Ambient Sounds

  • Thread starter Thread starter Erockrazor
  • Start date Start date
47ronin said:
There are a lot of so called folktronica bands like The Postal Service, Caribou, or artists like Four Tet and Boards of Canada that use acoustic instruments with electronic touches.
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I like a few of those bands and I understand they arent really going for anything realistic. I like the way it sounds and may pursue the use of midi intended for uses like that. On the other hand , if i did take that route I would try and be more tasteful , I think id be a little hesitant to get too much midi into my songs because then my live performances wouldnt be as intriguing. But I like the use of midi in that sense.


scrubs , so youre saying maybe i should literally go for more ambient noise within the mix. Experiment miking farther away to get soom room sound in there , add some reverb to the vocals, etc. Good Ideas , Ive been fairly repititious with my vocal miking. Im usualy about 8 inches away above or below the mic (due to lack of pop filter). On the contrary , I watn a pop filter so i can sing closer to the mic and pick up more of my low end of my voice with proximity effect. I feel like it would make my vocals sound a little more full. I like the reverb on the vocal suggestion. I always feel like my vocals sound very dry , but aside from reverb , I have no idea what effects to use on my voice without sounding completely absurd. Good Suggestions Scrub. :)
 
I don't think you had mentioned whether you had a second mic, but I've been pretty happy lately with using a mic in the nearfield of the acoustic guitar with a second a few feet away (follow the "3:1" rule) to pick up the room sounds (I have a small room.) Then you can adjust the two tracks' volumes to taste and pan them apart to give it a little width. In my experience it really helps beef up the guitar.
 
Ill take that into consideration Easlern. And yes I have two mic's in which i can stereo mic it with. Today I'm recording with my friend at my house. So if all goes well , I will have recorded some tracks that i would be willing to show you guys with your techniques applied and maybe we'll be lucky enough to hear an improvement. Ill keep you updated. Thanks alot.
 
Alright I took some of your suggestions and put them to work. I recorded a mix of one of my bands newer songs today. I posted a new thread in the mp3 mixing clinic but for any of you who were checking up on this thread. www.myspace.com/asleepatawake1 .. the songs name is "quite quiet"

thanks so much for the help guys. :)

im happy with the way my mix came out
 
Erockrazor said:
Nobody in particular , but how bad would going MIDI be in these types of situations. Do many people use MIDI for backing noises and effects, etc.
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If you have the MIDI stuff available, go ahead and try it out and see if you like it. I just figured since your existing tracks are acoustic and sound pretty good, it would match better to have a real cello sound backing them up.

Otto
 
I agree- the real thing almost always sounds better than a virtual instrument, but time- and budget-wise it just makes sense sometimes. I'm pretty happy with the bass in Drum'n'Bass Rig, and the piano in Key Rig doesn't sound terrible either. How does the saying go: "close enough for rock and roll?" ;)
 
This may be a late after thought since you have receved alot of info and such.

When I use to record alot of acoustic stuff I would add just a drone sound in the background in the key of the song with a key board.
It doesnt have to be huge just sublte.

Beck has done this quiet well and it adds a much needed layer in some cases.

Sort of like if you were a painter and wanted to paint a sky you need the base colors first and acents after.

Just a weird Idea that may help kick start you a bit.

-Blaze
 
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