Turning knobs on his BAE Audio Preamps and EQs is \u2018one of his favorite things to do\u2019<\/p>\n
Los Angeles, CA, April 27, 2021 \u2014 According to pro audio YouTube superstar Rick Beato, there has never been a better time to get into gear and start making music. \u201cWe are living in a renaissance \u2014 there is so much great gear out there, and at all price points, and there is nothing like the tactile feeling of knob twiddling. You\u2019ve got to turn knobs until it sounds good!\u201d<\/p>\n
Less than five years ago, Beato\u2019s channel began as a learning destination for advanced musicians, covering topics such as sophisticated harmony and improvisation, while featuring in-depth profiles on film composers and mixing engineers: \u201cIt was started it on a whim; it was fun, and different from producing,\u201d he recalls. \u201cAnd I could make any kinds of videos I wanted to, and share my ideas with other people.\u201d Now, Beato\u2019s channel boasts over 2.24 million subscribers, spanning a breadth of music experience and backgrounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cI pretty much make videos on things that I find interesting and talk about with my friends,\u201d he says. \u201cI like breaking down songs and trying to figure out what makes something great. I will also rank stuff.\u201d A recent post he did ranked the \u2018top 20 acoustic guitar introductions of all time\u2019 and garnered 13 million views. Yet, it was the first acoustic guitar-focused piece he\u2019d ever done.<\/p>\n
Start with \u2018classic\u2019 good sound
\nWhile his channel focuses on a variety of songs and musical genres, Beato always appreciates good sound. \u201cI am drawn to things that sound massive, and that use interesting sounds,\u201d he explains. \u201cMost classic albums are very well recorded, and there is nothing like a great sounding record.\u201d His studio boasts an enviable collection of BAE Audio preamps and EQs on the front end, including 1032s, 1066s, 1073s, which he routinely uses for recording drums, guitars, bass and vocals: \u201cAll my BAE gear are the full space rack units; I just love the single space racks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part of the joy Beato gets from his channel is sharing ideas and information with his viewers: \u201cAny recording I do \u2014 be it guitars, vocals, bass, drums or whatever \u2014 I share the signal path out of respect for the viewers and the manufacturers,\u201d he says. Typically, he will employ BAE 1032s on drums, since it features a 1073 mic pre with the EQ points of a 1081: \u201cI find these especially useful on toms, particularly if I need to sculpt them a little bit before going into the DAW.\u201d For bass guitar, he tends to use the DI of a BAE 1073 into an LA2A, while mic\u2019cing up his 1968 Ampeg SVT in parallel.<\/p>\n
While he has a choice of more than 30 preamplifiers in his arsenal, he \u201cpretty much only uses the BAEs\u201d in this application: \u201cBefore hitting the 1073, I will use a both a \u201957 and a 421, or a \u201957 and a 414 \u2014 it really depends. Or I will use a \u201957 and a Royer 122.\u201d<\/p>\n
All in the family
\nBeato sees the benefit of keeping a \u2018cohesive sound\u2019 on the front end, often using preamps of the same ilk: \u201cI could never understand people mix and match mic pres so much, particularly on something like drums,\u201d he says. \u201cI think you really want the character of a certain \u2018family\u2019 of mic pres.\u201d His own journey collecting BAE gear started in the \u201890s: \u201cI started out with a two 1073s, then I bought another one to match it. Then I bought a pair of 1066s, and a pair of the 1032s because they have the expanded midrange.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Beato\u2019s YouTube channel has always been a reliable source of knowledge for musical craftsman finding their way to the next level, he offers a few words of advice to those honing their sonic craft: \u201cGet your sound before it hits the DAW and spend your money on the front end. I use plug ins all the time when I am mixing, but at the front end I want to get the sound exactly how I want.\u201d He also cautions against crushing the dynamics of a mix for the sake of increasing levels: \u201cI listen to a lot of mixes people send to me, and the most common mistake is how mixes are getting hit with these brick wall limiters,\u201d he explains. \u201cI thought people stopped doing this, but they didn\u2019t! It\u2019s just dreadful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that BAE is awesome,\u201d Beato concludes. \u201cIt is all hand built and I have a lot of respect for the brands making this stuff. They spend a lot of time perfecting this, and I want my viewers to know everything I am using.\u201d<\/p>\n