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Does anyone have any experience with Ampex 3200 high speed duplicators? Can I use one as a normal 2-track machine to print my mixes to? Do they even record at 15 ips? I've been searching the interweb to no avail.

If you are trying to appeal to outside engineers, then I think it really helps to have some "name" gear. I like to go into a studio and have mics, pres, and monitors available that I know the sound of. However, I also like using gear I'm not familiar with if I have enough time to experiment a little...

Sometimes the m160 is super sexy on snare. You gotta keep it out of the way of drum sticks, cause a stick hit can KILL an m160.

I just use the shell of the second bass drum, so the bass drum that is part of the kit is used as usual, and then I put the shell of the second bass drum in front of that. I'll put packing blankets over the little space between the two drums, to minimize cymbal bleed. If you like, get a mic inside t...

I know, it seems strange. The sidechain EQ controls on the 747 are labeled as "Sidechain Threshold", so if you think of it that way, then it makes sense. It's not really an EQ, it's a threshold for that particular frequency band. Turn the threshold down, and it clamps down more.

The 747's sidechain controls are kinda weird. If you crank up the sidechain eq, the compressor will react less to that frequency. When you turn down the eq down the compressor will hear more of that frequency and react more to it. The frequency bands are independent.

B8's are NASTY! Better hats will make you smile.

I've built tunnels out of different materials. The one I usually use is generally packing blankets held up with chairs. I've also tried using another bass drum shell as a tunnel, but that's only if I want the super boom sound. Both work great, but it's true, tunnels do make the bass drum sound "less...

I usually use some kind of LDC on the resonant kick drum head. Most often it's a U 47 FET. At home (cause I don't own a 47) I'll use an Oktava 319. This mic usually ends up being about 1 1/2'-2' away from the head, cause getting too close sounds strange to my ears. If I want less cymbal leakage in t...

Those Dakings are totally great sounding. I would not hesitate to buy one for $800!

Maybe find some pop records that really interest you and listen to them critically. You can always try calling/e-mailing the engineers and producers who worked on those albums. If you have specific questions, they may be willing to help you out.

I think that the second note of the flam is generally the one that is on the beat. However, it really depends on the drummer's intention. When in doubt, ask the drummer what he intended. I love editing drums because I am a masochist. I do agree that intense editing is inappropriate for most styles o...

Are there two guitar players in the band or 1? I sometimes have to edit guitars and bass pretty heavily if the band is not rhythmically tight enough to sound properly "heavy". The natural differences between the playing in different takes will still make the doubles sound like big beefy doubles even...

As far as "modern" metal amps are concerned, I really like a Marshall JCM 800 2205 with matching cabinet. If you need more gain use a pedal. I always find the JCM 2000's to be a bit extreme, but some people like them a whole lot and make great recordings with them. You can't go wrong with a Soldano ...

getting a great drum room sound is key for heavy stuff. Compress it a lot. Make sure the drummer hits like a burly man-machine. record beefy samples of his kick and snare cause you might need em for consistency and extra beef in mixing. grid editing is your friend. Try to get some kind of decent mar...