Hey man! Great video! Just a quick question I use Auto-Align (version 1) as well on my drums and I've noticed that I need to put it at the end of each plugin chain, because some plugins will give the track some delay. What that means is that using Auto-Align first just doesn't seem to work because the phase might change after I start putting plugins on the tracks. It happens a lot with Fab Filter plugins, but I've also experienced some delay with SoundToys and UAD plugins. Does this happen to you?
This is actually a great point and it will definitely be important to use the natural and linear phase modes with fab filter. Cubase it pretty great with latency compensation provided the plugins are reporting back to the host correctly so I haven’t had trouble personally!
TLA does it manually and uses the top snare as the main track to align to. For me, if I align all mics I loose depth. So only if the mic placement, especially if the rooms are skewed, then I will bring them to a more coherent alignment. But I prefer not to.
Auto Align 2 is great! I do my best to set up for each session. I will track myself before the client arrives and look at what Auto Align reveals. One of two things happens: either the changes are nominal and I leave things as they are or I see something is odd and make an adjustment. Either way by the time the client is listening to playback the drums sound huge.
always prefer to do that manually. or using inphase to have a set of different snapshots for room mics etc. sometimes it really works to delay the room mics. the best workflow for me so far is to bring the close mics with the OH, and then align the room mics to some position which supports the snare and hopefully a kick. works like a charm every time
I have tried doing this, interestingly I do sense that some of the colour certain eq's introduce is slightly less noticeable. So I try not to do this if not necessary.
I think it depends on what type of quantizing. I typically don’t mess with any quantizing that uses warp or stretching, so therefore, I feel confident correcting phase as my first step But if I was reliant on stretching the audio, I would definitely do that. 1st consolidate my wave forms into new forms and THEN run auto align 2.
The talking head parts or the screen cap? I’ve been using something in adobe Premier beta to clean up the voice audio, but I’ve been wondering if it is causing some syncing issues
Absolutely. And to your point I think engineering was actually much simpler when everything was in the analog domain then during the initial switch of digital all of these crazy plug-ins came out and I think people started feeling like they needed to do SOMETHING to EVERYTHING. Nice to see things simplify a little
@@JayMaasRecording 100%. I think that's one of the biggest benefits I've received from taking courses like yours, is seeing how little needs to be done to well performed, well engineered tracks. I think unfortunately a lot of us cut our teeth working with less than stellar performances and it's so difficult trying to learn and troubleshoot like that. Kudos for sharing the knowledge Jay!!
The amount of free education we get today from top engineers themselves is craaaaaaazy! Thanks so much Jay! Really appreciate what you do.
Just realized you had a channel and am all for it! My band Anchorlines recorded with you a LONG LONG time ago, cool to circle back!
Dude that’s so cool you found me! Hope things are well!
Hey man! Great video! Just a quick question
I use Auto-Align (version 1) as well on my drums and I've noticed that I need to put it at the end of each plugin chain, because some plugins will give the track some delay. What that means is that using Auto-Align first just doesn't seem to work because the phase might change after I start putting plugins on the tracks. It happens a lot with Fab Filter plugins, but I've also experienced some delay with SoundToys and UAD plugins. Does this happen to you?
This is actually a great point and it will definitely be important to use the natural and linear phase modes with fab filter.
Cubase it pretty great with latency compensation provided the plugins are reporting back to the host correctly so I haven’t had trouble personally!
For me, the biggest bang for the buck is aligning the overheads to the snare top. I do that manually, as auto align is very expensive.
MAuto Align is on sale for $32. I have gotten some good results from this one. Definitely faster than manual.
i was turned onto this a year or two ago. complete game changer. one question: what happens with the polarity flip on the bottom snare mic?
TLA does it manually and uses the top snare as the main track to align to. For me, if I align all mics I loose depth. So only if the mic placement, especially if the rooms are skewed, then I will bring them to a more coherent alignment. But I prefer not to.
Auto Align 2 is great! I do my best to set up for each session. I will track myself before the client arrives and look at what Auto Align reveals. One of two things happens: either the changes are nominal and I leave things as they are or I see something is odd and make an adjustment. Either way by the time the client is listening to playback the drums sound huge.
always prefer to do that manually. or using inphase to have a set of different snapshots for room mics etc. sometimes it really works to delay the room mics. the best workflow for me so far is to bring the close mics with the OH, and then align the room mics to some position which supports the snare and hopefully a kick. works like a charm every time
Great explanation!
Tip: redo this after doing EQ etc, to adjust for the phase differences introduced by the EQ itself.
I have tried doing this, interestingly I do sense that some of the colour certain eq's introduce is slightly less noticeable. So I try not to do this if not necessary.
Pale Moon Ranch! Tracked drums for our last single there. Great studio 🖤
It’s amazing! We did all the drums for the new Love Letter there as well :)
first time watching your channel. great succinct info, subbed
Hey Jay, I use autoalign myself, but I always have this doubt.... Do you do Autoalign before or after comping and quantizing?
I think it depends on what type of quantizing.
I typically don’t mess with any quantizing that uses warp or stretching, so therefore, I feel confident correcting phase as my first step
But if I was reliant on stretching the audio, I would definitely do that. 1st consolidate my wave forms into new forms and THEN run auto align 2.
Great Vid Sir. How this compares to Melda's MAutoAlign?
This
Does this work on other multi-mic'd stuff like guitar cabs?
Absolutely!
Sound Radix for the win
also sound radix pi is good for basses or any other unison layered instruments our doubles that suffer from phase cancellation
Do the tom mics align with the snare still or to the overheads?
Typically for Auto Align 2, you would select the snare as the KEY, thus toms and the other tracks within the group will align.
@@Shred_Rocket Exactly, so the tom tracks' snare bleed will align to the snare mic then.
Your video is slightly out sync with the audio, the irony! (Unless it's my PC)
The talking head parts or the screen cap?
I’ve been using something in adobe Premier beta to clean up the voice audio, but I’ve been wondering if it is causing some syncing issues
@@JayMaasRecording Talking head bits, ever so slightly. Great work on the video though, I look forward to seeing more!
IYKYK
Honestly, I think sometimes I feel insecure like I'm not doing enough as an engineer but the tools we have today just makes this stuff so easy.
Absolutely. And to your point I think engineering was actually much simpler when everything was in the analog domain then during the initial switch of digital all of these crazy plug-ins came out and I think people started feeling like they needed to do SOMETHING to EVERYTHING. Nice to see things simplify a little
@@JayMaasRecording 100%. I think that's one of the biggest benefits I've received from taking courses like yours, is seeing how little needs to be done to well performed, well engineered tracks. I think unfortunately a lot of us cut our teeth working with less than stellar performances and it's so difficult trying to learn and troubleshoot like that.
Kudos for sharing the knowledge Jay!!
Nice video, but do less of talking next time