Recording’s Readers’ Tracks is where respected engineer and producer Marty Peters listens to your recordings and critiques them, pointing out where and how you can make them better. Listen to the songs, read the reviews, and submit your own materials online via upload.

Artist Name: John McCracken Title: It’s Been a Good Life Genre: Rock

John has submitted a well-written track here that features some nifty George Harrison-inspired guitar work under a great vocal performance. Over a basic but solid rhythm bed, the song comes alive via the guitars and John’s excellent vocals. The slide work is top notch here, great tone and intonation throughout the recording. Those of you who have ever attempted the melody slide style technique that George Harrison popularized can attest to the absolute precision required to avoid sour notes in performance. Adding a second part to harmonize along with it as John does here, requires some serious chops and that is precisely what John displays. Bravo! Both lead and harmony vocals are well recorded and balanced in the mix. While we are uncertain whether he used the Audio Technica ribbon or the Avantone tube… READ THE FULL REVIEW

REC’s six monthly Sound Advice bulletins offer great advice:

1. On Vocals: Useful advice on recording the best vocals.
2. On Guitars: Miked or direct, electric or acoustic, ways to capture great guitar sounds.
3. On Drums: Great techniques for recording drums.
4. On Mastering & Mixing: Practical mastering topics for at-home users and tips on how to mix better songs.
5. On Acoustics: Learn how to make your room sound better.
6. On Digital Audio: All about digital and computer audio.

SAMPLE BULLETINS