Al Schmitt on Using Microphones
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4:00 Song and Style
Without knowing the kind of music it is, you can't make informed decisions. In this video, Al Schmitt of METAlliance
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6:14 Instrumentation and Musician
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.
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1:20 The Recording Space
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.
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2:08 Band Setup
From working with the producers or musicians, setting up the band to win is key. In this video, Al discusses exactly that.
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3:51 Musician Interaction
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.
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3:17 Drums
Drums, drums, and more drums? In this video, Al teaches you how he mikes the drums.
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3:38 Bass
The upright bass is Al's favorite instrument to record. In this video, you'll learn exactly how Al mikes upright basses and guitars.
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5:05 Piano
Balancing different microphones is a matter of listening. In this video, Al goes over his process for miking pianos.
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4:40 Guitars
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.
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1:28 Organs
In this video, Al goes over how he mikes organs and Leslie speakers.
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4:34 Saxophone
In this video, Al goes over how he mikes different reed instruments, such as the saxophone, clarinet, and oboes.
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3:33 Brass
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.
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2:48 Strings
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.
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2:06 Percussion
Percussion can be a handclap to a conga. In this video, Al goes over his miking process for percussion.
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2:04 Interaction with Producer
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.
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2:59 First Playback with the Room
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.
Product Overview
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!
In Al Schmitt on Using Microphones, you’ll join Al in the studio as he walks you through his miking process, helps you select proper equipment, and guides you to capture only the best sounds. You’ll learn to consider variables such as song style, instrumentation, and the recording space itself when selecting and placing a microphone; you’ll also watch Al demonstrate his favorite techniques and setups for a number of instruments including drums, bass, piano, guitars (both acoustic and electric), organs, and horns as played across many genres of music.
Beyond equipment and tactics, Al draws on stories from his illustrious career as he explains the importance of skillfully interacting with musicians. He highlights the importance of catering to an artist’s vision and preferences in order to create a session that is both comfortable and effective for all involved.
As though this material weren’t enough, ASoM also features an exclusive interview with its creator conducted by none other than Ed Cherney, his fellow METAlliance® producer and engineer extraordinaire. There’s never been an easier way to advance years in a matter of hours than with Al Schmitt on Using Microphones!
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Reviews
Submitted 4 months ago
Interesting, limited depth
It’s always great listening to Al, as he is such an institution in the industry and a big part of the history of recorded music. But for anyone moderately experienced with recording, there are not many new insights here. Discussions of many important applications are glossed over too quickly (e.g. drum overheads, piano) while a few offer some good tips (e.g. acoustic bass). Overall, well worth watching, but was hoping for a bit more depth. Also, did not notice the interviewer’s name mentioned at all... a big oversight considering it is, of course, the famous engineer Ed Cherney!
I am a: Semi-Pro, Musician, Audio Engineer
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 1 year ago
Great BUT ...
The only thing missing in that video is mic+preamp combination.
Those cannot be appart. Especially when speaking about Al.
As Al always gets the signal in the 88r at the end, he often use outboard gear before that and that really should have been mentionned for each instrument. As we all know each rec situation is different, mentionning a few pre options for each instrument would have made this video a real must have... some kind of "the holy graal"
So yeah i felt a bit disapointed...
Al is a real open book so why notnasking about mic pre combinations ?
I am a: Professional, Musician, Producer, Beat Maker, Audio Engineer, Sound Designer, Pro Tools
Response from Customer Service:
The footage shot was during a Big Band set up and Al was mostly going over his setup in free thought.
I will be happy to add a request for more thoughts from Al including pre-amp combinations to our customer request list!
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 1 year ago
Learn from the best teachers
Al Schmit recorded many masterpieces that qualifies him to teach : often with budgetary pressures we defer to less expensive mic acquisitions : ilike the teaching and attention to concept and details.
I am a: Hobbyist, Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Pro Tools
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 2 years ago
Worth it
It was great to get some first-hand info from Mr. Schmitt about his mic choices, mic placement, the reasons for those, and his general m.o. Especially important was getting everybody back into the control room to listen after the first pass, in order to make adjustments. An important step that may easily get overlooked by many producers. Also, his emphasis on making sure the people being recorded were as comfortable as possible, in order to get the best performance. Definitely worth the investment - I'll check back on one chapter or another from time to time............
I am a: Professional, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Pro Tools
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 2 years ago
Good
I've got the other Al Schmitt's 'Recording a big band video' from Groove3. With that I feel that I haven't got much more extra information.. There was any extra footage, so I confess that I was expecting more...
I am a: Beginner, Semi-Pro, Professional, Producer, Audio Engineer, Pro Tools
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 2 years ago
Very open answers.
Supported some choices I was already making and provided a large number of approaches that I had not yet tried.
I am a: Professional, Audio Engineer, Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Reason, Studio One
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 2 years ago
Enjoyed very much
I really enjoyed hearing Al talk and blew through the whole course very quickly. Not giving five stars because I would have really liked to see him actually in action in the studio talking you through his mic placements as he did them. Then again, people should take note that this isn't a complete course on using mics - it's just an insight into Al Schmitt's feelings on the subject. Still, highly interesting.
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 2 years ago
A Legend Reveals All!
Very easy to follow, no BS session with two great engineers. If you ever wondered where to place a microphone on a trombone player (seated or standing) here it is. Thanks Groove 3!
I am a: Professional, Audio Engineer, Sound for Film/TV, Reaper, Studio One
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 2 years ago
Yoda
You only have to listen to one of Al's records to know he's not just andexpert but definitive in the world of recording arts. Big score for Groove3 having such a great talent as an author.
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 2 years ago
Not what it looks like
When I saw the price of this "course", I thought it was too good to be true... and unfortunately I was right. The images mislead to think it's a in depth, kind of "fly on the wall" course about microphone use with the great Al Shmitt, but it's nothing more than a bunch of short interviews probably taken during the shoot out of the big band orchestra recordings. it should be given free to anyone who bought that course.
I am a: Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Logic Pro, Pro Tools
Response from Customer Service:
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review on our site. We truly appreciate that.
I am very sorry you didn’t like our METAlliance tutorial featuring the interviews of Al Schmitt. As the title suggest, this tutorial has Ed Cherney interviewing Al about using microphones in different situations with different instruments (including vocals). We feel these interviews are invaluable and hope you take the time to finish watching all of them to get the big picture of the way Al operates. And in his own words.
We plan on more interviews with Al on various studio techniques and we hope you check those out as well when they are released!
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Reviews
Submitted 4 months ago
Interesting, limited depth
It’s always great listening to Al, as he is such an institution in the industry and a big part of the history of recorded music. But for anyone moderately experienced with recording, there are not many new insights here. Discussions of many important applications are glossed over too quickly (e.g. drum overheads, piano) while a few offer some good tips (e.g. acoustic bass). Overall, well worth watching, but was hoping for a bit more depth. Also, did not notice the interviewer’s name mentioned at all... a big oversight considering it is, of course, the famous engineer Ed Cherney!
I am a: Semi-Pro, Musician, Audio Engineer
Submitted 1 year ago
Great BUT ...
The only thing missing in that video is mic+preamp combination.
Those cannot be appart. Especially when speaking about Al.
As Al always gets the signal in the 88r at the end, he often use outboard gear before that and that really should have been mentionned for each instrument. As we all know each rec situation is different, mentionning a few pre options for each instrument would have made this video a real must have... some kind of "the holy graal"
So yeah i felt a bit disapointed...
Al is a real open book so why notnasking about mic pre combinations ?
I am a: Professional, Musician, Producer, Beat Maker, Audio Engineer, Sound Designer, Pro Tools
Response from Customer Service:
The footage shot was during a Big Band set up and Al was mostly going over his setup in free thought.
I will be happy to add a request for more thoughts from Al including pre-amp combinations to our customer request list!
Submitted 1 year ago
Learn from the best teachers
Al Schmit recorded many masterpieces that qualifies him to teach : often with budgetary pressures we defer to less expensive mic acquisitions : ilike the teaching and attention to concept and details.
I am a: Hobbyist, Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Pro Tools
Submitted 2 years ago
Worth it
It was great to get some first-hand info from Mr. Schmitt about his mic choices, mic placement, the reasons for those, and his general m.o. Especially important was getting everybody back into the control room to listen after the first pass, in order to make adjustments. An important step that may easily get overlooked by many producers. Also, his emphasis on making sure the people being recorded were as comfortable as possible, in order to get the best performance. Definitely worth the investment - I'll check back on one chapter or another from time to time............
I am a: Professional, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Pro Tools
Submitted 2 years ago
Good
I've got the other Al Schmitt's 'Recording a big band video' from Groove3. With that I feel that I haven't got much more extra information.. There was any extra footage, so I confess that I was expecting more...
I am a: Beginner, Semi-Pro, Professional, Producer, Audio Engineer, Pro Tools
Submitted 2 years ago
Very open answers.
Supported some choices I was already making and provided a large number of approaches that I had not yet tried.
I am a: Professional, Audio Engineer, Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Reason, Studio One
Submitted 2 years ago
Enjoyed very much
I really enjoyed hearing Al talk and blew through the whole course very quickly. Not giving five stars because I would have really liked to see him actually in action in the studio talking you through his mic placements as he did them. Then again, people should take note that this isn't a complete course on using mics - it's just an insight into Al Schmitt's feelings on the subject. Still, highly interesting.
Submitted 2 years ago
A Legend Reveals All!
Very easy to follow, no BS session with two great engineers. If you ever wondered where to place a microphone on a trombone player (seated or standing) here it is. Thanks Groove 3!
I am a: Professional, Audio Engineer, Sound for Film/TV, Reaper, Studio One
Submitted 2 years ago
Yoda
You only have to listen to one of Al's records to know he's not just andexpert but definitive in the world of recording arts. Big score for Groove3 having such a great talent as an author.
Submitted 2 years ago
Not what it looks like
When I saw the price of this "course", I thought it was too good to be true... and unfortunately I was right. The images mislead to think it's a in depth, kind of "fly on the wall" course about microphone use with the great Al Shmitt, but it's nothing more than a bunch of short interviews probably taken during the shoot out of the big band orchestra recordings. it should be given free to anyone who bought that course.
I am a: Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Logic Pro, Pro Tools
Response from Customer Service:
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review on our site. We truly appreciate that.
I am very sorry you didn’t like our METAlliance tutorial featuring the interviews of Al Schmitt. As the title suggest, this tutorial has Ed Cherney interviewing Al about using microphones in different situations with different instruments (including vocals). We feel these interviews are invaluable and hope you take the time to finish watching all of them to get the big picture of the way Al operates. And in his own words.
We plan on more interviews with Al on various studio techniques and we hope you check those out as well when they are released!
Schmitt loves producing and engineering and has been privileged to work with the best and the brightest in the recording industry, including Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Usher and Dr. Dre, to name a few. During his career, he has recorded and mixed over 150 gold and platinum records and has gone on to receive a total of 20 GRAMMY® wins and 2 Latin GRAMMY® awards for engineering albums by such artists as Steely Dan, Toto, Natalie Cole, Quincy Jones, Diana Krall, Luis Miguel, Ray Charles, Chick Corea, DeeDee Bridgewater, and, finally, Paul McCartney in 2013 (his most recent GRAMMY® win).
Products by Al
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tutorial videoAl 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!
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tutorial videoThe Art of Recording a Big Band
The Art of Recording a Big Band was filmed at the famed Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California, USA, over two days during a recording session by Al Schmitt featuring Chris Walden's GRAMMY® Award-nominated eighteen-piece jazz big band. The film focuses on the legendary Al Schmitt, the most celebrated music engineer, producer, and mixer of all time, and winner of twenty-one GRAMMY® Awards. His most recent GRAMMY® came in 2012 for Paul McCartney's "Kisses on the Bottom."
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The only thing missing in that video is mic+preamp combination.
Those cannot be appart. Especially when speaking about Al.
As Al always gets the signal in the 88r at the end, he often use outboard gear before that and that really should have been mentionned for each instrument. As we all know each rec situation is different, mentionning a few pre options for each instrument would have made this video a real must have... some kind of "the holy graal"
So yeah i felt a bit disapointed...
Al is a real open book so why notnasking about mic pre combinations ?