why does it sound so bad?

  • Thread starter Thread starter LoganCoykendall
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LoganCoykendall

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i spend a lot of time recording music... i have semi-decent equipment, but every song seems to sound so shitty. i can't put a word to it, maybe "muffled" or "muddy" or "overwhelming" but when it isn't overwhelming it's hollow and bright...... i dunno man.

https://soundcloud.com/semicolon_semicolon/ridge

here's a thing i did today. what specifically could i improve upon? ;_; thank you.

2x rode nt5
rode nt2a
tascam us-1800
 
I don't hear it....well, maybe on the vocals.


The wooden flute instruments could maybe do with a little high end eq boost, but I don't imagine you want to stray too far from how it sounds naturally.

I'm not keen on the electric guitar sound in your 'work in progress'. I guess it's straight up DI?
The vocals sound really held back. Not bad or anything, just give it another go when there's no one in the house. ;)
Get a pop filter, turn the gain down and just give it a bit of strength.

Other than that, maybe work to a click track or drum beat that you can take out later.
(Just heard addictive drums kicking in as the player moved to the next track. You could use that.)

Timing is really really hard to nail when there's no rhythmic guide, especially when you're layering a lot of instruments.


I say keep at it and don't worry so much. :)
 
There's some masking going on between the flute and another instrument playing the same line in the first part. Maybe push the one on the right back by cutting a little high end off of it.

The drums sound rubbery. You need more hit (close mic) and less tone (distant mic).
 
Yeah, I don't know anything about Addictive drums, but every time I read someone talking about it, they say they turn the room mic off.

I don't either. Whether it's a sample or a miked drum kit, that mic has got to go. :D
 
I don't either. Whether it's a sample or a miked drum kit, that mic has got to go. :D

It's definitely Addictive Drums.

And yes I agree. Don't just load the stock drumset and roll with it. The default kit that loads has way to much room mic and IMO is to compressed for the type of music you are doing.
 
Okay, I had a listen to Ridge.

You mentioned 'muffled' and 'muddy'. I reckon the mix is lacking in life, which may give that murky impression.

There are a couple of things you can try:

1 Get the flute centred a bit more. It's coming out the left side, and there is little of its flavour coming out the right. Same (but in reverse) with the other melody instrument. I understand the thinking behind the way they are currently separated, but it's not doing you any favours.

2 Give it a healthy does of reverb to create space an interest. Most wind instruments (well, most instruments generally) are rarely listened to in a dry recording environment. They are listened to in a venue, and the characteristics of that venue add to the character to the instrument.

3 Manage your tunings. There are elements that are not quite fitting together with their tuning. I recorded a violin track once. The playng was great, but it made me uncomfortable listening to it. I discovered that the violin was just out on its tuning, and as soon as that was fixed, everything came together.
 
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