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08 min
Steve explains console preparation, polarity checking, headphone mixes and outboard processing.
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03 min
Al discusses microphone choice, placement, acoustics and processing for double bass.
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03 min
Al reveals his typical microphone choice, setup, space and compression for tracking vocals.
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09 min
Al shows his drum kit setup, mentions alternative microphone choices, and explains why he uses no EQ.
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04 min
Recording a full take of ‘Wayfaring Stranger’ cover by Melody Gardot
Wayfaring Stranger
Melody Gardot
(03 min / 28 min)Al Schmitt
- Recording
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.
Subtitles in English, Spanish, Portuguese
About Al Schmitt
During an astonishingly long career, Schmitt has won 23 Grammy Awards, making him the most successful engineer/mixer in Grammy history. During his career, Al has recorded and mixed more than 150 gold and platinum albums and was inducted into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame in 1997. He received the Grammy Trustees Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. Schmitt’s credits range back to the 1950s, when he worked with Leonard Feather, Marty Paich, and Henry Mancini. His credit list at Allmusic contains over...