Lesson 1Preamp gain staging: target peak/average levels, headroom, pad use, and trim strategyYou will learn how to set preamp gain for clean, controlled recordings. We cover target levels, analogue versus digital headroom, pad and trim use, and strategies for dynamic performers and aggressive playing styles to achieve optimal results.
Setting target peak and average levelsAnalogue versus digital headroom conceptsWhen and how to use input padsUsing trims and faders without clippingManaging gain for dynamic performersLesson 2Addressing bleed and isolation: gobo placement, cymbal control, bleed-minimising techniquesThis section focuses on managing bleed and improving isolation in live tracking. You will learn gobo strategies, cymbal control, mic pattern choices, and positioning tricks that reduce spill while keeping performances natural and engaging.
Planning room layout for minimal bleedGobo placement around drums and ampsCymbal height, angle, and player controlUsing polar patterns to reject spillBalancing isolation with natural ambienceLesson 3Exact drum mic placement guidelines with angles and distances for punch and bleed controlYou will learn precise drum mic placement guidelines for punch and bleed control. We cover angles, distances, height, and aiming strategies that shape tone, stereo image, and rejection of nearby kit elements for superior sound capture.
Kick mic depth and beater alignmentSnare mic angle for crack and rejectionTom mic height and tilt for clarityOverhead spacing and stereo techniquesPlacing room mics for depth and glueLesson 4Bass placement and blend: DI/preamp gain, amp mic positioning, phase between DI and micThis section explains how to capture bass using DI and amps, set preamp gain, and align phase. You will learn to blend sources for clarity, punch, and low-end control that translates on small speakers and large systems seamlessly.
Choosing DI boxes for bass tone and noiseSetting DI and amp levels at the sourceMic positions on bass cabinets and portsChecking phase between DI and amp micBlending DI clarity with amp characterLesson 5Guitar placement: distance, off-axis angling, phase alignment between micsThis section explains how to position mics on guitar cabinets and align multiple mics. You will learn distance, off-axis strategies, and phase checks that keep tone focused and low end tight for professional guitar recordings.
Setting starting distances from the grilleOff-axis angles to tame harshnessCombining close and room mics on guitarPhase checks between multiple micsReamping options when placement failsLesson 6Phase and polarity checks: how to test and correct phase across multi-mic setupsHere you will learn to detect and correct phase and polarity issues in multi-mic setups. We cover listening methods, correlation metres, time alignment, and polarity tools to preserve punch, imaging, and low-end focus effectively.
Audible signs of phase problemsSolo, flip, and sum-to-mono listening testsUsing phase correlation metresTime-aligning tracks by waveform viewPolarity inversion versus delay shiftsLesson 7Handling plosives, sibilance, and room reflections: pop filters, mic technique, room treatment basicsHere you will learn to control plosives, sibilance, and room reflections in vocal and spoken recordings. We cover pop filters, mic technique, basic acoustic treatment, and monitoring to catch issues early and maintain quality.
Pop filter types and correct placementMic distance and angle for plosive controlManaging sibilance at the sourceIdentifying early reflections by clappingQuick portable treatment solutionsLesson 8Bass capture: DI vs amp mic choices and when to use each, low-frequency considerationsThis section compares bass DI and amp miking approaches and when to choose each. You will learn about low-frequency handling, room influence, cabinet choice, and how to capture bass that sits solidly in the mix across platforms.
When to favour DI for clarity and controlWhen amp miking adds needed characterCabinet selection and room interactionManaging sub-bass and low-mid buildupCombining DI, amp, and sub-mic sourcesLesson 9Drum kit miking overview: kick, snare, rack toms, floor toms, overheads, hi-hat, room micsHere you will get a structured overview of drum kit miking. We cover typical roles for kick, snare, tom, overhead, hi-hat, and room mics, plus how these elements work together to form a coherent drum image in recordings.
Kick mic roles: attack versus weightSnare top and bottom mic purposesRack and floor tom mic placement basicsOverheads as the kit’s main pictureHi-hat and ride spot mic decisionsRoom mics for size and depthLesson 10Electric guitar capture: mic choices (dynamic, condenser, ribbon), amp close-mic and room-mic techniquesThis section details electric guitar recording with different mic types. You will learn close-mic and room-mic techniques, cabinet sweet spots, and how to blend mics for consistent tone across songs in a professional manner.
Choosing dynamic, condenser, or ribbon micsFinding speaker sweet spots by earOn-axis versus off-axis close-mikingAdding room mics for space and depthBlending multiple mics without phase issuesLesson 11Vocal capture: microphone choices (large-diaphragm condensers, dynamics, models) and rationaleThis section explores vocal microphone choices and why they matter. You will compare large-diaphragm condensers, dynamics, and modelling mics, and learn how voice type, genre, and room influence the best choice for optimal capture.
Matching mic type to singer and genreLarge-diaphragm condenser traitsDynamic mics for loud or harsh voicesRibbon and modelling mic optionsTesting multiple mics during soundcheckLesson 12Vocal placement details: distance, angle, pop protection, booth vs live roomYou will learn detailed vocal placement techniques for consistent tone and control. We cover distance, angle, pop protection, and choosing between booth and live room to match genre and performance needs accurately.
Standard starting distance guidelinesAngling the mic to manage toneUsing pop filters and shields effectivelyBooth versus live room trade-offsMarking positions for repeatable setups
