Some of my Ableton Push encoder knobs started registering random jitter movement in Reason (I use PusheR by Retouch Control). I fixed this by spraying the rotary encoders with a $5 can of QD Electric Cleaner by CRC with no tools required.
I’ve been installing more music studio hardware into the rack lately. Because I’ve been pulling the rack in and out more, I ended up pulling the two “L” brackets holding the rack halves loose. So, while having the rack out when modifying and securing the X-Touch Mini into the rack, I took time to strengthen the rack and install additional rack rails.
The rack is made from two red, wooden “Lack” tables from IKEA. They perfectly match the internal width, more or less, of 19”. Most rack hardware devices do not take up the full width of 19” so the furniture works out perfectly. Best of all is the price, although red isn’t currently an option, at the time of writing this the price of the black table is an amazing $7.99.
Continue reading Securing The Music Studio Rack FurnitureI use an X-Touch Mini in my music studio rack. I decided to do this by using metal rack spacers cut with the X-Touch Mini sitting in the center. By using screws screwed into the sides of the X-Touch Mini’s plastic housing (in front of the rack spacers), it will make it so that pressing the buttons or moving the fader will prevent the device from falling backwards.
Here’s how I modified the X-Touch Mini to mount into the rack.
Process
I started by taking two “1U” rack spacers and used a dremmel to cut the metal into a size that matches the X-Touch Mini. Cutting the rack spacers is the hardest part.
Continue reading Modifying An X-Touch Mini For Rack MountingI had a need to install a relay switch in the studio. I’ll discuss what is a relay is, why I’m installing it and how you can install one too.
A relay is a cool little box that has an electromagnetic switch in it. Relays have four to five wires. Ignore the fifth, red wire for now. Two wires you connect to a power (or ground) source you want to turn on / off. The other two wires you connect to a different powered source. When the other power source turns on, it turns on the relay switch.
Continue reading Installing A Relay Switch For Music Studio HardwareI’ve created a method to reuse mixer console (artist) tape for cheap ($6 or so) and anyone can do it. It involves using three things; console / artist tape, printer paper and Elmer’s “Tac ‘N Stik” (or a competing brand, white preferably). I also have a system for managing the strips, focused on music producing. This method is much more preferable as, when switching between songs, you can stack the scribble strips without having to worry about them getting stuck together, ruined, losing their adhesiveness or simply making your area look tacky with scribble strips stuck everywhere.
We’re going to use the paper as an inner-material for the strips. A paper’s 8.5″ width is nearly perfect for eight channels. Take a pen and make little notch marks along the length (height) of the paper that matches the size of the console tape. Then, cut the paper into strips.
Continue reading How To Reuse / Reapply Mixer Console (Artist) Tape Scribble StripsThe issue; you want to bring existing audio (reference audio, such as an existing song) into Reason for comparison. The Flower Audio’s Loudness Meter device (shown in the photos) can be used for referencing, but it’s used to switch from the audio in your setup versus your reference audio; you can’t compare the two side-by-side.
The issue with trying to do normal referencing is that the sound source will appear under your mastering suite, getting extra mastering effects placed on top. Simply turning the fader levels of your reference channel down doesn’t do the trick as you’ll get lower levels that are still being colored (altered) by your mastering suite setup. Some people may be trying to craft a certain sound, like I do, by referencing existing music and comparing it to your sound (such as choosing a certain kick drum by comparing it to reference material).
Continue reading Reason: How To Wire Reference Audio To Bypass Mastering