October 2007
OCTOBER 2007: TWENTY YEARS
This month, Recording celebrates its 20th anniversary in print. Need we say more? Of course!
This issue isn’t just a fantastic retrospective of our two decades in the industry, with a cool timeline of relevant historical points in the world of music and pro audio. It’s also chock-full of material you can use right now: sage advice on choosing and placing mics, demystifying preamps, recording guitarist/vocalists, tips on promoting and distributing music, an overview of all the major DAW platforms (with quick hints on how to configure an audio PC or Mac), a look at how Fergie’s #1 hit “Big Girls Don’t Cry” was created (from Fergie’s co-writer!), and a huge slew of reviews of everything from high-end Genelec monitors and Royer ribbon mics to... lava lamps? All this plus our monthly columns, Marty Peters’ 600th Readers’ Tapes critique (!), and much more. Come celebrate twenty fantastic years with us, in the October Recording!
Features
1987: Where Were You?
Our 20th Anniversary kicks off with a look back at the state of the art in 1987, and the start of a timeline ambling through this issue: 20 years of music and audio milestones in 19 pages...
By the Editors of Recording
Three Wise Men.
Mics you may not have never heard of but should own; a unified approach to instrument miking; and a hard look at preamp technology... words of wisdom from three of our technical sages.
By Scott Dorsey, Paul J. Stamler, and Mike Rivers
A Song Is Born.
A Number One hit starts with inspiration, determination, and the right musical setup to capture it while it has freshness and power. Here’s how it’s done.
By Toby Gad
Before You Go Red.
The process of creating a hit shouldn’t start with pressing Record. There’s a lot to think about before you ever get that far...
By Frank Gryner
Independent Promotion and Distribution.
Once you’ve got your music going, it’s time to get it out into the world—and the tools of 2007 bear little resemblance to what we had 20 years ago... or even five!
By Dave Hedin
Drummers For Hire—An Extravaganza.
In an exclusive and unprecedented feature, four long-distance drummers take up the challenge of tracking the same demo song provided by Recording, with results you can hear for yourself.
By Justin Peacock and Dave Hedin
Modern DAWs: An Overview.
Running on a computer or standalone on your desktop, here’s a look at the available options for today’s audio recording enthusiast... from the mouths of the authors who use them every day.
By Devon Brent, Jim Combs, Bob Emmet, Alex Golubchik, Darwin Grosse, Greg Hurley, Mike Metlay, Justin Peacock, Brent Randall, John Rossi III, and Paul Vnuk Jr.
DAW Details.
Metering—what it is, and why it matters to your DAW.
By Eric Ferguson
Recording’s Guitar and Vocal Columns.
Recording the singing guitarist—several approaches.
By Scott Dorsey, Eric Ferguson, Frank Gryner, Mike Pappas, and Marty Peters
Feet First. Part 10: Effects Part 2—Dynamics.
Compressors, limiters, gates and expanders: what they do and how they do it.
By Justin Peacock
Celebrating 20 Years Of Changes In Recording Studios.
A renowned studio designer weighs in on where we’ve been and where we’re going.
By John Storyk
Getting Out More Often.
A computer-music visionary reminds himself there’s more to music than computers.
By Doug Wyatt
Interviews
Recording with Latin Superstar and Grammy Nominee Chayanne.
This famous Latin singer’s 20th album, Mi Tiempo, was itself nominated for two Grammys. Producers José Gentile and Sebastián de Peyrecave tell how it was recorded.
Interviews by Jorge Patrono
Features
20th Anniversary Reviews In Short.
Mini-reviews of nine fun, funky, and affordable products you didn’t know you needed.
Reviews by Justin Peacock with Mike Metlay and Richard Shore
Royer R-122V Tube Ribbon Mic.
Starting out as an internal reference standard, this mic is now available to the public. How does it measure up?
Review by Scott Dorsey
Genelec 8200 Series DSP Monitors.
High-end speakers add room analysis software to work acoustic miracles.
Reviews by Justin Peacock
Chandler Limited Germanium Tone Control EQ.
Germanium transistors in audio circuits were almost lost to history, but this remarkable eq brings them back to the forefront.
Review by Paul Vnuk Jr.
Recording’s Showcase of Sounds.
KeyToSound Nexsyn; SONiVOX LoopLine Analogue Kits and Bent Circuits.
Reviews by Mike Metlay
Once Over—Reviews in Brief.
TASCAM FireOne FireWire audio interface/controller; AKG HSC171 headset; PreSonus FaderPort USB control surface.
Reviews by Paul Vnuk Jr. and Mike Metlay