In the second part of this series we’ll examine the next step in the chain after the sound sources. My idea is now - and this will sound juvenile- to not really mix anything. Screw that. Screw all the options. Let’s do some bloody committing people! I’m gonna make this home recording thing the new garage.

I’m not a big fan of compressing, but I’ve found that I compress some things almost always about the same way, namely vocals and bass so why not get tracking compressors for those and be done with it before the mix? The compression I use after that is on the master. I like to push the tracks into the red if you know what I mean. I feel that software compressors are not really up for this. I’ve had some luck with Digidesign Smack! and McDSP Analog Channel (which isn’t even a compressor but can have that effect) but I’ve still looked at the hardware department for substitutes.

So we’re looking for probably two channels tracking compressors/levelers and something for the master bus. I’ve been thinking about the Rockruepel which is very expensive but nice (and has pinups on it!), the new Charteroak as well as Empirical Labs Fatso for the master. I’ll just have to figure it out the hard way and try a lot of things. For compressors going in I’m probably going to look for something cheap like a FMR RNL or DBX.

This is obvioulsy my preference to work, and something entirely different might suite you better (no compression, over compression etc). A few strongly flavored preamps could be on the list as well for some people (Neve-styled or API for me perhaps), but in all honesty they’re kind of long way down on the list. Sound sources and compressors are much more important to me and I feel that ‘the flavor of the pre’ is very hyped and overrated right now.

For mics I won’t get anything more. I like 57’s and 58’s which I have enough of. I also have some condensers that I don’t use very much (dynamics are way cooler). If anything I’ll look at a ribbon or two, or if I find something that’s really trippy.

This might shock some, but I might look into a EQ for tracking purpose. I think people are just too damn afraid of committing in this age of Pro Tools. Besides, I know my songs and what I want to achieve so I might as well fix it in the tracking to minimize mixing. Perhaps two channels of pre/EQ/compressor could be of interest. Don’t know if there’s anything good enough in my price range though. I’m not looking to spend €5k/channel.

Check list

• Microphones - check
• Microphone preamps - check
• High-end compressor for the master - I’m not looking forward to open my wallet for this
• Two channel of tracking compressors - will need to try a couple of these
• Maybe two channels of tracking EQ - will have to do some work with this mentality before I decide