the results surprised me.
Who Is Expensive Music And Studio Gear For?
In some areas of the pro audio and musical instrument market, much of the most exclusive equipment is bought by collectors and well heeled amateurs rather than professionals. Is harmful or of benefit to the industry?
The Entertaining But Mostly Useless Online Audio Content
In this article Julian’s experience of training young engineers raises questions about how learning, working and socialising online affects everything about recorded music, from the players, to the engineers, to our perception of success.
Are Music Producers Cheating By Cutting And Pasting Audio?
In this article Steve DeMott, with help from Julian and Ashea, asks whether duplicating sections of audio in projects rather than recording an entire performance during production, either copying elements or sections or using audio loops is in some way ‘cheating’ . Does it matter, and are there rules which can be ‘cheated’ anyway?
Analogue Isn't Distortion Let's Stop Saying It Is
The link between analogue equipment and its use as a source of colour, saturation and even overt distortion is taken for granted by many but doesn’t reflect the intentions of the designers of much of the classic gear which is so influential today. Why is that and does it matter?
Why Music Recording Had Advantages Before DAWs
The DAW has undeniably transformed how music is created, offering almost limitless capabilities. Yet, this freedom sometimes overshadows the virtues found in the constraints of pre-DAW recording. This article explores how limitations actually contributed to more focused, intentional, and sometimes better recordings.
Is This The Reason Bob Clearmountain Is A Great Mixer?
While watching this amazing video in which Jack Conte and Ryan Lerman of Dead Wax visit Bob Clearmountain’s studio, to hear a mix of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born In the USA’ and dive into the multitrack Julian thinks he saw the perfect illustration of how great mixers like Bob get the results they do…
Pro Audio Is Going The Way Of Hi-Fi - Can We Stop It?
The Hi-Fi industry has, over time, evolved into an entity more enamoured with specifications than the essence of music. This piece explores the worrying trend of pro audio’s gradual drift from its foundational ethos – the art of sound – towards a fixation on technical specifications and gear.
You Already Know How To Use Most DAWs - Here's Why
Many of us will have had those times when we feel we’ve hit our regular DAW’s limits. The idea of learning another could seem like replacing one problem with another, but things on the Other Side might not be as weird as you think…
Quality Over Quantity - Why Sound Matters
In this article Julian considers the value of quality over quantity, all triggered by his response to some gear which, on paper, outperformed his alternative choice.
The Power Of “No” In A Music Production Environment
In this article William Wittman explains why exploring every creative opportunity can get in the way and ultimately might compromise your project.