Lesson 1Layered vocals technique: double-tracking, backing vocal arrangements, bleed control and comping considerationsBuild layered vocal plans with doubles and backing parts, handling bleed, comping, and timing so stacked vocals stay tight, lively, and simple to balance in slick pop and rock tracks.
Planning lead doubles and harmoniesTracking tight double-tracked vocalsArranging backing vocal stacksBleed control in group vocal sessionsComping and editing layered vocalsLesson 2Bass recording: DI vs amp mic, amp mic placement, combining DI with amp, re-amping workflowCompare bass DI and amp miking, fine-tune mic spots on cabinets, and blend DI with amp or re-amp to get solid lows, tame mids, and mix-ready bass for today's productions.
Clean DI capture for solid low endChoosing and placing bass amp micsBlending DI and amp for definitionPhase alignment between DI and ampRe-amping bass for tonal variationsLesson 3Electric guitar: microphone choices for cabinets, close vs blended room mics, use of direct inputs and amp simulationCheck out cabinet mic options, close and room mic mixes, and DI or amp sim choices to grab flexible electric guitar sounds that fit modern mixes, keeping dynamics, clarity, and re-amping options.
Dynamic vs condenser on guitar cabsSingle mic vs multi-mic cabinet setupsBlending close mics with room ambienceUsing DI tracks for re-amping optionsIntegrating amp simulators with real ampsLesson 4Vocals: microphone types (large-diaphragm condenser, dynamic), capsule patterns, pop filters, shock mounts and isolation boothsGet vocal mic types, polar patterns, and gear like pop filters and shock mounts, plus isolation and positioning tricks to tame room sound, plosives, and movement for steady, mix-ready vocal takes.
Choosing dynamic vs condenser for vocalsSelecting and aiming vocal polar patternsUsing pop filters and shock mounts correctlyBooth vs open room vocal isolationManaging singer movement and mic distanceLesson 5Recording session parameters: recommended sample rate and bit depth, headroom strategies, clocking and syncSet ideal sample rate, bit depth, and clocking for pop and rock sessions, managing headroom, gain staging, and sync so multitrack recordings stay clean, steady, and set for editing and mixing.
Choosing sample rate for pop and rockSelecting bit depth and recording formatHeadroom targets and gain stagingClocking, word clock and jitter basicsSyncing interfaces and digital devicesLesson 6Drum recording: mic selection per element (kick, snare, toms, overheads, hi-hat, room) and whyPick right drum mics for kick, snare, toms, overheads, hi-hat, and room, seeing how each mic's vibe, spot, and job boosts the full kit sound in busy, layered pop and rock tracks.
Kick drum mic types and placementSnare top and bottom mic choicesTom mic selection and mounting optionsOverhead and hi-hat mic preferencesRoom mic types for drum ambienceLesson 7Room acoustics and isolation: treatment, positioning, dealing with bleed and room toneTackle room acoustics, treatment, and instrument spots to control reflections, isolation, and bleed, crafting room tone that backs drums, vocals, and amps without muddying clarity in multi setups.
Assessing room size and decay timeUsing absorption and diffusion effectivelyPositioning drums, amps and vocalsManaging bleed in live band trackingCapturing or minimizing room toneLesson 8Keyboards and synths: direct stereo output vs amplifier/mic blend, stereo image creation and gain stagingKnow when to record keys and synths direct in stereo, when to mic amps, and shape stereo width, tone, and gain so layered keys stay clear and in check in full-on pop and rock arrangements.
Using DI boxes for stereo keyboardsAmp and mic options for synth tonesBalancing direct and amp blend levelsCreating controlled stereo widthGain staging keys in dense mixesLesson 9Drum mic placement techniques: close, Glyn Johns, ORTF/XY overheads, room mic positions and phase considerationsLearn drum mic spots for punchy, phase-solid kits with close mics, Glyn Johns, ORTF and XY overheads, plus room mic plans balancing ambience, stereo width, and mono safety in thick pop and rock mixes.
Close miking kick, snare and tomsSetting up the Glyn Johns configurationChoosing ORTF vs XY overhead arraysRoom mic distance, height and angleChecking and correcting drum phaseLesson 10Acoustic drum signal chain: preamps, gain staging, pad and phase alignment, tracking tips to avoid clippingBuild a solid acoustic drum chain from preamps to converters, focusing gain staging, pads, polarity and phase fixes, and tracking tips to dodge clipping while keeping transients and tone sharp.
Choosing preamps for drum microphonesSetting input gain and pad usagePolarity checks on multi-mic kitsPhase alignment across drum channelsAvoiding clipping while tracking drums
