1st Post, contains a song!

[Hear2Learn]

Hello all, this is my first post here but I have been reading around the forum quite a bit. Lots of really, really good info here, should come in handy in the following months.

I thought I would share a song I am proud of, this song was recorded in a rehearsal studio here in So Cal with really bad microphones, dont even know which kind, straight into my FOSTEX MR-8. We were just getting familiar with how to use the stuff, but this actually came out not so bad. We were rushed for time, as purchasing more time wasnt an option, there was another band waiting at the door, so the vocals are real rough and the distorted guitars arent pushed far enough into the mix at the end of the song.

We've spent another $1000 on equipment this month to get the stuff sounding better, but I see theres a pretty steep learning curve with this stuff. Anyway...

CLIFFS: Horrible mic's, straight into a FOSTEX MR-8, mixed on the MR-8 and the completed WAV file touched up with AUDACITY before being converted to mp3 format. Enjoy! (or not...)

Right Click Save As...

 

[gecko zzed]

It is a bit rough and ready . . . but it is interesting and there is potential.

The song would scrub up pretty well given half a chance.

Somethings you need to watch are:

Getting the vocal levels under control . . . they are bit wayward, though mostly too soft.

At times the kit sounds a bit distorted, but that could be MP3 conversion. It also gets busy at times.

There is a nasty bit of distortion in the bass area towards the end of the song. It could be intended, but it doesn't do the track any favours.

Be careful of musical cliches. For example the heartbeat at the start. That trick has been used in many tracks.

It is disconcerting to have a voice wandering from left to centre and to other places.

I expect you were aiming for a vaguely Nirvana type of sound. You might get away with it . . . but you need to generate a bit more vocal intensity . . . it sounds inhibited. The vocals let loose at about the three minute mark . . . you need to create the same intensity throughout, even when singing softly.

 

[nzausrec]

Agree, vocals coming in stronger earlier.

Like the sound of tape, definitely more mellow than digital.

 

[Strat1958]

Sound like Pearl Jam to me.

Good song, 'not so good' recording of it!

To me, the drums overpower the mix, and everything overpowers your vocals, which sound like they'd be great if they were more forward.

All that said, we've all heard the various early takes of Beatles songs and they sound like shyte. Nothing like the finished product.

So remix (or re-record) the song, and see how it comes out.

 

[Hear2Learn]

Wow, thanks for all the replies guys!

No need to explain yourselves/sugar coat the criticism as it only helps me get better. As I mentioned before, this was our first real attempt at recording together, and also we were in a rehearsal studio, not a recording. The mic's were terrible and dented and (random excuse generator).

But no , in all seriousness, thank you for the replies. Since recording those tracks on the MR-8, I have purchased an MR-16 and sold the MR-8 to our drummer, and we've spent about another $1k on budget stuff to make our recordings sound better. I've also spent some money on books to familiarize myself with DAW's to better take advantage of the digital medium. I am 28, and fluent with all things PC, and from what I've read already I should pick up on this stuff pretty quickly.