How to Get Hardtune Effects

How do you get those hardtune and rotary effects being used on today's hottest Pop and R & B tracks? Kanye shares some secrets with Dr. M! Check this video out and learn how to bring high tech studio style to your live performances. Microphone: Audio-Tecnica's AT4050 Studio Condenser. Pre-amp / vocal effects: Voicetone Create XT. Sound System: Roland SA-300 Stage Amp. Groove: BOSS DR 880

In the Studio & On the Road

Dr. M. during the second set of a performance with the Church Street Ramblers at a charity event. Guitar: Martin SWDGT, a D-18GT Sustainable Series. Cotton pleated skirt by Club Monaco, 5th Ave., NYC

Not all microphones are created equal. That is why when I perform, I prefer to bring my own rig and not use the house mics. I also use mic preamps to smooth out peaks and valleys in the signal while adding a bit of compression and reverb. All of these elements make for a polished performance and confidence on stage.

Most venues still use dynamic mics. They may have gone wireless but they are still dynamic and in my opinion muddy as compared to the condensers I use in the studio and on tour. I learned early on to bring the best gear to recapture that "studio sound". Using Audio-Technica's ATM710 condenser mic with my DigiTech Vocalist Live 2 and Vocalist Live 4 immediately brought the professional sound I was looking and listening for to my live performances. There is no reason to be afraid of condensers any more if you use the right ones and place them away from the speakers. Now if your style consists of screaming into the mic well, a condenser might not be for you. However if you wish to pick up subtle nuances in your vocals and instrumentals...get a good condenser!

How you prepare for your concerts will certainly effect the finished product, that is your on stage appearance. Getting your sound stage under control starts in the studio. This is where you begin to try out different microphones to see how they work and respond. You can also try wireless applications in the studio first before taking them on the road. We tried a Fender wireless system which was made for one of their PA systems. It came with a dynamic headset mic which was adequate but nothing to write home about. Even worse, it could only be used with that particular Fender amp. We went back to Audio-Technica and found that they had a condenser wireless system utilising the same ATM710 mic that we were so impressed with as a cabled mic! Now we were on to something as Audio-Technica's Series 3000 Wireless System was very easy to set up and unlike the Fender, did not require a trans pack. A battery within the mic housing provides the phantom power needed. The results were pretty incredible. Sparkling clarity and transparency on vocals and everything else you want to throw at it. Nearly feedback proof, it has an easy to access mute button and UHF offering multiple channels.

Mic preamps are a must for recording in the studio but also have a place on the road. Many come as rack mounts but I prefer to travel light. Moreover foot pedals allow me to make adjustments for my vocals and guitar with out having to turn my back to the audience to do so. While I really enjoy using my BOSS GT-10 guitar multi-effector for recording, it's just overkill for most venues. The DigiTech RP-90 is a good alternative for my electric guitar or I'll pack a smaller harmonizer such as the Vocalist Live 2 (VL2) or the Electro Harmonix Voice Box + Vocoder. These preamps or signal processors help to even out your vocals and give you great harmonies by tracking your guitar chords. In the studio, I use the Vocalist Live 4 with pitch correction and many more tweakable features I want on my recordings. Same thing with the GT-10 which has nearly 400 presets for clean and dirty guitar. I also use the far more sensitive Audio-Technica AT4047/SV condenser with the Vocalist Live 4 and the T.C. Helicon VoiceTone Harmony G with the Audio-Technica AT4050 multi pattern condenser. This sort of effort truly pays off when you play back your newly burned CD's. Likewise a poor quality mic can fail to capture your spontaneous creativity.

So what does my road rig look like? A lot like my recording studio! Depending on the size of the venue, it can be a very simple set up with my instrument, condenser mics, signal processor and drum and bass machine. I use the BOSS Dr. Rhythm boxes both live and on recordings and have been very pleased with their easy operation and results. In fact, I got the Instructional DVD for the BOSS DR880 which shows basic and more advanced programming. Really my road rig mirrors my studio rig with the exception of the digital recording equipment. I've also found that there are high-low alternatives. Take for example, if you can not afford the VL4, consider the VL2 or the Voice Box which will still give you basic harmonies and a great finish on your vocals at about half the price. Sometimes it is wiser to leave your more fragile and expensive studio boxes in the studio. I would include the VL4 in that category. I've taken on the road but always used a padded flight case. Plastic knobs and pedals often do not fare well roadwise. All metal chasis and foot switches tend to hold up much better. Once you practice with quality gear you will want to showcase this level of precision for live performances. So here are My Studio and Road Rig Picks!

See more essential gear from my private studio and road set up in the left hand column with some great deals PLUS FREE shipping to boot! Coming Up Soon..... our Best Guitar Gear for 2010 hit list and our Top Gear for Audiophiles. Check this out before you do any gift shopping!

Recording & Burning CD's

Congratulatons to the WINNERS of our Martin Guitar & GHS Strings Valentine's Day Give-Away: David MacDonald, Stan Grzes and G. (anonymous entry). Check back for our next Guitar Gear Give Away!

Just in time for Valentine's Day! Here's some inspiration for writing and recording that first love song. Capture your work on a radio-ready CD. Studio headphones and distressed tee by Audio-Technica.

Valentine's Day for me marks the fact that winter is slowly coming to an end. It makes me think of the romance of spring to come and inspires me to get my ideas down on paper. Where do you get such material, one may ask? I've found that the best songs begin with a page from your own life's experience. Torch songs are only effective if the singer "inhabits" the lyrics. This means that the song has to have some connection to your being. Whatever you do, you've got to have conviction. Tell the story! So how do you begin?

Got An Idea?

Some people find that the lyrics come first, pretty much like writing a poem. Then they sit down and try to construct a melody with chord progressions. If you have the opportunity, jam with some professional musicians on a regular basis. You will find a lot of ideas flowing out of a set, especially if you play a break. When you are called on to solo, you are improvising on the spot and creating your own melody line against the written tune. This is especially true for the blues and jazz but other styles also allow this sort of free form creativity.

Photographed here are a few members of my musician's guild whom I regularly play with. We do mostly Bluegrass, Gospel, Folk and Country. In our workshops, we always ask if there is a song someone is working on. You kick it off and they will come in with their individual breaks and comps. This way you can hear what your song could sound like with just the right mix of bass and lead solos. If you ever get to do studio work, you'll find that most today use click tracks or drum and bass machines. Drummers are seldom used in session work anymore so it may be a good idea to get used to playing with drum and bass tracks or at least a metronome. Still, there is nothing quite like playing with a group of live, seasoned, spontaneous musicians like these guys. It's something that just can't be replicated by a machine. Get more information on jamming by reading the article, Bluegrass Season is Here: http://mariejmiczak.blogspot.com/2008/04/bluegrass-season-is-now-open.html

Recording Your Work

When I have an idea or even just the "hook" for a song, I use my MP3 player or similar digital recorder to capture the moment. This way, the little nuances in the melody or vocals can be saved. This makes it easier for when you decide to transfer your ideas to sheet music. The main thing is to seize the moment! However don't get too stuck on replicating what you did on any given day. Why? Well, that was what you were inspired to do at that particular moment. You might do it even better in a subsequent recording session. Once your preliminary work has been saved onto an MP3 file, you can download it onto your computer. This way you can share it with others.

The Best Vocal Recording Mics... Audio-Technica Condensers

What is the best microphone to use to record vocals? When you are shooting for studio quality recordings, you'll need to invest in a very well made condenser mic. You can skimp on a lot of things such as studio monitors, mic stands, etc. but this is one piece of equipment you should be serious about. Condensers in general are much more sensitive and responsive as compared to dynamics. Which studio mic do I use? Audio-Technica's AT4047/SV. It comes with a matching shock mount and is the best large diaphragm, side address condenser I've ever used. Wonderfully sensitive without being testy with feedback. Adds all the polish and warmth you're looking for while setting your work apart from the rest. It actually works quite well as an instrument mic too but I stand by it for vocals. You do not have to spend $3,000.00 for a quality studio mic like this anymore! This mic has been compared to the upper priced Neumann and Sienhiesser mics by professional recording studio engineers and recording artists. The AT4047/SV more than holds its own against these and other high-priced microphones. What we especially appreciated is that the 40 Series mics all come with matching shock mount and dust cover as furnished accessories. Other microphones require that you purchase these pieces separately. As a follow up on Audio-Technica's 40 Series, we'll also be using their AT4050 Multi-pattern Condenser microphone for our recording project with C.F. Martin & Co. Visit Audio-Technica's website for all of their excellent mics at: http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/site/c35da94027e94819/index.html

Burning Your Work Onto a CD

Once you have your ideas sketched out and saved either onto your MP3 player or digital recording device, you will want to back it up by saving onto a CD. This is good to do if you want to keep a hard-copy record of your studio work and even down to your finished project. A digital recording studio allows you to "punch out" mistakes or even record alternative tracks for the same song. That's what all those radio remixes are that you hear in the clubs. Phrase looping is also easy to do with a digital recorder as is over-dubbing. Since music files eat up a huge amount of space on your computer, I would recommend getting a stand-alone recorder like the BOSS BR1200CD pictured here. It has a 40 GB hard drive, 12 tracks, (no waiting!), and mic / instrument input jacks right up front. Phantom power is also available for your condenser mics and there's a vocal effects kit as well as a mastering toolbox to give your CD that "pro" quality everyone expects today. Best of all, you have complete control over your work, from your first idea to the final production. Save alternate versions of the same song to work on later. Visit BOSS online at: http://www.bossus.com

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