Al Schmitt on Using Microphones
The first—and only—recording engineer to have his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame®, Al Schmitt has for decades been recording, producing, and engineering music for the greatest talents our industry has to offer. Looking for a world-class Master class? Al Schmitt on Using Microphones is your chance to work alongside this legendary engineer and producer!
Videos
• Song and Style (04:00) - Without knowing the kind of music it is, you can't make informed decisions. In this video, Al Schmitt of METAlliance
• Instrumentation and Musician (06:14) - The musician in the room is your best friend. In this video, Al talks about how the instrumentation and musicians affect the different mic and pre choices he makes.
• The Recording Space (01:20) - Every room brings a new challenge with new opportunities. In this video, Al discusses how he chooses a recording space and what he looks for.
• Band Setup (02:08) - From working with the producers or musicians, setting up the band to win is key. In this video, Al discusses exactly that.
• Musician Interaction (03:51) - If the musician in the room isn't happy, you won't be happy. In this video, Al goes over how he shapes the cue mix for his sessions.
• Drums (03:17) - Drums, drums, and more drums? In this video, Al teaches you how he mikes the drums.
• Bass (03:38) - The upright bass is Al's favorite instrument to record. In this video, you'll learn exactly how Al mikes upright basses and guitars.
• Piano (05:05) - Balancing different microphones is a matter of listening. In this video, Al goes over his process for miking pianos.
• Guitars (04:40) - Six strings with a rich warm sound, and an iconic sound that shaped generations. In this video, Al teaches you his miking technique for acoustic and electric guitars.
• Organs (01:28) - In this video, Al goes over how he mikes organs and Leslie speakers.
• Saxophone (04:34) - In this video, Al goes over how he mikes different reed instruments, such as the saxophone, clarinet, and oboes.
• Brass (03:33) - Big bands and orchestras have many things in common. One commonality is the brass section. In this video, Al teaches you how he mikes brass sections and the various setups.
• Strings (02:48) - It's important to always work with the arranger and conductor as a team. In this video, Al talks about his process for strings and why he always believes it's best to work as a team.
• Percussion (02:06) - Percussion can be a handclap to a conga. In this video, Al goes over his miking process for percussion.
• Interaction with Producer (02:04) - A producer's role is to see a project all the way through from the creative and business aspects. In this video, Al talks about his interaction with the producer and how it affects what he does in the studio.
• First Playback with the Room (02:59) - There's nothing that does more for a project's compass then the first playback. In this video, Al talks about what he does and how he interacts with the artist during the first playback.