Remove Maracas?

[nixda]

Hello everybody,

I hope my question is not a too stupid one, esp. since it is only remotely related to actual home recording.

I found a live recording of a local band that i really like, unfortunately it is spoiled by maracas which are way too loud. Is there any way (since it is a regular rhythm) to remove / reduce them to a level that may be not this annoying?...

Thanks in advance,
nixda

 

[NYMorningstar]

Once they are in the mix you are stuck with them but you may be able to minimize the offending frequencies by sweeping and lowering them with your eq using a narrow Q. The only problem is it will also affect the other instruments/voices in that range but it may be good enough, hard to tell until you try.

 

[RAMI]

I removed my dog's maracas. Now he's a lot more docile, and he woon't get any of the other neighborhood dogs pregnant.

 

[nate_dennis]

I would get another set of maracas, record them perfectly in time, flip the polarity of the track and they should phase cancell each other

 

[Lt. Bob]

I would get another set of maracas, record them perfectly in time, flip the polarity of the track and they should phase cancell each other

nice!

 

[miroslav]

I found a live recording of a local band that i really like, unfortunately it is spoiled by maracas....

You might want to reevaluate your choice of music...

 

[nzausrec]

eq them out.

 

[MG Eddie]

I don't know that there is music out there that has maracas that I'd wanna listen to!

 

[Spare Dougal]

Had a very similar problem when on a mastering session for the old record Ñico Saquito 'good-bye mr cat'. Only had the original 2 track and the maracas were extremely loud. The only thing that could be done was EQ. luckily taking all the top end off the record was a benefit to the sound but that's just a lucky coincidence.

 

[moresound]

Just get an other recording of the band seeing that they are local and before the band is to start playing their set bring the maracas player into the bathroom and tie them up till it's over.

But seriously just go out and get an other recording of the band for that will be much more easier. Well that and tying up the maracas player or make sure that microphone is turned down to an appropriate volume that they are using.

 

[MG Eddie]

Why didn't you just position your mic's in away that the "offending sounds" were diminished or at the very least properly blended? Take moresound's advice because thats gonna be your best bet. Just position the mic's so that the entire band is balanced.

 

[Lt. Bob]

he's not asking about recording that band BTW, he said he found a live recording that has the maracas too loud.
He's specifically asking about an already existing recording.

 

[moresound]

he's not asking about recording that band BTW, he said he found a live recording that has the maracas too loud.
He's specifically asking about an already existing recording.

But they are local and should be easy to record again.

 

[Lt. Bob]

But they are local and should be easy to record again.

IF he recorded them in the first place.
Maybe they sounded their best ever that one night ...... maybe the personel has changed ........... maybe he doesn't have the recording gear anymore.

Regardless .... his question didn't even suggest anything about recording them again ... and there's no reason to assume that he was actually asking something completely different than what he posted as a question.

His question was pretty direct and specific and it had to do with that recording, not the procedures for doing it in the future.

And as he has been told ..... there's no good way to get rid of the maracas. I simply HAVE to think that he would have enough brains to not put the mic so close to the maracas if he was going to record them again .............. though I could be wrong I suppose.