To make The Joe Clancy Drum Recordings, we went to Abbey Road Studio 3. Abbey Road Studios in London is where The Beatles made many of their famous recordings and is one of the very best studio complexes in the world.
We started with a single mic (a classic vintage tube Neumann U47) in front of the kit, like they used in the 1950s and 1960s. Then we went to a two-mic set up, then the classic four-mic 'Glyn Johns' technique.
Finally we put a mic on each separate drum, a mic on the hihat, and set up two overheads for the cymbals and overall sound. This is now the way it is normally done professionally.
In this audio and video Multimedia Set, you can hear the key differences between the various microphone techniques tested, and decide which technique is right for you.
And you can view the session in video too on your computer!

The Chilli Gold Microphone Microphone Test was also recorded in Abbey Road Studio 3. We made this set to demonstrate some of the most highly respected microphones in the world, and to compare the differences in their sound on vocals.
The test includes two examples of the Neumann U47 vintage vacuum tube mic, which many pros consider to be the best vocal microphone in the world. We also tested two examples of the equally classic AKG C12, and a modern replica, the AKG C12VR.
Also included are the ultra-accurate Bruel & Kjaer 4011, the classic Neumann U87 and modern Neumann U87 Ai, and finally the classic Neumann U47 in its FET version. (The course will show you what an FET - Field Effect Transistor - is, and why it has a different sound to a vacuum tube.)

The acoustic guitar can be a surprisingly difficult instrument to record well. Indeed there are many released recordings where the acoustic guitar really doesn't sound too good.
The key to getting the best out of the acoustic guitar is to choose the best position for the microphone or microphones. So in Acoustic Guitar Recording Techniques we positioned microphones in just about every possible place.
You can load individual files of each microphone into your digital audio workstation and compare them directly. And since it's often a good idea to record acoustic guitar in stereo, you can experiment with different combinations of microphones and see what they sound like.
After listening to and viewing this audio and video Multimedia Set, you will know exactly how to approach the next acoustic guitar you come across.

The topic of microphone preamplifiers is a hot one at the moment. There are people around who will tell you that you can't make a professional recording unless you use a preamp that costs thousands of dollars.

Well this is entirely untrue. In fact the Audio Masterclass Music Production and Sound Engineering Online Course is all about showing you how to make top quality PRO recordings using basic equipment and software. It's your knowledge and skills that are most important.
The Anna Neale Mic Preamp Test, recorded in Abbey Road Studio 3 compares five preamps - the high-end Avalon M5 (expensive!), the classic Neve 1073, the cost-effective Focusrite Octopre LE and the vacuum tube Universal Audio Solo/610 and Behringer MIC100 (which you can buy for less than $30).
In this test you will hear the difference between one of the most expensive preamps in the world and one of the cheapest. You will also hear the difference between transistor and vacuum tube preamps, so that you can make up your own mind on which type of preamp is right for you.

This audio and video Multimedia Set demonstrates a project that every engineer and producer should try, at least once in their career.

In Microphone Polar Patterns and Stereo Configurations recorded in Abbey Road Studio 2, we demonstrate the polar responses of microphones of different pickup patterns. Most people only ever read about it, but you will hear the differences in crystal clarity.
The set also contains examples of four different two-microphone stereo set ups and compares their directional properties.
And guess what... we will invite you to reproduce this test as one of your Practical Assignment Projects. As we said, every engineer and producer should try it at least once!

You could record an electric guitar by plugging it straight into your digital audio workstation. But the sound will be so thin and weak that it will be unusable. There are preamps on the market that will fatten up the sound and make it stronger, but the very best way to record electric guitar is through an amplifier and loudspeaker, using a microphone.

The positioning of the microphone is more important than you might think, and that is exactly what is demonstrated in Electric Guitar Recording Techniques, recorded in Abbey Road Studio 3. We show you a range of positions so that you can decide for yourself which is best.

We also try out different microphones to show you how different they sound. There is also an amazing unusual stereo recording technique that you won't believe until you hear it.

Like all our audio and video Multimedia Sets, Electric Guitar Recording Techniques contains individual audio files that you can load into your digital audio workstation, and session videos that you can view on your computer.

Here's an extract. Listen for the subtle differences in sound quality when the mics change (you will hear it in Studio Master quality when you are enrolled on the course, and perform this kind of experiment for yourself)...