Author Archive: ronan

A students view of Home Recording Boot Camp

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I recently returned from teaching a recording boot camp in Italy at Abnegat studio in Vicenza Italy. It was a great week hanging out with a really cool group of folks eating good food, sharing stories, oh yeah and learning about recording. One of the students from the UK has been blogging about his experience on his web site.  I always think a student could tell you much more about the Boot Camp experience than I could, so check out his blog to see Boot Camp from a student perspective (his site also has tons of other info for aspiring musicians

http://www.agendared.com/home-recording-boot-camp

http://www.agendared.com/home-recording-boot-camp-day-1

http://www.agendared.com/home-recording-boot-camp-day-2

http://www.agendared.com/home-recording-boot-camp-day-3

Door Prizes for Recording Fest Feb 27 – almost $6000 in prizes

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The list of free stuff we are giving away at the first HRBC Recording Fest This Sunday is bigger than I ever imagined. We are going to be doing at least 22 drawings of free stuff, totaling almost $6000 worth of free stuff!!!!!  We can only sell 200 tickets to the event so these are pretty good odd. If you buy your tickets online before midnight Saturday Feb 26 they are only $9 with no service fees.

  1. A Designs – REDDI tube DI
  2. Blue Microphones – Woodpecker Ribbon Mic
  3. Slate Digital – Trigger Platinum
  4. Super Sonic Samples – Premium Drum Samples Vol.1
  5. Super Sonic Samples – Premium Drum Samples Vol.1
  6. Super Sonic Samples – Premium Drum Samples Vol.1
  7. Mathew Lane – DrMS spatial processor plugin
  8. Slate Digital – FG-X Virtual Mastering Processor
  9. Home Recording Boot Camp – 6 day Recording Boot Camp in L.A.
  10. Rick Clark’s Book – Mixing, Recording and Producing Techniques of the Pros.
  11. Rick Clark’s Book – Mixing, Recording and Producing Techniques of the Pros.
  12. A Designs – ATTY passive attenuator.
  13. 3D Audio Gear Shoot Out CD-DVDs (complete collection)
  14. 3D Audio Gear Shoot Out CD-DVDs (complete collection)
  15. 3D Audio Gear Shoot Out CD-DVDs (complete collection)
  16. Bias, Inc SoundSaver (Mac/Win)
  17. Bias, Inc SoundSoap (Mac/Win)
  18. Bias Inc, PitchCraft EZ (Mac/Win) or Peak LE (Mac) – winner chooses
  19. 6 Month Subcsribtion to Gobbler.com
  20. $750 Consulting – Studio install package from Audio Perception
  21. Line 6 Pod Farm 2 Platinum software
  22. Line 6 Pod Farm 2 Platinum software

Over $4000 in door prizes at Recording Fest Feb 27 in LA

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One more reason to come to the HRBC Recording Fest: We are getting a phenomenal list of door prizes together!! We have over $4000 in prizes so far and the list keeps growing!

Everyone that attends gets one ticket. Additional chances to win may be purchased at the fest. 100% of proceeds go to charity.

Recording Podcasters Round Table

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I just wanted to tell you about the Recording Podcasters round-table put together by my pals over at “The Home Recording Show”.

http://www.homerecordingshow.com/2011/01/special-show-the-audio-recording-podcaster-roundtable-2011/

I participated in this for the second year in a row. I strongly recommend checking it out, not only because you might enjoy the round-table, but if you enjoy the things I do with my beginners videos here and my videos on Ronan’s Recording Show You will probably dig the podcast of the other guys involved.

http://www.insidehomerecording.com/

http://sessionswithslau.com/

http://projectstudionetwork.com/

http://www.recordinghacks.com/

HRBC Recording Fest 2011 in LA – Feb 27

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I am so excited to announce the first HRBC Recording Fest. A one day Festival / Charity Event celebrating all things cool about recording. February 27, 2011 in Culver City, CA (Los Angeles) from 4pm-11. Tickets only $9 in advance!!!! All proceeds go to charity Get info and your tickets early.

We will have workshops and panel discussions with some of the biggest names in recording:  Joe Barresi (Tool, Kyuss, Bad Religion, Queens of the Stone Age)  Tony Shepperd, (Madonna, Queen Latifiah, Elton John, Kenny Loggins), John Rodd (Assassins Creed, World of Warcraft, Avatar:The Game, Lincoln Lawyer), Dave Pensado (Pink, Shakira, Ciara, Beyonce), Ronan Chris Murphy (King Crimson, Nels Cline, Terry Bozzio, Ulver), and Dylan “3D” Dresdow (Black Eyed Peas, Ice Cube, Xzibit, Michael Jackson). There is even more, but we are awaiting confirmation.

There will be a trade show with many of the coolest pro audio and recording companies around and raffles with thousands of dollars in give-aways.

http://recordingbootcamp.com/fest/

The Loudness War. A view from the top.

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I am a regular participant on the recording forum Gear Slutz and have been part of that community for many years. I have seen a lot of things there that have been informative, stupid, silly, brilliant and everything else one could imagine, but in a recent discussion I read the one post that has stuck with me more than any I have ever read.

maroon-5-hands-all-overThere was a discussion about the recent Maroon 5 album, “Hands All Over” produced by the legendary Mutt Lange and much of it recorded and mixed by his long time collaborator, Mike Shipley (Def Leppard, Shania Twain, Aerosmith). In the midst of all of the comments, pro and con about the sound of the album (mostly pro!) a few people made some negative comments about the Mastering by Brad Blackwood (one of the most respected mastering engineers in the Industry) and Mike Shipley chimed in to explain why the mastering is the way it is.

I was so struck by his comments not just because of the heartfelt honesty, but to see how clearly the guys at the very top of the recording game have to deal with the same struggles about loudness, and ultimately creative direction as those of us a couple rungs down the ladder.

The “Loudness War” is one of the most controversial  subjects in the world of recording, and usually the most misunderstood. If people feel something is mastered too loud, the blame is almost always put on the mastering engineer, and almost always incorrectly. I have never met a mastering engineer of any merit that loves how loud and distorted they are forced to make albums, and very few mixers that savor it.

Here is the gearslutz.com post in its entirely, but it is well worth checking out the original post and following the context of the conversation.

Originally Posted by shipshape View Post
Ok here we go if this is about the mastering , NO WAY is it the fault of the mastering engineer
Originally the mastering was 2 db lower , Brad and I thought it was spot on ! The label said it wasn’t loud enough. I actually stopped ALL the pressing plants to stop while I re valued the mastering. My point being. I just care so much how loud records are. I would really like this record to be quieter and keep the extra lo end octave !! And keep the balance we went for.
It’s politically hard to say this , but when the “label ” asked for it louder , I was upset as tho it wasn’t as loud as recent releases , I liked it and figured anyone would turn it up if it was quiet etc. The label wanted it louder to ” compete “. But we had ” dialogue ” over it Yes I was totally bummed. Brad and I had dialed in a modern record that WAS not involved in ” level wars ” with other artists.
I tried to convince the label that what we had was great. It went over my Head. So no wonder I’m pissed. I don’t work my ass off and put my whole life into a record to find out the label went over my head level wise. It’s VERY disturbing to a passionate person , but it happened.
I hate it and hate level wars etc. It can ruin within hours what ivve spent a year on !! U have no idea
I take this so personally because of the type of person I am. Therefore it kinda hurts when records I work on. Which are normally kinda odd records get pissed on by others. I really do the best I can , like all of us do.
I hate the ” no rules ” mastering that exists these days. But what can WE ALL DO to change this. I hate it and it depresses me .
Therefore I can’t say anything about the mastering , other than Brad is brilliant.
All the haters. Have a beer and move on to porcupine Tree or something. We are here doing the absolute best we can. It’s hard work
Shipshape

Due to fast sell out – New recording boot camp added March 7-12.

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gregg.bissonetteWhen we posted dates for the next Recording Boot Camp on January 24-29, 2011, It sold out almost immediately, and we have had to turn people away. So we have added another Boot Camp March 7-12, 2011. The cost is $1000(usd) with early registration.

This is an early announcement for people who follow my blog here and want first chance to get into the program. We are really concerned about not spamming our mailing list, so we will not announce this in the newsletter for a couple more weeks. (but we will announce it at the Taxi Road Rally this weekend)

If you are interested in attending, contact us as soon as possible to set up an admissions interview.

New Boot Camp in LA Jan 24-29 & Tony Maserati Waves event

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Ciao from Italy! Here is the latest HRBC news. We had a great time with the Recording Boot Camp in Italy. We are in talks to do another one next year (probably in the Fall of 2011)

SIX DAY RECORDING BOOT CAMP IN LOS ANGELES JANUARY 24-29, 2011

If you are interested in this one please contact us as soon as possible to schedule an interview. Class size is limited to 6 students. Cost is $1,000 with advanced registration.  Home Recording Boot Camp Details

RONAN SPEAKING AT TAXI ROAD RALLY

Ronan will be giving two master classes (one on vocal recording, the other on arranging for the studio) at the TAXI Road Rally November 4-7. This conference is open to members of TAXI, plus one guest. It’s is one of my favorite conferences and I know a lot of people that join TAXI just to be able to attend the conference. Conference details here. If you are planning to attend, write to me and I can tell you the exact times of my classes.

STUDIO CONSULTING

Ronan is doing more and more consulting these days for individuals and companies that need advice or training outside of the Recording Boot Camps. If you are interested in private consulting, contact us to set up a time.

TONY MASERATI AT THE VILLAGE RECORDER, OCTOBER 24TH

Home Recording Boot Camp is not affiliated with this in any way, but a friend of ours is helping to organize it, and if you are n L.A. you might want to check it out. It’s presented by Waves so expect a bit of a sales pitch, but I went to the Chris Lord-Alge session Waves presented and it’s a very cool opportunity to hear from some of the best engineers in the biz for free, and this one is extra cool because it’s in the beautiful Village Recorder. I will still be working in Italy o this date and will unfortunately miss it. Tony Maserati Event

Thanks
Ronan

Daniel Lanois talks about vocal recording with Neil Young for Le Noise

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I have always been a big fan of experimenting with recording vocals without headphones. I find that sometimes its great and other times its not exactly the right thing. Depends on the singer and the vibe of the sessions. But many a session have been saved by doing it.

In this new video on youtube, Daniel Lanois talks about recording vocals without headphones, more eloquently than I ever could.

Mixing, Recording, and Producing Techniques of the Pros by Rick Clark

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I recently had a chance to interview Rick Clark, Author of “Mixing, Recording, and Producing Techniques of the Pros” for Ronan’s Recording Show. What I thought would be a short interview ended up being 40 minutes of great content. Rick not only talked about the book, but shares great insight into many producers. Fans of Jim Dickinson (Big Star, The Replacements, Ry Cooter), Brian Ahern (Emmylou Harris, Anne Murray, Ricky Skaggs) David Briggs (Neil Young, Nick Cave, Royal Trux) will really enjoy Rick’s insight into these producer’s work.

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If you want to watch on your iphone, ipod or ipad download the m4v version