Studio Updates - 1st quarter, 2010
Tuesday, 06 April 2010 15:03
Studio Blog
The studio got a thorough review using "Lean 5S practices", resulting in a more effective work environment. A storage area was created for infrequently used items. Items no longer in use were removed from service, some were sold. Next steps are to incorporate operational "opportunities" as they are identified into the overall business strategy capital spending plan and begin deployment of these ideas. The goal is to apply our limited resources in a way that most benefits delivery of customer needs, the current focus being recording quality and effectiveness.
A book on good studio practices was started, some procedures were written to speed recording setup time for repetitive practices. The audio patchbay functions were reviewed to confirm compressor and preamp inserts were working and could be re-routed. The goal is to allow for monitoring with effects while recording dry, or without effects (provides more flexibility during mastering). The revised setup worked well in the next recording session. Mono headphone mix sends were created from aux 1,2,3 sends, providing three channels of individual monitor mixes and reverb return. Now singers and instruments can use a common reverb send for monitoring, greatly improving the monitor system. An Alesis Midi-verb supplies a nice plate reverb for this purpose.
A problem with the room monitors was identified to be a failed cross-over. The cross-over was replaced with a newer Behringer 2310 2-way crossover with sub-woofer output. As a part of this change, a in-wall mounted draw-out rack was built and the 27-band EQ was relocated to this rack, freeing up space in the mixer rack. All wired had to be re-terminated as a result; the smell of solder filled the air. A Crown PB1 was tested as a sub-woofer amp but the fan was too noisy for the studio so convection cooled unit replaced it.
More drum changes. While I was at it, I made some custom length XLR cable for the drums. The snare drum head and stand were replaced, RemOs were added to all drums, a revised counterweight was designed for the bass drum, a bass drum muffler was installed, and all the drums were tuned. All drum mike setups were re-checked and a few microphones were replaced or changed out to get a better sound and separation.
Signal balance, we traced an overload situation on two tube pre-amps to trim settings on the Mackie and corrected the problem. Still needed is a splitter cable for the guitar, to route a dry signal to the recorder and a second signal to the amp and effects racks. The purpose here is not only for monitoring but to allow recording multiple dry and wet channels for each guitar take, reducing the need to re-record guitar tracks if the desired guitar setup is known and can be achieved on the first take.
Another flat screen monitor was added and both monitors were elevated to provide more comfortable and effective viewing, and to provide more surface area on the desk. These changes have made a good improvement to the ergonomics without resorting to custom monitor stands.