The Bruce Swedien Recording Method

If you want to learn how to do something right, it always pays to listen to the Masters...

By Phil O'Keefe

Very few engineers can claim to have had as big an impact on recorded music as Bruce Swedien. Nominated for 13 Grammy awards, Bruce has won five. As an engineer and producer, he has worked with the biggest names in the music industry, recording jazz and pop albums and major motion picture soundtracks with equal authority and finesse, on soundtracks such as Free Willy, Night Shift, The Wiz, and The Color Purple, and with artists such as Count Basie, Quincy Jones, Duke Ellington, Paul McCartney, Jennifer Lopez, The Chi-Lites, Natalie Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, George Benson, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and of course, Michael Jackson. Bruce Swedien's recordings have sold hundreds of millions of copies. In fact, Michael Jackson's Thriller is the biggest selling album of all time, and it was recorded by Bruce Swedien. Insights and tips from an engineer of this stature are obviously worth their weight in gold -  Wouldn't it be great to be able to learn from someone with such a wealth of experience? Well fortunately for all us, there is a gold mine of great tips and useful information from Bruce in his latest book, The Bruce Swedien Recording Method.

What You Need To Know

• Written by Bruce Swedien with Bill Gibson (who serves as an able interviewer for part of the book), the Bruce Swedien Recording Method is a rare look inside the philosophy and working methods of one of history's most successful recording engineers.

• The forward for the book was written by legendary record producer Quincy Jones, who speaks with great fondness for Bruce, as both a friend and engineer.

• More so than in his previous books, the Bruce Swedien Recording Method goes into detail about the actual studio equipment and techniques Bruce Swedien has used to record countless classics.

• Bruce emphasizes the importance of having a intimate understanding of what instruments and ensembles sound like acoustically. Too many engineers never leave the control room today. Bruce has always used the sound of an orchestra as his sonic benchmark, and encourages the reader to become intimately familiar with how instruments sound in person, as he feels that is tremendously important for a recording engineer to have that frame of reference, regardless of the genre(s) of music they work with.

• The equipment that Bruce uses is discussed in depth, including information regarding monitors, recorders, consoles, and outboard equipment, as well as various other pieces of studio gear. Considerable emphasis on the importance of microphones is evident throughout the book, with a section dedicated to some of Bruce's favorite microphones and their characteristics, as well as another section that goes into different microphone types and their applications. The book also includes details about (and several examples of) some of Bruce's unique microphone placement techniques.

• Attention is also given to Bruce's philosophy of recording, and the importance he places on engineers developing their own sonic personality, and on the importance of an engineer responding to and highlighting the emotional impact of music. The difference between sonic reality and sonic fantasy is also discussed.

• The Bruce Swedien Recording Method has sections covering how to record group and solo vocals, as well as considerable information about recording instruments and ensembles, and goes into detail on the methods and techniques Bruce has used on countless hits. Bruce's techniques for recording synths and keyboards and capturing room ambience on them is also quite interesting, and will come as a surprise to many readers.

• There is also a good deal of coverage in the book about mixing. For Bruce, the mix starts on the first day of recording, so the process isn't a afterthought, but integrated into everything he does along the way. Bruce also discusses his concept of mixes as "sonic sculptures" and goes into detail about what he looks for when mixing, and how to get input about the mix from the song itself. 

• An interesting segment of the book includes comments from several people who know Bruce well, including his wife Bea, as well as recording engineers like Ed Cherney, and mastering legend Bernie Grundman. They give unique, personal glimpses into the man behind the recordings that would be absent without their participation, and insight to what it's like to be in the studio with Bruce while he's working.

• A DVD is included with the book. It contains an interview with Bruce and shows him working on a mix. As with the book, he discusses his thoughts about the recording and mixing process, why he works in the manner he does, and how he goes about putting his sonic signature on his work.

• Throughout the book and DVD, Bruce's enthusiasm and love for music are on full display, and are inspirational and encouraging for seasoned pros and recording neophytes alike.

Limitations

• You can't really directly hear the immediate results of utilizing Bruce's techniques and methods as you would if you were an assistant working with him on a session, but that's a limitation all books share.

• Some areas of the book may be a bit controversial, and you may find that some engineers disagree with this approach or that one that Bruce recommends. That is to be expected. Not all engineers agree on every aspect of recording, and we're not looking for everyone else's approach here. After all, it's called the Bruce Swedien Recording Method, not the Your Name Here Recording Method. These are the techniques Bruce uses and recommends, and while there are many viable approaches to the art and science of recording music, it's hard to argue with results like the ones Bruce has consistently achieved over the course of his long and illustrious career.

Conclusions

The information contained in this book is priceless to anyone involved with or interested in the art of recording music, making this book a must-have for all recording enthusiasts. It will be especially beneficial for those who are just getting started, but experienced engineers will also find it an enjoyable and educational read too.

The fact that Bruce continues to have "no secrets", and in fact freely shares his knowledge and experience with other engineers, upcoming engineers and recording enthusiasts is highly commendable. Bruce has always been interested in making sure he "passes it on" to the next generation, and this book continues that tradition - one that I, along with countless other recording engineers have directly benefited from.

The Bruce Swedien Recording Method is essential reading for anyone who records music, or who aspires to. Full of historical facts, inspirational stories, and practical techniques and advice, it has beneficial information for engineers of all skill levels. Highly recommended.

Resources

The Bruce Swedien Recording Method video trailer:

In The Studio with Bruce Swedien website

Hal Leonard Books web page for The Bruce Swedien Recording Method

$39.99 (US MSRP)

Inventory #HL 00333302

ISBN: 9781458411198

UPC: 884088590321

Width: 8.5"

Length: 11.0"

334 pages

Phil O'Keefe is a multi-instrumentalist, recording engineer / producer and the Senior Editor of Harmony Central. He has engineered, produced and performed on countless recording sessions in a diverse range of styles, with artists such as Alien Ant Farm, Jules Day, Voodoo Glow Skulls, John McGill, Michael Knott and Alexa's Wish. He is a former featured monthly columnist for EQ magazine, and his articles and product reviews have also appeared in Keyboard, Electronic Musician and Guitar Player magazines.