WEEK 6

PRE-CLASS ACTIVITIES

What is a DI box and what is a Re-Amp Box? They look similar but how do they differ?
A DI box takes a high impedance unbalanced signal and converts it to a low impedance balanced signal. A Re-Amp box does the opposite, it converts a low impedance balanced signal to a high impedance unbalanced signal. This is mostly used to make the amplifier react the same as a live guitar would but with a pre recorded audio source. Where as a DI box doesn't amplify signal and is passive, a Re-Amp is active and certainly does amplify the signal.

Research 3 microphones.

AKG C314

Type: Condenser microphone.
Polar pattern: Cardioid, super cardioid, omni, figure eight.
Sensitivity: 20 mV/Pa
SPL handling capability: 135 dB SPL
Ideal / recommended uses: Lead and background vocals, acoustic guitar, drum overheads, piano, strings, horns.

RODE NT2

Type: Condenser microphone.
Polar pattern: Cardioid, omni.
Sensitivity: 16 mV/PA
SPL handling capabilities: 130 dB SPL
Ideal / recommended uses: Vocals, lead vocals, radio, spoken word.

SHURE SM7B

Type: Dynamic microphone.
Polar pattern: Cardioid.
Sensitivity: 1,12 mV/Pa
SPL handling capability: 180 dB SPL
Ideal/ recommended uses: Used mainly for spoken word, vocals, radio, podcast.

IN-CLASS SUMMARY

Zoom call

Due to the Perth lockdown the session was conducted over Zoom this week. Wayne made remark that due to not that many people being on the Zoom call he should of asked us all to come to campus. The fact that this was on Zoom and not in person was going to be a little difficult. Alas, Wayne said he would do his best to deliver the learning as close as possible to the face to face learning.

EQ was the main topic of today's session. We were posed the question why is EQ so important and what are the various uses for it. Some of the answers were, that they help other frequencies sit in a mix and cut out unwanted frequencies in the mix as well. Wayne started by putting us all in breakout rooms on Zoom for us all to research and collate findings for a type of equalization he assigned each breakout room with. My breakout room was Dan, Jordan, Stephen and myself and we were assigned with the shelving EQ type. Our findings are as followed,

There are two types of shelving EQ's; a high shelf and low shelf.
It is used as a way to cut and boost frequencies but not as dramatic as high pass or low pass filter.
They attenuate the same amount of volume from behind a certain point in a frequency range.
They are neutral sounding so they aren't as drastic as some other filters.

We were brought out of our breakout rooms and asked to present to everyone else what we found. Next Wayne shared his screen and showed us an example of each of the EQ types and their parameters. It was a little difficult to see exactly what was going on due to my internet connection and Zoom's quality.

To finish off the session we were broken into our project groups to discuss and further plan the upcoming project. My group decided that we would go with the option to record one of us narrating a chapter from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. As Bryce knew more about the book and it's tone he was assigned to find a chapter suitable for recording and adding sound effects. Wayne entered out breakroom see what we had decided and how the project was coming along; he seemed pleased.

Before starting at SAE I had very surface level knowledge of equalization and I am glad we are covering this in depth during this module as it is something I have been wanting to know more of for a while now. I wasn't aware of there being multiple types of EQ and their different uses. Of course we have only touched surface regarding EQ so I am interested to see where this leads and how this is going to affect my mixes and workflow to come. It wouldn't hurt for me to do some more digging on what these types of EQ's are as this will help in my future studies and my creative projects.

It would wise to keep the ball rolling now with my second project as it is easy to lose focus in lockdown. While we await for Bryce to find a suitable chapter for recording it would be wise for Kieran and me to start looking at what microphones would be best for this project as we are recording vocals and sound effects which is completely different from our last project. My guess would be a condenser for vocals and maybe a stereo setup for two other condensers for some of the sound effects.

Studio

Today was an important workshop because we were learning about multi-microphone recording and issues we may encounter which directly links to Project 2. Recording guitar and guitar amplifiers were also topics that were going to be explained and demonstrated today. The stem's that were going to be used for the demonstration were from a Bruno Mars track which I forgot the name of.

The guitar amplifier was to be the source of the recording. Wayne explained that depending on where the microphone sits on the cone of the amplifier it can have drastic differences signal and sound quality. The microphones used for this demonstration were the Oktava MK-012 Pair and two Rhode NT2A's. Wayne explained the importance of phase when micing the guitar amplifier and micing up anything for that matter. The two Oktava's were used to record different parts of the guitar and the Rhode NT2A's were set up to record the guitar and also different areas of the room in stereo for a possible reverb.

After setting up the microphones we did some testing and we did find some prominent phase issues in the Oktava microphones. They were only off by a tiny bit but it made a huge difference. We rectified the situation and Wayne started playing while we captured and playlisted them it in Pro Tools. It was interesting to hear the guitar in from all four microphones and how different they sounded. Guitar amplifier settings were touched upon but unfortunately I was not too sure what was taught.

POST-CLASS REFLECTION

Zoom call

You can definitely tell the difference between having a session in person and doing it over Zoom. I know Wayne tried his best to keep us engaged and to provide us with as close of an experience to being in the lab with him but, it just wasn't the same. At times I often found myself dosing/being distracted just due to there not being any environmental stimuli.

Before starting at SAE I had very surface level knowledge of equalization and I am glad we are covering this in depth during this module as it is something I have been wanting to know more of for a while now. I wasn't aware of there being multiple types of EQ and their different uses. Of course we have only touched surface regarding EQ so I am interested to see where this leads and how this is going to affect my mixes and workflow to come. It wouldn't hurt for me to do some more digging on what these types of EQ's are as this will help in my future studies and my creative projects.

It would wise to keep the ball rolling now with my second project as it is easy to lose focus in lockdown. While we await for Bryce to find a suitable chapter for recording it would be wise for Kieran and me to start looking at what microphones would be best for this project as we are recording vocals and sound effects which is completely different from our last project. My guess would be a condenser for vocals and maybe a stereo setup for two other condensers for some of the sound effects.

Studio

Well for starters, it was good to see comb filtering and phase in action today as I had only heard about it through AUD175 and briefly in this module. When it comes to this class I think I am becoming more confident in the studio setting, although today took a while for me to catch up because of lockdown and not having access to the studio. I'm happy I got to help set up the mics and was more engaged this time around. Definitely need to keep this ball rolling and get in the studio more often as I don't want to go back to how I was a couple weeks ago.

TRANSFERRABLE SKILL: METACOGNITVE
What techniques can you use to react to negative criticism from others?

Try not to take it personally: We’ve all had negative criticism given to us at some point in our lives and I’m sure most of us haven’t reacted to it in a pleasant manner. This is never good for you. To combat this, you need to realize that whoever is giving you negative criticism is probably giving it to you based on their own insecurity. If you give them a reaction, you’ll be giving them what they want.

On the other hand, it may not have any malic behind it and it may just be a thoughtless criticism on their part. If that is the case, and you can tell that it is, you should voice your feelings but, in a calm, collected and professional manner. Be confident in your work and do not let others bring you down due to their carelessness or insecurities.

Evaluate your work: The negative criticism might be uncalled for and hurtful but it may have its warrants. If there is any criticism coming your way regarding your work you should maybe take some time to revaluate your work because there may be something that you might need to change if it is receiving this kind of negative attention.

Also maybe try to evaluate the criticizers intention as well while you’re at it. Negative criticism isn’t great to hear but sometimes it can serve a purpose.

Focus on your effort and meditate: Even though you may be upset and possibly defeated after such a criticism try to focus on the effort you put into your work. The criticizer has no idea what you have been through to get to where you are with your work. The effort you put into your work is the only thing that is really worth any sort of judgement because at the end of the day, that’s really all you can control.

Even if this doesn’t work or it does it’s always well to sit with your thoughts and meditate before you do anything further. If you can give yourself 10 minutes to try and let go of the negative thoughts that would of came from such criticism it will help you handle criticism in the future.