If you’re considering a career in audio engineering, having the proper tools is key. Music production artists utilize headphones that reproduce sound accurately as well as mix consoles for mixing and adjusting levels of sounds.
They maintain a variety of reference tracks to compare, while to identify any cables causing issues (such as extra noise or sudden volume drops) they require a cable tester such as Kopul’s CBT-12 cable tester.
Microphones
A microphone is an electronic device that converts airborne sound vibrations into electronic signals that can be recorded or transmitted. Audio engineers use microphones to capture sounds and amplify them before recording, filming or playing them back for clients or the general public. There are several types of microphones – dynamic mics, condenser mics and ribbon mics are some examples – which translate changes in air pressure changes into electrical signals in different ways.
An important component of a microphone is its diaphragm, which vibrates when struck by soundwaves to transform them into electric signals. Aside from this important element, microphones also include magnetic cores, wind screens and some means for routing the signal from its element back out into other equipment.
There are five basic types of microphones: dynamic, condenser, ribbon, carbon and crystal. Each type offers its own set of advantages and disadvantages depending on what is being recorded or transmitted – for instance a dynamic mic is better suited to loud, percussive instruments and noisy environments because it picks up voice or music more clearly than background noise – the Shure SM57 being one popular dynamic mic model.
Contrarily, condenser microphones feature two plates connected together and require electricity to work properly. When sound waves hit the diaphragm of a condenser microphone, an electrical voltage between its two plates is generated; an audio engineer might prefer ribbon microphones due to their lower mass and ability to create natural-sounding recordings.
As well as acoustic microphones, there are also electromagnetic and laser-based mics. Electromagnetic mics use magnetic fields to energize a coil of wire which then transforms any changes in air pressure into an electric signal – the shotgun microphone being the most popular type used in film and television production because they cover large areas without picking up unwanted background noise.
Headphones
Headphones are padded speakers worn over your ears that allow you to listen to music or the radio without others hearing. They convert an electric signal into sound, making them one of the most widely-used audio devices today.
Headphones in a music production studio provide essential isolation from outside sounds, eliminating distracting distractions that would otherwise hinder work and potentially produce negative results. Furthermore, they help optimize microphone and speaker positioning/settings so as to prevent feedback or unwanted sounds from showing up in final product.
Professional headphones typically favor closed-back models that seal around the ears to block out external noise and leak into nearby microphones, which could interfere with recording or cause singers to over-amplify their vocals. Closed-back models also tend to produce accurate frequency response which is essential in music production.
Early headphones used moving iron drivers. This system involved voice coils wound around poles of a permanent magnet that altered its magnetic field to exert different forces on a flexible steel diaphragm that vibrated to produce sound waves. Headphones used in telegraph and telephony had high sensitivity for receiving low frequency signals from crystal sets or triode receivers.
Electrostatic headphones employ a thin diaphragm suspended between two perforated metal plates (electrodes). Applying an electrical sound signal to either electrode deflects it against one plate, producing sounds. Headphones equipped with electrostatic drivers require more powerful amplifiers in order to deflect their membrane against it and generate strong and clear sounds.
Mixing Console
Audio mixers are devices used in audio production that modify audio signals. They may be digital or analog devices that manage input from microphones, electric instruments and recorded sounds – as well as any recorded sounds that need amplifying – before being combined together and sent for broadcast, amplified via sound reinforcement systems or recorded. Some mixers even feature dynamic effects such as compressors or gates to further alter these audio signals.
A mixer’s primary component is its channel input section. This comprises an array of identical monaural or stereo input channels arranged in columns with rotary potentiometer knobs, switches, and faders to control gain on input preamplifiers; equalize signal equalization on channels; route channels to other functional sections and route channels between functional sections. Many control elements will be labeled on console with letter/number/symbol designations to indicate their purpose.
Audio mixers feature not only individual channel controls but also general purpose knobs to alter the tone or timbre of instruments or voices by attenuating or amplifying frequencies in specific frequency ranges. High-end models often boast sophisticated graphic or parametric equalizers for each channel for added control and customization.
Some mixers also include a cue system to enable operators to independently listen to individual channels without altering the main outputs from the console. A switch often labelled AFL (after-fader listen) or PFL (pre-fader listen) enables this access; additionally, having a line level trim knob which enables one to add or subtract gain at line level is also advantageous.
Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
Finding the ideal Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is one of the first decisions any producer must make. Your DAW serves as the central software platform of your music production studio and should be taken into consideration regardless of whether producing music is an occasional hobby or full-time career choice.
DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) are computer programs that enable you to record, edit and mix tracks on one system at the same time. You can apply effects like reverb and delay to your tracks before exporting your final master to WAV or MP3 files – most professional producers use DAWs when recording and producing music professionally, as well as many indie musicians and bedroom producers taking advantage of digital technology’s convenience and accessibility.
Though some producers opt to combine hardware instruments and MIDI sequencers with their DAW, many have discovered that its features meet their needs without needing additional instruments or sequencers – this allows them to focus more time on creativity than on technicalities of making music. Popular DAWs include Logic Pro X, Ableton Live, GarageBand (preloaded on Macintosh computers).
Selecting the optimal DAW will depend on several key considerations, including price, user friendliness and compatibility with your computer hardware and operating systems. Many DAWs provide free trials with various limitations for you to explore their services before determining if they meet your goals and budget requirements. It may be beneficial for you to join online communities dedicated to your chosen DAW as they can provide insight into its latest updates and advancements as well as opportunities to meet other professionals and learn new music production techniques.
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) is a technical protocol used by musical instruments and equipment to communicate. MIDI was first created in the early 1980s, and is still used by a wide variety of instruments, modules, and devices today.
MIDI (MIDIerial Interface Digital Interface) is an abstract digital representation of music, transmitted as an encrypted series of data in an easily interpretable format that any device that supports MIDI can read. Each note value from C five octaves below middle C to G ten octaves above middle C is encoded as separate values indicating velocity, pitch bend and other attributes; then these messages are transmitted using standard 5-pin MIDI cables to computers or other devices capable of understanding them.
The MIDI data received by a computer can be used to control various aspects of software programs such as playing notes, changing chords, or performing other tasks. MIDI can also be used to create virtual instruments that plug into DAWs to produce breathtaking sounds with just a click or two of a button.
Many audio interfaces come equipped with their own built-in MIDI interfaces; however, dedicated standalone MIDI interfaces allow for easier connection of hardware using standard 5-pin MIDI cables to a computer. If MIDI is your sole focus, consider investing in one of these standalone interfaces; but be aware that these may be slower than an audio interface and will likely need additional setup before being recognized by your DAW software.