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Studio Pass: Sylvia Massy

 

Studio Pass: Sylvia Massy

 

Class Description


Over the last 30+ years, Sylvia Massy has built a career as one of the gutsiest and most innovative recording engineers and producers. She has worked with legends like Prince and Johnny Cash, and won awards for her work with bands like Tool, System of a Down and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. In this once-in-a-lifetime experience, you will get a peek inside the recording process of one of rock’s legendary engineers. 

While she is a proficient master of vintage gear, Sylvia stresses that great records come not from having the right gear, but from capturing great performances. Join Sylvia as she records a song in the studio with Seattle alt-rock band Thunderpussy, and learn how to work with an artist to capture that magical take in your own work.

Pulling from her years of experience and sharing stories from her newly published book Recording UnHinged, Sylvia will show you:

  • How to get interesting and vibrant drum sounds, using the room and the drummer to your advantage
  • Capturing great sounding guitars at the source, without editing and reamping
  • Pushing vocalists to deliver their best vocal takes 
  • Mixing both in the box and through a console using outboard gear

Sylvia is also known as a prolific educator, speaking and teaching at some of the best recording schools around the world. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the industry’s most celebrated A-list producers. 


Lessons

  1. Class Introduction
  2. Avast! Studio Overview & Walkthrough
  3. Sylvia's Recording Philosophy
  4. Introduce the Band, Thunderpussy
  5. Drum Setup & Tuning
  6. Drum Mic Placement
  7. Drum Micing - Mid-Side Overhead Technique
  8. Drum Micing - Room Mics
  9. Drum Micing - Toms
  10. Drum Micing - Kick and Snare Final Tuning
  11. Bass Setup
  12. Guitar Setup
  13. Vocal Setup
  14. Band Mic Check
  15. How Sylvia Plans a Lesson
  16. Budgets, Time and Planning a Session
  17. Recap and Intro
  18. Recording the Band, Thunderpussy
  19. Mixing the Recording of the Band
  20. Re-Recording Chorus
  21. Process for Editing
  22. Guitar Solo and Overdubs
  23. Vocal Overdubs
  24. Creative Studio Techniques
  25. How to Mix: Drums
  26. How to Mix: Add Bass & Guitar
  27. How to Mix: Add Vocals

Reviews

Jimmy Foot
 

This Studio Pass episode with Sylvia Massey covers a lot of ground. From fundamentals like correct mic placement and phase to experimentation with amps, cell phone delay and a few extra parts, Sylvia makes it fun! I have been lucky enough in my career to work with a number of great engineers and producers. I haven't had the opportunity to work with her, but Sylvia is certainly in that category, and anyone who gets a chance to work with her would be a lucky person. This broadcast is the next best thing. Great job there at Avast Studio and fantastic camera work! And as for Thunderpussy; you guys rock!

Marc Felish
 

Wow, that was such a blast. Thanks so much Sylvia and everyone else for making this such a fun experience. I picked up so many new ideas that I can't wait to try out! Sylvia is such a creative producer, it was so much fun to be a fly on the wall watching everything. Loved it!!

Marcus Soares
 

Awesome! A great opportunity to pick into the creative mind of one of the greatest and get that kind of knowledge that you can't acquire otherwise. Highly recommended!