Unit Studios

Lynda.com Audio courses

2012-01-12T19:24:00.001Z

Lynda.com is a great resource for online education through video. Mostly media related, they have just updated their site with a specific section on Audio courses.

Here are some of the courses on offer:

Mixing & Mastering
Plugins
Recording
DAW
Pro Tools
Logic
Garage Band
Soundbooth
EQ
Virtual Instruments

The range is all-encompassing. Take a look.
Subscribtion is affordable at $25 per month (around £16), and you don't have to commit long term either. For that you'll get complete access to the entire library of education videos. They have a great Lynda.com iPhone app to browse on the move.

Take a look at lynda.com's Audio courses.

Funk Guitar Tips from Nile Rogers

2011-12-19T09:42:00.000Z

Nile Rogers, the legendary guitarist of Disco band Chic gives you an insight into his funk guitar style. He reveals secrets on how to simplify chords to make them 'not harmonically too thick' and also runs you through some of those Chic classics including 'Freak Out' and 'Everybody Dance'.Nile, who has also produced records for the likes of David Bowie, Diana Ross and Madonna, has just released his autobiography titled 'Le Freak'. It has been on my Christmas list for sometime and I can't wait to get stuck in!

Red Bull Gives You 'Tings' - Music Lectures + More

2011-12-09T12:10:00.001Z

Lots of great things are featured on the Red Bull Music Academy website. They specialise in lectures and interviews with some of the best music producers, artists and performers in the business. It's a huge source of information that we can't get enough of. From ?uestLove to Trevor Horn; Benga to Bernard Purdie. Big dogs revealing big secrets.Check it out!

Drum position tips with George Massenburg

2011-11-23T08:51:00.001Z

Andy and I had the pleasure of going to a 2 day class held by George Massenburg and Chuck Ainlay. At the class we learned many techniques, but one that especially stuck was their method of overhead microphone positioning shown here by George himself:

Or click here!

Spectral Management: EQ tips

2011-09-01T11:49:00.003+01:00

Spectral management refers to a process for allocating parts of the spectrum to different instruments and voices. Read more on the iZotope blog.

To Summarise the blog, the 10 octaves of the spectrum that we hear are revealed, and tips are given on how to use them best for loudness, clarity and a 'nicer' sounding mix. It covers how to utilise the octaves for sustained instruments and also percussive or transient sounds to your benefit. When instruments are in the same range, they need to be equalised to find their own space in the mix without clashing with each other. These links cover the theory behind the technique.

Download the PDF version of this guide.

Read the feature on the iZotope website.

Phill Brown: Q&A and Book

2011-05-11T09:04:00.004+01:00

Phill Brown, famous for engineering hit records such as 'Jimi Hendrix: All along the Watchtower', 'Dusty Springfield - Dusty…. Definitely', 'Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden', 'The Coral - Roots And Echoes', 'Rokia Traore - Tchamantche' & 'Laura Marling - Alas Cannot Swim' amongst others, has just released a book and is currently responding on a Q&A forum. For those wanting to learn from the pro's, this guy has worked with the best musicians all over the world from the 1960's up until today.

You can ask him a question by going to the Gearslutz forum Q&A section here.

Or alternatively you can buy his book for just £8. It's titled " 'Are we still rolling?' Studio, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll - One man's journey recording classic albums." This is a link to the Amazon.co.uk product page:

Buy the book.

He's an inspiration to anybody in the music business. The book not only documents his recording techniques, experiences with the stars and funny stories, but also allows him to reflect on how his personal life and family development over the years was affected by his role in the music industry. It is a fantastic read, we already have our copy here at Unit Studios.

Tim Oliver: Music blog

2011-04-14T12:58:00.004+01:00

Here is a great resource of music programming tips & tricks provided by friend of Unit Studios 'Tim Oliver'

Click here to see his music production tips blog

Tim guides the reader on detailed explanations of how to correctly program synths & sampled instruments in his blog. He takes great care in pointing out how musicians often stumble into problems when trying to get a great programmed sound using their computers & keyboards. Take it from me: Tim knows his stuff and you should follow his blog closely if you are interested in improving your production skills. He updates it fairly regularly so keep checking back... or alternatively follow his RSS feed using something like Google Reader to be automatically updated.

Side-Chaining in Dance Music

2011-03-10T16:37:00.008Z

Ever listened to a House track and noticed the huge pumping and swelling synths on the offbeat? This effect is called side chaining which is a great studio tool that we always find ourselves using at Unit Studios.

Listen here if you’re not sure what I mean.

It’s a really simple technique, which uses a compressor to go into gain reduction when receiving a key from another sound. In dance music, this sound is usually a bass drum. This mean you can have a synth sound that is only compressed when the bass drum is heard thus creating a pumping effect.

Many producers use this technique including Mount Kimbie, Joy Orbison, Armand Van Halen, Chemical Brothers and Daft Punk.

How to do it in your DAW

1. Edit a kick drum pattern to play on the 1, 2, 3 and 4 of each beat.
2. On another track record a sequence with long sustained chords using a synth sound.
3. Insert a compressor onto the synth track and set the key input/ side chain to the kick drum track. (This means the synth will only be compressed when the kick drum a played)
4. On the compressor set the threshold to -20db ratio to 8:1
5. Adjust attack and release times to your taste
6. Press play

It’s that simple and sounds great!!

OKABU!

2011-01-14T17:42:00.012Z

Unit Studios have been working closely with Resonate Music in the production of music and sound fx for the latest Hand Circus gaming release, OKABU, out on PS3 later this year.

We can't give too much away right now but it's sounding great and we are extremely exited about the project. For now, here's a bit of info about the game designers and a link to the trailer.

http://www.handcircus.com/okabu/

Hand Circus launched its first title December in 2008, Rolando 1, a platform-puzzle-adventure for the iPhone and iPod Touch. This was followed by the award winning Rolando 2 : The Quest for the Golden Orchid in July 2009.

Their new project, Okabu, follows the adventures of Kumulo, Nimbe and the cloud-flying heroes as they battle to save their people and their world from the industrialised threat of the Doza. The world of Okabu is a hyper-tactile toybox filled with a huge number of puzzles, playthings, adorable creatures and devious machines –all spread across an epic co-op campaign.

More info to come.

'School Of Punk' Album submitted to Altitude Music

2010-12-01T09:42:00.004Z

Andy Theakstone and Adam Menczykowski have recently submitted an album of Library Music for TV to Altitude Music! The team wrote this album over the summer of 2010, working closely together to recreate a vision of Punk, Heavy Rock and Teenage vibes. The CD is Altitude's 13th release and will also be available as a stem pack.

Tracklisting:

Blacked Out
California KHTP
Duck Confit
Fooled Again
New Day
Paranoid
Running Away
San Diego
Skate Or Die
Sleep Cali Sleep
The End Is Near
Trained To Jump

Unit Site is being updated!

2010-08-19T15:52:00.001+01:00

Yes, it has been a long time coming, but the site update is imminent. Check back over the next week for it to appear. New features include embedded Twitter & Blog posts, improved sound quality and content on the music player and also more informative content.

Chris Phillips production

2009-03-28T12:57:00.004Z

Chris has been in the studio over the weekend and is working with Andy & Adam on 3 tracks, aiming for pop production & instrumentation on this project. We are recording drums, guitar, piano, double bass, percussion and some querky synth parts to lift the tracks to a more commercial palatable sound to give Chris' music a boost. Andy has put down the double bass and drums, we are just working on vocals with Chris, Adam is playing acoustic piano, percussion and synths...

2009-03-20T10:19:00.002Z

Look See Proof are in the studio... We're doing a three day session with Dave, Jason, Lee, Jonny and Jamie - recording and mixing 3 tracks. They will be releasing at least 1 of the tracks, so keep an ear out. The tracks are called 'My Albatross', 'R P Murphy' (working title) and 'We Can't Win'. Check them out on myspace.

Found a nice pic, thought I'd post it.

2009-03-17T18:00:00.001Z

OK, So I found a nice pic of Gavin Fitzjohn on the piano, playing a part on a recording for Ross Smithick from Bridport in Dorset. Gav was around when the session was running and offered to step in and play some keys for the talented acoustic songwriter. Ross is currently building up a list of songs to hopefully come back and record with us soon. We used a pair of SE4's on the piano through the TL Audio valve desk. It sounded really nice - a great addition to the acoustic guitar and Ross' fantastic voice. I'll let you know when a clip is available to listen to soon...

Out.

Adam Mench
Unit Studios

Unit Studios blog is online. This is crazy!

2009-03-17T17:44:00.001Z

Hi,

This is our first blog, and following this we intend to keep you up to date with what is happening at Unit Studios. For those that don't know, we are a recording studio based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. We specialise in recording, producing, editing, mixing and mastering music projects. We have been at the same location for over 4 years now, with a recent aesthetic renovation at the premises injecting a healthy dose of excitement into the place! New 4 seater sofa, wooden floors and now more recently a valve mixing desk! Lots of added warmth and character to the recordings....

We intend to post each time there is a new & exciting artist working with us so keep listening for more snippets and session-quotes to make you laugh!!!

Out...

Adam Menczykowski & Andy Theakstone
Unit Studios