Evenly spaced overheads? Close-miked drums? HOGWASH!! This video features George Massenburg and some interesting and great sounding techniques for recording drums.

Stereo simply means the mix has two channels (left and right). A mono mix is simply one channel. You combine (or sum) the left and right channels into a single channel. Listening to mixes in mono can be very helpful. I’ll explain why. READ MORE

The QS 6.2 is nuts and bolts keyboard which generates its from samples stored on ROM chips. Its 4 parameter faders are assignable to transmit any continuous control number. The 61 note keyboard also features polyphonic aftertouch, a rare feature that allows pressure information to be tracked an transmitted individually for each key.

• 16 part multi-timbral
• 64 voice polyphonic
• 4 parameter faders assignable to any CC#
• polyphonic aftertouch
• General MIDI compliant

Check out this video demoing some of the great sounds you can get out of the QS 6.2. The CRAS Digital Lab is open to all students during project hours at both locations.

Studio managers from three of the most successful studios in audio recently came to the CRAS to talk to students about the realities of a career in audio. Paula Salvatore (Capitol Studios, LA); CRAS graduate Crystal Olsen (GrooveMaster Studios, Chicago) and Candace Stewart (East/West Studios, LA) talked to a large group of students, then later met with them individually to answer more specific questions about working in a major studio.

“We’re happy to have managers of this level visit the CRAS,” says Administrator Kirt Hamm. “It gives our students a look at what goes on in the major recording centers and reinforces what we tell them each day about the value of hard work and the importance of basic audio and people skills.”

The Miniak is Akai’s take on its sister companies Alesis Micron. It features a double-modwheel design with vocoder, drum machine and sequencer. Even better, it has audio inputs that can feed any sound you like through its powerful synth engine. Check out this demo showing what the Miniak can do. The CRAS Digital lab is open to all students during project hours at both locations.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT!?! Have you ever mixed the band and felt something was wrong with the mix?  You tweak and tweak but the sounds just don’t gel. Time to trash your mix and start over. READ MORE

It’s possible to record a band live in studio, even with vocals, and still get the necessary isolation to have the elements you need for a successful mix. This video from George Massenburg explores a variety of techniques to make this possible. READ MORE

The audio team at Irrational Games have posted part one of a developer diary detailing their recent gun recording sessions on the Irrational Insider blog. READ MORE

In addition to regular classes, the Conservatory hosts extra-curricular technical DIY events where students build mic preamps, mod microphones and in this case construct live sound instructor Keith Morris’ Magic Box for the AES student chapter. The Magic Box is a passive dynamic processor that delivers a “warmer” sound by emulating tube circuitry and it also boosts the gain of the signal by 6dB. The students that participated in the build were responsible for soldering the connections and following specific instructions delivered by Keith who also covered practical applications of the device for live sound use as well as use in the studio. All units were tested in the Live Sound room after the boxes were built.

Slim Phatty is a true analog synthesizer. It doesn’t have built in effects, it only has a mono output and you can’t play more than one voice at a time (monophonic) but that note you hear sounds amazing and totally PHAT! Check out this demo video showing what the Slim Phatty can do. The CRAS Digital lab is open to all students during project hours at both locations.