The Recording Studio
A modern recording studio or music studio typically consists of one or more acoustic spaces that are designed to be able to capture the best sound possible onto the recording medium of choice. We usually find two different approaches to designing the rooms although all are typically isolated to be able to keep outside sounds from entering the room and affect the recordings.
Small rooms where any reflections from the walls and ceiling is kept to a minimum by using reflective and sound absorbing materials on the walls. Those rooms are typically designed that way to give full control of any post processing being done to the recording like adding artificial ambiance. Vocals are typically recorded in these types of rooms.
In most recording studios you will also find larger rooms, quite often with movable walls where the purpose is to capture the natural ambiance of the rooms. By placing microphones in the room we can record the ambiance and add some of it to the close up recording. This effect of combining direct and natural room acoustics is used quite often when recording drums and acoustic sources like strings, grand pianos and choirs.
The Control Room
The control room is where the music producer and engineers typically spends most of their time. It is usually isolated from the recording spaces so only the recorded sound from the microphones can be heard.
The room holds the recording console or recording desk that distributes and combines all the sound sources from the recording rooms. A modern recording console usually has many channels so each sound can have its own channel or more. A drum set typically uses up to 14 channels or more. Besides one or more microphones places on each drum and high hat, we also place microphones on overheads, as well as recording the ambiance as discussed before. So it is not uncommon to see recording consoles consisting of 50 or more channels.
The control room also holds the recording medium which used to be a multi track tape machine but now it is more likely to be a digital audio workstation or DAW. The most popular DAW right now is Pro Tools from Avid. You will find Pro Tools in almost any commercial studio today.
Finally you will also see a vast amount of effect devices that are used to alter or isolate the sound of the recordings. The most common effect devices found are dynamic devices like a compressor, equalizer devices and reverb/ambiance devices.
Other facilities in the Recording Studio
Besides the recording spaces and control room a commercial recording studio typically also feature lounges, kitchens and other spaces to keep the artist and musicians occupied during their breaks when the engineers are editing the recordings. Lastly one of the most important features of a commercial recording studio is the people attached. You will usually find great engineers and other staff there to inspire and create a great working atmosphere in the recording studio where magic can be recorded.
Johnny Jam
To find out more about of working in a the recording studio search here..
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I just want to make my dreams come true and stop living there and change as many lives I can while making music.
Dear Johnny Jam, what are the latest tools used in the studio as a music producer today? What are the most recent tools that all music producers want to have that just came out of the market to make their music sound great?
The most used tool in studios today is without a doubt Pro Tools from Avid. It has long been the standard DAW in commercial studios. Their latest version, Pro Tools 9, is now compatible with most third party audio interfaces, making it much cheaper for ordinary people to purchase the full version of Pro Tools for their home project studio. Along with Pro Tools there are quite a few ground breaking audio plug-ins that music producers are raving about, among them my favorites, the UAD2 plug-ins.
Since I’m doing a research on music producers latest tools used, I’m wondering if you know anymore new tools that are used in the studio other then the ones you mentioned before?
My name is akenna Janee Collins i always wanted to be a rapper but I couldn’t find one until I asked google then u came up so thats why I’m asking u. please help me I will rap your lyrics or rap my own I’m just looking for a manager so may you get back with me when you can thank you
hey johnny, all ineed is your support for me to become a big producer, thanks man u are good.
AM GOOD AT RNB and hip hop I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO BECOME WHOM AM Destine to be please help me out i want you to be my producer
Hi,
I am Drini and I am 15 years old.I come from Albania and I love music so much and in the future I see myself like a singer but not only known in Albania but I want to become famous all around the world.I searched in the Internet a lot of producers and managers,but nobody could helped me so if you can help me please ….
Bye
Hey Johnny,
I’ve been recording music for almost 2 years now. I produce my beats on Fruity Loops and I produce some on Reason as well. My recording studio has a AKG C 4000 B Stage mic and i have a mic compressor machine to use as well. I record my music on Acid Pro but sometimes the quality of the mic doesnt come out too good. Do you think you can help me here? Thanks!
Johnny
Let me introduce myself im John DiLorenzo from
new jersey looking to be a rap star I jus need a real
producing manager, ill pay the price if needed
my dream is to rap with eminem one day
but my first step is to contact you..
thanks get back at me thanks
Can one really know everything about musical productions without attending any musical institute?
Johnny i am just starting out to rap and i can sing pretty well my lyrics r great read me and contact me on my email if u think i got talent.
Time is running out
like an hour glass
If im on the track then you definitely get ran past.
Life is a test , and i don’t plan on failin
whatever you buyin i hope you get the message that um sellin
risin like smoke above each and every new fashion
the game will soon get soft and ill b the only 1 strappin
Hie.. everybody i need a good Producer for 2 of my friend they’re really good .. But the thing is that … i don’t know where i can find a good producer that can make them be some R&B star .. i hope someone gonna answer me because I’m really Desperate for a good producer … hope you guy’s can help me
my girls are really goood and they have been practicing really hard to try to make it to the big time . My girls names are Alexis shes 11 and I have Amayah she is 12 and i hope you please comment back to let me know what I have to do to get them to the big time.