However, other than the nonsense to burn Peter McIan's books, Mr. Dickens remarks are substantially correct. The multi track recording and mixing principles in these books aren't outdated or obsolete regardless that the books were published in 1993 and 1996 respectively. Both are still in print today and can be purchased new according to the Amazon web page.
Among all the other bad advice, most egregiously the guy recommends using egg cartons for "soundproofing." Besides conflating soundproofing with acoustic treatment, not only do egg cartons not work, they are a fire hazard.
Frankly, it is a far better idea to burn the book than burn your house down.
Cookie cutter recipes in those books are starting points, not Grammy award winning templates. I agree that it's unlikely a 100 Hz boost on every instrument was not standard procedure on Mr. McIan's two albums he produced for Men at Work, or for the recordings of his two original songs recorded by Barbara Streisand and Pat Benatar. More likely it was an issue of a design deficiency in the hardware circuitry from that time period.
Hogwash.
it's also a simple and easy fix if the mix needs tweaking. Physically turn knobs with a limited amount of quality EQ and effects, not deal with thousands of choices found in software.
Strawman argument. EQs all pretty much do the same thing. The only real differences are in the details. If you know how to use one, you know how to use them all.
Also, the stock plugins that come with your DAW of choice are perfectly serviceable and capable of producing pro level results. In fact, you have right there at your disposal better than Norman Smith and Geoff Emerick had to work with and they seemed to do OK.
No need to burden yourself self with "thousands of choices" if you don't want to.
Mixers or stand alone digital multi track recorders and also the newer hybrid hard disk recorder/mixer combos are readily available and can be very affordable purchased used.
DAWs are also readily available and often affordable.
There was also a link in that deleted post to an article listing 10 mainstream, songs or albums released in the early 90's that were commercial hits by Bruce Springsteen, Seal, and Lou Reed, among others. What's notable is that all were recorded on Tascam Cassette Portastudio's.
What is also notable is that those songs were recorded by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Seal, Lou Reed, etc.
Yes, there are sections in these books that the reader can disregard about hardware wow and flutter, maybe a 100hz boost in EQ, but all of the recording and mixing principles, recipes and techniques are still relevant today and would simplify the mixing process for any user.
All of the recording and mixing principles can be learned from better sources.
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