Join us at Studios La Fabrique for a comprehensive tutorial on drum recording techniques! Hosted by the legendary rock engineer Steve Albini, this video series dives into great detail on tracking a drum kit in fully analog fashion with a Neve 88R console and Studer A800 MKIII tape machine. Albini takes you through his microphone preferences and positioning for bass drum, snare, toms, overheads, stereo drum kit, and room ambience. He gives concise reasoning for the types of microphone used and their placement, while suggesting suitable alternatives. Furthermore, he reveals his clever processing techniques to reduce bleed, enhance natural reverb, control dynamics, optimise phase relationships, and more. He demonstrates the use of his techniques by recording a live drummer, and draws diagrams on a white board to clearly impart his extensive knowledge!

Join the legendary Al Schmitt and his assistant engineer Steve Genewick at Studios La Fabrique to record jazz singer Melody Gardot with her musicians. We begin with Steve explaining how he plans a session with Al and the roles they both undertake when working as a team. He then elaborates on the procedures taken prior to tracking (preparing the console, polarity checking, headphone mixes, and choosing outboard processing for EQ, compression and reverb). Following this, Al Schmitt illustrates his microphone placement and signal processing techniques for vocals, drums and double bass, while discussing microphone choice, acoustic space and performance style. He also explains why he advocates simplistic microphone setups and no EQ while tracking.

We are proud to present our first ever series on tracking with star mixer Chris Lord-Alge! Hosted at studio B of the world-famous Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, CLA tackles a recording session with rock band Phil X & The Drills. Our detailed footage of the experience shows every step of the process – live space considerations, microphone choice and placement, instruments, amplifiers, DI boxes, Neve 8068 console setup, signal routing and processing, gain staging, phase correction, headphone mix creation, recording the band live, adding overdubs, production and arrangement, level metering, sample rate, bit depth, monitoring, and finishing the rough mix. Aside from sharing invaluable technical knowledge, Chris Lord-Alge imparts the reasoning behind his practical and efficient workflow, while advising on how this approach can be adapted to other environments and equipment.

Join us at The Village studios for a masterclass in creative recording techniques with engineer Sylvia Massy! Hosted at Studio A with rock band The Melvins, this in-depth series takes you on the journey from equipment choice and microphone placement to tracking, production, and the rough mix. Using a Neve 8048 console and outboard compression, Massy explains her signal flow and session setup, discusses the source material, and crafts her sound for drums, bass, guitar, strings, and vocals. She records live performances of the band, adds overdubs, and implements a few unconventional ideas of her own to culminate in an exciting rough mix of the song!