Shoot-outs!

So! A few months ago on another blog I don't bother with anymore, I started doing some EQ and Compressor plug-in shootouts while I was sick. So, I'm making this blog basically to keep track of all my shoot-outs and tests and what-have-you's. It's easy to get caught in so many audio traps. What cost the most isn't always the best. What has the best reputation isn't always the best. What's the most popular isn't always the best. I'm guilty of this just as much as the next engineer. If you want to see the Placebo effect in full swing, become an audio engineer! But, since I'm a huge nerd and I love doing things like this, I figured I'd keep track of all my work.

Of course, it's wise to read and learn as much as you can about whatever you're after. But experimenting is the best way to really "get" it. Some of the most popular mic techniques for miking a grand piano sound awful on my grand, in my acoustics, on my mics, etc. In fact one of the least popular techniques sounds best to me. It'll be important for me to describe my tests as objectively as possible, even though they'll come down in some cases to personal taste. Just saying "this is my new go-to compressor" doesn't do me any good if what made it likable isn't desirable in a particular scenario.

I'll also try to post audio examples to backup my findings. Especially if my tastes change, I can always go back and re-evaluate what's good. To start out, I'll post my old shoot-outs and update whenever I can.