What results can I expect?

[Black44]

First off, I'd like to introduce myself. I'm a 26 year old drummer with very little recording experience (I have chucked a few ideas down, but nothing serious)

My set up is:

A TASCAM 788 portastudio
Roland TD-8 Electronic Drum kit
POD Version 2.0
Ibanez RG 470
Ibanez electro acoustic guitar
Yamaha bass
Yamaha PSR 275 keyboards.

Some of the demos I've heard on the net sound pretty good, and I'm wondering what sort of results I should be able to get with my equipment (and of course your help!).

Now I know I should be micing everything up, but I can't really get away with that with my neighbours so everything is going straight to the 788.

Everything I've done sounds so amateur and I know I can get better results.

Does anyone have anything that was recorded directly that I could listen to for comparison?

I'll try and post a song next week for some feedback but any tips before I start would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

[famous beagle]

Hi and welcome.

What kind of stuff are you wanting to record? Instrumental? Vocal tunes?

What style?


You should be able to get some decent results with what you have. Recording, just like playing, takes some practice. You have to develop "recording chops" through experience. And the best way to get experience is to read and record a lot.

[Black44]

We want to record some songs for a demo to hand out to pubs/clubs and stuff.

The style would be kinda pop/punk - not unlike The Kaiser Cheifs, The Killers, Arctic Monkeys etc.

This probably won't make any sense, but what we've done sounds exactly like what it is - all the instruments playing at the same time! It's yet to sound like "a song".

Everything sounds "independent" - I can't seem to mix it so that it sounds like one song, rather than a bunch of competing tracks.

I don't have a clue about EQ and compression, and whenever I try to read up on it I get confused!

I'm hoping to post something next week, and have someone tell me where the mix can be improved and point me at some stuff to read for the theory/background behind it.

That way, it should hopefully make more sense and break things down into little bite size chunks...

All I've done so for is to record the main guitar track, another guitar track with a wee solo on it, the bass, vocals and drums.

What should I do to flavour the tracks before mixing? Should I add reverb to the drums? Any, almost pre-set EQ tips anyone would like to share?

I know it's difficult to say without hearing the track, but any advice would be appreciated.

[TMatt142]

I have about 2 years worth of recordings on my BR1180. All recorded direct! I have kids and a wife thats in school. No such thing as amps in my house!!!! everything direct and it sound great! I've never had any issues. Of course, it's gona sound Amateur on some level. The mix down is huge and very important. I don't know much about the 788. The sound quality of my 1180 is incredible. One thing I do when I record is I always jot down my levels I'm playing at on each take. If you happen to use external effects for one guitar, and maybe no effects for another. Its amazing the difference in signal. In order for your recordings to have that tight feel, they have to blend. Not sure If I helped but I tried....

[Black44]

Do you have anything on the web that I can listen to?

I'd love to hear some songs that were recorded direct so I can compare the results and hopefully bring my own up to a decent standard.

[TMatt142]

not sure i wana post my music on the web, but I could figure something else out

[pingu]

Originally Posted by Black44

First off, I'd like to introduce myself. I'm a 26 year old drummer with very little recording experience (I have chucked a few ideas down, but nothing serious)

My set up is:

A TASCAM 788 portastudio
Roland TD-8 Electronic Drum kit
POD Version 2.0
Ibanez RG 470
Ibanez electro acoustic guitar
Yamaha bass
Yamaha PSR 275 keyboards.

Some of the demos I've heard on the net sound pretty good, and I'm wondering what sort of results I should be able to get with my equipment (and of course your help!).

Now I know I should be micing everything up, but I can't really get away with that with my neighbours so everything is going straight to the 788.

Everything I've done sounds so amateur and I know I can get better results.

Does anyone have anything that was recorded directly that I could listen to for comparison?

I'll try and post a song next week for some feedback but any tips before I start would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Hi mate.

My strongest advice is to make sure your tracking is perfect.

Get the instrumentation and levels as good as you can as it only goes downhill from then on with each process applied to the audio.

Here's a decent link to read on digital levels and what not. Its very long but you will learn a lot from it.
http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/ind...089894d0254404

There is a lot if great folk here and at psw and gearslutz to assist also.

Also you might want to check if your recording set up will allow for external preamps and converters. Most of these all in one systems dont come with exceptional pres or ad/dc

[Black44]

Originally Posted by pingu

Also you might want to check if your recording set up will allow for external preamps and converters. Most of these all in one systems dont come with exceptional pres or ad/dc

Thanks mate, I'll have a look at the link.

Forgive my ignorance here, but what are external preamps and converters used for?

Are they absolutely necessary or can you live without them?

[LfO]

Originally Posted by Black44

Thanks mate, I'll have a look at the link.

Forgive my ignorance here, but what are external preamps and converters used for?

Are they absolutely necessary or can you live without them?

I just looked up the Tascam online - doesn't look like it has phantom power. If you want to use a condenser mic (and you should certainly want the option availble, particularly for things like vocals), you have to have a pre-amp with phantom power.

Like everything else, there's an enormous range in quality and price. I think pingu's just saying that, even when an all-in-one unit (like yours) does come with a full-featured pre-amp, its on the cheap end of the spectrum. Here's an example of both ends (though many, including myself, consider the cheap one to be a good deal for the price):

http://www.zzounds.com/item--THKMIMAB0
http://www.zzounds.com/item--FOCRED7

[TMatt142]

Hey, I sent ya one of my recordings check it out and try not to laugh too much.....

[Black44]

Hi Mate

Got it and I think it sounds great!

Just the proof that I needed that I can make some decent sounding demos without micing everything up.

I'll have a play around with my first attempt this week and get it posted so you guys can hear it and hopefully help me get it up to a decent standard.