recording level

What's to know? You just wipe the rust off the strings, plug it into the desk and bob's your uncle. Don't you? Er... not quite.

Getting a professional electric guitar sound onto tape is not difficult — if you follow a few simple rules.

Where 'live' recording is involved, truth is stranger than fiction. Or is it?

A look at this interesting but often neglected aspect of recording wildlife.

MIDI & Multitrack

Part 10: David Mellor looks at ways of getting the best of both worlds by combining a MIDI system with a multitrack tape recorder.

Mixing Console (1)

Part 5: The mixing console is the largest, most complicated, and probably the most expensive item in the recording studio. In this first installment, David Mellor begins his journey through its component parts.

The Mix (2)

Part 16: The mix (2). David Mellor goes still further in pursuit of the elusive perfect mix.

Recording Drums

Part 8: David Mellor explains several techniques for taming that most difficult of instruments to record - the drum kit.

4-Track Recording

PART 4: David Mellor takes a first step into the wide world of multitrack recording with an explanation of cassette-based 4-track techniques.

PART 2: Microphones. David Mellor cuts through the mythology of microphone techniques with some practical advice.

Location Recording

Part 13: Location recording. David Mellor bundles his recording gear into the boot of a car and drives off into the unknown.

Using the Compressor and Noise Gate

Part 11: Using the compressor and noise gate. The compressor and the noise gate are the most powerful of all the effects in a studio rack. David Mellor passes on some techniques and tricks.

The Mixing Console (2)

Part 6: The mixing console. David Mellor continues his close examination of the recording studio's most complex and expensive piece of equipment.

The Mix (3)

Part 17: The mix (3). There's so much to know about mixing and most of it can only be learned by experience. But a little knowledge can go a long way. David Mellor offers even more insights.

Recording Vocals

Part 9: The human voice is the most difficult instrument to record, bar none. David Mellor offers some practical guidance.

The Mix (1)

Part 15. David Mellor looks at how to create the perfect mix.

Musical Arrangement For Recording

PART 3: David Mellor looks at arranging tricks and techniques with an eye to achieving a better recording.

Effects

Part 14: Effects, in the latest installment of his studio cookbook. David Mellor looks at ways to-make your recordings more tasty.

What makes one recording engineer better than another, and how can you improve your recording engineering skills? In this introduction to a new series on recording techniques, David Mellor outlines an engineer's role in the studio, and explains why a good engineer is so important.

Part 12: Equalisation, there are equalisers, and there are equalisers. David Mellor wonders whether some are more equal than others.

The Session

Part 7: David Mellor puts a typical band into a typical studio and looks at the various stages of recording, from initial planning up to instrumental overdubs.

Any Questions?

Part 18. David Mellor concludes this 18-part mammoth series on recording techniques with a handy question and answer session.

Everything you need to know to get a thoroughly professional sound onto tape, and how to treat it once it's there.

Multi-tracking and Overdubbing

This month we examine basic multitrack techniques including overdubbing and drop-ins, and explain about sync.