Basic Analog signal flow pt.1

This is the first of the SSL signal flow tutorials of many more to come. In this tutorial we will be discussing how basic signal flow follows its path. We are going to start this off, not so complicated so for the advanced SSL user it's ok to skip past the first few articles. (SPL = Sound Pressure Level)

Now that we visually see how the signal flows, we can learn a little more about our console. 

There are three main sections of a console 

Input

Output

Monitor

1.A. Input section recieves signals from the studio mics or electronic

instruments.

B. 48 volt D.C. - Direct Current (Phantom Power)

C. Pad - Pre Attenuation Device

2.A. Output section sends signals out to the multitrack recorder. 

B. Multitrack Buss

3.A. Monitor section recieves signals back from the multitrack

recorder and sends them back to the conrol room speakers.

We now know our 3 sections of the console so I will draw a generic signal flow of a console to explain about the channel path, and the monitor path.

In the next article I will go indetail about the paths, what busses are used for, phantom power, and the multitrack recorder

BEAT MAKERS -vs- PRODUCERS

     Beat maker or Producer, which one are you? Before you answer, let me offer some insight just so you know your correct identity. I don't think the separation of the two has anything to do with status, how much you make per beat, not even talent. WOW! Yeah I did say it "not even talent". I do think you must possess a talent but I don't think the separation is because lack of but, limitations. Way to often I encounter individuals that introduce their self as a Producer and when I go to listen to their product I quickly see that they didn't realize that they are a Beat Maker. And sometimes the beats are hot but they fall short of the full potential.
     So here we go! If your process of production is to create a four or eight bar sequence with your sample or your drums and loop that for 3 to 4 minutes then I am sorry to let you know... BRACE YOUR SELF, You are not a Producer. Beat maker Alert Beat Maker Alert! I am not taking anything away from your talents but take that chip off your shoulder, tame the ego, and take some advise. First let's get rid of the stop watch, and stop bragging about how quickly or how many beats you can make in whatever time. A true artist no matter the craft or the gift is never satisfied they see and hear the flaws that a customer or fan is blind or deaf to. A true Producer will have a concept, direction, or at least feeling that he will lead the artist to. Beat Makers make it to hard on the artist. They limit the average thought process because there is no activity in the beat. Let me be the first to say that some artist can not be helped. I just don't want you to fall short of greatness. The chorus or the hook of the song should not be identical to the verse. Oh yeah, have you ever heard of a bridge? I think some of you need to listen to some Rock bands because they stick to the script. The basic song format for a song has been the same forever, you can treat your beat like an essay. Remember when your teacher had you fill out your outline and you knew you need so many sentences, so many paragraphs, an introduction, and a summary, use that process for your beats. I know a lot of times the original idea or concept isn't a thought up process but once you got that then don't slow down, the finish line isn't close.
     It is OK to let your emotions show and sometime you might have to communicate this to your artist or to the person that you have created this for. Treat that beat like your child. A good parent wants to guide their child through life and help them get in the right position where they can reach their full potential. Do the same for your beat! It starts with a seed and then blossom from there but its not done growing. Keep adding water and you will be surprised what it can grow into and an artist myself I appreciate when the concept and mood is there and all I have to do is fill in the blanks. A lot of times it on the producer to find or bring out the potential of the artist. So what are you waiting for? Step up to the plate we're in need of a home run. To learn more about Kiddo from Rhymescheme Ent.   Written by Chester "itskiddo" Hendon.

Pro Audio Geekz T-Shirts

Ok, over the weekend I had the most wonderful idea for my logo.  For the longest I would sit around and think to myself, how could I incorporate my logo into everyday life for everyone.  I knew my logo looks very nice, so i said hey what about my logo on t-shirts for women and men!  Great idea, so I took my logo and ideas I had to photoshop and designed a few.  The first few people I showed the t-shirts to loved them. Overall I let 45 to 50 people see the t-shirts and good 100% positive feedback.  Now a few months later I am bringing my t-shirts to the public for purchase.

To purchase any t-shirt Click Here! 

Lennar Digital Sylenth 2

The Sylenth 2 is by far one of my favorite soft synths. I incorporate this in almost every production I make now, and it's not because of the presets. Sylenth is a sound creation monster it has some of the phattest, warmest, fullest sounds I've heard in a long time. It has 4 alias-free unison oscillators, and you can play up to 512 voices simultaneously. There are 2 filter sections where you can emulate warth and drive, it also has modulation, master effects, and a arpregiattor. Sylenth has superior sound quality compared to most other soft synths ive heard. I would put this on the same level as the Tone 2 Gladiator, maybe a little above that if you know how to use it correctly. Overall the Sylenth is SOLID this is a must have for all producers.

Logic Pro Quick Keys

All Logic Pro and Logic Express quick keys separated by category.

 -------- Global Commands -------- 

* Record

⇧* •Record Toggle

⌘. •Discard Recording and Return to Last Play Position

⌃* •Capture as Recording

⌅ Play

. Pause

0 Stop

˽ Play or Stop

, Rewind

. Forward

⇧, Fast Rewind

⇧. Fast Forward

⌃⌅ •Play from Left Window Edge

⌃0 Stop and Go to Last Play Position

/ •Go to Position...

⌃= Set Locators by Regions/Events

= Set Rounded Locators by Regions/Events

J Swap Left and Right Locator

⌃⇧→ Move Locators Forward by Cycle Length

⌃⇧← Move Locators Backwards by Cycle Length

⇧⌅ •Play from Selection

⇧↩ •Go to Selection Start

↩ •Go to Beginning

⌃K Create Marker

⌃⇧K Create Marker without rounding

⇧K Create Marker by Regions

⌘⌫ Delete Marker

⌥M Open Marker List

⌥⌘K Open Marker Text

⌘↑ Set Locators by Marker and Enable Cycle

⌘← Set Locators by Previous Marker and Enable Cycle

⌘→ Set Locators by Next Marker and Enable Cycle

⌃⌘← Go to Previous Marker

⌃⌘→ Go to Next Marker

⌘/ Go to Marker Number...

⌘↩ Quick Edit Marker

/ Cycle Mode

S Solo Mode

⌥S •Set Solo Lock Mode

⌥⇧S •Reselect Solo-Locked Regions

C MIDI/Monitor Metronome Click

⇧L Lock/Unlock Current Screenset

1 Recall Screenset 1

2 Recall Screenset 2

3 Recall Screenset 3

4 Recall Screenset 4

5 Recall Screenset 5

6 Recall Screenset 6

7 Recall Screenset 7

8 Recall Screenset 8

9 Recall Screenset 9

⌃1 Recall Screenset 1x

⌃2 Recall Screenset 2x

⌃3 Recall Screenset 3x

⌃4 Recall Screenset 4x

⌃5 Recall Screenset 5x

⌃6 Recall Screenset 6x

⌃7 Recall Screenset 7x

⌃8 Recall Screenset 8x

⌃9 Recall Screenset 9x

⌥⌘I Import Settings...

⌥Y Open Synchronization Project Settings...

⌥* Open Recording Project Settings...

⌥P Open Audio Project Settings...

⌥V Open Video Project Settings...

⌘, Open Preferences...

⌥A Open Automation Preferences...

⌘0 Open Event List...

⌘1 Open Arrange Window...

⌘2 Open Mixer...

⌘3 Open Score Editor...

⌘4 Open Transform

⌘5 Open Hyper Editor...

⌘6 Open Piano Roll...

⌘7 Open Transport...

⌘8 Open Environment...

⌘9 Open Bin...

⌥E Toggle Event Float

E Toggle Event List

X Toggle Mixer

N Toggle Score Editor

Y Toggle Hyper Editor

P Toggle Piano Roll

B Toggle Bin

O Toggle Loop Browser

R Toggle Library

F Toggle File Browser

W Toggle Sample Editor

K Toggle Marker List

T Toggle Tempo List

U Toggle Signature Changes List

⇧W Open in External Sample Editor

⌥X Open System Performance...

⌥K Open Key Commands...

⌥C Open Color Palette...

⌥⌘O Open Movie...

⌃⌘O Toggle Current Track Automation Off/Read

⌃⌘A Toggle Current Track Automation Latch/Read

⌃⇧⌘O Set All Tracks to Automation Off

⌃⇧⌘R Set All Tracks to Automation Read

⌃⇧⌘T Set All Tracks to Automation Touch

⌃⇧⌘L Set All Tracks to Automation Latch

⌃⌘E Automation Event List...

⌃⌥⌘A Toggle Automation Quick Access

⌘G Toggle Group Clutch

⌥⌘G Open Group Settings...

⌃⌘⌫ Delete currently visible Automation Data of Current Track

⌃⇧⌘⌫ Delete All Automation Data of Current Track

⌃⌘↑ Move Current Region Data to Track Automation

⌃⌘↓ Move Current Track Automation Data to Region

⌃⇧⌘↑ Move All Region Control Data to Track Automation

⌃⇧⌘↓ Move All Track Automation Data to Region

⌘W Close Window

⌘` Cycle Through Windows

⌥R Redraw current window

⌘N New...

⌘O Open...

⌥⌘W Close Project

⌘S Save

⇧⌘S Save Project as...

⌘P Print

⌘I Import...

⌥⌘E Export Selection as MIDI File...

⌘E Export Track as Audio File...

⇧⌘E Export All Tracks as Audio File...

⌘Q Quit

⌘Z Undo

⇧⌘Z Redo

⌥Z Undo History...

⌘X Cut

⌘C Copy

⌘V Paste

⌘A Select All

⌘M Minimize Window

⇧⌘M Zoom Window

⇧⌘I Import Audio File...

] Next Plug-in Setting or EXS Instrument

[ Previous Plug-in Setting or EXS Instrument

⇧] Next Channel Strip Setting

⇧[ Previous Channel Strip Setting

⌥⌘C Copy Channel Strip Setting

⌥⌘V Paste Channel Strip Setting

V Hide/Show All Plug-in Windows

 -------- Various Windows -------- 

⎋ •Show Tool Menu

⌃] •Set Next Tool

⌃[ •Set Previous Tool

G Toggle Global Tracks

⌥G Configure Global Tracks

⌃← Zoom Horizontal Out

⌃→ Zoom Horizontal In

⌃↑ Zoom Vertical Out

⌃↓ Zoom Vertical In

⌃⌥Z Zoom to fit Selection vertically and horizontally, store Navigation Snapshot

⌃Z Navigation: Back

⇞ Page Up

⇟ Page Down

↖ Page Left

↘ Page Right

I Hide/Show Inspector

⌃G Grid

` Catch Clock Position

⌃` Link Window (Same Level)

⌃O MIDI Out Toggle

M Mute/unmute selected Notes/Regions/Folders

+ •Increase Last Clicked Parameter by 1

- •Decrease Last Clicked Parameter by 1

⇧+ •Increase Last Clicked Parameter by 10

⇧- •Decrease Last Clicked Parameter by 10

 -------- Arrange and Various Editors -------- 

⇧⌘A Deselect All

⇧T Toggle Selection

⇧F Select All Following

⌥⇧F Select All Following of Same Track/Pitch

⇧I Select Inside Locators

⇧O Deselect Outside Locators

⇧G Deselect Global Tracks

⇧U Select Empty Regions

⇧E Select Equal Regions/Events

⇧S Select Similar Regions/Events

⇧H Select Equal Channels

⇧P Select Equal Subpositions

⇧M Select Muted Regions/Events

⇧C Select Equal Colored Regions/Events

⇧↖ •Select First, or Shift Marquee Selection Left

⇧↘ •Select Last, or Shift Marquee Selection Right

← •Select Previous Region/Event, or Set Marquee End to Previous Transient

→ •Select Next Region/Event, or Set Marquee End to Next Transient

⇧← •Toggle Previous Region/Event, or Set Marquee Start to Previous Transient

⇧→ •Toggle Next Region/Event, or Set Marquee Start to Next Transient

⇧` Scroll to Selection

L Toggle Loop

Q Quantize Selected Events

⌃⇧Q De-Quantize

- Note Overlap Correction (selected/any)

⇧- Note Force Legato (selected/any)

⇧↑ Select Highest Notes

⇧↓ Select Lowest Notes

⇧⌘V Paste Replace

⌘R Repeat Regions/Events...

= Merge Regions

⌘\ Split Regions/Events by Locators

⇧\ Split Regions/Events by rounded Playhead Position

\ Split Regions/Events by Playhead Position

; •Pickup Clock (Move Event to Playhead Position)

⇧; •Pickup Clock and Select Next Event

⌘[ •Set Region/Event/Marquee Start to Playhead Position

⌘] •Set Region/Event/Marquee End to Playhead Position

⌥→ •Nudge Region/Event Position Right by Nudge Value

⌥← •Nudge Region/Event Position Left by Nudge Value

⌃⌥T •Set Nudge Value to Tick

⌃⌥D •Set Nudge Value to Division

⌃⌥B •Set Nudge Value to Beat

⌃⌥M •Set Nudge Value to Bar

⌃⌥S •Set Nudge Value to SMPTE Frame

⌥↑ •Event Transpose +1

⌥↓ •Event Transpose -1

⌥⇧↑ Event Transpose +12

⌥⇧↓ Event Transpose -12

⇧R Event Position and Length in SMPTE Units

⌥⇧R Secondary Ruler

⌘⇞ Unlock SMPTE Position

⌘⇟ Lock SMPTE Position

⌃⇧S Snap Mode: Smart

⌃⇧M Snap Mode: Bar

⌃⇧B Snap Mode: Beat

⌃⇧D Snap Mode: Division

⌃⇧T Snap Mode: Ticks

⌃⇧F Snap Mode: Frames

⌃⇧W Snap Mode: Samples

⌃⇧A Snap Automation

⌃⇧V Snap to Absolute Value

⌃⇧O Drag Mode: Overlap

⌃⇧N Drag Mode: No Overlap

⌃⇧X Drag Mode: X-Fade

⌃⇧L Drag Mode: Shuffle L

⌃⇧R Drag Mode: Shuffle R

 -------- Windows showing audio files -------- 

⇧⌘R Show file(s) in Finder

⌃; Add to Arrange

˽ Play/Stop Selection

 -------- Arrange Window -------- 

↑ •Select Previous Track

↓ •Select Next Track

← •Select Previous Region on Selected Track

→ •Select Next Region on Selected Track

⌘F Pack Folder

⌘U Unpack Folder

⌃⌘F Pack Take Folder

⌃⌘U Unpack Take Folder

⌃⇧⌘U Unpack Take Folder to New Tracks

⌘D New Track with Duplicate Setting

⌥⌘X New Track with Next Channel Strip/Instrument

⌥⌘M New Track with Next MIDI Channel

⌥⌘S New Track with Same Channel Strip/Instrument

⌥⌘N New Tracks...

H Toggle Hide View

⌃H Hide Current Track and Select Next Track

⌃⇧H Unhide All Tracks

⌃M Toggle Track Mute

⌃R Record Enable Track

⌃S Toggle Track Solo

⌃⌥↓ Individual Track Zoom In

⌃⌥↑ Individual Track Zoom Out

Z Auto Track Zoom

⌃⌥⌦ Individual Track Zoom Reset

⌃⌥⇧⌦ Individual Track Zoom Reset for All Tracks

⇧A Select All Aliases of Region

⌥= Audio Crossfade Options for Merge...

⇧= Merge Regions per Tracks

⌃⌘X Snip: Cut Section Between Locators (Global)

⌃⌘Z Insert Silence Between Locators (Global)

⌃⌘V Splice: Insert Snipped Section at Playhead (Global)

⌃⌘R Repeat Section Between Locators (Global)

⇧⌘T Move Selected Regions to Selected Track

⌘T Adjust Tempo using Region Length and Locators

⇧⌘R Move Region to Original Record Position

⌥⌘R Convert Regions to New Regions

⌥⌘F Convert Regions to New Audio Files

⌃X Strip Silence...

⌃N Normalize

⌃Q Apply Quantization Settings Destructively

⌃L Convert Loops to Real Copies

D Delete Duplicated Events

⌃B Set Optimal Region Sizes rounded by Bar

- Remove Overlaps

⇧- Tie Regions by Length Change

⌥- Tie Regions by Position Change

⌘- Tie Regions within Locators

⌃C Crop Regions outside Marquee Selection

A View Track Automation

⌥⇧C Channel Strip/Instrument Colors to Regions

⌥⇧N Track Names to Regions

⌃⌥⌘↓ Waveform vertical zoom out

⌃⌥⌘↑ Waveform vertical zoom in

 -------- Mixer -------- 

⇧M Hide/Show MIDI Instruments

⇧I Hide/Show Input Channel Strips

⇧X Cycle Through Mixer Modes (Single, Arrange, All)

⌥⌘N Create New Auxiliary Channel Strips

 -------- Environment Window -------- 

⌃⌫ Clear Cables only

⌃C Hide/Show Cables

⌃P Protect Cabling/Positions

⇧T Toggle Selection

⇧U Select Unused Instruments

⇧→ Select Cable Destination

⇧← Select Cable Origin

⌃V Send Selected Fader Values

⌃S Cable serially

 -------- Score Window -------- 

⌃P Page View

⌃F Explode Folders

⌃X Explode Polyphony

⌃N Hide/Show Instrument Names

⌃R Hide/Show Page Rulers

⌃/ Go to Page #...

⌥⇧⌘V Paste Multiple

→ •Next Event

← •Previous Event

↓ •Next Staff

↑ •Previous Staff

⌃⇧Y Force Syncopation

⌃⌥Y Defeat Syncopation

⌃⇧I Force Interpretation

⌃⌥I Defeat Interpretation

⌃↖ Stems: up

⌃↘ Stems: down

⌃⇧↑ Ties: up

⌃⇧↓ Ties: down

⌃B Beam Selected Notes

⌃U Unbeam Selected Notes

⇧= Enharmonic Shift: #

⇧B Enharmonic Shift: b

⌃C Assign Channels based on Score Split

⌃⌥⌘S Open Staff Style Window

⌃⌥⌘I Open Score Set Window

⌃⌥⌘F Settings: Global Format

⌃⌥⌘N Settings: Numbers and Names

⌃⌥⌘G Settings: Guitar Tablature

⌃⌥⌘C Settings: Clefs and Signatures

 -------- Event Window -------- 

↑ •Select Previous Event

↓ •Select Next Event

⌃A Length as Absolute Position

⇧V •Copy Value to All Following Events

 -------- Hyper Editor -------- 

⌥⌘N Create Event Definition

⌃⌫ Delete Event Definition

⌃C Copy Event Definition

⌃V Paste Event Definition

⌃A Toggle Auto Define

 -------- Audio Bin -------- 

↑ Select Previous Audio File

↓ Select Next Audio File

⌃F Add Audio File...

⌃R Add Region

⌃⌫ Delete File(s)

⌃O Optimize File(s)...

⌃B Backup File(s)

⌃C Copy/Convert File(s)

⌃M Move File(s)

⇧U Select Unused

⌥↓ Show All Regions

⌥↑ Hide All Regions

⌃X Strip Silence...

⌃I Import SDII Regions

⌃E Export SDII Regions

⌃G Create Group...

 -------- Sample Edit Window -------- 

⌃⌥⇧˽ •Play/Stop All

⌃⇧˽ •Play/Stop Region to Anchor

⌃⌥˽ •Play/Stop Region from Anchor

⌘B Create Backup

⇧⌘B Revert to Backup

⌥⌘S Save Selection As...

⇞ Region -> Selection

⇟ Selection -> Region

← •Go to Selection Start

→ •Go to Selection End

↓ •Go to Region Anchor

⌃R Create New Region

⌃N Normalize

⌃G Change Gain...

⌃I Fade In

⌃O Fade Out

⌃⌫ Silence

⌃⇧R Reverse

⌃T Trim

⌃D Remove DC Offset

⌃P Time and Pitch Machine...

⌃M Audio to MIDI Groove Template...

⌃A Audio to Score...

⌃Q Quantize Engine...

⇧P Search Peak

⇧S Search Silence

⌃C Compensate Region Position

 -------- EXS24 Instrument Editor -------- 

⇧T Toggle Selection

⌃F Load Audio Sample...

⌃Z New Zone

⌃G New Group

⌃⌥⌘S Export Sampler Instrument and Sample Files

⌥← •Shift selected Zone(s)/Group(s) Left

⌥→ •Shift selected Zone(s)/Group(s) Right

⌥⇧← •Shift selected Zone(s)/Group(s) Left (Zones incl. Root Key)

⌥⇧→ •Shift selected Zone(s)/Group(s) Right (Zones incl. Root Key)

⌥⌘S Save Instrument

⌃O Load Multiple Samples...

⌃W Open in Sample Editor

 -------- Global Control Surfaces Commands -------- 

⌘K Open Controller Assignments

⌘L Learn new Controller Assignment

Digital Compression using T-Racks

     T-Racks is a great audio mastering suite that sounds great on vocals and most instruments.  I'm going to start off by explaining how the compressor works.  Lots of people have plug ins and do audio recordings but never touch them great plugins they have installed on their computers.  Although nothing compares to analog hardware when it comes to compression but plugins now days are really good, and can keep up with lots of analog gear.

     So first I will start of with the basic compression parameters.  On T-racks basic compressor you will find a sidechain, attack, release, ratio, input gain, output gain, stereo enhance, reset,VU meter, and bypass.  I will not go super complicated on this but i will tell you what each setting does, all music is different and one preset or setting may not suffice for what you are trying to do.  Now i will explain what a compressor does.  Compression is a process that reduces the dynamic range of an audio signal, that narrows the difference between high and low audio levels or volumes.  So for example if you've recorded vocals and you have some recorded sections that are low and some that are really loud compression helps bring every thing to a even listening level.  The greatest thing about compression is that you can decide what you want to compress.  So if you are compressing vocals and you don't want to bring up the noise floor you can compress within a range  so you are only bringing up the vocals.


Now I will start off with Ratio:  This sets how much compression is applied in ratio to the Db rise in signal level above the Threshold.  The T-Racks compressor doesn't have a threshold setting but what threshold does is sets how high the signal must reach before the compressor kicks in.  This version of T-Racks compressor has automatic threshold settings... as far as the ratio is concerned for instance if I set my ratio to a 2:1 for every 2Db thats kicks in over the the given threshold 1Db is output, which is great for getting rid of some of the spikes and peaks in your audio recordings

     These settings i'm about to mention now are quite obvious, Input is the level in Db that your putting into the compressor.   Output just sets the level going out of the compressor.

Attack:  How you set your attack can drastically change the sound of your compressor.  I will use  a kick drum for this example.  If I have a kick thats hitting very hard at the the attack of the instrument (meaning the beginning of the kick) and i want it to soften it up a little bit I would set my attack faster  and increase my ratio... by making a faster attack the compression would kick in as soon as the kick hits, and would even out the kick.  If i set my attack slower the kick would still hit hard at the attack of the kick drum.  Which sets us up for release.  So now i have a fast attack on my kick but i want the tail of the kick to be more bassy (assuming that our kick has a hard attack and a bassy tail) I would set my release to a faster setting ... by doing this the fast attack adds more subtlety to the attack of the kick and the tail of the kick is more bassy because the release was fast...meaning the compression hit at the attack of the kick and and faded out fast depending on how many Milliseconds you choose.
I would advise anyone to import some sample sounds and just mess around with the compressor before you think you are a pro at it, and listen carefully to the changes made by your settings.

SideChain: The Side-Chain Socket provides an alternative input for a different control signal than that which is going into the main input... So for example if you have a kick and want to change that to a 808 .... you can add a 60 hertz sine wave to your side chain and every time your kick drums hits it will open the side chain for the 60 hertz tone to come through.  And you can tweek the settings with this for a fast attack or slow attack, or a fast release or slow release.  this will sound like a authentic 808 just another cheat ... Im not going to show you how to do it you should be able to figure this out on your own what other better way to learn!

Last but not least is Stereo Enhance.  Now lets get one thing straight if your using a mono sound and are expecting to see some major results forget about it!  This is for stereo instruments mainly.  This is used to spread the stereo field of a stereo instrument.  I found that this setting is great a beefing up synth sounds and other stereo type of instruments.  So if you stereo instrument is sounding a little light, and hollow turn up Stereo Enhance and you will hear a major difference.  Lots of people don't really know all the secrets of what we do in the real studios so im hear to give you insight on things that you can do to better your sound.  I hope this helps someone I tried my  best not to over complicate things, so to all my basement, and bedroom music producers and engineers put those expensive plugins to use!