Today I’m really thrilled to have Jon Connolly here with us for FAQ Friday!
Jon is the closest thing to a ProTools expert that I have ever met in my life, he’s an Avid Master instructor and Berkley lecturer! – That being said none of us are actual experts.
Jon is the guy I rely on when we have any kind of issues. – Today is going to be a Double whammy!
Not only are we going to do FAQ Friday but we are also going to promote the new Ultimate ProTools Course that Jon has made!
In the Ultimate ProTools Course, Jon takes us from the beginning stages right through to mixing and editing. This course is for beginning and advanced users.
Click here to check out the Ultimate ProTools Course.
Now, let’s get into Todays featured question! “I’m new to all of this and want to learn from scratch, how do I do it the right way? Any beginner books that you think would be beneficial?”
When you use quick books you become an accountant, when you use ProTools, Cubase or Logic, whatever it may be, you become an engineer, the performer because you’re performing and you also become the producer and the mixer.
With all these hats that you wear it can be daunting at first. To get started, I think you should get whatever application it is that you want, and just jump in!
As far as books I lean towards ProTools and there is a ProTools 101 book available from Avid and it’s not so much teaching you how to be an engineer but It is teaching you how to use ProTools and by doing so you’re dabbling in the engineering part.
As far as engineering books the Bobby Owsinski Engineering Handbook is a great book. It starts with some basic stuff but it goes very deep as well.
It’s very similar to when I get asked whether someone should go to school or not. The question is do you like school? If so then go to school! Some people love reading and learning from books and textbooks. If you like reading books than read some books, if you like the school structure then go to school.
There is an industry standard book called Modern Recording Techniques by David Miles Huber. I have a copy of this book, looked through it many times. – it’s very detailed and AES stands behind it.
At the end of the day, you need to learn the way you learn best whether it be school, reading on your own or taking online courses. In the time we live in there are so many wonderful resources available to get started.
We cover the following questions during this episode of FAQ Friday!
• I’m a beginner and I made a rule for myself to only use stock. Plugins until I. Get to. The point where I have a good understanding of how the basics work, Especially EQ, compression, Reverb And Delay. Is it your opinion that I may be limiting myself. To much by avoiding third party plugins? (4:45)
• I’m new to all of this and want to learn from scratch, how do I do it the right way? Any beginner books that you think would be beneficial? (8:30)
• I received stems fro mixing, they recorded everything in one room so every stem has lots of instrument bleed. What is the best process to clean up the mix? Do you leave the bleeding and EQ as best a possible or do you gate? Or do you. Sprinkle some sort of magic dust over it? (14:38)
• Was would you pack if you were going to do a session in an unfamiliar studio? A favorite mic, wave files of songs you know well, favorite headphones? What is your fly kit so to speak. (17:34)
• What is Phase and Why is it important? (22:38)