recording-tips

Ethnomusicologist Frances Densmore records the song of Mountain Chief, head of the Blackfeet Tribe, on a phonograph for the Bureau of American Ethnology in 1916.

Once used as a way to preserve American indigenous culture, field recording isn’t just for seasoned pros. Here, our columnist breaks down a few methods for you to try it yourself.

The picture associated with this month’s Dojo is one of my all-time favorites. Taken in 1916, it marks the collision of two diverging cultural epochs. Mountain Chief, the head of the Piegan Blackfeet Tribe, sings into a phonograph powered solely by spring-loaded tension outside the Smithsonian. Across from him sits whom I consider the patron saint of American ethnomusicologists—the great Frances Densmore.

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Dojo Columnist Bryran Clark at the helm.

A few small organizational tricks can set your digital workspace up for success.

Hi, and welcome to another Dojo. This time, I’m going to give you ways to cut the clutter from your sessions and help make your recording process more efficient—in short, more kaizen. This compound Japanese word is usually translated as “good change” but has morphed over the years to mean something closer to “continual improvement.” The concept is applied in multiple industries from auto manufacturing to healthcare, and it can certainly be effectively applied on an individual level.

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A multiband EQ applied to reverb.

Learning the ins and outs of reverb can help you access a more creative approach to your mixes.

Hello, and welcome to another Dojo. This month I want to give you some creative ideas for using the oldest natural effect we have—reverb.

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