Lesson 1Backing vocals: stacking, harmonies, doubling, isolation and bleed controlLearn how to record backing vocals with stacking, harmonies, and doubles while controlling bleed. Explore mic choices, positioning, and cue mixes that support tight timing, blend, and intelligibility in dense 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 how to design clean, reliable preamp chains for microphones and DI sources. Understand when to insert compressors, EQ, and gates on the way in, how to avoid clipping, and how to document settings for repeatable 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 managementUnderstand electric bass recording via DI and microphones, and how to blend amp, cab, and room signals. Learn phase alignment, low-frequency management, and filtering strategies that keep bass tight and controlled 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 techniquesExplore kick drum microphone choices, inside and outside placements, and how to manage phase, bleed, and low-end focus. Learn parallel mic setups, tunnel tricks, and strategies to keep attack clear while preserving weight and punch.
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 miking in tight rooms, with strategies to reduce bleed and maintain clarity. Learn mic choices, angles, damping, and gating approaches that keep the kit open without losing control.
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 ambienceExamine full drum kit capture using overhead stereo arrays and room mics. Compare XY, ORTF, and spaced pairs, and learn how to balance cymbals, shells, and ambience while keeping phase coherent 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 how to capture natural room tone, choose between amp simulators and real amps, and design re-amping workflows that preserve flexibility, manage noise, and maintain consistent phase and gain staging across multiple 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 comprehensive track list for drums, bass, guitars, vocals, and ambience. Learn how to plan close, room, and DI tracks, manage scratch parts, and label everything clearly to streamline 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 mic selection, close and room placement on cabinets, and how to build width with double-tracking and panning. Learn phase-safe multi-mic setups and how to balance clarity, body, and room ambience.
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 controlUnderstand snare top and bottom mic placement, phase relationships, and how to control hi-hat and cymbal bleed. Learn tuning, damping, and gating strategies that keep the snare present, punchy, and consistent in dense 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 gainExplore lead vocal mic selection between condensers and dynamics, ideal distances, and pop protection. Learn preamp and headphone cue considerations, tracking levels, and how to keep performances consistent 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
