*UPDATE* Recording 4 People Live In Bedroom *Samples*

[Robertt8]

Well, some of you might remember me posting something here about 4 guys, one room, well, the last time we played, I thought I'd throw up a couple mics...seeing as how our little jam was actually winding down, and many beer had been flowing, I just through up a couple Shure SM58's...one was pointed mostly at (me) rhythm guitar (acoustic) and vocals, which was also near the basses amp, and the other pointed about 90 degrees off pointing mostly at the lead guitarist (also acoustic) who was right next to the drummer (this room is NOT huge)...

I used a little EQ to try and de-muddy it, but there's still a fair amount, but for throwing up 2 58's in a couple minutes I don't think it sounds horrible. I also added some really simple slapback delay to fill it out a bit...

I've got 3 mp3s up, so feel free to check em out and let me know what you think. Oh, just a heads up, they're pretty much all done in one pass, and that last song, I just introduced during that jam session...

http://www.roberttait.com/live/live.html

Thanks!
Robert Tait

[TexRoadkill]

Not half bad. Cools songs.

[Rhythmschism]

These are surprising for just a couple sm58s. Really tight performance, I like your style.

[eeldip]

i would turn those vocals down (if you can) but other than that, i declare these recordings::::: good enough.

excellent work. you have proved that skill beats gear.

AND i am saying this even though i am not a fan of this kinda music AT ALL. which makes my compliments to your engineering even more uhh... complimentary since i am pretty prejudiced against this sort of music.

[Robertt8]

TEXROADKILL: Thank you very much sir!

RHYTHMSCHISM: Yeah, I was kind of surprised it turned out as good as it did. Next time I'll pull out the SPB1 and C1 and try and do some close micing, but it didn't sound horrible. The bass was a little overpowering...or underpowering at times. I probably shouldn't have shared a mic with the bass player, but...what the hell...Thanks!

EELDIP: I'd love to turn the vocals down, but then I'll also be turning down the bass and rhythm guitar...Unfortunately, I kind of had to control that as it was being tracked. Thanks for the complements! What kind of music Do you like by the way?

Thanks for listening guys!

[eeldip]

i had a feeling that you were layering instruments on tracks... its quite an art doing this well. again, good job.

well, what kind of music do i like? that might take a while, so let me start by telling you what your music reminds me of-- genre wise. i think you are actually better than any of the bands below.

barenaked ladies, sugar ray, maybe john mayer when he is uptempo.

you have a sort of party rock sound. i like you better cause of the bedroom sound sound makes it seem more fun, less calculated. also you are playing a bit looser, which i think improves the sound as well.

for me, if you are doing this sort of music, the place to look for inspiration is NW garage rock bands from the 60's. the obvious ones being the kingsmans, the sonics. but there are many many more.

http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg...92078&sql=C411


here for a comp

http://www.turnmeondeadman.net/ADM/G...westRock2.html

[Robertt8]

EELDIP: Hey thanks! it was really more of an experiment with the two mics, but it turned out better than I thought I'd be able to get it. Thanks.

I hear ya with the bands...I think that's the first time I got compared to those guys, but I'm fine with that...they're a lot more successful than me! The two I tend to get compared to all the time is either Jack Johnson, or Sublime. Oh, we're definitely not over calculated I think we're pretty damn rough around the edges, but I'm fine with that. I'm not a big fan of the over produced stuff out there...all shinny with their syths and 10 vocal overlays, but that's just me...I'll check those guys out you linked to. I've heard of them both, but not familiar with either.

Thanks!
Tait

[eeldip]

jack johnson and sublime are probably closer. but as you said, you guys are WAY less calculated. and since the calculation factor is what really ruins this kind of music for me- you are way ahead.

also, please avoid google searching the "kingsmans". its the "kingsmen". i somehow forgot how to pluralize "man". damn it! but anyway, i am one of those people that think that "louie louie" is the perfect rock song. the problem with it is that it has permeated our culture so far that it is hard to actually LISTEN to the song, without thinking of all the associations that go with it. (bad 80's movies, frat parties, etc.) but if you pause and actually LISTEN to it- pretend it is the first time you have heard it- it is fucking amazing. the playing is so LOOSE, but at the same time incredibly tight. the drumming performance is something. and if you think about the basic idea they had, completely masking the lyrics- very cool.

one more thing- a pitfall you have avoided, but should be aware of, is that the people who have killed this genre... lets say jack johnson and sublime... have really annoying vocal affectations.

[Robertt8]

Yeah, I hear you...I love old stuff like that with the rough edge...some mid-early Stones has a lot of that as well...

I'm not quite following you with the vocal affections...what do mean by that one?

Anyway, thanks!
Robert Tait