My first test song on my new TASCAM 388

[Rickson Gracie]

Its a test song so the performance could be better especially in the beginning versus. Im not always in the pocket either with the bass and drums. But enough of the obligatory excuses

I mainly wanted to test the sonic qualities of the TASCAM 388. I've been a Pro Tools guy for a couple of years now so this is all kind of new.

Tell me what you think it needs for improvement. I'm not sure my mixing monitors are adjusted correctly but you tell me. The bass was tricky.

"Cometogether388"

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/defa...?bandID=541776

[jpmorris]

Nice. I was expecting the vocals to have doubletracked harmony, and you missed the bridge on electric piano. Apart from those niggles, it's difficult to fault.

How were the tracks divided up, out of interest?

[Erockrazor]

Nice Rickson. Sounds good to me! I'm still doing some of my first recordings on the 388 and it's really exciting. The sonic quality holds its own for sure.

[Rickson Gracie]

Thanks for the feedback

I just updated it. I lowered the highs on the drums. I didnt realize how bad the snare sounded until i played it in my car loudly. i also tried to fix some level issues on the vocals.

Yeah, i completely omitted the bridge and stuff. i just wanted to put something simple down that i can play with for now.

"How were the tracks divided up"

I first recorded a click on track 8 and then recorded the drums alongside that.

track 1 - snare
track 2 - kick
track 3 - left tom
track 4 - right tom
track 5 & 6 - overheads in XY pattern

i then bounced all those tracks to tracks 7 and 8

then...

track 1 - bass
track 2 - guitar
track 3 - vocal lead
track 4 - backup vocal

i even have 2 tracks left over

[Rat Lizards]

The bass sounds very squeezed to me. Not to say bad, just that it is that certain very compressed bass sound. If you are using a compressor, I might slow the attack and speed the release to get crisper transients in there... unless you don't want 'em, of course. I was just thinking you could get more dynamics out of it.

edited to add: forgot to say good job!

[D_Vincent]

Nice recording...enjoyed it.

[cjacek]

Originally Posted by Rickson Gracie

I just updated it. I lowered the highs on the drums. I didnt realize how bad the snare sounded until i played it in my car loudly. i also tried to fix some level issues on the vocals.

I'd say all the instruments are tight, sound great, have a warm - 'analogish' character and very authentic (like something you'd lift from a Beatles original recording - well done) but the main vocal mix needs a bit of fine tuning. I'd like to see it lowered even more in the mix (along with the backup vocals). I'm also hearing room acoustics, on the main vocal, and I wish it wasn't there. The room reverb (for the vocal) is not flattering and it kinda disconnects from the rest of the performance. I'd re-track in a dead space and either have a dry vocal or one with some reverb or even delay / echo added later, but all the frequencies cut on the effect above 10khz.

Don't touch the instrumentals though, as they're perfect.

Also, I'm hearing a bit of nasty distortion (in a couple of places) in the main vocal. Maybe when mixing down to digital, your levels were too hot? Sounds like digital clipping.

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[Rickson Gracie]

Originally Posted by cjacek

I'd say all the instruments are tight, sound great, have a warm - 'analogish' character and very authentic (like something you'd lift from a Beatles original recording - well done) but the main vocal mix needs a bit of fine tuning. I'd like to see it lowered even more in the mix (along with the backup vocals). I'm also hearing room acoustics, on the main vocal, and I wish it wasn't there. The room reverb (for the vocal) is not flattering and it kinda disconnects from the rest of the performance. I'd re-track in a dead space and either have a dry vocal or one with some reverb or even delay / echo added later, but all the frequencies cut on the effect above 10khz.

Don't touch the instrumentals though, as they're perfect.

Also, I'm hearing a bit of nasty distortion (in a couple of places) in the main vocal. Maybe when mixing down to digital, your levels were too hot? Sounds like digital clipping.

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yeah, those are nice observations and I agree with them completely. ive been in the market online in the last couple of days looking for one of those mini mic isolation things for the vocal mic. ive narrowed it down to "The Mic Thing," the Reflexion and the Mod Trap. I will make a choice today and make an order. Any advice on whick one to buy?

The room I record in is very "live" with low ceilings and I think with less room in the equation the vocals will track much better.

i tried to crank up the gain on the mic pre for some coloration on the vocals but I definitely overdid it thats the nasty distortion you hear and believe it or not its not digital.

[cjacek]

Originally Posted by Rickson Gracie

ive narrowed it down to "The Mic Thing," the Reflexion and the Mod Trap. I will make a choice today and make an order. Any advice on whick one to buy?

Wouldn't propping or hanging a nice thick blanket / drapes, on something, behind the microphone (in a corner perhaps) accomplish the same thing or maybe tracking your vocals in a walk in closet, full of clothes? It would save you a lot of money.

I've experimented a bit and it seems the walk in closet full of clothes and other soft crap works well but so does hanging some thick blankets / drapes in a corner (a bit on each wall so that it makes a "V") and placing your mic there.

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[blumediaprojekt]

So, this is all 8-track 7.5ips 1/4" w/o any noise reduction?

[cjacek]

If you wanna be blown away by the 1/4", 8 track, 7 1/2 ips format then go here:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...?bandID=312544

Scroll through the 196 songs and several were done on the 388 (page 5 and 6). I think the sonics will surprise you. Listen especially to "God", "Long Time Gone", "Love Me Do" and "Moonage Daydream". No low-fi here.

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[jpmorris]

Originally Posted by blumediaprojekt

So, this is all 8-track 7.5ips 1/4" w/o any noise reduction?

I suspect he used DBX since it's built-in on that machine, and most likely enabled by default. (The Fostex A8 I used to have was unusable with NR turned off). But yes, the 388 is 8-track 1/4" at 7.5ips.

[Rickson Gracie]

Originally Posted by blumediaprojekt

So, this is all 8-track 7.5ips 1/4" w/o any noise reduction?

you can turn the NR off but i used it on Come Together. im still too new at this machine to be experimenting with no NR but I plan to