Recording learning aim A
A condenser microphone can pick up high frequency. They're used by musicians because they can pick up sounds easily, which is why studio walls are normally covered in sponge or cardboard because it stops sounds reflecting or echoing sounds off the walls. Also people must be outside the studio while recording. A pop shield (which covers the microphone ) is used to stop picking up unwanted noises like 'pop' and 'tssch' sounds.
A drum condenser is EXTREMELY fragile. They're used to pick up sounds the drummers make when held up towards their drums. They only pick up the sounds of the drums with out the unwanted high frequency noises. They usually cost £117.00 for a professional one, because they work amazingly well, yet delicate.
In a studio, you need sound proof glass, so you can't hear people working on the Audio desks, Or anyone else. All you need to hear is the musician. Also, they use sound proofing on the walls, so sound vibrations from the musicians don't bounce of the walls and cause echoes.
They also use black boards in the corner of the walls, Because corners can cause more echo noises, so they're used to reflect no sound. They use the colour Black or Dark blue, because dark colours absorbs not only heat, but sound also.
A audio mixer/ Audiodesk is used to control the stereo fields and volume. They also use it to edit songs the musicians did; Such as make the volume louder, use auto tunes or overlay other music/sounds on top of it.
A snake lead is helpful for music and instruments, because they're long enough to cross a whole room, and have lots of different connections for different sockets; it makes it much easier to carry and sort out.
- Recording Questions: what to do when doing recordings -
- You'll need at least one microphone/microphone stand, especially if you've got only one singer. You'd usually need to check if the Microphone works before using it.
- The Microphone type you'd normally need is a dynamic microphone. These are usually used for guitars, drums, bass and singing. They have pop shields to stop hearing unwanted noises and avoid damaging the microphone itself.
- You'd need a large variety of good quality equipment to do recordings. The equipment you'd normally need are:
- The instruments needed (Guitars, drums, bass guitars, keyboards, ect.)
- The right leads that plug into your instruments, microphones, and amps.
- Headphones; for the singers/players and recorders.
- Music stands: to hold instruments and microphones (singers will need microphone stands in order to stand up and sing)
- Amps, used to plug into instruments, for example a electric guitar, to hear the sound louder. Although normally used for festivals, you'd need it in your sound proof room as well.
- Microphone ports; where you plug in your microphone and headphones, so the producers can hear you from the otherside/other rooms. Also wall plugs in general so you can plug in amps and keyboards, etc.
- 1 session of recording would normally take approximately 45 minutes or an hour.