For 8/1/24 I will be researching the different types of microphones and hopefully how positioning affects the sound of the instruments.
Dynamic Microphones are the classic look of a microphone that nearly everyone thinks of when they hear the word ‘microphone’. These are a more durable type of microphone that use a diaphragm with a coil attached to create AC voltage if a sound wave vibrates it. These are suited for live performance and have a low sensitivity so they require a louder source of audio to work. Not good for bass. (Levine, 2021)
Condenser Microphones, also sometimes called Capacitor Microphones here in the UK, are the best high-frequency microphone that benefits hand percussion instruments or the variations in voices. These mics require an external power source to operate, which is called “Phantom Power”, and the larger diaphragm condensers allow you to change the polar pattern as it is multidirectional. (Levine, 2021)
A Ribbon Microphone is a bi-directional polar pattern mic that uses a long thin aluminium sheet (rectangle shaped) to vibrate with the help of magnets, creating the electrical charge to transfer the sound. These are apparently a form of dynamic microphone, but the design and operation is different – so they are classed as their own type of microphone. These are a more delicate type of microphone used in recording studios, allowing a more clear and natural sound, close to human hearing. (Levine, 2021)
In the same day, the students as a collective set up the microphones around the drum kit again, but this time it was different, as we ran into far more technical issues when left to our own devices. This included things such as spill of other instruments, wrong placements and a lack of teamwork.
Eventually after setting up the drum kit, I opted not to play, and instead do the other job of playing around with the board to adjust volume levels, rename tracks, set up mics, etc.
I think I did a good job of controlling the sound. There were a few pops here and there but none were of my own fault because some microphones were set up too close. I learnt a lot that day about controlling volume levels and how D.I (direct input) can help save a lot of time.
I also learnt the many ways to mic up an amplifier, both bass and guitar, which helps because different setups create different sounds.
6/02/24, today I am doing research into Rick Rubin, a man who helped popularise hip-hop but also worked with bands that were about metal/rock, including their sub-genres. He has worked with Run-DMC, Beastie Boys, and LL Cool J for hip-hop, but his multi-generic skills has allowed him to also work with bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, and Rage Against The Machine. These are genre-defining bands and his help allowed their works to achieve success, so it’d be hard to imagine these artists with another producer. (He also did country, but it was Johnny Cash so it’s fake country. I’ll allow it.)
While it seems that Rick Rubin is currently not working with any bands or artists, the hits that he helped produced are brilliant, such as RHCP’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Metallica’s Death Magnetic and Run-DMC’s Hell Raising, which in my opinion are all brilliant pieces of work.
It seems that Rubin was one of the first few to apply a rap production style to the rock scene, which had a focus on main vocals & kick and snare. In his early works, Rubin opted not to use things such as backing vocals, string segments, which is ironic because all of the production techniques were not being used by the producer – this changes however in later works, where he seems to use these techniques on a minor scale compared to the rest of the industry. (Fli, n.d.)
Another important thing to mention about Rubin is that he pushed bands and artists out of their comfort zones by telling them to play like they were apart of a different genre. This is what led to the legendary crossover of Aerosmith and Run-DMC on ‘Walk This Way’ where his encouragement made a song that was loved by all (Fli, n.d.). Taking extra information with a grain of salt (it’s from wikipedia), Slipknot’s Corey Taylor has had previous (multiple) problems with Rubin before, but these all seem like angry and aggressive statements, so the legitimacy of the criticisms could very well be wrong, but this isn’t saying they’re right. It simply is just different styles and taste that seem to clash when making anything, which could be a simple single or a whole album.
-End of Rick Ruben Work-
Bibliography –
Fli (n.d.). Rick Rubin Production Style. [online] Fli’s Music Blog. Available at: https://flismusicblog.wordpress.com/tag/rick-rubin-production-style/ [Accessed 6 Feb. 2024].
Levine, M. (2021). The shape of things to come: Different types of microphones and when to use them. [online] Popular Science. Available at: https://www.popsci.com/reviews/types-of-microphones/ [Accessed 8 Jan. 2024].