Danny Blume

The Mountain

db — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 21:36:04 +0000

Do you sit down to mix and feel like the task is so large that you just can’t bear to begin? It can be daunting, especially if there is a lot to sort out or any re-conceiving to do. When you don’t know what to start with, choose the most obvious and menial. It could […]

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Vote with your wallet

db — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:19:29 +0000

The more I think about my previous post, the more adamant I feel about it. Itunes’ no-credits policy is extremely bad for musicians, producers, engineers, studios, mastering folks, etc. Let them know you want credits. If at all possible, spend a few extra moments and try to find a site that does support credits and […]

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where credit is due

db — Wed, 04 May 2011 13:11:15 +0000

Once upon a time, in an ancient land, there were album credits. Big round vinyl LPs had inside sleeves or booklets on which everyone involved in the making of that record was named. Not just every last writer, musician, producer, and recordist, but even A&R, booking agents, legal people, etc. Lyrics too! When CDs came […]

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some cheap studio purchases that don’t suck

db — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:57:05 +0000

Since most musicians are on tight budgets these days, I thought I’d share a few things that I use constantly, sound great, and don’t cost much. Though the Purple Audio Biz MK mic pres and Action compressor don’t technically belong here as they are high end stuff, the price is great and they truly rock […]

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Making Media

db — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 02:57:21 +0000

I just spent 4 days at the IsOkOn with D. James Goodwin tracking the second Media record. It is a pleasure and a blessing to be in a band with such talented and good natured people: David Baron, Gail Ann Dorsey, and Zack Alford. Mr. Goodwin at the helm made everything relaxed and easy. For […]

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things to buy before new monitors

db — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:19:10 +0000

When you’re setting up your home studio, the quantity of things to buy can be overwhelming and confusing. The gear can be addictive and it’s all expensive. Here is my unsexy list of things to spend time and/or money on before getting new monitors, mics, pres, plugins, etc. 1. Sound treatment of your room, especially […]

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don’t fear the volume knob

db — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:04:45 +0000

The volume wars. Everyone hates it, yet everyone engages in it. Usually as an engineer/mixer/producer you have to do it. It’s kill or be killed. I had this conversation multiple times with every music making person I know. It goes like this: I love dynamic music. Everybody loves dynamic music. I love warm, even dark, […]

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hmmmm

db — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 01:42:42 +0000

There’s a quiet hum on the vocal track. And the acoustic guitar track. And about 10 other s. It’s the hard drive and cpu buzzing away and leaking on to the mic. Bummer. Get rid of it. All it really takes is some long cabling and a convenient closet and you can get that stuff […]

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up the ante

db — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 01:01:55 +0000

Sometimes I get to start a record from scratch and see it through every step of the way. Other times I come in after it’s already begun. I work with a lot of people who are already doing it on their own, and come to me somewhere inside the process. Sometimes they felt that the […]

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electronic tuners are evil

db — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:58:45 +0000

I’m convinced that the electronic tuner is the robotic personification of Evil. Maybe that is over-stating it, but it has done a lot of damage to generations of music makers. Many folks, especially in rock and pop, have grown up with tuners and simply believe that if the tuner says it’s in, it’s in. Not […]

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