MSR-16 Album

[themaddog]

Hey all,
I finally finished my band's album, which was recorded on a Tascam MSR-16. It was mixed to an Otari MX-50 NII, then digitized using Cool Edit Pro 2.0 and an M-Audio Delta 44 sound card.

1- Uncommonly Smooth http://www.nightstalkermusic.com/pro...nly Smooth.mp3

2- King Porcelain http://www.nightstalkermusic.com/pro... Porcelain.mp3

3- Running from the Law http://www.nightstalkermusic.com/pro...om the Law.mp3

4- Rockman Blues http://www.nightstalkermusic.com/pro...kman Blues.mp3

5- Can't Sleep http://www.nightstalkermusic.com/pro...39;t Sleep.mp3

6- Get Outta My House http://www.nightstalkermusic.com/pro...a My House.mp3

7- Only You http://www.nightstalkermusic.com/pro...- Only You.mp3

8- Terminate Me http://www.nightstalkermusic.com/pro...rminate Me.mp3

9- The Night Stalker http://www.nightstalkermusic.com/pro...ht Stalker.mp3

10- We're All Gonna Die http://www.nightstalkermusic.com/pro... Gonna Die.mp3

Thanks for listening,
-MD

[Dr ZEE]

dloaded 1, 2, 3 and 7 ..now playing. I have only one (right) powered monitor hooked up to the computer at the moment (I needed to 'borrow' the other for some test work in the 'shop'-room...so that's what I am listening with
I am not qualified to comment on details. Overall sounds to me like pretty decent and solid recording work. Also the task is tough imo. So? Well done.? - I I'd say so.
The bend is persistently flashing back in time, btw. Nice.

[Dr ZEE]

terminate me - cool short intro, i like breaks and stops. and toms!- way cool! , tempo changes and stuff like that.

i refuse to even touch no.10

[cjacek]

Will take a listen later on Today, MD.

[cjacek]

Originally Posted by Dr ZEE

I have only one (right) powered monitor hooked up to the computer at the moment

Shouldn't be a problem if it's in glorious mono.

[themaddog]

Thanks for the comments, everyone! I wasn't very happy with how the drums came out. My old drummer was very easy to record and get great tones from. Our new drummer is a much more experienced drummer, and I let him set up his own kit and tunings and such, since I don't know all the much about drums. I just tried to keep the process simple, but the snare didn't come out nearly as good as I wanted, and I think the bass drum should have been tuned differently. But, at the time of listening back to rough drum takes, he was satisfied. It's after the fact that everyone starts to become unhappy, right?

I think he thought I could just sample, or resample, his kit or something, which I don't have the equipment to do so, and I'd be kind of against doing so anyways. He didn't seem to understand that almost all modern albums have sampled drums, but he wanted that sound. It was more his misunderstanding of the recording process that led us to that point, but now I think he understands. :-)

Thanks for listening,
-MD

[Stacie]

Music like this is the reason I moved out of my rehearsal space.

[The Ghost of FM]

I've only had a chance for a quick listen so far to the first track.

I'm hearing some people on here who sound like they know what they are doing.

The recording seems to be asking for a bit more dryness and tonal balance to tighten up a respectable performance by the players here. This can be accomplished with a trusted monitoring system that allows you to hear your mix properly. Fresh ears are always a must if you're going to get the most from your efforts.

What speaker are you mixing on right now?

Cheers!

[cjacek]

Hey MD, currently listenning to the tracks and I'm impressed with the rather extensive production, playing / singing. Definitely high octane all the way!

Gotta tell you that I don't hear anything overtly nasty happenin' with the drums. They sound good.

I agree with Ghost though that the tracks could benefit from less reverb (try none) and that tighter mixing should be experimented with, with perhaps better monitoring (in a dry room maybe?).

Despite it all, however, your band's extraordinary musicianship almost totally masks any short commings that the recordings may have. They're that good.

[SteveM]

From what I heard I don't really think the drums are a problem . I think theys sounded pretty decent. The problem I had, in my monitors at least, is there is not enough low end. I can't hear the bass at all.

[themaddog]

Originally Posted by The Ghost of FM

What speaker are you mixing on right now?

I have KRK V8's (original series). My subwoofer is a Cambridge Soundworks Bass Cube.

When we originally started the project, it was going to be mastered by somebody else, but the project was taking so long that the band became frustrated and I ended up doing it myself. The reality of the situation is I just don't have the patience for (digital) mastering, waiting for the computer to catch up, making a tweak, listening, then waiting some more.

I think I'm going to make an all analog master of this some day from the original mixes. If anybody wants a cassette copy, should I do this, let me know and I could send some out.

-MD

[themaddog]

Originally Posted by Stacie

Music like this is the reason I moved out of my rehearsal space.

Good!

-MD

[jpmorris]

It's not really my style (needs more keyboards :P ) but it's certainly recorded well enough. Some of it reminds me of Iron Maiden...

[themaddog]

Originally Posted by jpmorris

It's not really my style (needs more keyboards :P ) but it's certainly recorded well enough. Some of it reminds me of Iron Maiden...

Yeah, you definitely have to be "in" to this style of music to enjoy it. I like metal, hard rock, so long as it's melodic. I can't stand the screaming/growling/barfing type vocals that often accompany this kind of music.

-MD

[Herm]

Overall I think it sounds great. I am an old man now so take this with a grain of salt but the only thing I dont like about this style of music is that the guitars are in your face more than I like.
It sounds like you put alot of time into it and you should be proud of a great production.
I wouldnt mind hearing more about mics, mixers and things like how the drums where recorded.

[themaddog]

Originally Posted by Herm

Overall I think it sounds great. I am an old man now so take this with a grain of salt but the only thing I dont like about this style of music is that the guitars are in your face more than I like.
It sounds like you put alot of time into it and you should be proud of a great production.
I wouldnt mind hearing more about mics, mixers and things like how the drums where recorded.

The mixer used was the Tascam 2516. The mics used on the snare, toms, and guitar amps were SM57s. Each toms was given a mic and recorded to 2 tracks stereo (from 3 mics). On the kick was an AKG D-550, and the overhead mics I used were Audio Technica Blue Midnight 4k mics.

Some of the guitar tracks were recorded using a Line 6 POD 2.0 when I had certain volume restrictions while recording. In addition, a Huges & Kettner guitar pre-amp was used for a few of my rhythm guitar tracks, which are all on the right side.

The bass was mic'd with a Studio Projects B-3, and when that went out for repair, a Studio Projects C-1 for a one track ("Terminate Me," I think, but I'd have to check my notes).

Drums were all real, no samples, and no playing to a click-track or anything like that.

Other than that, not too much to say... I did a few reversal tricks, but they're in the background. There's some reverse reverb after the solos in "Can't Sleep" that I got by flipping the tape around and recording some drum reverb, but it's very subtle. There is also some reverse guitar playing in "The Night Stalker." I sing on those two songs, as well as "Running From the Law" and "Only You."

-MD

[Muckelroy]

Very nice production overall --

If I had to change one thing, it would be the 6K to 15K of the entire mix. It's kinda making my ears tired, most of which is because of the hi-hat and overheads of the drums.

But if that's what you're going for in this particular style of music, then don't listen to me.

Some of that same frequency energy is a bit overbearing in the electric guitars, too.

It's always better to cut than to boost, but don't be afraid to boost a bit of that 250-400Hz energy in the guitars. Just my 2 cents.

-callie-

[Dr ZEE]

I'd say this:
When painting flowers don't ask a flower-painter: "How am I doing?"


instead:
cover the canvas, take a steamboat all the way down the river to the delta, take a horseback ride back, uncover the canvas and see for yourself.

/respects

[Muckelroy]

You people and your metaphors...............

I'm going to bed

[Dr ZEE]

Originally Posted by Muckelroy

You people and your metaphors...............

you mean metaphors like "250-400Hz energy in the guitars"

we all share 2 cents that we've got, you know that

/respects

[themaddog]

Originally Posted by Muckelroy

Very nice production overall --

If I had to change one thing, it would be the 6K to 15K of the entire mix. It's kinda making my ears tired, most of which is because of the hi-hat and overheads of the drums.

But if that's what you're going for in this particular style of music, then don't listen to me.

Some of that same frequency energy is a bit overbearing in the electric guitars, too.

It's always better to cut than to boost, but don't be afraid to boost a bit of that 250-400Hz energy in the guitars. Just my 2 cents.

-callie-

Thanks for the input. That was one of the dramatic changes about when the mix went digital. Everything became much tinnier, but I don't really have the mastering experience or the patience to work with a computer. The mixes off of the tape sounded really full, then, even though they were compressed in the computer... suddenly changed.

Makes me want to make an analog master of this album even more, even if it'll be just for me, he he.

-MD