Alright.. I'm recording something with my new interface and such..

[geet73]

Very soon, I'm going to be recording my band's first full length. Can you guys give any suggestions for mic placement, or other general techniques?

The only recordings I've done before, I've been stuck to a stereo track for drums. Do you have any suggestion for what things I should do to the drums? I'm thinking about using room mics along with the other 6 mics. Would this be a good move?
Also.. any general effects that I should add to certain drums? Reverb, compression, and such.

My equipment:
-Terratec Phase 88 interface (24-bit, 8-in/out, blah blah)
-Behringer MX2004a (for preamps)
Mics I will be using:
-AKG D112
-A few Shure SM57's
-A pair of AKG c1000s
-And maybe a pair of Oktava somethings.. (I forget what model, sorry)

I'm using Cubase SX for tracking/mixing.

If anyone can give me general or even more specific suggestions.. please, go right ahead.

 

[Massive Master]

The FIRST thing is to make sure that the INSTRUMENTS sound as good as possible. If you put most of your energy into that, everything else will normally fall into place rather easily.

Other than that, every engineer here will have their version of what mic/pre/technique will sound best... You really have to just experiment and do what sounds best to you.

I would suggest doing some quick "experimental" tracking - Play (have the drummer, etc. play) the same tune several times, each with a different mic'ing technique. Don't pay much attention to perfection, just get some sound down.

Listen to the difference and go with the technique that sounds best. We like to call it a part of "Pre-Production" in some circles... With home recording, especially your OWN band (when the clock doesn't matter much) it's a better and more useful tool than any actual piece of gear.

John Scrip - www.massivemastering.com

 

[HangDawg]

We do have a rather nice search feature here a homerec. Try it, you'll like

 

[Chibi Nappa]

The FIRST thing is to make sure that the INSTRUMENTS sound as good as possible.

I'll go one further than that:

The first thing to do is make sure the band is tight as hell. If they can't play the song live and sound professional, you're screwed right off the bat.

The next thing to do is take some time and look at the arrangements. Does that pre-chorus really need to be there before the first and second chorus? Maybe only the second chorus needs it etc. Do "room mic" live recordings and listen to the arrangements. If any part of the song wants to make you fast-forward when you listen back to it, take it out or change it. You'd be surprised at how many songs are too long/too drawn-out/ too repetative when you really listen to them. No point in recording a bad arrangement.

Then settle on a tempo. Nothing can kill a recording like a song that is too slow. Again, do a live room mic recording and play it for friends or parents. If you find yourself getting nervous that they may be losing interest because of a dragging part, go back and look at the tempo (or arrangement). If you are confident the whole time the 3rd party is listening, you have a winner.

 

[Massive Master]

The Nappa-nator has a good point - Although I was strictly referring to "recording processes," It's relatively easy to get a good recording of a bad band. When a band is really kicking large, it's almost hard to get a bad recording. The music rules.

JS

 

[geet73]

Well.. I wrote the music. All of it. I wouldn't really be the best judge of it being to drawn out or anything like that..

I post my music for review on a message board... I've never had any complaints about it being drawn out, boring, bad transistions... anything of the sort.

I, myself, know that I play the parts exactly as I like them.. For the most the part, the rest of the band does the same. The bassist is a little iffy on some of the basslines.. but I'll smack him when he messes up.

The equipment that we're using is decent stuff. I'm using a Peavey 5150 going through a Behringer cab. The bass is a Peavey Firebass 700 going through a Fender Bassman 4x10. The drums are a Pearl Export tuned nicely. It's got A, K, and A custom cymbals... We have nice equipment.

I believe I'm going to spend alot of time experimenting with sounds. Thanks for the suggestion, Massive.

HangDawg.. as handy as the search feature may be, if you'll notice, I didn't care to use it. I thought it might be better to just ask. That way I can ask a question without having to piss people off because I bumped a year-old thread.