After I record my acoustic and vocals into Adobe Audition, what processing do I need?

  • Thread starter Thread starter CohassetMatt
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CohassetMatt

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Equipment:

Martin 000C-16RGTE - direct into mixer.
Rode NT1 condenser - direct into mixer.
Mixer: Alesis MultiMix8 USB
SW: Adobe Audition 2.0

Once I record my vocals and guitar into the computer, it sounds great. Now what? What should I listen for to balance the levels? What processing should I apply to the vocals and guitar? How do I add dimension to the recording, so it all just doesn't sound directly in the middle? How do I make the guitar sound like it's in stereo, not just one sound in the middle?

I know this is a lot... if there is a thread or website which explains this in detail, please enlighten me. Peace !
 
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Here's how to give your guitar a stereo sound. You can either record the same guitar part twice, which in my opinion sounds better if you're not too bad off timing, or just taking the same recording. Split the tracks. Pan one hard left and the other hard right. Slighty nudge the one panned hard right so it is slightly lags behind the left guitar. It'll give your guitar a more surround sound. Of course add reverb and delay if necessary.
 
CohassetMatt said:
Once I record my vocals and guitar into the computer, it sounds great. Now what?
Click to expand...
What do you WANT it to sound like?

You should start out with an idea in your head of what you want first. One does not pour a foundation and then ask, "OK, now how do I build a building?" You need to have blueprints. Then you use your ears to follow them by listening to what you got and figuring out what you need to do to get you to where you want to be.

Also important is the purpose of the recording. Are you making a demo to get live gigs, an album/radio track, or just something to stick up on meSpace to entertain your friends and family?

G.
 
CohassetMatt said:
... How do I add dimension to the recording, so it all just doesn't sound directly in the middle?
Click to expand...
You got it.
Try starting off playing with some short delays. Lets say 30-50 ms. This is the 'too short to be echo' range. Use slightly different times on the L vs R, back behind the vocal (or instrument) that's panned dead center. Try it at mixed volumes... 'Lots does lots of smear and spread and sets the primary image 'back'. A little just adds depth and width.

Compare with the delays out into the 'noticeably echo' range -70 - 100+.

Then try a single mono delay- say 50-150, tucked dead center behind the vocal-- 'depth, (and movenent with a tempo' in the longer times) -without spread.

Peace too.
 
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I get the best results by blending my acoustic recordings then panning them far left and right.

Explanation:

To get the sound I'm looking for I would record two tracks simultaneously. DI track one and record the Rode NT1 into track 2 at the same time. 2 tracks for 1 performance.

Make any "subtle" eq changes to each track separately.
Blend the two tracks to your liking so they sound like one performance.

Either copy these tracks to give you tracks 3 and 4 or repeat process to create tracks 3 and 4.

Pan tracks 1 and 2 to the far left and tracks 3 and 4 to the far right.

Vocals should sit directly in the middle of the mix. Guitars should be blended in well to let the vocals shine.

This is just my personal technique that works for me, found through countless hours of trial and error. There are as many techniques as there are engineers. Play with my technique and others and find a hybrid that works for you.

SD
 
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