Analog Recording workflow - Sylvia Massy

Full video available exclusively on mwtm.org/sm-the-melvins-recor...
Watch the full “Recording a Band” series with Grammy award-winning producer and engineer Sylvia Massy! In this 2h30 musical journey, follow her as she produces and records a song by the Melvins at Village Studios.
Learn more about arrangements, mic placement, unconventional sound experimentation and overall recording workflow.

[@mixwiththemasters]

Full video available exclusively on mwtm.org/sm-the-melvins-recor...

[@untro7287]

I love the way her eyes light up when she talks about all the fun mics and gear. She's one of my heroins!

[@metetregaskin3079]

@Beard Guy101 bro cmon maan

[@TJRsongs]

She's one of my cocaines

[@justinkitchin105]

Gross

[@ts4gv]

David Singleton: Heroines. With an E.

[@Kampsy]

@@TJRsongs yoooo 😂

[@jonathanwingmusic]

Concise, clear, informative, and a fun, relaxed tone. She's so great, I'd love to take a class with her if I could!

[@bodiegardner8504]

It took me hours of videos to work out how people mixed on analogue consoles, but this video is the most consise and complete explaination of it, I wish I watched this one first 👍

[@mixwiththemasters]

Hi Bodie, We're happy to help! Good luck

[@Wizardofgosz]

I'm shocked people are confused by this. I was fortunate to grow up on large format consoles. Another way the computer has hurt us.

[@Syklonus]

@@Wizardofgosz Fuck off with that attitude! Computers have made things more convenient and faster, and not everyone has to, nor wants to use older clunky gear. if you love working with that format then that's great, but you should know that it's the skill not the tool that is important, so drop the snide and repressive elitism when talking about other people's choices.

[@joeboonmusic4004]

@@Wizardofgosz It's just a different way of approaching mixing. Just because someone doesn't understand a console, doesn't make them inferior.

[@Wizardofgosz]

@@Syklonus umm. No.

[@fromthe4621]

I wish there was an audio engineer class like this in my high school

[@raniabouzekraoui5816]

from the 46 I wish there was an audio engineer class full stop in my high school.

[@kiaeshghi6999]

I'm an audio-educater and I keep a video archive. Feel free to browse around www.twitch.tv/professoreshghi/videos

[@JedNaranjo]

@@kiaeshghi6999 oh my lord bless ur soul, just happened upon ur stuff on the KZbin music wormhole. thank u!

[@aaroncrosby2173]

I would have got an instant boner on.

[@deadlinkofficialartst5592]

lol

[@Joeman7890]

I’ve never heard that style of routing explained better

[@jon42689]

I've been trying to understand how a tape machine would be patched in for a while now and her simple routing explanation was all I needed to understand the monitor section isn't just buss monitoring, it's actual returns from tape on faders too. Incredible!

[@_JohnnySav]

That’s crazy she dropped some knowledge on us!

[@bullydully7428]

Johnny Savage lmao

[@xn4pl]

Information isn't really knowledge. If you're already a professional mix engineer you'll recognize most of the stuff she talks about and it'll be just bragging for you, if you're not a professional mix engineer then all these abbreviations and models of hardware will be just mumbo-jumbo. If she wanted to make an educational video, she should've been telling more about what all this stuff is and what is it good for instead of pure name-dropping.

[@kiaeshghi6999]

@@xn4pl hard disagree. My audio students find her talks incredibly useful. She's a gem and she's great at explaining things in ways they can understand while also introducing them to classic pieces of equipment they will encounter throughout their careers. I've added this to a playlist for my students about routing and split consoles.

[@ReapDaProductions]

@@xn4pl Nah she definitely explained the routing/signal chain of the Neve console, so that's highly informative. She used a lot of descriptors alongside the "name drops" and explained mic phasing. Not sure what you're on about lol.. She's excellent all-around, while also embracing the unconventional.

[@butterflymoon6368]

@@xn4pl oh god get over yourself, vladislav. idiot.

[@joelrodely]

You had me at "When I worked with Tool on 'Undertow'"

[@nicholascowan1731]

Joel Rodely yes fuck she did a wonderful job

[@jayj2583]

Same my dude

[@Anthony-di7xm]

clearly she had you before that since she said that 7 minutes into the video

[@jessepinkeye2339]

You should go to her channel and watch 13 video clips from the early 90s Undertow recording sessions

[@allenalesna]

Blasted a piano on that. Literally! Originally wanted to drop it from a crane.

[@tylerjohnson7971]

I was not expecting the Melvins going into this. I am now hyped to finish this video.

[@ABS_AD77]

Excellent Teacher. One of the best teachers I have ever came across. Thanks for a great video.

[@germannegron3868]

Fell in love right away with this analogs console and mics 🥰

[@PappaTiempo]

So creative and brilliant. thanks for sharing Sylvia.

[@dragon-id5uj]

Wild, her eye contact is absolutely transferring more mix magic than her words. Electric

[@KO-iq2kv]

What an amazing teacher she is truly a legend of our craft!!

[@ProphecyProductions]

Sylvia, completely brilliant! Her work with the band Tool is still my favorite work. It redefined the genre of heavy music production.

[@rocnred]

Sylvia is sooo cool! Great mic selection. She is so awesome. She has so much passion. She makes recording fun. Don't really understand the 94 downvotes. I guess they had more album credits, worked with more amazing bands, and recorded/mixed in more world-class studios. Did not know there were actually 94 of those people around.

[@YT561BOI]

Love the way she explains basic concepts for analog recrdoing techniques. Very enlightening. 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@craigwalkner7554]

I really enjoy Massy's teaching ability here - definitely refreshing to see someone who can describe their instrument as well as work it.

[@nicholaswilliams4552]

This is explained so well, and takes me back to the days of setting up a mix. Well done

[@bezalelthecreative8503]

Now I know what mastery of a skill looks like. Thanks Sylvia!

[@johncore363]

Great video. Thanks Sylvia

[@linfr8066]

This lady is truly.....amazing. her knowledge is beyond. Bless her⚘

[@victorloya1590]

Awsome mixer/producer, I love her work with tool. Thanks Sylvia

[@sibusisomashaba3708]

What an awesome teacher. She is amazing.

[@paya2980]

i'm in awe, she.knows.her.stuff! Simply amazing!

[@daviddeltoro1808]

Now, THIS is the oddly specific nerdy stuff I really like to see. Loving the hell out of this channel! Can you get Steve Hoffman and Barry Diament on? Pretty please?

[@debarshichoudhury1779]

She explains it so simple , starting to enjoy it . WOW😍

[@Breakbeats92.5]

"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." - Albert Einstein

[@tjandhuri]

Simple is such a subjective term though, what is simple to her may be complex for you (which seems to be the case)

[@Breakbeats92.5]

Gatshredder She explains it simply which shows she understands it's complexity. I'm an engineer myself so I can comprehend the nuances of recording. You appear to have misinterpreted my post. Which, I hope was inadvertent.

[@mrburns366]

@@Breakbeats92.5 I misunderstood your post too. It would've made more sense it it said "if you CAN explain it simply, you understand it well." But then again that's not the quote.

[@juanvaldez5422]

@@tjandhuri dbag much?

[@aaronedwards6507]

@@tjandhuri no simply is simply and complex is complex. Just like wet is wet and dry is dry or is that subjective too! You can make case for everything being subjective, if your an arsehole

[@kandr21400]

Awesome! I'm just learning the Neve VR72. Even though it's a different model, the basic layout is very similar, and just watching this video has brought more clarity to when I watch the engineers do their thing. There should be more videos on the large Neve boards.

[@DavidMoviez]

I want to sit there, and just listen to her explain me stuff. She is so... Ahh, heartwarming!

[@allthefail7274]

She's just great. Love her vibe

[@valentinegoodwill7815]

Sylivia, this is cool. I did luv u mix some of my tracks! Thanks for sharing.

[@elimarsilvanikock7818]

amazing Silvia, reminds me my first recording i did back in early 2000’s.

[@jacquibrookes8257]

Wonderful, thankyou....and no flying faders..

[@binarysun_]

That’s pure experience and love for the job in session. I’d really like to take some mixing lessons with her.

[@tokerauaverill9397]

When the engineering is mix with art!, I love Her work

[@whisperthiefmusic]

Mixing a session tracked by Sylvia must be an absolute dream!!!

[@TheChadPad]

Sounds great. Organic, expansive sound. Very immersive, and that's over my fairly cheap studio monitors

[@djantix1200]

She knows her stuff. Love this woman!

[@waltzguy14151]

Awesome knowledge! Learned a lot thanks!!

[@natioffline]

Thank you very much for the clear explaining and sharing

[@benodaboy]

Nice to get back to basic signal flow a good refresher Cheers and Verry well delivered BTW.

[@thedudenot1031]

Thankyou for explaining in an easy to understand way. Appreciate it... Super interesting. 😊😊😊

[@djseanp]

This one is super dope! Love it.

[@willimtreadwell559]

i love this teaching video

[@ScottFergusonFRR]

This was so cool, thank you!

[@didierjoomun]

Great video and clear explanations! thanks :)

[@uptownphotography]

Interesting video and always a pleasure listen to some one who knows their craft well... Philip NYC Area

[@conorm2524]

Sylvia's and Albini's approaches are just spot on for bands like this. I've learned a ton from listening to both of them.

[@jeffsimon9594]

Albini is overrated as an engineer. I will admit he is an important figure musically

[@lb2696]

@@jeffsimon9594 yeah right dude. He is a true engineer. He knows his shit.

[@jeffsimon9594]

@@lb2696 Yeah that is the commonly held received wisdom on Albini. I agree he probably knows his stuff technically but problem is his sounds seem to come out roughly the same every time like he is putting every band through the Shellac Filter. That is not a hallmark of a great engineer.

[@beyondthegong]

I am always stunned at how rad she is at everything. Damn..

[@rogeriofernandes9296]

I'm in love with everything analog

[@CivSkates]

Such a big fan of Sylvia. Love her work, her writing and the way she presents information. So easy to understand! You are awesome.

[@Donato2082]

Sylvia, I love youuuuuu!!!

[@johnisrael5183]

I really appreciate you, you are really giving me some good pointers....I actually use in principle with my Daw and Hybrid mixing and mastering with analog Rack and Mackie FX10 Mixer....I'm using a SSL 2+ on my main mastering studio computer, on my project and vocal laptop, I'm using, a UAD Volt 476 for my Vocals......

[@OceansOntheSun]

Cooking up. I like it!

[@MrDaveFerrier]

VERY interesting on reversing polarity on the cable... never thought of that but it makes sense doing it passively like that, i bet it does sounds better

[@ReggieReddog]

The polarity switch ought to also be passive I would think, but I guess sometimes those switches corrode or start to wear out and result in a compromised signal; so the less of that happening in the chain, the better? No such issue with hard wire. She is such an audio nerd, I love it.

[@wutadeadbeat1945]

Great info

[@Lattenknaller04]

I´m just take a look at my 16 Chanel Behringer Mixer and i think to myself.. we need a next step! :-) Respect Silvia!

[@bb-of3qz]

Yup love this lady.

[@karimRemi]

Better than 2020 technology 😎 old is gold احتراماتي

[@manu7815]

Very correct 👍

[@karimRemi]

@@manu7815 thank you

[@painauchocolate2395]

I am in awe

[@npinero1]

She is awesome.

[@elongatedmusket7430]

All those years of Bullsh** in English and Math and this is the lady I should have been listening to instead

[@DJKempaz04]

l feel you

[@mitchellmtb7202]

Not so quick. English and math will earn you more in your lifetime than dicking around with shit musicians.

[@MrROLANDD50]

ESAS GRABACIONES EN ANÁLOGO ERAN LO MAXIMO, COMO EL DISCO DE “PLAY DEEP” de THE OUTFIELD.

[@mrmindstorms]

She's the first person i could find that explains how you would use an analog mixer with a digital gear/daw. I had my clues, but no one had confirmed how it actually worked. Thank you very much! Does this mean that you cannot change adjustments, like the EQ you set on the board, afterwards in Protools?

[@EqDior]

What an awesome woman!

[@anilmayur]

lovely mam , great job salute

[@nicholasparis5281]

Sylvia Massy obviously possesses an eloquence of thinking and communication in the studio, and her explanations are very fun and accessible no doubt (the mode in which a master demonstrates), but when she said "phase reversed patch cables" with her own tangible explanation, my heart completely melted and I just fell totally lost in love didn't you all?! :D ...and it's a compliment to joke, but somehow I feel... that THIS is exactly who Hillary Rodham would have ended up like if we hadn't changed her (into a politician instead of a hip, smart free and gentle being of light...)... yeah those MELVINS KICK LOL!!!

[@flydiewise2247]

Great info thanks a lot

[@thechannelitrollwith1645]

been watching too many SSL dudes lately. we learned to love the 5088 at my school so I've come to appreciate all things Neve lol what am I even saying rn EDIT: this is literally my first year's worth of audio classes on signal flow (it was very focused on signal and I am thankful for that) in a nutshell. very cool video

[@RealHomeRecording]

I don't have the money to get the "right sound" upfront. But...Ms. Massy certainly does! Cool video. :-)

[@t.j.fuller9531]

.... when 80’s glam rock returns. I would love hear what she would do with that massive skill set !!

[@luckystrke]

Nice tip for a Home studio Recording session.

[@Tinmar_Isation]

Love it

[@michaeltracksuitaudio]

Wow she’s awesome

[@barteknowakmusic]

LOVELY!

[@BEDStudio]

The great studio😎😎😎

[@michaeldibb]

She is essentially mixing/getting 'the sound' in analog but recording digitally i.e. Pro Tools.

[@yadwindersingh628]

Nothing above than a classy Women with such a knowledge

[@TheMessiah91]

Epic!

[@catalystAl]

This reminds of my days engineering at Hollywood Sound Recorders from ‘86-‘94 on Neve’s 8068 & 8108. 😎

[@jeffdubuque5622]

cool what bands did you work for?

[@catalystAl]

jeff dubuque You can find them on my website at www.catalystmusic.com it’s on the Credits page.

[@Lucy.S]

1+1= ♥ two of the best together

[@bearwilliams9226]

Great Great Great!!!

[@MultiDooder]

She's just a goddam delight.

[@stevenwalker3124]

I'm a big fan...

[@kozanism5970]

Sylvia Massy is a studio legend in a male dominant area! I'm loving the way she looks like a traditional mom and tells us about the Neve console's features and how she has one back at home!!! I'm imagining my mom telling me about the secrets of analog recording and that makes me laugh =)

[@rickenbacker40011]

kozanism that's adorable

[@mot00rzysta]

Looks like The Melvins are a very very rich band to be able to hire Sylvia. Amazing producer/engineer.

[@Cuzzy135]

MORE!!!!!!!

[@giselediniz]

Que bom que vocês finalmente fizeram isso acontecer naquele restaurante no Leblon....😅

[@shajantv9676]

SUPER.....AND BIG SOUND ENGINEERING.....

[@J1Z06]

I’d love to do some analog recording.

[@edmundworrell1864]

Hi Sylivia great video superb advice quick do you prefer record onto tape or DAW (Pro Tools etc) and mix inside the box or pure analogue thank you Edmund

[@MESRASWARA]

so profesional

[@kicksncapz]

We're getting closer, smiling

[@tonyneville4425]

Awesome

[@pacz8114]

(Hey, thanks for that incredible song and that amazing singer!! Right up there with "L-O-V-E" by Nat King Cole!)

[@_Thorsten]

The Lady knows her shit. Awesome video. Like!

[@cristianibarraOfficial]

women explains things much better than us. ever. I understand EVERY single word

[@lazarosantos9730]

Very very good

[@allmetaliswelcome]

I wish you'd make these available on-demand. The Melvins are one of my favorite bands and it would be really cool to see this but i'm not able and willing to drop 330 dollars on a full subscription... Though i'd be willing to spend a reasonable amount on a single episode like this.

[@Leotardoification]

Bro follow the link in the discription. It's only $39 for this 2h30m session