Larry Crane's One-On-One Recording Skills Tutoring

Larry Crane One-On-One Recording Seminars

Larry Crane, editor and founder of Tape Op Magazine, owner of Jackpot! Recording Studio, Archivist for Elliott Smith and a successful producer/engineer with hundreds of albums to his credit is now available for personalized, one-on-one instruction for recording engineers, musicians and producers.

These seminars are eight hours long (usually 11 am to 7 pm), including a joint lunch break, and cost is $600. A typical day would take place at Jackpot! Recording, in Portland, OR, though tutoring could extend to offsite personal studio spaces in Portland during the day. If you are located in another part of the US (or world) and would like private tutoring there please let us know and we can inform you if Larry will be in your area in the future.

For the songs that you bring to discuss, Larry will talk about what changes could have been implemented in order to increase the track's effectiveness. This includes examining overall and specific recording techniques, song arrangement, specific sounds, instrument choices, how sounds work together, and special attention to mixing techniques. Some details will be explained by showing mic'ing techniques. Others will be demonstrated via mixing. At least one song will be completely remixed from your provided multitracks.

Tutoring is geared towards home recordists, beginning engineers, musicians and anyone who wants to further their understanding of the music recording process and improve their results. The goal is to discover simple and effective ways to create better recordings using gear already available. A large part of the workshop will be geared towards breaking down misguided and limiting preconceptions about the recording process. Specific gear that will help the recordist will be discussed as well.

Steps Include:
*Playback and discussion of a mix of one (or more) of your songs
*Creating a new mix from your multitracks
*Examining arrangement, sounds, instruments, performance, timing, tempo, pitch, feel, etc.
*Discussing recording scenarios, listening skills and monitors
*Instrument choices
*Mic choice and placement
*Recording levels/converters/preamps/processing
*Overdubbing/headphones
*Mixing
*Effects use
*Preparing for mastering

If tutoring extends to your personal recording space, we will cover speaker placement, acoustic treatments, recording environments and usage of specific recording recording equipment.

Any tracking and mixing demonstrated will be done in Pro Tools, but specific techniques regarding this platform will not be the focus of the workshop. Any skills illustrated will be universally applicable to recording, whether on tape or with a computer.

HOW TO ENROLL FOR One-On-One Recording Skills Tutoring

If you want to attend please email Larry Crane to find out dates that are available. A $100 deposit will be required to hold your date. Deposits are not refundable if cancelled 30 days or less before the date requested. The balance ($500) will be due on the tutoring date.

Jackpot! Recording
2420 SE 50th
Portland OR 97206

WHAT TO BRING?

Bring digital files of at least 2 songs you have recorded, including a current stereo mix and the raw multitrack files (make sure these are continuous files with the same starting points). Pro Tools sessions can work as well, though many times starting with a new session and raw files is more instructive.

Need a place to stay? Curious about food in the Jackpot! Studios neighborhood? See the Jackpot! FAQ page.

We used to host Recording Workshops which featured a similar approach to these tutoring sessions.

Quotes from previous Recording Workshop attendees:

"The thing I enjoyed the most about it was the open forum feeling to it. The sense that I could ask a question and not bog down the general direction of the class and get a response that was helpful."

"I really enjoyed the clinic this weekend! Thanks again for your time
and so much great information. I'm excited to try out a lot of things
that I've never really considered."

"I wanted to thank you for the great workshop. I really liked the interactivity and the chance to get feedback on songs I'm working on now. That kind of learning is huge. You were very generous in sharing your knowledge and experience."

"I had a freaking blast. My favorite part of the class was that you busted a lot of paradigms and processes I had built up over the years by steadfastly refusing to give formulaic answers... I learned more from that than anything."

"I am more focused, a bit more confident to try new things in the recording process, and ready to start working on polishing my skills more than ever."

"The fact that you held the class in your working studio with the equipment that you use ever day was perfect."

"I would like to thank you, again, for a fantastic workshop. Your class helped me make a lot of distinctions through observation, and definitely caused me to rethink, and simplify, my approach to mixing. I appreciate your graciousness in being willing to freely discuss any topic, and share your knowledge and opinions."