What do you want to see at this year's Road Rally Seminar???

[robchiarelli]

Hey Everybody!

I am preparing my seminar for this year's Road Rally and I would love to get your feedback about what you want to see and get out of our panels. What information would you most want Ron Harris and I to cover during the seminar? As always, I greatly appreciate your feedback and it will help us design the class in the most meaningful way for you guys.

Thanks!!!

[mazz]

Hey Rob,

Thanks for asking!!

I compose and mix various styles of music and I struggle most getting the bass right. I don't have a pro mixing room, just like probably 98% of the folks that will be attending. How about some strategies for dealing with getting a good bass balance in a not so great room. I'm not necessarily asking about room treatments, but maybe that and how to check on different speakers, eq tips, etc.

Thanks a ton!!

Mazz

[guitaroboe]

Hey Rob,
Many thanks for asking.

How about some info on getting a polished, pro sounding mix at home studio set up.
I write instrumental music and I always mix in the box.

Many thanks

Adonis

[hazineju]

Hi Rob - I wrote down the specific starting settings for compression and limiting you shared with us on Taxi Live. Tidbits like this are like little nuggets of gold!

I would also love to hear some tips & tricks for how to take your recordings up a notch in terms of recording quality. Like going from "good" to "great." I know there are a lot of variables, but discussion of at least some of those variables would be cool. A little checklist of things that you always go over for your mixes, for example, would be cool.

Thanks so much for asking our input!

[dotted8]

Rob, I agree on the suggestions for mixing info/tips to get better quality recordings in the untamed home studio... I think that would help a lot of people.

Go Pats!

[jlizerbram]

Hi Rob,

Thanks for asking. I liked your seminars because they weren't too technically focused, but more general in how get that good mix overall. I went to the rally in 2007 where your main topic, along with Mr. Harris, was "Vibe". Then, in 2009, your seminar was about adding a little "dirt" to the mixes. Very cool. I would love to hear this year on, especially with pop-music, what type of instruments (synths and such) make the music sound CURRENT? Also, what are the current processing methods? I've received feedback from some of my electronica / industrial style instrumentals that the synths I used sounded out-of-date.

Thanks,

-Jeff

[jazzstan]

Rob, I've also enjoyed your seminars - practical, useful stuff, and delivered in a very approachable way. I'll agree with Jeff's post (above) that a good question is: WHAT are the "current" sounds for instrumentation and styles? What's passe / overdone?? And what ought we be doing to STAY current? - especially as the bar keeps rising!? And were should we be listening for the NEXT new sound?

PS. How about a nudge to the Taxi folks to find a bigger room for you! It's always SRO.

[neilzim]

Hi Rob,

I'd love to hear you guys take TAXI members' songs and sweeten them right there in front of us. Just to see how you do it, how you use your ears, and the software and/or hardware tools of the trade. Sweeten up the mix and then A/B them, or even multitrack processing....

Of course this would require some type of projection of the computer screen, and an acoustically decent room like the theater (rather than the Ballroom)....but it would be incredibly interesting and useful.

[remmet]

Hi Rob,

I'd love to hear you guys take TAXI members' songs and sweeten them right there in front of us. Just to see how you do it, how you use your ears, and the software and/or hardware tools of the trade. Sweeten up the mix and then A/B them, or even multitrack processing....

Of course this would require some type of projection of the computer screen, and an acoustically decent room like the theater (rather than the Ballroom)....but it would be incredibly interesting and useful.

Great suggestion.

Rob, I enjoyed your presentation last year on the "dirt" factor. As primarily an instrumental composer, I'd be very interested in (1) what are the factors that help ensure a good mix when dealing with instrumental music, and (2) after you've got a good mix going, what are the next steps to give it that extra magical polish.

Looking forward to whatever you decide to do!

Richard

[mfowler]

Ditto on the realtime sweeting of taxi member tracks!
I struggle with getting separation and a full, clear sound. I also struggle with bass, like Mazz!
thank you!!
Marlin