Lesson 1Backing vocals: stacking, harmonies, doubling, isolation and bleed controlLearn to record backing vocals with stacking, harmonies, and doubles while managing bleed. Check mic choices, positioning, and cue mixes for tight timing, blend, and clear words in busy arrangements.
Planning harmony parts and vocal stacksMic choice and placement for groupsManaging bleed and room reflectionsDoubling techniques for thicknessEditing and comping backing vocalsLesson 2Microphone preamp chains and basic outboard use (DI -> pre -> interface; when to insert compressors/gates)Learn to set up clean, solid preamp chains for mics and DI sources. Know when to add compressors, EQ, and gates on the way in, avoid clipping, and note settings for steady sessions.
DI to preamp to interface signal flowSetting input gain and headroom marginsWhen to compress or gate while trackingUsing hardware EQ for gentle tone shapingLabeling and documenting preamp settingsLesson 3Electric bass: DI and mic options, blending DI and amp/room mic, low-frequency managementGet electric bass via DI and mics, and blend amp, cab, and room signals. Learn phase alignment, low-end control, and filtering to keep bass tight and solid in the mix.
Clean DI capture and impedance matchingMiking bass cabs for character and gritBlending DI, cab, and room signalsPhase alignment across bass sourcesHigh-pass and low-pass filtering choicesLesson 4Kick drum capture: dynamic mic placement (in/out), phase alignment, possible parallel mic techniquesCheck kick drum mic choices, inside and outside spots, and manage phase, bleed, and low-end punch. Learn parallel mic setups, tunnel tips, and ways to keep attack sharp with good weight.
Choosing inside and outside kick microphonesFinding the beater attack sweet spotOutside mic placement for low-end weightPhase alignment between multiple kick micsUsing tunnels, blankets, and gobosLesson 5Hi-hat and tom miking practices and bleed mitigation in small roomsFocus on hi-hat and tom mics in small rooms, with ways to cut bleed and keep clarity. Learn mic choices, angles, damping, and gating to keep the kit open but controlled.
Hi-hat mic placement and rejection patternsTom mic angles and distance from headsUsing damping to control ring and sustainGating and expansion on tom channelsBalancing close mics with overheadsLesson 6Full drum kit: overhead stereo techniques (XY, ORTF, spaced pair) and room mic usage for punch and ambienceLook at full drum kit with overhead stereo pairs and room mics. Compare XY, ORTF, spaced pairs, and balance cymbals, shells, and room sound while keeping phase good and punchy.
Choosing XY, ORTF, or spaced overheadsSetting overhead height and kit balancePhase checks with close drum micsRoom mic placement for depth and sizeBlending overheads and rooms in contextLesson 7Ambience and re-amping options: capturing room tone, using amp-sim vs re-ampingLearn to catch natural room tone, choose amp sims or real amps, and set re-amping flows that keep flexibility, cut noise, and hold steady phase and gain across passes.
Room tone capture and noise floor controlChoosing and placing room mics for ambiencePrinting amp-sims versus dry DI tracksRe-amp box setup and gain stagingPhase checks when blending re-amped tracksLesson 8Comprehensive track list for drums, bass, guitars, vocals, and ambience (close and room mics, DI tracks, scratch tracks)Build a full track list for drums, bass, guitars, vocals, and room. Plan close, room, and DI tracks, handle scratch parts, and label clearly for easy editing and mixing later.
Planning core and optional instrument tracksClose mics, room mics, and DI track strategyScratch tracks for guide and feelConsistent track naming and color codingSession templates for repeatable setupsLesson 9Electric guitars: close mic choices, amp cab mic placement, room mics, double-tracking and panning strategies for widthCover electric guitar mics, close and room on cabs, and build width with double-tracking and panning. Learn phase-safe multi-mic setups and balance clarity, body, and room feel.
Dynamic versus ribbon choices on guitar cabsFinding the speaker cone sweet spotMulti-mic placement and phase checksRoom mic distance and blend decisionsDouble-tracking and panning for widthLesson 10Snare capture: top and bottom placement, phase relationship, bleed controlGet snare top and bottom mic spots, phase links, and control hi-hat and cymbal bleed. Learn tuning, damping, and gating for snare that's present, punchy, and steady in busy mixes.
Top mic angle, distance, and rim versus head focusBottom mic placement and snare wire detailPhase polarity checks between top and bottomControlling hi-hat and cymbal bleedDamping, tuning, and gate settingsLesson 11Lead vocal: condenser vs dynamic selection, distance, pop protection, preamp choices and tracking gainCheck lead vocal mics between condensers and dynamics, good distances, and pop filters. Learn preamp and cue mixes, tracking levels, and keep performances steady across takes.
Choosing condenser versus dynamic for vocalsManaging distance, proximity, and tonePop filters, wind screens, and mic anglePreamp gain, headroom, and noise controlCue mix and singer comfort during tracking
