Lesson 8 - Posted on 2015-02-03 by Holly Markson

This chapter was an introduction to Pro Tools.  Sebastian showed me some basic funsctions and already covered of some of the material in chapter 9 including the 4 modes such as Slip, Grid, Shuffle and Spot.  He also gave me a task, to chose microphones to mic some congas and a cowbell that we had Kenny, the studio manager play.  He told me to look up different miking techniques on google and decide what I wanted to use.  Here is a link to an article I found that helped me decide what mic technique I wanted use as well as which kind of microphone: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec06/articles/latin.htm

I chose 2 identical condenser mics and pointed them downward at 45 degree angle about a foot away as the article had recommended to do.  I also placed a dynamic mic for overhead about 5 feet above the congas.  I keep forgetting that condensers need phantom power in fear of blowing out a ribbon mic!  That was my only hiccup when coming back to the control room and I had no sound on the preamp!  But everything else was hooked up correctly.  Sebastian had me cracking up because he kept asking Kenny to give him more cowbell and all I could think of was this:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/536145

All in all, another great lesson!  I also came back later in the week and sat in on a live session of  a salsa band that he was recording.  The band was tight and had a great sound and lots of energy.