Jack Miele’s Audio Tool: Create Perfect Sound with Black Lion Audio Bluey
Jack Miele Praises Black lion Audio’s Bluey for Perfect Sound
Table of Contents
- Jack Miele Praises Black lion Audio’s Bluey for Perfect Sound
- Jack Miele on the Black Lion Audio Bluey Compressor: A Q&A with the award-Winning Engineer
- Who is Jack Miele?
- What is the Black Lion Audio Bluey?
- How Did Jack Miele Discover the Bluey Compressor?
- What Makes the Black Lion Audio Bluey Special?
- Is the Black Lion Audio Bluey Good for Vocals?
- what Are Jack Miele’s Starting Settings for Vocals with the Bluey?
- Beyond Vocals: How Else Does Miele Use the Bluey?
- Can You Explain Parallel Compression with the Bluey?
- What Results Does Miele Achieve with the Bluey?
- Where can I Learn More About Audio Compression Techniques?
- Conclusion
NEW ORLEANS (April 3, 2025) — Award-winning audio engineer Jack Miele credits Black Lion Audio’s “Bluey” compressor for helping him achieve the perfect sound on numerous projects. Miele, a 12-time Platinum Award winner with credits on a grammy Award-winning album and an Emmy Award-winning TV promotional film, shared his insights on using the Bluey in a recent interview.
Miele’s Background
Based in New orleans, Miele’s extensive career includes a stint as owner of the renowned Fudge Recording Studio and Head of Operations/Chief Producer at The Music Shed. He now heads Jack Miele Productions LTD,operating his studio in the city’s Garden District.
Discovering Bluey
Miele’s introduction to Bluey came through his experience with a vintage Urei Blue Stripe compressor at The Music Shed.
“Our studio was extremely lucky to have a real Urei Blue Stripe device, so I had the opportunity to experience this classic retro model firsthand,” Miele said. “When I finaly got the chance to try Black Lion’s version, I directly compared it to the retro model I was familiar with and it was amazing!”
Bluey in Action
Miele has used Bluey extensively, including during his time at The Music Shed and while working in PJ Morton’s studio. He highlighted Kressley Collura’s single “Long Game” as a prime exmaple of Bluey’s capabilities.
Miele also shared a preferred technique: “One trick I particularly like is to use Bluey with the Gates Sta-Level compressor. Bluey can accurately capture the begining moment of the sound and control the front end of the voice, while Sta-Level is responsible for smoothing the transition of the back end.”
Versatility Beyond Vocals
While Bluey is known for its vocal enhancement, Miele emphasized its effectiveness on other instruments. He cited Johnny Vidacovich’s album “Out Da Box” where he used it on snare drums.
“Bluey has also become my go-to tool for increasing the weight and presence of the sound,” Miele explained. “I used it to process Johnny’s snare drums, just lightly cutting a little transient sharpness, but adding a unique touch.”
Achieving the Ideal Mix
Miele described how Bluey helped him achieve the desired vocal effect in a remix for the band Silk and Mortar’s song “Summiting Mountains.”
“Simone’s voice is very unique and dynamic,” Miele said. “As soon as Bluey joined, he promptly brought the energy and driving force needed to the voice, and it did not make the voice sound compressed to death.”
Starting settings for Vocals
Miele shared his typical starting points when using Bluey on lead vocals.
“I start with a moderate attack and a relatively fast release, which keeps the sound alive without overcompressing transient details,” he said. “For vocals, I will start with a 4:1 compression ratio. Generally, I woudl set gain reduction to about 5 dB.”
Parallel Compression Techniques
Miele discussed his use of Bluey’s wet/dry mixing knob for parallel compression, particularly on drums and bass.
“If I want to make the drum set more vivid,I will turn the mixing knob to about 50 and push the compressor vigorously so that the clean signal and the compressed signal will blend together to create a wonderful atmosphere,” Miele explained.
Jack Miele on the Black Lion Audio Bluey Compressor: A Q&A with the award-Winning Engineer
Award-winning audio engineer Jack Miele, known for his work on Grammy and Emmy-winning projects, is a staunch advocate of the Black Lion Audio Bluey compressor. In this in-depth Q&A, we delve into Miele’s experiences with the Bluey, exploring how he uses it to achieve the “perfect sound” on a variety of projects. Discover his techniques, starting settings, and how this versatile compressor elevates his mixes.
Who is Jack Miele?
Jack Miele is a highly respected audio engineer based in New Orleans with an extensive career spanning several roles. He’s a 12-time Platinum Award winner,and his credits include work on Grammy and Emmy-winning productions. Miele has also owned the renowned Fudge Recording Studio,served as Head of Operations/Chief Producer at The Music Shed,and currently heads Jack Miele Productions LTD,operating his studio in the garden District.
What is the Black Lion Audio Bluey?
The Black Lion Audio Bluey is a modern take on a classic compressor. it’s inspired by and aims to replicate the sonic characteristics of the iconic Urei Blue Stripe compressor, a legendary piece of audio gear renowned for its ability to impart a smooth, musical compression.
How Did Jack Miele Discover the Bluey Compressor?
Miele’s journey with the Bluey began with his experience with a vintage Urei Blue stripe compressor at The music Shed. Having intimate knowledge of the original model, he was able to directly compare it to Black Lion Audio’s version. Miele found Black Lion’s Bluey matched the sound qualities of the Urei Blue Stripe.
What Makes the Black Lion Audio Bluey Special?
According to Jack Miele, the Bluey’s ability to accurately capture the initial sound and control the “front end” of a vocal, while maintaining energy, makes it indispensable.He values its transparency and its ability to enhance the weight and presence of various instruments, not just vocals.
Is the Black Lion Audio Bluey Good for Vocals?
Absolutely! While the Bluey excels on vocals, Jack Miele has used it extensively throughout his career, including during his tenure at The Music Shed and PJ Morton’s studio. he praises the Bluey’s ability to bring energy and a driving force without over-compressing the source material.
what Are Jack Miele’s Starting Settings for Vocals with the Bluey?
Miele shared his typical starting points for lead vocals using the Bluey:
- Attack: Moderate
- Release: Relatively Fast
- Compression Ratio: 4:1
- Gain Reduction: Approximately 5 dB
He emphasizes using these settings to keep the sound alive while retaining the transient details.
Beyond Vocals: How Else Does Miele Use the Bluey?
Miele uses the bluey on different instruments, particularly on snare drums. He stated that the device increases the weight and presence of the instrument. Moreover, Miele utilizes Bluey’s wet/dry mixing knob to achieve a blend of compressed and dry signals.
Can You Explain Parallel Compression with the Bluey?
Yes! Miele utilizes the Bluey’s wet/dry mixing knob to achieve parallel compression, also known as New York compression. By blending a heavily compressed signal with the original,uncompressed signal,he adds a marvelous atmosphere,notably on instruments like drums and bass. Jack typically sets the mixing knob to about 50 when using this technique.
What Results Does Miele Achieve with the Bluey?
The Bluey helps Miele capture the beginning sound accurately while controlling the front end. He uses it to give the vocals a unique energy that doesn’t overly compress the sound. Furthermore, he uses the device to add weight and presence to musical instruments.
Where can I Learn More About Audio Compression Techniques?
There are numerous resources available to help gain a deeper understanding of compressors, including courses, books, and online tutorials. Exploring the concepts of attack, release, ratio, and gain reduction for a starting point is recommended.
Conclusion
Jack Miele’s endorsement of the Black Lion Audio Bluey underscores its value as a versatile and high-quality compressor. From vocals to drums, the Bluey provides audio engineers with a powerful toolset for achieving professional-sounding mixes. by understanding Miele’s techniques and starting settings, you can explore how the bluey can make a difference in your workflow.
Disclaimer: The provided text is based on the given source article. No personal opinions or additional information beyond the source material has been added.