Interview with Mike Senior SOS contributor

 For those who might not know, Mike Senior is a well known and respected recording engineer having spent 17 years at Cambridge University and now is a regular contributor to Sound On Sound Magazine.
 
Mike was a great guest on the  RH  show, so I wanted to share the interview. The first attempt was unsuccessful as I updated some podcast software about 10 minutes before the show and it didn't play well with some other programs. We ended up needing to reschedule after I sorted the problem out...so this is a late show this month, but Mike was a real sport about the whole thing and I was able to talk with him a bit. You might be surprised at some of his unorthodox apporaches to things like recording a vocalist with no headphones. 
 
I'm not presently using a static page, so if this post isn't at the link given simply look under the heading "podcasts".
 
http://www.recordinghound.com/
 
 
 
 
 
-Tim

I've been through his book Mixing Secrets on Safari Books Online.
I listened to this interview.
 
I found it interesting some of the things he said. When he talks about phase relationships I always think MAutoAlign from Melda Productions.
 
I like the idea of trying to track it well.
 
He says, 'It's not record your band in 3 easy steps.' I record other people's bands so often. It leaves me wanting my own sometimes.

I would like to meet Mike some time...but he now lives in Munich and I don't have any plans to venture there any time soon, but who knows?, maybe I'll see him in the states some time.
 
I just recieved the January 2015 copy of SOS magazine and wouldn't you know, it lines right up with what we were talking about. In that issue Mike records a band all in one room and explains what he did to tame certain errant frequencies...like the high hats and bass drums, but I don't want to give it all away.....
 
From what I gather Mike wants to get back to some of the techniques used by engineers from the past...the way they did it before we had isolation and recording booths. 

So you're old school which is now new school?  I say whatever works.
 
My take on it is this: Way back in the 50/60's they had to rely more on low tech and sometimes it was necessary to improvise. The place  larger studios were at then is where many smaller studios are today so I think we can make a valid comparison between the two. Many of those techniques carry well into the home studio in 2014/15.
 
In my opinion I have heard good records done both in booths and in open spaces where everyone is together. I think if a band can hear one another and they are already tight it isn't as necessary to all see one another or be in the same space. Many studios have recording spaces with windows in them so you still could see the other players. As far as using room space and bleed to glue a band together. I certainly agree, but we can do the same or a similar thing using artificial reverb too......in the end I think both techniques can work well, but I think Mike addresses a common scenario where you have a band and a garage and that's pretty much it.
 
 

 
I downloaded the podcast into my mp3 player yesterday evening then went for an hour long walk in the park.
A most enjoyable listen, thanks Tim for sharing it with us.
 
The bit I liked the most was when Mike very politely offered that what was important was the performance and not whether there were any extraneous sounds or bleed between mics.
 
 

Thanks David, Paul, and Alan for the feedback and positive responses guys I really appreciate it! I would love to know your thoughts on guests that are performers/ musicians . Would you rather have only recording shows or combine musicians with engineers? My original direction was to have shows specifically about recording. Later on I thought it might be nice to talk with a few musicians to see how they get their sound and ideas.....from a creative standpoint this seemed like a good way to go . Most people who record at home are usually musicians first and engineers second and they might have interest in both..... some of the musicians I have interviewed are full time on the road and some are just average people who have some kind of interest in recording and writing music at home.
One concern was that interviewing musicians on the road might be out of touch with the mainstream hobbiest and their interests. I have a guest I'm considering right now who is doing very well , he tours and basically lives from the proceeds.....but is this the kind of guest you want? I think ideally a guest that listeners gain something from is my goal. Whether it be an artist who has some insight into a better way or can make us look at the same thing a different way or who can help us to be better or at least appreciate alternative directions, or an engineer who cuts to the chase and gives advice that we can readily use .
As I'm lining up guests in 2015 I'm always open to suggestions on what you would like to hear.

David- The best way to get recordings is by having the listener send a quality copy of their side of the conversation....but this isn't always possible. I can still get a great recording of both sides even if the guest can't send a file. It isn't quite as good but can be close depending on what they used to talk with.

Starise
David- The best way to get recordings is by having the listener send a quality copy of their side of the conversation....but this isn't always possible. I can still get a great recording of both sides even if the guest can't send a file. It isn't quite as good but can be close depending on what they used to talk with.

Well, it's probably safe to assume that Mike Senior would have sufficiently good gear on his end. 
 
To answer your query about types of interviewees, unless a musician is a synth specialist who likes to talk about anything-and-all-things synth, my interests would gravitate toward engineering types talking about their craft.