David Mellor explores how the Yamaha NS-10M monitors became a studio staple and why, decades after being discontinued, engineers are still seeking out second-hand pairs. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:15 - Why NS-10Ms Became a Studio Staple 02:11 - Making Better Mixing Decisions 03:49 - A Second Pair of NS-10Ms 05:23 - Mixing With Missing Frequencies 09:11 - Reflex vs Closed Box Monitors 11:35 - Why Pleasant Isn’t Always Better 13:29 - Mixes That Translate 15:40 - Making Rapid Mixing Decisions...
Jun 17, 2025•22 min
In this episode, David Mellor continues his exploration of microphone polar patterns by discussing techniques for capturing stereo recordings. He examines how the choice of polar pattern and microphone placement can be used effectively to achieve a balanced and immersive stereo image. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:10 - Defining Mono 03:08 - Binaural Recording 04:24 - Defining Stereo 05:28 - Number Of Mics And Placement 06:58 - Polar Patterns 07:48 - Figure of 8 Demo 09:09 - The Blumlein Pair ...
May 15, 2025•32 min
David Mellor discusses how to create custom effects in a DAW without relying on expensive plug-ins. Here he demonstrates his approach to creating a filter pan effect using an EQ with high-pass and low-pass filters, highlighting how custom effects can help give your music a unique edge. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 02:05 - Pan Effect 03:02 - Mono Pan 04:30 - Static Pan 06:21 - Music Track 06:42 - Creative Pan Effect 09:00 - Pan Effect Using A Low-Pass Filter 13:23 - Crossfading Using Filters 17:...
Apr 10, 2025•21 min
In this episode, sound-designer Eddie Bazil looks at ways of enhancing a variety of individual tracks and full mixes using plug-ins that are designed to achieve the retro warmth and cohesion of tapes and valves. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:32 - What Is Harmonic Distortion 02:32 - Advances In Music Production Quality 04:47 - The Introduction Of CD 05:59 - Triodes And Pentodes Vacuum Tubes 06:47 - Analysing Harmonic Content 07:56 - Example 1: TR-808 Sub Bass 10:35 - Example 2: Affecting A Who...
Mar 13, 2025•29 min
Paul White delves into the fun world of modelled guitars, amps and cabs, that cannot only make your songwriting and studio sessions more creative and unique, but can also greatly assist with streamlining live performances. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:12 - Techniques For Modelling Amps And Cabs 04:22 - Amplifier Cloning 05:49 - Compression To Improve Tonal Quality 07:58 - Adding Room Ambience 09:41 - Cleaning Up The Sound With EQ 10:51 - Guitar Modelling Options 13:05 - Why We Have Split Pic...
Feb 18, 2025•22 min
In this episode, Paul White looks at some creative ways that you can manipulate the standard plug-ins found in your DAW, using them alone or in combination with one another, to create some unique sounds, effects and rhythms. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:08 - Hard Tune Effect 01:39 - Processing Speech 03:15 - Fast Pitch Processing 04:04 - Using Match EQ On Guitars 06:07 - Distortion And Reverb 07:14 - Adding In Pitch Shift 07:41 - Reverb And Distortion 09:07 - Adding More Reverb And Delay 10:...
Jan 21, 2025•16 min
Paul White and Hugh Robjohns pick their software and hardware highlights from the gear they've reviewed in the last 12 months. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:24 - Lynx Hilo 2 02:49 - Blackstar Polar 2 / Polar 4 03:39 - AEA TRP 3 Preamp 05:40 - Logic Pro 11 07:24 - RME Fireface UFX III 09:57 - Dreamtonics Vocoflex 11:33 - Hum Audio LAAL Limiter 13:43 - FireSonic FireSpacer 14:54 - Crookwood VU Meter 17:03 - Nektar Panorama CS12 17:42 - IK Multimedia Tonex One 18:23 - Sound Particles inDelay 19:...
Dec 12, 2024•24 min
For musicians and producers that struggle to finish tracks, Eddie Bazil explains the benefits of creating musical snippets and gives us some examples as to how we can tap into different moods, use sound design techniques to create something unique that becomes a useable addition to our musical catalogues and create pieces that stand the test of time. “Snippets and the creating of, serve to strengthen sound ideas, hone mixing and production skills, help to understand timing and flow, act as a tes...
Nov 20, 2024•29 min
Paul White and Hugh Robjohns talk us through four essential studio effects that every music producer or mix engineer needs to know for creating an effective mix, placing them in order of importance and giving an insight into how they can be used effectively. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:21 - Effect 1: Reverb 02:11 - Convolution Reverb 04:28 - Reverb Controls 05:53 - Using Aux Sends 08:00 - Effect 2: EQ 08:57 - EQ Filters 11:44 - The Shelving Filter 13:40 - Parametric EQ 14:17 - Cutting Vs Bo...
Oct 14, 2024•34 min
Pro Audio Design Engineer Andy Bereza summarises his impressive career in a chat with Paul Gilby. Andy founded Allen & Heath Mixers before working for TEAC/Tascam, where he conceived the TEAC Portastudio the portable multitrack cassette tape recorder that revolutionised the home recording market in the 1980s. He then co-founded Bandive-Turnkey where he developed a range of budget signal processors and the famous Great British Spring reverb to sell to the rapidly expanding Home Studio Recordi...
Sep 17, 2024•44 min
Paul White and Hugh Robjohns discuss the basics of a good home studio setup, including choosing the right equipment and setting up your space correctly for achieving the best recording and mixing results. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:14 - Minimum Equipment 00:54 - Audio Interfaces 02:46 - Headphones and Speakers 03:21 - Choosing A Microphone 08:55 - Additional Accessories 12:27 - Desks And Monitor Stands 16:21 - Speakers And Acoustic Treatment 21:06 - Choosing Studio Monitors 22:35 - Subwoof...
Aug 09, 2024•32 min
Not everyone has access to a professional studio with bespoke wiring. Here, Paul White and Hugh Robjohns discuss the best practises for avoiding and eliminating electrical noise interference in your home studio. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:21 - Arranging Plugboards In A Home Studio 02:09 - Uninterruptible Power Supplies 03:59 - Grounding Issues In Laptop Systems 07:19 - Radiated Interference 08:54 - Isolated Power Supplies 11:10 - Procedure For Eliminating Noise 12:38 - Breaking The Ground ...
Jul 09, 2024•18 min
Eddie Bazil gives us more pointers on constructing beats, incorporating useful tools such as Drum Replacement Software and pre-constructed Loops, then adding enhancements using timing, pitch and other processing tips. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:33 - Drum Replacement Software 01:41 - Example 1: Using Hit'n'Mix RipX DAW 05:41 - Example 2: Making Loops Your Own 11:36 - Example 3: Enhancing A Kick With Pitch And Timing Track credit for example 1: Ice Box featuring Omarion, produced by Timbalan...
Jun 13, 2024•20 min
An introduction to using sample libraries focusing on the string section. Composer and Producer Sam Boydell talks us through selecting an orchestral sound library, creating a simple string motif and incorporating more realism into the finished piece by using a range of techniques, including articulations, dynamics and panning. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:18 - The Tools Of The Trade 03:13 - Choosing Your Sound Library 06:01 - Starting With A String Motif 10:39 - Allocating Orchestral Positio...
May 16, 2024•33 min
In the first of a two-part series, Eddie Bazil explains how some simple adjustments in your DAW will help you to achieve more bounce in your drum beats, by adding syncopation, swing and dynamism. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:20 - A Quick History Of Beat Production 01:07 - Early Programmable Drum Machines 04:33 - Defining A Good Beat 05:15 - Example 1: Shifting The Snare To Drive A Beat 07:55 - Example 2: Altering Dynamics And Note Durations 10:51 - Example 3: Adding Urgency With A Backbeat 1...
Apr 11, 2024•17 min
A valuable test for recording engineers, David Mellor gives examples of different mic types to emphasise the importance of knowing your mic collection in detail so that you're using the correct one for the recording task at hand. Cardioid, Supercardioid, Figure of 8 and Omnidirectional are compared. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:23 - Testing The Schoeps CMC 6 01:44 - Cardioid Examples 05:39 - Testing With Percussion 06:33 - Supercardioid Examples 08:40 - Figure Of 8 Examples 11:22 - Omnidirec...
Mar 14, 2024•23 min
In the first of this two-part series, David Mellor gives us an introduction to mic polar patterns, explaining the best type of mic to use for various recording situations. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:43 - Influenced By The EMI Emiguide Tapes 04:08 - What Is A Polar Pattern? 06:46 - Omnidirectional and Figure Of 8 08:43 - Cardioid, Hypercardioid and Super-Cardioid 11:14 - Pressure-Sensitive and Pressure Gradient 11:58 - Imperfections In Higher And Lower Frequencies 13:01 - The Decca Tree 14:...
Feb 15, 2024•29 min
Paul White and Hugh Robjohns pick their software and hardware highlights from the last 12 months. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:16 - Universal Audio Waterfall Rotary Speaker 03:25 - Boss GM-800 Guitar Synthesizer 04:24 - Tokyo Dawn Records Simulathe Cut 06:33 - PreSonus Eris 3.5 Studio Monitors 07:32 - Prism Audio Dream ADA-128 10:07 - Walrus Audio Fable Granular Soundscape Generator 10:59 - Blackstar St. James Amp Plug-ins 11:55 - Zoom F8n Pro Field Recorder 14:13 - Strymon BigSky Multi Reve...
Jan 11, 2024•18 min
In the third and final part of this series, Rob Toulson focuses on recording drums and talks us through the issue of frequency cancellation in a multiple mic setup, details how to choose the recording sweet spot in a room and explains the various stereo mic technique options that are available. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:52 - Phase Coherence 03:00 - Time Delays 05:10 - Comb Filtering 07:53 - Flipping The Polarity 12:22 - Choosing A Recording Space 14:56 - Mic Choice And Placement 17:43 - S...
Dec 08, 2023•29 min
In part 2 of this 3-part series, Rob Toulson explains how to optimise the drum sound for recording by experimenting with drum head, damping system, tuning and drum shell combinations. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:09 - Drum Heads 01:44 - Mersenne's Laws 04:05 - 1 and 2 Ply Drum Heads 05:45 - Damping Systems 07:10 - Centre Dot Drum Heads 09:27 - Choosing Your Timbre 11:44 - Selecting Your Drum Shells 14:25 - Optimising The Whole Kit 19:41 - Tuning The Kick Drum Professor Rob Toulson Biog Rob i...
Nov 16, 2023•23 min
Rob Toulson dives into the science behind how drums produce sound in this three-part series. In part one he talks us through the different pitches, frequencies and overtones, to help producers, recording engineers and indeed drummers to better understand the essentials of tuning. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:16 - Dealing With Multiple Frequencies 05:19 - Tuning The Fundamental Frequency 10:56 - Smoothing Out Modulation 13:31 - Harmonic Overtones 19:12 - Controlling Decay And Damping 23:11 - ...
Oct 12, 2023•26 min
Eddie Bazil dives into some of his favourite plug-ins and gives us a series of examples on how to use these tools creatively for designing unique and interesting beats, sequences and mixes. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:21 - What Makes A Tool Creative? 03:25 - Example 1: A Cinematic Piano Effect 07:03 - Example 2: Creating A More Dynamic Beat 10:19 - Example 3: Sequencer-Based Multi Effects On A Drum Beat 13:26 - Example 4: Reshaping A Musical Sequence 21:21 - Example 5: A Sound Design Exerci...
Sep 14, 2023•48 min
In this fourth and final episode, David Mellor, a sound engineer and the founder and Course Director of Audio Masterclass, delves into Gain Staging your plug-ins and how to avoid clipping during the mixing and mastering stages. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:50 - Gain Staging Your Plug-ins 08:08 - 32-Bit Float 11:35 - Mixing And Mastering 16:27 - Gain Staging The Mix 19:32 - Headroom 21:50 - Mastering Using LUFS Listen to Gain Staging Episode 1 Listen to Gain Staging Episode 2 Listen to Gain S...
Aug 15, 2023•30 min
David Mellor, a sound engineer and the founder and Course Director of Audio Masterclass, introduces us to Gain Staging in a brand new series of podcasts. In the third episode David continues looking at preamps, outlines the use of VU Meters and talks about the benefits of balancing a track prior to mixing. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:56 - More About Preamps 05:38 - Preamps With Valves 09:20 - The Mixing Process 16:17 - Using VU Meters 24:05 - Mixing During Recording Listen to Gain Staging E...
Jul 12, 2023•28 min
David Mellor, a sound engineer and the founder and Course Director of Audio Masterclass, introduces us to Gain Staging in a brand new series of podcasts. In the second episode David focuses on gain staging during recording, by balancing mic input, preamps and gain within your DAW to achieve the optimal sound level. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:40 - Dynamic Microphones 05:19 - Capacitor Microphones 11:25 - Gain Staging First Step 14:00 - The Pre-amp 16:39 - Headroom 20:49 - Audio Examples Lis...
Jun 14, 2023•28 min
David Mellor, a sound engineer and the founder and Course Director of Audio Masterclass, introduces us to Gain Staging in a brand new series of podcasts. In this first episode he teaches the correct use of terminology and gives his three golden rules of Gain Staging. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:38 - Using The Correct Terminology 05:56 - Why Use Gain Staging? 11:04 - The Benefits Of Gain Staging 15:31 - Working In Digital Audio 27:17 - Three Golden Rules Of Gain Staging Listen to Gain Stagin...
May 11, 2023•29 min
Eddie Bazil demystifies Compression and Expansion with a detailed explanation of their uses and with a range of practical examples using plug-ins. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:22 - Compressors And Expanders Explained 01:33 - Compressor Behavioural Types 02:40 - Common Compressor Topologies 06:06 - Example 1: Boz Digital Manic Compressor On Drums 10:26 - Example 2: FabFilter Pro MB On A Synth Line 13:28 - Example 3: PreSonus Studio One Expander On A Drum Beat 15:26 - Example 4: A Drum Beat Us...
Apr 13, 2023•34 min
Paul White takes us through the history and evolution of guitar synths, from early attempts at creating onboard sounds and audio to MIDI pick-ups, through to using pedals and plug-ins to emulate synth effects. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:13 - Types of Guitar Synths 04:03 - The Introduction Of MIDI 05:19 - Pitch To MIDI Pickups 08:04 - Alternative Systems 10:38 - Using Pedals To Emulate Synths 13:31 - Introducing Plug-ins 15:10 - The Future Of Audio To MIDI Paul White Biog Paul White joined ...
Mar 10, 2023•18 min
Paul White explains how to get the best out of Amp Simulation software, from getting a good guitar input signal, setting up effective monitoring for encouraging the best performance and tips on achieving the desired end-effect. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:50 - Getting A Guitar Signal 03:39 - Dealing With Latency 04:42 - Monitoring 05:54 - Using Your Own Pedals 08:15 - Using Speaker Cabinet Emulations 09:11 - Adding Room Ambience 10:00 - Creative Sound Design 10:27 - Using Amp Modelling With...
Feb 09, 2023•13 min
Paul White and Hugh Robjohns pick their hardware and software highlights from the last 12 months, plus feature some late arrivals. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:14 - ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe 02:01 - Boss RE-202 Space Echo / IK Multimedia Amplitube X-SPACE Reverb / Red Panda Particle 2 Granular Delay 02:57 - Moogerfooger Plug-ins / UAFX Amp Emulator Pedals 04:12 - IK Multimedia Amplitube TONEX Amp Simulation Software 04:47 - Arturia Efx Fragments Granular Delay / Eventide Physion II 05:25 - PMC6-...
Jan 09, 2023•19 min
