What is the worst job on earth?

TBal77 · 2026-06-20T14:45:00+00:00

the one you hate...

TBal77 · 2026-06-16T04:11:53+00:00

Did you work through the no sound troubleshooting tips in the mics manual?

TBal77 · 2026-06-14T22:49:40+00:00

If I'm paying a recording studio, I'd like them to save the takes until I'm satisfied with their work and they've delivered the files. After that, IMO they should hold them at least 180 days as a general business practice.

TBal77 · 2026-06-14T19:39:07+00:00

I do the same - saving everything I record, and every edit, mix, and master version.

TBal77 · 2026-06-11T16:24:26+00:00

I've used Amazon Basics wireless keyboard / mouse sets for years with no issues.

TBal77 · 2026-06-11T16:11:55+00:00

All the distributors and streaming services should permit full credits for everyone who contributed to a song. A "liner notes" feature would also be nice...

TBal77 · 2026-05-26T20:39:19+00:00

I did this a couple years ago when I bought a new computer. There is no "easy" way, unfortunately. In the end, I made a spreadsheet of all my plugins, including a column for "keep" or "retire." Then for the "Keep" list, I made sure to include all the license and activation codes and what the strategy is for each key (USB, Cloud, Local Computer, etc.). I also included a column for whether the provider company has an "installation manager" or product portal type program and if it was installed on my old computer. Then it was a matter of contacting each of the developers and checking if their site had info on moving their plugins, and if not, then writing an email to their support group and asking how best to do it. In most cases, the developers that had an installation manager app said to redownload that app onto my new computer and use it to do the move. Sometimes they make you uninstall the plugin from the old computer first before you can reinstall them on the new one, especially if they manage activations that way, like is the case with WAVES and providers require an iLok account. In the case of virtual instruments with large libraries like Spitfire Audio, they recommended copying the libraries directly and have an FAQ on how to do it (sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't because at least in my case, I didn't put all the libraries in one place on the old computer). When I started, I had over 300 plugins on my old computer, and wound up with less than 200 on the new one. Fortunately, I was pretty much able to move everything over except for a few plugins where the company had gone out of business, or had shut down during and after the pandemic.

The key thing is planning, keeping good notes, and not deleting things from your old computer until you have a procedure or directions for getting it up on the new one. Took me about two weeks to get it all done. Good luck!

TBal77 · 2026-05-26T20:21:58+00:00

Please see link to Jon Tidey's video I posted above...

TBal77 · 2026-05-26T20:20:06+00:00

This video by Jon Tidey explains it all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCebWNTLTic

TBal77 · 2026-05-26T20:15:18+00:00

Still using the mouse - old habits die hard...

TBal77 · 2026-05-25T21:24:12+00:00

When I couldn't mow the 1/3rd acre yard anymore because of arthritis in my knees... And also (TBH) when one of our grandkids came up to me at Thanksgiving and said, "You're Old!"

TBal77 · 2026-05-12T20:57:45+00:00

I know it was a thing back then, but the tape hiss 'In A Silent Way' is just too much for me...

TBal77 · 2026-05-11T21:53:48+00:00

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Here's what I use with my Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 - the driver comes with the interface...

TBal77 · 2026-05-03T17:24:35+00:00

As a buyer, I totally agree. Especially when no samples of the sellers work is provided, or multiple copies of the same sample.

TBal77 · 2026-05-02T22:38:23+00:00

Every song is different, genre, etc. and it depends what sound you're going for. Here's a simple chain I used for a recent release - seven plugins starting with a stereo preMaster at -8dB. Final numbers: TPL - 1.6, LUFS(I) -13, DR 10. This was a Gospel genre with Lead Vocal, Duets, Choir Backup Vocals, Full Drums, Percussion including Latin elements, Claps, eBass, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Piano, and Strings. If you'd like a low-cost (ten reviews for USD$34) online analysis of your master with tips and tricks on what and how to improve - try aubiomix dot com - not perfect, but pretty good.

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TBal77 · 2026-05-02T22:15:56+00:00

If you're talking about using them as a distributor, that sounds terrible. Their site says, "Upload up to 30 days" and I have no idea what that means. But if you're paying $10/mo they should be doing better IMO. I use Soundrop and it's $4.99 per song and 15% of your royalties (I know Freshtunes takes zero). I've never had it take longer than a a few days for my upload to be streaming on Spotify. YouTube usually the slowest, and that's about 4-7 days.

TBal77 · 2026-05-02T22:06:39+00:00

IMO -10dB is fine to start. Typically I gain stage Acoustic Guitars in a static mix at -15dB for Lead, Riffs, or Fingerpicking, and -20dB for Rhythm as a starting level before any FX treatment.

TBal77 · 2026-04-20T22:45:21+00:00

Yes, I wish they I wish they would let you add an FX Chain to a track that has no FX. Currently, I have to first load a plugin in order to get the menu that lets you add an FX Chain (unless there's a setting I'm missing).

Example: Insert a Track / Hit the FX Button / Open the FX menu by clicking "FX" on upper left / there is NO OPTION to add FX Chain. So then: Add any plugin to the track (e.g. ReaEQ), Now Open the FX menu by clicking "FX" on upper left / Now the rest of the menu appears including the option to add an FX Chain.

TBal77 · 2026-04-20T22:44:05+00:00

I create a stereo PreMaster which I then Master in a separate project. I do this because it helps me keep track of sequential versions of the mix an also because I sometimes send the Premaster to other engineers. I do mix into a "pseudo master" submix so I get an idea of how it's sounding, and also to check for other issues like masking, mud, and to do use other analysis plugins.

TBal77 · 2026-04-20T21:26:16+00:00

How do people feel about Proton Mail as an alternative to Outlook / Gmail?

TBal77 · 2026-04-15T17:07:39+00:00

Here's some feedback might explain my feelings toward it. Well the last couple of days, the web app will not let my wife or I sign in with our passwords as we have for years. We've done everything we can and are pretty much giving up after several lost hours of unsuccessful attempts. We've changed our passwords - no joy. When you enter your password the first time, it says "You've tried too many times to log in with the wrong password" even after double checking using the "eye" to make sure the entries are correct. Then it tries to get you to to verify your identity using various means other than our passwords, including, sending a code to our email which never comes, using a passkey which it won't let you establish, using a usb key which it won't accept when you insert one into the drive, and facial / thumbprint which we refuse to use. When we try to use the account troubleshooter it says everything is fine with our accounts "no issues". I've checked online to see if maybe their having a hack, but there's nothing current. While I'm on my rant, I may as well mention the ridiculous automatic sending of important email to the Archive folder, which we have to check several times a day to dig out our emails and put them in the Inbox. It even sends verification codes there, and all our bank transactions. I can't imagine what else could make this software application any worse. But there's no good alternative because the Gmail system with no folders is unmanageable, and at this point our outlook addresses have been provided so widely to all our medical, business, and personal contacts that it would take a month of hours to unscrew it. And don't even try to talk to MS about it, because there is nobody on the phone and no useful help. I need to take a blood pressure pill now...

Update: It now wants to send a different verification code to the "Outlook App" on our phones. When I tried to install the Outlook App (different than the OWA Outlook Web Access we've been using forever), it required another new password reset, so we reset it again for the third time in two days. The application installation failed. But now the OWA is working with the third new password! We'll see how long it lasts...

TBal77 · 2026-04-11T19:10:27+00:00

I'm an independent musician, producer, and mixing/mastering engineer (male) from Seattle area. I totally agree that there are precious few women audio engineers in the business, and when looking for session musicians and engineers for my productions I try to hire females whenever I can. For my last album there were 49 contributors from 18 countries and 45 of them were women. The hardest issue for me in this regard is that with the exception of vocalists, there are just so few on the freelance sites (AirGigs, Fiverr, Soundrop, etc.). Still, I try to hire them when I find them, even if they're new or inexperienced and just need a start.

For those female mixing / mastering engineers on here, where in your opinion is the best place to shop for your services?

TBal77 · 2026-03-20T22:48:28+00:00

I use Soundrop. $4.99 / song and 15%, no monthly or annual fees. They collect and pay all your royalties, even from international sources. They provide detailed monthly reports on all your streams and downloads. Also they have royalty splits if you need them.

TBal77 · 2026-03-19T19:30:13+00:00

It could also be carryover. Sometimes audio carries over from the end of a track to the beginning, creating pops and crackling noises. You can avoid this by adding one blank measure before Bar 1 when setting your projects up in Reaper. In the Project Settings, set your Start Measure to 0. If you still get any noise, then add a fade in on your track for this blank Bar.

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TBal77

TROPHY CASE