Monthly Archives: June 2020

Stuck at Home with COVID19 so its Pro Tools with Michael Strucker, Jon Connoly, Graham Cochrane & Warren Huart

June 14, 2020 by countrymusicoutlaw

Country, General, Studio

Even though some of the rules have been relaxed slightly, group numbers and social distancing are still required (unless you’re part of a protest it seems).

So what better time than now, to go back over Pro Tools from the beginning and see if you can pick up some new tricks – yee ha

First course I did believe it or not, was “Pro Tools Basics” with Michael Strucker.

Now don’t laugh because I actually picked a couple of things including some short cuts which always helps.

This is a hands on course with Michael and at the end you have mixed a 21 track song titled ‘Slow Day’ by Still Vaughan which you can add to your resume tho we differ on the thud of the kick drum.

Michael is a very good instructor and really any course he teaches I would recommend hands down.

Yep I really enjoyed the course.

The next course I did was by a bloke name of Jon Connoly from Pro Tools Services although he offered it through the Pro Mix Academy. A very smart man and extremely knowledgable on Pro Tools in fact I don’t think there’s much he doesn’t know about Pro Tools.

The course was titled “The Ultimate Pro Tools Course” which was 32 lessons. It was a very good course covering all the basics plus more but in depth and yep I picked up quite a few things so thanks Jon.

I was telling him how I enjoyed the course and his style of teaching so he invited me to join his live sessions via zoom where I could participate with him and others – again thanks.

So the course I am currently participating in, is called “Mixing University” which is quite a long course. There are 5 subjects plus extras on top of that.

Subject 4 which I am up to is a hands-on subject which includes mixing from scratch 6 songs from different genres which at the end you can use as part of your resume.

Now Graham has been teaching for years and putting out videos and blogs on the whole gamut of creating a song from scratch to a radio ready product.

Now as part of Grahams VIP Area of the Recording Revolution I can upload songs for critique plus do other courses – I think I have another 4 or 5 to go.

Again if you have a question on mixing etc and pro tools ask Graham, he’s very knowledgable.

Now I couldn’t talk about courses and instructors without mentioning Warren Huart from the “Produce Like A Pro Academy” of which I am a member of.

Warren puts out weekly videos including but not limited to Friday Feedback plus interviews with other producers, equipment testing and of course mix breakdowns.

The Pro Mix Academy is a brilliant place to be and has a great community, as I said I am a member and its worth it.

Anyway I have rambled on for too long, hey if you see me out on the road say gday or hit me up on UHF Channel 40

Till next time, take care, yours in country music – Leigh

On One Hand, a Question, Couple of Thoughts & Some Ideas But On The Other

June 1, 2020 by countrymusicoutlaw

Country, General, Studio

A Question: So you’re wrapt, you’ve recorded your song and you listen to it and something is wrong, its muddy, how do you fix it?

Listen to Graham Cochrane from Recording Revolution or Warren Huart from Produce Like A Pro and they will tell you Instrument Placement is not just about Left Centre or Right but about carving a place in the frequency spectrum for it to live.

They will tell you with EQ and then Compression you can clean up a muddy mix and bring about clarity, depth and yes a balanced volume, a balanced and great sounding track – your track.

Have a read of my posts on EQ & Compression which includes importantly a frequency chart where instruments live and what to look for.

Part 1 – EQ which includes the ultimate EQ Frequency/Instrument Cheat Sheet &

Part 2 – Compression which makes the track or tracks sound even and smooth and I explain which one is best for what.

A Couple of Thoughts:

1: “The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.” – Xun Zi, a Chinese philosopher living around 312 BC, on the importance of focus; Source: Iron Sharpens Iron: Wisdom of the Ages

2: “Stay away from negative people, They have a problem for every solution.” – Albert Einstein

Some Ideas:

1: If what you are trying to do isn’t working walk away, take a break and then come back and try again – Persistence prevails when all else fails.

2: If you want something bad enough you will find a way of getting there – if you don’t believe in yourself chances are nobody else will.

3: And one from Capt. Jack Sparrow… “Crazy people don’t know they are crazy, I know I am crazy therefore I am not crazy, isn’t that crazy.”

Anyway I have rambled on for too long, hey if you see me out on the road say gday or hit me up on UHF Channel 40

Till next time, take care, yours in country music – Leigh

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