Hey audio professional….yes you….picture this scenario!

You’ve been working quietly at your boss’ studio. You know, the daily drudge; setting up microphones, setting up drum kits, getting the vocal mic ready for the latest singer dreaming of stardom. Hey, you even double up duty as the “lunch grunt”. Still though, by watching, imitating and learning, you have even managed to be able to cobble together a good mix of the recorded instruments. Nice and clear, not clouded and muddy. You can hear each instrument clearly. Good for you. Now, how exactly is this done? Or more to the point, how do you do it? The mechanics, the math…you know, the step by step methods? If you can’t answer, don’t be embarrassed. Read on!

Now, let’s get back to our scenario. Your boss calls you in and announces that the studio picked up a major artist. Let’s call her “Jill”. Your boss’ best friend in Nashville referred her to your quiet town, where she can cut her latest opus in peace, away from the shutter bugs. Your boss’ friend has faith in him, and so everyone is onboard. (The label, the band, and our starlet “Jill”.)

Naturally, your boss expects your “A” game. No problem. Click to read the rest…

Hello to all of you, my name is Fotios Koulakos. I am a mastering engineer currently residing and working in Canton, Ohio, U.S.A. If you permit me a moment of your time, I will share a little bit about my background. As a young boy, I had an interest in electronics and Hi-Fi equipment. The latter was an influence from my father, as he was an avid audiophile. The art of “listening” was an invaluable lesson that would serve me in the future. But, I am getting ahead of myself….

Audiophile equipment and electronics weren’t odd bedfellows I suppose, but the real fun began when I picked up my first guitar at age 13. I soon discovered what many a musician before me had known; the joys of sound on sound recording. Not multi tracking mind you…(that would come later)….just the crude method of recording onto one cassette recorder, then playing that back to a second cassette recorder, while simultaneously playing a fresh guitar line over the whole thing! To a fourteen-fifteen year old: MAGIC!

That was it. The moment when all of my interests culminated into one solitary vision: The blend of music, audio, and electronics.
Click to read the rest…