question on tracking

[phosos]

Do people generally use outboard compressors/eqs during tracking, or digital plug-ins that will also be used during mixing?

[Massive Master]

If you know *precisely* the sound you're shooting for (and know that it will work later) then conservative processing at the input makes some sense.

If you're using plugs, it doesn't make a difference even if you can record through them - Use them later instead. No use in doing anything permanent - There's no upside.

You can use outboard during mixing also...

[LRosario]

Massive pretty much covered everything there.

But to add extra input, the answer is: it depends. If you're tracking at one studio and mixing at another, then more than likely no.

An "all under one roof" kina studio will probably recycle through some of the outboard gear at some point. That's just the way it's setup.

Of course, it takes practice to really ignore the rules of leaving everything flat and unprocessed during tracking.

[Ronan]

I compress lots of things when I track and then often some more when I mix. I have never heard a plug in compressor that I thought was worth using so I almost never use plug ins for compression.

[ssscientist]

Originally Posted by phosos

Do people generally use outboard compressors/eqs during tracking, or digital plug-ins that will also be used during mixing?

When I start a song I go straight for the hook. That may mean a unique drum sound or a vocal treatment that usually is reserved for a special effect or a synth that's so damaged it's back around the block to being listenable again.

One of the problems with today's music is that while more and more things are possible less and less deviation from 'the norm' is the norm. That stifles creativity in all areas from composition to final mix.

There has been a bunch made of the sixties method of using four track machines. In my opinion this is usually approached from the wrong direction. The good part about using four track machines is it forces you to make decisions about the final mix before overdubbing the submix onto one or two tracks of the second four track.

If you try to leave all decisions for the final mix by tracking with no compression, no effects and no EQ, you'll wind up with a mix that sounds more or less like every other plain ol' song. If you personalize it right from the start you stand a chance of having a finished product that is truly unique.

[Track Rat]

Yeah, Massive more or less covered it. I will track stuff like kick and snare with some light compression. I never track with EQ. I just have never had the need to.

[FALKEN]

depends on the player, man.

put that mic up and see if you are hearing everything you want to hear. If that snare isn't quite picking up the rolls you move the mic. if you get the mic as good as it can be and you're still not hearing the rolls like you would like to, slap a compressor on there. it might bring down the drummer's wild hits and 'bring up' the quiet stuff that's missing. if the singer sounds really horrible and has no control of volume (like me) you will want to compress it before you track it. if the bass drum doesn't have that 'thump' you want, you might need to bring in a compressor. you want to get something thats *useable* to tape, because you can't fix everything while you're mixing.

another point is that if you are using outboard gear you will want to re-use it. If I get the kick drum perfect while tracking, I can use that compressor on the snare while mixing. I also like to compress my vocals twice (I really am that bad) using the same compressor.

that said, I have had excellent mixes using absoluetly no compression on the way in.

[phosos]

So...for a steady kick, I could compress some on tracking. Snare, kick, and maybe bass seems like they should get some compression on input. This is if there are too much dynamics.

On my recordings the softer hits aren't showing much on the meters because the fader, during tracking, is turned down from loud dynamics.

I don't have a real compressor, so i am limited to plug-ins. They seem to get the job done without spending a large amount of money. but...
any suggestions on quality low budget compressors? Is the difference from plug-ins really there?
I have also found my software limiter to work poorly. has anyone else noticed this?

[phosos]

ah, also

in drums...w/ a digital recording medium
wouldn't compressing during tracking bring better sound quality to the softer and louder hits? With the loud hits almost peaking the preamp and the soft hits barely showing in the meters, wouldn't a more consistent range bring a better sound to each recorded hit?

Where is the points where recording too soft isn't using the full digital range?
under 12 db? under 6 db?