The magazine you’re reading right now is the 400th edition of Future Music. FM first hit shelves in autumn 1992 and we’ve been charting the course of music tech – and the sounds it helped create – ever since. Rather than spend our anniversary issue getting bogged down in nostalgia, we thought we’d celebrate by doing what we do best: bringing you inspiration and ideas to help you make music. To that end, we’ve harnessed the collective wisdom of our expert writers, plus a selection of musicians from across the genre spectrum, in order to put together an eclectic selection of tips and guides. Our aim is to offer instant ideas to help improve your studio workflow or inspire you to try something new. From gear ideas to DAW tips, we’ve aimed to touch on a broad range of subjects, with a little something for everyone.
The tips in the magazine are complemented by a bumper crop of sounds, packs and files to download (on top of our usual offerings). Head to page 94 for a full rundown of what’s included.
8 STEPS TO A BETTER SOUNDING STUDIO
If you’re struggling with the sound of your studio, we have a bunch of tips to help you get things back on track
1 ROOM ACOUSTICS
In a domestic environment your space is already influenced by its contents and modifying the balance and type of contents can create a more suitable space. One of the most significant aspects is the floor, and bare hard floors such as laminate create a much more lively acoustic than carpet. If this is a problem, rugs can be a great solution. Alternatively, if you’re recording and the carpet is making things too dead, position your performer on a large plywood board for added reflections. Similar modifications can be made with curtains or blinds, opening them for glass reflections and closing them for a deader sound.
2 SPEAKER POSITION
Once you have a good general position for your monitors, it’s important you orientate them correctly. This, along with correct height positioning will considerably improve your imaging and frequency delivery. The two speakers and your head should roughly form an equilateral triangle and your ears should be at the same level as the tweeters.
3 ANALYSIS
Although room analysis won’t in itself improve your studio, it can help you understand it better and improve the) can tell you not only which frequencies are problematic, but also where the loudest pressure zones are likely to be. Using analysis software can be a great way to not only plot the specifics of your space but also see the effect of speaker positions. REW (www.roomeqwizard. com) is a fantastic free software application for this (you can use your own interface and mic).
