A band walk into your studio.....

  • Thread starter Thread starter Neeps
  • Start date Start date
N

Neeps

New member
Okay My Handsome Nell turn up at your studio... they've got money to burn so don't worry about your fee it's sorted. They've got a little demo for you to listen to and they need your expertise to record it and mix it. You have a quick listen and are blown away by the raw talent on show. Quickly you jot down a rough plan of action. What is it?
 
I'd say....
Nice work, Handsome Al! Apart from your acoustic guitar being a bit muffled and lost I don't think there's anything more I could do for you in my studio apart from maybe raise the overal level of your recording.

I love the sound of the moothie on there.

Fancy tellin us how this was recorded, what was used, etc?

Alec
 
Okay it was recorded in my living room using cubase sx 2.2.0 and a single AKG c3000b mic. The instruments used were a Norman acoustic, a Freshwater Mandola (Freshwater are from Scotland), an acoustic bass guitar, a lee osker diatonic harmonica and the violin sound is from garritan personal orchestra.

Basically we stuck the mic in front of the instrument, made a rough recording of everything, cut chopped sliced everything, moved it around until we had an arrangement we liked.

Now we've got the arrangement we like we plan to re-record it taking time to hit the sweet spots and doing 1000 takes to get that perfect vocal. Further down the line if we meet one that is good enough that will play for free we would like to record a real fiddle player but thats a long way off.

Thanks for your comments much appreciated.

Cheers
Ally
 
Okay, if you prefer it this way...

My Handsome Nell are now hanging around your studio cluttering the place up. You want rid of them. In frustration you let rip with a rant telling them exactly why you won't be helping them record their demo. What did you say to them?
 
Yes, sometimes the best thing to do is stick a mic up & hit record. Nice stuff!

Scott
 
some bass clams, eh?... wide panning too. Needs some production work, big time. Kinda a simple tune, but I believe that a little better use of panning, some spatial usuage...like make it sound more "real" and clean up some of the sloppy performance, it'd be much better. Very raw as it is.
 
The vocals crack me up...sounds like William Wallace trying to sing country ballads. I do, however, love the rawness, go ahead and splash some reverb in there
 
Handsome Al said:
Okay, if you prefer it this way...

My Handsome Nell are now hanging around your studio cluttering the place up. You want rid of them. In frustration you let rip with a rant telling them exactly why you won't be helping them record their demo. What did you say to them?
Click to expand...


Wouldn't need to say anything...there's a big sign above the door that reads "Nae soap dodgin east coast tattie munchers"

:D
 
Handsome Al said:
You have a quick listen and are blown away by the raw talent on show. Quickly you jot down a rough plan of action. What is it?
Click to expand...

I talk them into booking 40 studio hours for tracking, another 10 for mixing and at least 5 for mastering and make a quick 2000.00 bucks.
 
Bigsnake00 said:
The vocals crack me up...sounds like William Wallace trying to sing country ballads. I do, however, love the rawness, go ahead and splash some reverb in there
Click to expand...

i disagree... i think they are some of the most sincere sounding vocals i have heard in a long time. they really hit home... take me to that place. i feel like in scotland when i listen to it...
 
LemonTree said:
Wouldn't need to say anything...there's a big sign above the door that reads "Nae soap dodgin east coast tattie munchers"

:D
Click to expand...

Ahh... but I'm from Lanark really so there :p

mixmkr said:
some bass clams, eh?... wide panning too. Needs some production work, big time. Kinda a simple tune, but I believe that a little better use of panning, some spatial usuage...like make it sound more "real" and clean up some of the sloppy performance, it'd be much better. Very raw as it is.
Click to expand...

good this is something to go on... what are bass clams? Spatial usuage? So you think I should bring the instruments in tighter together?

bigsnake00 said:
The vocals crack me up...sounds like William Wallace trying to sing country ballads.
Click to expand...

it's a little known fact that Wallace was reknowned for his powerful vocal performances and unique singing style...


borntoplease said:
i disagree... i think they are some of the most sincere sounding vocals i have heard in a long time. they really hit home... take me to that place. i feel like in scotland when i listen to it...
Click to expand...

A bottle of finest scotch malt whisky, some traditional shortbread and a My Handsome Nell hot water bottle is winging it's way to you as we speak mate.. cheers
 
Well, now there you go, telling me that my mixes are so much better. I have it way easier. You are recording all acoustic instruments, I have all electric. Sheesh!

And for what it's worth, I think this is exactly what the music industry needs. Honest music made by honest musicians with real talent. That autotune generation of posers and fakers with "image" can kiss my American ass for all that would give them. I like this. It's great stuff.

And don't worry about mixing. It will come with time, like I told you before. Just keep making that great music.

Actually get into a studio when you feel ready, too. You guys are too good not to demo your stuff.

Plus those of us in the know can always say we knew you back when...
:)
 
Rokket said:
Actually get into a studio when you feel ready, too. You guys are too good not to demo your stuff.
Click to expand...

I think it will be a while before we make it into a studio... kinda expensive... that's why we try to record on the the cheap with our own gear
 
Handsome Al said:
Ahh... but I'm from Lanark really so there :p
Click to expand...


And I'm from Carluke! Talk about the world being a village! no way :eek: :D
 
you guys are pretty good, your sound has some white boy soul to it, kind of reminds me of Belle and Sebastian in there non pop moments. I'd like to hear the vocals toned down just a tad bit and maybe layer the bowed string elements.
 
It's funny - most Scottish singers tend to lose a bit of their accents whilst they sing (see Roddy Woomble of Idlewild), but yours is broad as hell. Cool.

I want you to pan the harmonica back into the centre, and sort the bass out. But I really like the song - and you must be getting some gain staging stuff right because there's no noise to speak of.

Now if you'll just och aye me some Islay single malt down to Yorkshire, we can start talking figures :)
 
ok the first thing you have to do is shuck the bass clams.

pannin' wide isnae a guid idea at aw fur an acoostic ensemble. hink abit th' groopin' onstage an' move th' instruments a wee bit awa' frae th' center point in th' arrangement 'at an audience woods see. ye wooldnae pit a body paerformer aw th' way at a body side ay th' stage woods ye? weel 'en again ye probably woods.

That's th' kin' ay information ye want but ance again thes isnae th' forum fur learnin' th' nuts an' bolts ay hoo tae record. we arenae gonnae spoon-feed ye ur hauld yer hain in thes forum. there's plenty ay information available oan th' web an' in th' other forums abit trackin', mixin', an' effects.

Ye main want tae div some readin' insteid ay demandin' tae be instructed oan yer terms.
 
Jeap...Ohio? wearthefoxhat?

am seein more and more people from Scotland and "that other place ower the border" all the time on here. We should get a UK recording/jamfest on the go like our good mates over the pond here.

Anyone got a big field and a marquee?

Brink yer ain drink, like...ken?
 
Ah am nae frae scootlund Ah jist wanted tae pit th' wee bairn at ease while Ah point it puckle things.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top