recording dojo

Fig. 1

In this edition of Recording Dojo, our columnist sheds light on the differences between decibel measurements, and offers a breakdown of real-life equivalents of basic sound level values.

Starting this month, I’d like to bring some clarity to some widely misused audio terms that engineers struggle with, especially when it comes to mixing and mastering. Do you know what a dB is and/or how it got its name, or understand the difference between dB, dBu, dBA, dBSPL, and dBFS and how they inherently apply to your recordings? Tighten up your belts, the Dojo is now open.

Read MoreShow less

From left to right: a 1/4" tip-sleeve instrument and speaker cable, a 1/4" tip-ring-sleeve headphone cable, an XLR, two RCA, and a 3.5 mm tip-ring-sleeve headphone cable.

Learning the differences between various cables can greatly improve the quality of your recordings.

Hello, and welcome to another Dojo session! This time I’d like to drill down to some audio bedrock and unearth the differences between balanced and unbalanced cables. I want to help you understand the differences and give you some strategies to greatly reduce noise (hums, buzzes, and static) in your recordings. Tighten up, the Dojo is now open.

There are many different connection types and gauges of balanced and unbalanced audio cables, and both are used to transmit audio signals from one device to another. However, they differ in their construction and performance, and understanding these differences is essential for achieving optimal audio quality.

Read MoreShow less

Your favorite stomps are real-time, tactile sound processors. Plug them in and expand your DAW’s options.

Welcome to another Dojo. This time I want to help supercharge your creative process by advocating for a hybrid approach to effects processing. Specifically, I want you to embrace using stomp pedals as real-time, tactile effects processors and combine them with your favorite DAW effects and plugins.

Read MoreShow less