Quality of recording for potential sale

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doowoper

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Our band wants to put together a CD to sell to the public. We're not talking major label here, just a good indie CD. We have a Korg D1600. Comments have been made to us that doing a CD ourselves on a DWS like the Korg D1600 could only produce a "demo" quality product and not something for retail sale to public.

Any thoughts out there on this issue before we waste our time?
 
How much recording experience does anyone in our band have? What kind of music do you play? Besides your liver playing band stuff, do you have any recording equipment? (condensor mics, pop filters, monitors for mixing ...)
It's not so much the recording device used, it's how it is used.
 
mjbphotos said:
How much recording experience does anyone in our band have? What kind of music do you play? Besides your liver playing band stuff, do you have any recording equipment? (condensor mics, pop filters, monitors for mixing ...)
It's not so much the recording device used, it's how it is used.
Click to expand...

Mike
We do 50's -60's oldies doowop. Drum, keys, sax. and 6 vocals( lead with backup harmonies)

We have Apex460 tube, 2 Neumann 105, 4 Ev767s, 2 Shure 58 betas, Earphones for everyone. We started with recording the band and then later add our vocals. Pop filter for vocals. I we don't have studio reference monitors. We've been relying on EV SX300 and or earphones for mixdowns. Everthing would be recorded using the Korg D1600
 
The Korg isn't the issue, it's how much you all know about recording and your equipment, the space you record in and the monitoring you use to mix/master against that are the things you need to be concerned about.

Most crappy recordings sound crappy because the recorder doesn't know how to record, not because they're recorded on a particular device...
 
I have to pile on here. Your equipment is up to the task, your skills may or may not be. You have the gear and a great resource in this forum as far as advice and feedback, I'd start doing some tracking and see where it goes. If nothing else, you could end up with a decent sketch of what you'd like to do to take to a real studio.
 
I would assume your gear is good enough, the question comes with your abilities as an engineer. You could have all of the best equipment but if you don't know how to use it then it doesn't really matter.

I'd suggest picking a song, and recording it. From there take a listen and see what you have. You may find that you have a lot to learn. Or there may just be some small things that could be done differently. Once you know what you are capable of you can get going with the rest of the tracks. I see a lot of people posting on here looking for opinions, so give that a try.

As far as mixing with headphones...that may end up being your biggest problem. A lot of headphones will give you a different picture of what you are doing with the sound. For example, a lot have a bass boost. Mixing with these and you'll mix the bass out because your hearing a distorted picture of what is really happining. If this is your only option I'd bounce a copy of your mix out and listen to it in as many places as possible (car, home stereo, discman, dvd player, laptop, etc) and get an idea of what it sounds like from different sources. Then go back and fix the problems. Time consuming? Yes, but will give you far better results then just doing it all with headphones and then hearing it later and not liking it.
 
I know this is a home recording forum, but doesn't anyone use a recording studio these days?

My logic, when I started out with my early bands we would go into a recording studio to cut demos or albums with guys that knew what they were doing (or we hoped so). While the recording process and mixing process was happening, the members of the band who were recording orientated would talk to the engineer / producer and watch what they were doing and learn about the process. At a later date as we accumulated more gear we tried recording ourselves and using what we had learned along the way.

This also happened with live sound where while on tour supporting bigger acts we would befriend the crew and help with the set up and sit at the console during the main acts performance to see what was going on, this is basically the story of how I got into the whole business. Nowadays everyone thinks you can lock your self up at home and read books ask questions here and become an engineer. Book the band into a studio and have a great learning curve, then later use what you learned to cut some tracks for yourself. Another option is to ring around and see if a studio will let you sit in for some work experience and watch whats going on and what minimum gear you may need to do what you want to do.

Alan.
 
I've recorded/heard other stuff that was recorded on an 8 track Tascam cassette recorder that was released for sale to the public and sold 1000's of cassette/CDs..As stated, if your chops are good at engineering/tracking/mixing, it can be done..BTW, I've heard stuff done on major labels that sounded more demo that major..With your current monitoring setup, sounds like MANY trips to the car/house stereo, etc. to finanlize your mix ( been there,done this)..Another option depending on budget and you really wanna be involved with the recording, if your chops are good to track the CD, track it and then tack the songs to a " Big studio" and let them mix it.. ( been there, done this also..)(lol)..Good luck..
 
Thanks for the comments. They're very helpful. They already caused me to purchase a pair of reference monitors.

I did post a recording I made in the "Mp3 Mixing Clinic". Its listed with the title "Critique this first recording/mix" submitted by Doowoper.

To help in my learning process, I'd could use some comments about what is wrong with it. Thanks
 
witzendoz said:
I know this is a home recording forum, but doesn't anyone use a recording studio these days?

My logic, when I started out with my early bands we would go into a recording studio to cut demos or albums with guys that knew what they were doing (or we hoped so). While the recording process and mixing process was happening, the members of the band who were recording orientated would talk to the engineer / producer and watch what they were doing and learn about the process. At a later date as we accumulated more gear we tried recording ourselves and using what we had learned along the way.

This also happened with live sound where while on tour supporting bigger acts we would befriend the crew and help with the set up and sit at the console during the main acts performance to see what was going on, this is basically the story of how I got into the whole business. Nowadays everyone thinks you can lock your self up at home and read books ask questions here and become an engineer. Book the band into a studio and have a great learning curve, then later use what you learned to cut some tracks for yourself. Another option is to ring around and see if a studio will let you sit in for some work experience and watch whats going on and what minimum gear you may need to do what you want to do.

Alan.
Click to expand...

Good Point Alan.....

I spent 10 yrs songwriting/producing at a full blown studio near Boston. While I was
there I worked with many engineers and I learned a tremendous amount about the
whole recording process. I watched, listened and asked questions. After that I built
my own home project studio and do all the recording myself. I still take my mixes
to bigger studios or professional mixers cause that's all they do and my mixing skills
aren't good enough.

I recommend going to a studio to intern, pay for a session etc...It's a great way
to learn.....
 
doowoper said:
Comments have been made to us that doing a CD ourselves on a DWS like the Korg D1600 could only produce a "demo" quality product and not something for retail sale to public.
Click to expand...

+1 on going to a professional studio if you can afford it. If not, there is no law that says recordings for sale have to meet a certain quality criteria. You probably won't get Dark Side of the Moon or Moving Pictures on the Korg, but do the best you can with what you have and what you can afford.
 
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