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Re: Analog mixers with DAW workflow?

If you are after clean recordings from mainstream mics, just about all preamps are "decent pre's".
by Exalted WombatTue Jun 24, 2025 12:29 am
Forum: Recording: Gear + Techniques Topic: Analog mixers with DAW workflow? Replies: 14 Views: 511

Re: Analog Summing

SOS is a 'gear' magazine, so anything that involves using (and potentially buying) MORE gear is never going to be blatantly condemned as silly and pointless.

But it's come pretty close with this one... :-)
by Exalted WombatTue Jun 10, 2025 2:39 pm
Forum: Recording: Gear + Techniques Topic: Analog Summing Replies: 25 Views: 935

Re: I'm analysing this music... which key does this song modulate to...

But I thought that in order to modulate to another key first, the last chord before the key modulation has to be the V (Subdominant) of the new key before moving to the root. Nope. That's one, simplistic way to create a modulation. There are many others. And there's no need for a modulation process ...
by Exalted WombatFri Jun 06, 2025 9:15 pm
Forum: Music Theory | Songwriting | Composition Topic: I'm analysing this music... which key does this song modulate to... Replies: 18 Views: 1036

Re: Analog Summing

Surely you'll want to mix down to something with more credibility than just back into the DAW? VHS tape perhaps? Or I've got a couple of DAT machines here...
by Exalted WombatWed Jun 04, 2025 11:57 pm
Forum: Recording: Gear + Techniques Topic: Analog Summing Replies: 25 Views: 935

Re: When, and why did key changes go out of fashion?

Here is just a taste for those that may want to read more ( I think NYT may be behind a pay wall ). Yes, it defnitely is. Sorry, I wrote that poorly. What I meant to say was that, in the past, clearing cache/cookies got one a few free articles monthly, so maybe that can get someone access without ...
by Exalted WombatThu May 15, 2025 10:44 pm
Forum: Music Theory | Songwriting | Composition Topic: When, and why did key changes go out of fashion? Replies: 155 Views: 4122

Re: Midi to Sheet Music Converter

A professional session can consist of booking the London Symphony Orchestra and giving them meticulously prepared notation. Or you can book The Memphis Horns, play them the track and see what happens. (Or, if you're George Martin you can book the LSO and see what happens. But I wouldn't generally ...
by Exalted WombatThu May 01, 2025 12:20 pm
Forum: Apps | Other Computers/OS Topic: Midi to Sheet Music Converter Replies: 17 Views: 612

Re: 'tis the season - Miking a Nativity play

Bit late now, but your greatest contribution will probably be containing the band's volume!
by Exalted WombatSun Jan 26, 2025 3:19 pm
Forum: Live Sound | Performance Topic: 'tis the season - Miking a Nativity play Replies: 6 Views: 336

Re: When, and why did key changes go out of fashion?

At the moment I'm working on a pseudo Classical piece that has Zero key change. What it has is different musical ideas. That's how I look at it for my stuff if I've got enuff musical ideas in one key then I don't need to change key. Interesting. One definition of 'Classical' (as compared with ...
by Exalted WombatSun Jan 19, 2025 4:14 pm
Forum: Music Theory | Songwriting | Composition Topic: When, and why did key changes go out of fashion? Replies: 155 Views: 4122

Re: clarification about using intervals for songwriting

Intervals are absolute. C to Eb is a minor third, whether the context is the first and third notes of a C minor scale or the third and fifth notes of an Ab major scale. (Or it could be a few other things too.) The emotional effect can depend on context though. The first one I mentioned will sound ...
by Exalted WombatWed Jan 01, 2025 12:13 pm
Forum: Music Theory | Songwriting | Composition Topic: clarification about using intervals for songwriting Replies: 15 Views: 982

Re: Songwriting - finishing your songs - a blog series

I refer to the sort of intro that just repetitively establishes the groove. Which so often leads into more repetition, with progressively more layers added. 'Sequencer composition'.
by Exalted WombatFri Nov 22, 2024 11:47 am
Forum: Music Theory | Songwriting | Composition Topic: Songwriting - finishing your songs - a blog series Replies: 247 Views: 8418

Re: Songwriting - finishing your songs - a blog series

I currently have two main 'pet hates' regarding the music world. One is the concept of 'borrowing' in harmony theory. But let's talk about the other one - 'remedial mixing'. That's where you construct (I find it difficult to dignify it as 'compose') a piece where the sounds fight for attention in a ...
by Exalted WombatFri Nov 22, 2024 9:08 am
Forum: Music Theory | Songwriting | Composition Topic: Songwriting - finishing your songs - a blog series Replies: 247 Views: 8418

Re: Directionless

Jay Menon wrote: Sun Nov 17, 2024 1:55 pm
Exalted Wombat wrote: Sun Nov 17, 2024 11:26 am 'No shelter from the store'? Rhymed with 'before', so presumably intentional?

Sorry for my lousy diction :headbang:

'No shelter from the storm...'

But it was perfectly clear diction! As was 'before'. :-)
by Exalted WombatSun Nov 17, 2024 6:40 pm
Forum: Self-Promotion Topic: Directionless Replies: 7 Views: 198

Re: Directionless

'No shelter from the store'? Rhymed with 'before', so presumably intentional?
by Exalted WombatSun Nov 17, 2024 11:26 am
Forum: Self-Promotion Topic: Directionless Replies: 7 Views: 198

Re: Adjustable height keyboard stand

"I currently have an x- type with the brand name "Ultimate" on it, and it works fine"

Good. It holds the keyboard off the ground at an appropriate height.

There's something else you wanted?
by Exalted WombatSun Oct 20, 2024 8:55 pm
Forum: Keyboards + Synthesizers Topic: Adjustable height keyboard stand Replies: 31 Views: 718

Re: Chord & Scale finder / lookup

This sort of result really shouldn't be possible. Identifying a chord correctly as Fm, and as 1, b3, 5, but spelling it with a G#.
Image

[edited to fix link - Andy]
by Exalted WombatThu Jun 27, 2024 4:49 pm
Forum: Music Theory | Songwriting | Composition Topic: Chord & Scale finder / lookup Replies: 32 Views: 2256

Re: Can a Windows PC be silent?

'Quiet' cases with large, low-speed fans have been commonplace and inexpensive for at least 10 years. Not completely silent, but a pretty good 'near enough'. The culprit these days is likely to be the graphics card. A powerful one runs pretty hot, and there's only going to be room for a small fan ...
by Exalted WombatThu Jun 27, 2024 4:39 pm
Forum: Windows Music Topic: Can a Windows PC be silent? Replies: 26 Views: 1340

Re: Mics. Low pass / high pass

You use a low pass filter if you feel the sound is too bright. Much more commonly, you use a high pass filter to reduce 'bass boost' caused by proximity effect in a close-miked vocal. Or, possibly, to reduce unwanted thumps, hums etc. from a variety of sources. But, like anything else, don't just ...
by Exalted WombatMon Jun 24, 2024 10:22 pm
Forum: Recording: Gear + Techniques Topic: Mics. Low pass / high pass Replies: 3 Views: 815

Re: Pumping at saturation?

Actual tape saturation, or a plugin? I'm assuming a plugin. So what does 'tape saturation' do? A combination of soft-knee compression and distortion. Maybe some HF cut too, to fake 'warmness'. Yes, with the right (wrong?) settings it might pump. Are you using a tape saturation plugin and IS it ...
by Exalted WombatMon Jun 24, 2024 10:15 pm
Forum: Mixing | Mastering | Post Production Topic: Pumping at saturation? Replies: 7 Views: 781

Re: How graphic should imagery in lyrics be?

It needs to satisfy the writer first and foremost. Got to be honest with oneself, or listeners may/will probably feel they're being sold a bill of goods and be more likely to tune out at the deepest level. Which really comes down to "It needs to satisfy the AUDIENCE first and foremost." Sincerity ...
by Exalted WombatTue Jun 18, 2024 4:54 pm
Forum: Music Theory | Songwriting | Composition Topic: How graphic should imagery in lyrics be? Replies: 25 Views: 1811

Re: Monitor Stands

The rules are perfectly clear. 1. Speaker stands should be infinitely rigid, have infinite mass and be coupled firmly to an ideally solid concrete floor. 2. However, the speakers should be decoupled from the stands by 'isolation pads'. 3. Nothing costing less than £100 may be deemed to have any ...
by Exalted WombatFri May 10, 2024 11:17 am
Forum: Mixing | Mastering | Post Production Topic: Monitor Stands Replies: 63 Views: 1819

Re: Please critique the first movement of my symphony in D major

Just for fun I transferred the score to Sibelius and played it using NotePerformer. Here's the audio. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2ml7qo00mfj0c6kpe68lf/Sharat_Chandrasekhar_Symphony_in_D_1st_Movt.mp3?rlkey=kq3u0iyy317kwe0ydz4w7dp7l&st=pha2b5rv&dl=1 In bar 9 what effect do you expect 'fp' to have ...
by Exalted WombatWed Apr 24, 2024 11:32 pm
Forum: Music Theory | Songwriting | Composition Topic: Please critique the first movement of my symphony in D major Replies: 25 Views: 1268

Re: Extremely Post Production.

Probably the most important thing you can do is make sure to align the angle of the playback head (azimuth) of whatever cassette deck you will be using to match that of the deck the cassette was recorded on. This will help with phase and frequency response. Well, yes. But only if you know how. Many ...
by Exalted WombatThu Apr 11, 2024 7:10 pm
Forum: Mixing | Mastering | Post Production Topic: Extremely Post Production: Cassette to CD Replies: 32 Views: 1451

Re: Monitor speakers as HiFi use?

If only a reputable sound technology magazine had written a couple of articles on the differences between hi-fi speakers and studio monitors... https://www.soundonsound.com/series/monitors-vs-hi-fi-speakers And if only those articles had not just waffled on for a couple of pages only to conclude ...
by Exalted WombatThu Apr 11, 2024 12:11 pm
Forum: Recording: Gear + Techniques Topic: Monitor speakers as HiFi use? Replies: 32 Views: 1109