We've just moved our studio to Manchester.  Extremely busy with mixing and mastering and working on some high profile band projects!

TMM

 We are now based in Manchester UK but our online music studios are still your local, worldwide studio!

 We are now based in Manchester UK but our online music studios are still your local, worldwide studio!

1.Make sure all instruments have new strings 2-3 days before so they have time to ‘play in’
2.Bring spare strings, plectrums etc.3.Make sure there is a hole in the front bass drum skin approximately 6-8 inches across for placing a microphone inside.
4.Make sure the drums are tuned and the skins are in good condition.
5.Make sure you are well rehearsed and know how songs start and end etc.
6.Make sure all lyrics that are not memorized are written down, preferably in big print on a word processor.
7.Have a reasonable vision of the arrangement and how you want things to sound, guitar tones, any effects, where you want backing vocals etc
8.Bring along a couple of CD’s of a similar musical style to give the engineer a starting point and an idea of the sound you are after.
9.Don’t try to do too much, most demos are 2-4 songs and it is better to get 2 ‘spot on’ that 8 songs that aren’t quite right!
10.Don’t be tempted to record that song that has been written the day before. We know they are fresh and exciting

Our tips

Listen to 15 minutes of well-mixed audio before any mixing session.

Practice your mixing - there is an awful lot to learn with audio mixing and mastering, practice makes perfect!  Read as many magazines and watch as many Youtube videos on music mixing/mastering/production as possible!

The sound of your room - Treat your room properly with the relevant acoustic treatment, very important!

Monitors/Speakers - Quality of monitors is an important factor but the main thing is getting to know them well.

Mixing in digital - If you are restricted to mixing only in the box (on a computer), ensure that your levels are kept down and under control, you don't have as much headroom as when mixing with an analogue mixing desk.

Preparing for mastering - Always get the best mix possible, never leave things for the mastering engineer to sort out.

Equipment - As with most things in life, the more expensive it is, the better is is and with studio gear there are very few exceptions.  Read as many reviews online as possible: www.gearslutz.com is great!

 Always listen to 15 minutes of well mixed audio before you start any mixing session.  The audio should reference the music you're working on, a great way to ears your ears primed and set the standard.

www.tweakmusicmixing.com

 We are great lovers of both analogue and digital equipment.  We run your music through our Lawo Analogue Summing Mixer straight from the start of the mix, it gives more headroom, better separation in the mix and of course, that analogue warmth.  That coupled with the UAD2 plug ins and you can't go far wrong!

We handle all of our online music mixing and mastering projects in this way.

Check out http://vintagemaker.site50.net/neumannv475.html

TMM

 As seen on www.musicclout.com

Whether you are recording in a home studio or paying for a state-of-the-art experience, you must prepare. Way too often, artists/bands go into the recording process thinking they know everything. Shutup, sit down and read. It could save you money and time, and be the defining moment in understanding how to pursue your next project.   It also helps the guys when mixing your song, ultimately leading to a much better sounding master!


1. Make SURE you have all the vocals and recording parts practiced and ready to record. Don’t waste any one's valuable time, especially your own!

2. Sleep well, don’t get wasted the night before and make sure to eat a nutritious meal before you embark on the journey of recording.

3. Make an intelligent and informed decision on who will engineer your record. Hear music they have previously worked on and let them hear your demos before starting any project.

4. Bring extra guitar strings, tuners, drum heads, ¼ cables and anything else you may need extra of.

5. Stay hydrated, no cold drinks, dairy, sodas or coffees. Also (especially the night before and day of) avoid spicy, salty and overly fatty foods. Ironically, green vegetables can make you gassy and uncomfortable when you are going to sing. Good foods for vocal performance include; Apples, almonds, proteins such as fish and chicken and honey (avoid tea if possible).

6. If you have ear fatigue, take a break or come back to the song another day. You may not necessarily recognize aspects of your recording, as distinctly as you would with fresh ears. This can develop into issues, which would possibly lead to more studio time fixing them!

7. Do not over-produce. With the technology available nowadays, it’s easy to drown your song with tracks on top of tracks. Often times, songs get lost in a sea of instrumentation. If you have a song that’s a hit on the acoustic guitar, you may not necessarily want to add 14 violins, a techno drum beat and your choir from Sunday worship.

8. Get your recording RIGHT. Don’t assume studio effects (i.e. auto-tune) will fix everything. Often times your recording will sound scattered and unprofessional. Make sure your instruments are tuned, and vocals warmed up!

9. SAVE every few minutes and create backups of EVERYTHING. I cannot stress how important these steps are.

10. Get honest, constructive feedback and listen to your mixes on multiple stereos (car, house, friend’s place etc).

Source:  http://www.musicclout.com/article/58/10-tips-for-the-recording-process.aspx

 Something Personal's Tro fo 'mlaen (Turn it on) e.p was chosen as record of the week on BBC Radio Cymru's Lisa Gwilym's show this week. Also track from it 'Nol a 'mlaen', has now been selected as track of the week on Dafydd @ Caryl's breakfast show.

Recorded in their Grandmother's kitchen // mixed and mastered with www.tweakmusicmixing.com

 This was recorded in the band's grandmother's kitchen

Mixed with our online mixing and mastering service

http://soundcloud.com/tweakmusicmixing/something-personal-meddwl