BEST TIPS!!

[Tekker]

I just got a home recording magazine that had top recording tips and tricks in it, and it got me thinking...we need to start list like this of our own, so the new guys (like me) or even more advanced engineers will have some good ideas to get a more professional sound. So if anyone has a few good tips that they wouldn't mind sharing with the world, even if they are really basic (every little bit helps), like different techniques for micing guitar amps, drums, vocals, ect, compression or EQ settings that sound good on different instruments, useful equipment, stuff like that, and/or recommend some good books on the subject. It would be very much appreciated if you would post these here.

I'll start off the list...

1. Close mic the guitar amp with a dynamic mic and also set a large diaphragm condenser mic several feet away to pick up room ambience
2. To get a feel for how your music will sound on different stereos, listen to your final mix through different types of speakers, stereos, and especially cheap boom boxes
3. Listen to your mix in your car - because a lot of the sound leaves the car and because there are no parallel walls, you will get a really nice, clear sound
4.Record percussion/acoustic instruments and sometimes vocals in the shower or just the bathroom in general for a nice reverb sound
5. For vocals, point the mic at the singer's upper lip, to get them to sing facing slightly up
6. Post more replies on this thread! :-)

I would also recommend getting the March edition of "Home Recording" Magazine with the top 100 recording Tips and Tricks. Thanx in advance to anyone who adds to my list.

[trdn1]

great idea! I got the same mag for my flight this weekend, good read, but we can do better!

7. The one rule I keep reminding myself is that nothing will ever work the way you expect it to. This goes for methods, equipment, girlfriends, etc. When it does happen to work all the better - when it doesn't, status quo.

8. one more iota of emotion put into recording your music, equates to 10x the emotion heard on tape.

9. I like to take a whole day to set up the mixer, instruments, etc and get the band ready to play, then take a few days off to forget all about it, then return to record energized.

10. don't get caught up with the apperant necessity of having X mic or X guitar to get a certain sound. Use what you have and exploit its every nuance. you'll be surprised with the unique sonic creations that can emerge.

11. be proud of what you do. recording music is almost like creating a life, its one of life's miracles when it all comes together.

[CyanJaguar]

1. Don't use track optimized plugins. After a bunch of trracks, you can hear the ick of them

2. Have a good reverb box.

3. know how to describe the sound you wan't , so that you can eq accurately. Are you looking for punchy, balsy, heavy,or are you looking for woofy, barrely, etc

[JC Lives]

1. Plan your project.
2. Practice before you push the record button.

[Wallycleaver]

Eat: Make sure you are not hungry while recording. It's another distraction you don't need.
Sleep: You need sleep, I've done some mixes at 4 am after being in the studio all day, and you know what, they sucked, and sucked hard. My ears were tired, I was tired, tired of hearing the song all day. Took 2 days of had forgot as much about the song as possible, went into the studio first thing, the mixed ruled all.
Rules: Learn them, like sm57 sounds good 99% of the time on a guitar amp. Then expand, but never forget the basics. For a while I was in a rut, and things sounded good but not great, so I went back to the basics and BAM out of the rut.

[Track Rat]

Never run power tools near your genitalia while recording.

[Blue Bear Sound]

...Listen with your ears, not someone else's opinion...

Bruce

[Tekker]

Lets try to get as many ideas going as we can by posting our messages on a few other boards. If you wouldn't mind going and posting your messages on these other sites also, it would be a big help. Some of these other boards aren't responding well (I think they need a good jumpstart) :-)

http://www.recordingwebsite.com/wwwboard/1wwwboard.html

http://www.audioforums.com/

by the way, great tip Track Rat, I'll keep it in mind.

[John Sayers]

1) Don't listen to any guitarist - they are all deaf.
2) Don't listen to any drummer - They are even deafer
3) Hang around with the lead singer - they attract all the goodlooking women.
4) Don't let the band's roadie near the studio - they'll try to upstage you and question everything you do.
5) Don't let the roadie's girlfriend near the studio, they will only attract other roadies.
6) The best tape op is the one who makes the best coffee.

cheers
john

[Wallycleaver]

Originally posted by Blue Bear Sound
...Listen with your ears, not someone else's opinion...

Bruce

Why then Bruce do put others down for using what the like?

[Blue Bear Sound]

"...Listen with your ears, not someone else's opinion..." IS...

"...unless that someone's ears are better than your own!"



'nuff said...

Bruce

[Wallycleaver]

Bruce,
Certified sound engineer, looking to get pro tools certified late 2001 early 2002, worked with folks who has done 'nsync, bette middler, air supply etc.

[Blue Bear Sound]

...You've got ears too, then - so what's with the "Why then Bruce do put others down for using what the like?"???????

I don't make gear comments without clearly justifying my remarks... and anyways if you don't like my opinions, you don't have to listen - if you've got the ears, you don't even need or want my opinion in the first place!!!

So what's your point???

[Wallycleaver]

You just put down people who are as qualified as you. It seems you use this a an ego boost as opposed to a learning and spreading. just my 2 cents.

[Blue Bear Sound]

For f*ck's sakes - How is the statement "Listen to your ears, not someone else's opinion" an ego boost to me?????

The statement means (mostly directed to the novices) - to learn to LISTEN to sound, critically, and honestly and then use your new-found judgement to make decisions, BEFORE blindly listening to someone else's opinion about whether something sounds good or not.... good recording is about good sound... and people need their EARS for that....

Doesn't mean no one shouldn't give or take advice..... but ears DO need to be trained and experienced to get to that point!

I REALLY don't see where your animosity towards me is coming from.... nothing I said in this post (or any recent ones I can recall) have put anyone down. So I don't get the "ego" comment... But whatever... screw it - don't like it? Then don't read my fuckin' posts!!!

Simple...

Bruce

[engineear]

On a lighter side .......... TIP: Take 2 weeks off..... then quit!

[Tekker]

I don't mean to interrupt this little scuffle, but I would like to get us back on track to the original intentions of this post. I've seen a lot of the other posts so I know that there are a lot of knowledgeable people on this site, and I'm really interested in hearing what you guys have to say.

Thanx, and keep postin'

[MISTERQCUE]

Hey Wally,got to defend my man Bruce here,(though you are down in my book also!)Bruce has never posted a reply or opened a new thread that would indicate that he is self righteous!Bruce expounds wisdom on gear,advice,techniques,etc. on what he feels is correct and will never reply to a question where he MIGHT not know the answer to. His reply in re to trusting your own ears does not indicate in any way,shape or form that he is putting down any-1. That advice is true;if you have trained and meticulous ears and can detect the slightest negative nuance in a recorded track,no matter what any-1 says,you're gonna'correct that oversight until you're satisfied! Am I correct on that statement!!??. Besides,Bruce is a RNC dope-pusher; d@mn near convinced me to buy 1 and home-boy was right.Hey WalCleaver,c'mon! Bruce is down just like you!
Peace
Mr.Q

[Wallycleaver]

Just crossed a line, my bad everyone.

[Blue Bear Sound]

...no worries all!

Bruce

[Sound Cracker]

1- If it don't happen within 3 takes, do it at another time.

2- Always have the recording machine going (you would be surprised when some great stuff gets played! and some of the banter makes for great out-takes on the CD)

3- Mix more then just one version of the song. Try versions with different increases and decreases in instrument and vocal volumes. You will be surprised sometimes that a vocal up mix actually sounds more appropriate a few days later.

Good day!

[BSMR]

1. Buy cd's at a wholesale place like costco...$14.99 after rebates this week. And use them silly. Burn the song as many times as it takes to get the right mix. I eve burn a copy when only the guitars are laid down just to make sure it sounds right on many different stereos ie. boom box, car, home, as was mentioned earlier...excrucially important when you have NOVICE ears.
2. I just tried my new joe meek pre with the pod and methinks i love my pod again.I'll let you know after i acually record a whole song.BUT it may be just the thing it needs to come to life.(I can't mic speakers or my wifey would call a divorce lawer)
3. This follows Blue bear's logic but my slant is...trust your instincts..ie if you are the primary recordist in the band you call the shots...fuckem...from experience-after listening to everybodies opinion who weren't involved with the process of recording the quality of our recordings went down not up and everything sounded like a bunch of mush.
Moral OF The Story...Too many cooks spoil the broth... unless they have at least as much experience as you!!!

[MISTERQCUE]

....Maintain proper track sheets.

[Wide Awake]

If you are using a drum machine or sequencer for your writing process, try to record some of the overdubs using some live instruments. Even just one or two can make a track groove much better. Shaker, tambourine, bongos, congas, hi-hats. All are more expressive than a drum machine and not too difficult to play, if you put in the practice time. A 16" crash cymbal is a good thing to have because drum machine cymbals rarely have long enough decay times.

When tracking with heavy compression, every 10db of compression raises the noise floor by the same amount. So, let's say it's a guitar solo you're recording, either raise the fader manually just before the solo kicks in and lower it when it's over. If you have automated mixing capabilities use them to do the same thing. It will keep the track quieter during the silent parts. (assuming that is a problem)

When planning an equipment budget for your studio, just double that amount. You'd be amazed about what you don't think you need/want. I'm almost serious.

[Wide Awake]

btw-

I don't find Bruce's ego all that out of control either, but he is hyper-active. He's got 329 posts in a month. Lay off the caffeine dude !

[Edited by Wide Awake on 02-22-2001 at 10:20]