If you recall my interview with legendary producer/engineer Bruce Swedien [Tape Op #91], you'll have heard some of the key points that reoccur in his Recording Method book. Stereo recording, especially with a Blumlein pair, is great. Ribbon mics are excellent. Hire the best players. Go listen to live music in great rooms. Phase and early reflections are important. And don't forget Bruce's desire and ability to create audio fantasy. Bruce proved himself to be a master, on records with Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Natalie Cole, and even Frankie Valli. In The Bruce Swedien Recording Method, he expands on everything about recording. Details are abound, techniques are delved into, and over 344 pages are delivered - a lifetime's worth of music recording information. The DVD-ROM contains three interviews with Bruce, one with his fantastic wife Bea, and another where we get to watch him work on a mix.
We are truly lucky that Bruce is willing to share what he has learned about recording, and that Bill Gibson has the knowledge to ask the right questions and has so lovingly assembled The Bruce Swedien Recording Method. Bruce says, "Music is something very special," and we would all agree. But Bruce Swedien himself is also special, and everyone following his footsteps in this field owes him a big thanks. ($39.99; www.halleonard.com)